Afridi targets Australia in race for top spot

 Afridi is bowled by Price.—AP   Dawn.com

ALLEKELE: Pakistan eased into the World Cup quarter-finals on Monday but captain Shahid Afridi was more concerned with victory over Australia on Saturday where they will target top spot in Group A.

Pakistan, the 1992 champions, saw off Zimbabwe by seven wickets in a rain-shortened game to grab the fourth and final qualifying spot from the pool with eight points from five games.

But they are keen to finish top and avoid a more tricky assignment in the last eight.

A win over defending champions Australia in Colombo on Saturday will go a long way in helping that ambition. “We will definitely play well against Australia. It’s a match which we’ll take very seriously,” said Afridi, whose side are a point better off than the champions but who have played a game more.

Man of the match Umar Gul, who took 3 for 36 on Monday, said his team had already started planning to face Australia.

“We are looking forward to the game against Australia. We have done our homework, we will do our best,” said the seamer. Afridi also paid tribute to Asad Shafiq, who made an unbeaten 78 in his debut World Cup appearance.

“Shafiq played an amazing knock,” said the skipper. Shafiq top-scored for Pakistan after replacing the injured Umar Akmal in the line-up while opener Mohammad Hafeez hit 49.

“It’s always great to play your first match in the World Cup and finish like this,” said 25-year-old Shafiq.“I knew my strengths and played to them. I have learnt a lot from (former Pakistan skipper) Mohammad Yousef and I am trying to learn more from him.”

Pakistan restricted Zimbabwe to 151-7 in 39.4 overs before a second rain interruption curtailed their innings.Left-hander Craig Ervine fought a lone battle, hitting a patient 52 off 82 balls with five boundaries for his third ODI fifty.

Pakistan were set a revised target of 162 off 38 overs which they reached in the 35th over.Defeated skipper Elton Chigumbura said the team’s batting let them down when they were 43-4.“We lost too many wickets first up. From there it was tough to come back into the game, and the rain also made it hard for us to get some momentum,” said the captain.