Shane Watson relieved after nasty spell by Pakistan quick Wahab Riaz
Australia batsman says he is lucky to survive a series of short deliveries by the fast bowler
Australian Shane Watson admitted he was fortunate to escape Wahab Riaz's classic spell of intimidating, eyeball-to-eyeball fast bowling in Friday's World Cup quarter-final, which the home side won by six wickets.
Watson finished on an unbeaten 64 off 66 balls, but he was dropped on four by Pakistan's Rahat Ali at fine leg off a 145km/h Riaz bouncer as the veteran all-rounder was under siege.
Riaz charged in, peppering the Australian batsman with a series of short-pitched deliveries and sarcastically applauding and even blowing the 33-year-old a kiss at one stage.
Wahab gave it everything, he was right on the money and there were some really nasty balls in there. I was lucky to get through that spell
"Wahab gave it everything, he was right on the money and there were some really nasty balls in there," said Watson, after his team's six-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval. "I was lucky to get through that spell."
Pakistan, the 1992 champions, collapsed to 213 after skipper Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and batted first on a good pitch.
Recalled fast bowler Josh Hazlewood took four for 35 in an innings where Haris Sohail top-scored with 41 and put on 73 for the third wicket with Misbah (34).
But a spirited Pakistan reduced Australia to 59 for three, with left-armer Riaz (two for 54) capturing the prize wicket of home captain Michael Clarke for just eight in a superb spell.