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Australia Champions vs Pakistan Champions, Match 14 Commentary, Live Updates

AAC vs PNC, 2025 - T20 Live Commentary

Australia Champions vs Pakistan Champions Scorecard
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Match Ended   
Match 14, Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester , Jul 29, 2025
Australia Champions Australia Champions
74 (11.5/20)
Pakistan Champions Pakistan Champions
75/0 (7.5/20)
Pakistan Champions beat Australia Champions by 10 wickets
  • Player of the Match
    Saeed Ajmal
    6/16(3.5)
Done and dusted in just a shade over 2 hours! That's how this penultimate league match went. The second semifinal is confirmed, with South Africa Champions taking on Australia Champions but the first one is still up for grabs. Pakistan Champions confirm their spot in the first semifinal, topping the table, but whom do they meet? If West Indies Champions beat India Champions, the Caribbeans go through. If India Champions win by a small margin, then it could be England Champions' spot. But if India beat West Indies by a huge margin, we could have a marquee Pakistan-India clash in the semi! That final league match, between India Champions and West Indies Champions, is slated to be played at this very same ground in Leicester, in a short span of time later, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 9 pm IST (1530 GMT). Do tune in early for that game as our buildup will begin early. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
The victorious captain of Pakistan Champions, SHOAIB MALIK, starts by saying that winning is something which brings a smile on everyone's faces and hence, the whole team is smiling at the moment. Adds that taking this momentum into the knockouts is a good thing to have as a team. On having Saeed Ajmal back in the side, Malik says that Ajmal is someone who is a very jolly person. Details that even if he goes for runs, he smiles. Further says that the way he bowled, it felt as if a youngster was bowling! Also says that this was the kind of performance the team was expecting from him. On the wicket, Shoaib says that the seamers set the tone and Pakistan had a couple of good spinners in Ajmal and Imad. Adds that it was helping the seamers early on but if you have quality spinners in your side, you expect quality performances from them and they did not disappoint.
The skipper of Australia Champions, BRETT LEE, admits that this was not their best performance but it happens in T20 cricket. Adds that all he can say to his team is to delete this match from memory and see how the team goes on Thursday (in the semifinal). On being asked about the players' fitness, Lee affirms that there are no injuries in the camp, so hopes that everyone is fully fit for Thursday and comes back refreshed for their semifinal clash against South Africa Champions. On the batting debacle, Brett accepts that in the last two games, the Aussies have not fired with either bat or ball, but couple of games before that, they were doing really well. So he calculates the average and ends by saying that the team, as a whole, is going okay.
Pakistan Champions' SAEED AJMAL HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his breathtaking bowling performance of 3.5-0-16-6. On his display, Ajmal smiles and says that the credit should be given to the coach.of the team who pushed him to play this match. On his back, Saeed thanks his physio and also those injured players because of whom he got a chance to play! On his preparation for this match, SA says that he bowled for the first 2-3 days, but then got injured. After that, he says that there were so many injuries in the camp that they were down to just 12 players! So, he had to rush through for some last-minute practice and got through!
... THE PRESENTATION ...
Hard to understand Australia Champions' attitude coming into this match. It was not a big gainer for them, as they would have either finished second or third. But that is not an excuse for such a poor performance. They were not at their best against spin, but sadly, it felt like they just did not want to play in the first place. A match, of 40 overs, has lasted just 118 balls in total - that's not even an entire inning of T20 cricket! Please stay tuned for the presentation.
Earlier in the match, Saeed Ajmal was instrumental in dismantling the Australia Champions' batting lineup, claiming a six-fer as they were bowled out for just 74 runs in just 11.5 overs. Ajmal's devastating spell yielded 6/16 in 3.5 overs, with three wickets in his first over alone. The Australian batters struggled to cope with the Pakistan Champions' bowlers, with only two batters reaching double digits.
Nothing much to write about the Australian Champions' bowlers here. They had the lowest total of WCL so far to defend, and they failed to pick up any wickets. And it was the particular unfinished final over by John Hastings which was the most embarrassing, as it went for 20 runs with 12 wides and a no ball with still a ball left to be bowled! But they'll put this behind them, as they've already secured their spot in the semis. And now, they'll face the formidable South Africa Champions in the semis. A new challenge awaits, and they'll be looking to bounce back stronger!
A convincing win for the Pakistan Champions! They beat the Australian Champions by 10 wickets and claim the top spot! Chasing a modest 75, they did it with ease, not losing a single wicket in the process. Sharjeel Khan and Sohaib Maqsood saw them right through, with Sharjeel Khan unbeaten on 32 and Sohaib Maqsood contributing 28. They gradually picked up pace and chased the total inside 8 overs.
End Of The Over 7.6 : 75/0
20 Runs
  • 1 WD 7.1
  • 1 WD 7.1
  • 1 WD 7.1
  • 1 WD 7.1
  • 1 WD 7.1
  • 17.1
  • 47.2
  • 1 NB 7.3
  • 1 WD 7.3
  • 1 LB 7.3
  • 1 WD 7.4
  • 07.4
  • 17.5
  • 1 WD 7.6
  • 1 WD 7.6
  • 1 WD 7.6
  • 1 WD 7.6
  • 1 WD 7.6
S. Khan
32 (23)
S. Maqsood
28 (26)
J. Hastings
0.5-0-19-0
7.6
wd
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
WIDE! And with the 12th wide of the over, with the over yet to be completed, the match ends! Full and well outside off, Sharjeel continues to leave balls outside off and that ends a very embarrassing over for John Hastings - 12 wides and 1 no ball - eventually going for 20 runs in 5 balls as PAKISTAN CHAMPIONS WIN BY 10 WICKETS AND 73 BALLS TO SPARE!
7.6
wd
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
WIDE! Number 11 of the over and the SCORES ARE LEVELLED! Hastings switches to over the wicket but ends up bowling it miles outside off, left alone!
7.6
wd
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
WIDE. Number 10! Way down the leg side, let through again.
7.6
wd
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
WIDE. Number 9. Action replay of the previous delivery.
7.6
wd
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
WIDE. My word. Number 8 in this over. Hastings comes around the wicket but bowls it way down the leg side. Left alone.
7.5
1
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
A short ball, outside off, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for a run.
7.4
0
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
Hurray, a dot ball! Another short and wide ball outside off, but a frustrated Maqsood throws his bat at it and mistimes it towards point. One felt that only the bowler and the fielding captain would have been frustrated.
7.4
wd
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
WIDE. Number 7 in this over. Outside off, left alone.
7.3
lb
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
Full and down the leg side, Sharjeel looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. The ball drops down to the leg side and the batters take a leg bye.
7.3
wd
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
WIDE. Way down the leg side, left alone. Number 6 in this over.
7.3
nb
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
NO BALL! A short ball, down the leg side, way down the leg side, called a no ball for height, as the batter lets it go. 9 more needed from 76 balls.
7.2
4
John Hastings To Sharjeel Khan
FOUR! STUPENDOUS! Full and around off, Sharjeel Khan hammers this straight back past the bowler, down to the long on fence!
7.1
1
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
Would have been the 6th wide on the trot, but Sohaib Maqsood is bored now, of leaving balls alone. Reaches out to this short and wide ball outside off and slaps it to deep point for a single.
7.1
wd
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
WIDE. Number 5 on the trot! On a fuller length wide outside off, coming in slightly, but it still goes past the wide guideline. Not played at.
7.1
wd
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
WIDE. Oh dear. Number 4 on the trot. Length ball, wide outside off, left alone again.
7.1
wd
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
WIDE. Hattrick of wides now. On a length again, miles outside off, Maqsood lets it go.
7.1
wd
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
WIDE. And again. Similar ball, just landing inside the pitch this time, left alone again. 18 more needed from 78 balls.
7.1
wd
John Hastings To Sohaib Maqsood
WIDE! 'Oh God', exclaims Aakash Chopra in the commentary box, despite the mic not near his lips. That's how bad the ball was. Landed wide outside off, almost outside the pitch, left alone. Hastings is lucky that has not been called a no ball.
Impact substitute John Hastings to bowl now.
End Of The Over 7 : 55/0
10 Runs
  • 26.1
  • 46.2
  • 06.3
  • 1 NB 6.4
  • 16.4
  • 26.5
  • 06.6
S. Khan
28 (20)
S. Maqsood
26 (23)
D. Christian
2-0-20-0
6.6
0
Dan Christian To Sharjeel Khan
Around middle, toe-ended towards mid on. 10 from the over.
6.5
2
Dan Christian To Sharjeel Khan
Outside off, eased through the covers for a couple.
6.4
1
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
Nothing much on the Free Hit. Worked through mid-wicket for a single.
6.4
nb
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
A short ball, outside off, Maqsood looks to cut but misses. A NO BALL signalled but it is not for overstepping. Was it because of height? But when was a short ball bowled in this over?
6.3
0
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
Full, around off, pushed towards mid off.
6.2
4
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
FOUR! Cracking shot. Back of a length, outside off, Maqsood punches it through point, with the fielder diving to his right and the ball just scoots through for a boundary. 50-RUN STAND UP IN 38 BALLS!
6.1
2
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
A length ball, outside off, Sohaib Maqsood steers it behind point. Peter Siddle gives it a chase from deep third to his right, gets to the ball but slips while picking it up. One run is converted into two. 28 more needed from 83 balls.
45/0 in the Powerplay. Should be the final nail in the coffin. If any chance, Australia Champions needed to strike with the new ball. This match has become more of a formality now, if it not was already.
End Of The Over 6 : 45/0
8 Runs
  • 15.1
  • 15.2
  • 05.3
  • 45.4
  • 25.5
  • 05.6
S. Khan
26 (18)
S. Maqsood
19 (18)
Nathan Coulter
2-0-18-0
5.6
0
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
A bit of an appeal for LBW. Not given. Probably going down the leg side. Full and on the pads, swinging in, SK looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads.
5.5
2
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
Another short ball, not that wide, this time Khan swivels and pulls it through mid-wicket for a couple.
5.4
4
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
FOUR! SLAUGHTERED! Short and wide outside off, angling away, Sharjeel Khan hammers this through the covers. The ball slows down on this damp outfield and D'Arcy Short gives it a chase from cover but comes second. The stand moves to 43 (34).
5.3
0
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
Around off, moving away, Sharjeel eases it towards point.
5.2
1
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sohaib Maqsood
Full, outside off, Sohaib Maqsood eases it through the covers for a run,
5.1
1
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
A short ball, around leg stump, Sharjeel Khan swivels and pulls it through square leg for a single.
Last over of the Powerplay. NCN to finish off the fielding restrictions.
End Of The Over 5 : 37/0
10 Runs
  • 04.1
  • 14.2
  • 44.3
  • 14.4
  • 04.5
  • 44.6
S. Maqsood
18 (17)
S. Khan
19 (13)
D. Christian
1-0-10-0
4.6
4
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
FOUR! In the air, but in the gap. Back of a length, outside off, Sohaib Maqsood pushes at it away from his body and gets a bit of an outside edge. It is in the air, but in the gap and the ball flies between backward point and cover, to the fence behind. 10 from the over, 20 in the last 2. 38 more needed from 90 balls.
4.5
0
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
A length ball, outside off, Maqsood looks to slash but misses.
4.4
1
Dan Christian To Sharjeel Khan
Landed outside off, Sharjeel pushes it behind point for a run.
4.3
4
Dan Christian To Sharjeel Khan
FOUR! Wonderful batting. Fractionally short, around middle and leg, but that is good enough for Sharjeel Khan, who pounces on it like a cat on a mouse, swivels and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary! The stand moves to 32 (27).
4.2
1
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
A quick short ball, around off, coming in, Maqsood looks to pull but is hurried into the shot. Mistimes it uppishly through mid on for a single.
4.1
0
Dan Christian To Sohaib Maqsood
Short of full, outside off, Sohaib Maqsood hammers it through the covers but it is stopped well by Ben Cutting at cover, diving to his right.
Double bowling change. Here's Dan Christian.
End Of The Over 4 : 27/0
10 Runs
  • 03.1
  • 03.2
  • 43.3
  • 13.4
  • 13.5
  • 43.6
S. Khan
14 (11)
S. Maqsood
13 (13)
Nathan Coulter
1-0-10-0
3.6
4
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
FOUR! Too close to the pads, too full as well, Sharjeel Khan whips it over short fine leg to end the over with a boundary. 10 from the over, 48 more needed from 96 balls.
3.5
1
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sohaib Maqsood
Full, outside off, Sohaib Maqsood comes forward, pushes it to the left of mid off and takes a quick run.
3.4
1
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
A better short ball, this one hustles through, Sharjeel swivels for the pull again, but mistimes it through mid-wicket for a single.
3.3
4
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
FOUR! SLAP! Just a touch short, down the leg side, Sharjeel Khan swivels and pulls it through square leg for his first boundary.
3.2
0
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
Short and wide outside off, Khan slashes hard but gets a bottom edge which goes on the bounce to the keeper.
3.1
0
Nathan Coulter-Nile To Sharjeel Khan
On middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.
Disappointed? For all those who have got used to watching the bang bang type of cricket and especially have managed to catch some action of the West Indies-Australia series, where sixes were hit for fun, one would have imagined to see Pakistan Champions race away. But they are happy playing traditional cricket, playing the ball on its merit. They are not in any hurry, unlike the Aussies earlier. Here's Nathan Coulter-Nile.
End Of The Over 3 : 17/0
7 Runs
  • 12.1
  • 02.2
  • 42.3
  • 02.4
  • 02.5
  • 22.6
S. Maqsood
12 (12)
S. Khan
5 (6)
B. Lee
2-0-12-0
2.6
2
Brett Lee To Sohaib Maqsood
Very full, around middle, swinging away, Sohaib Maqsood looks to play straight but the ball goes off the inner half of the bat through mid-wicket. Good running to come back for the second. 58 more needed from 102 balls.
2.5
0
Brett Lee To Sohaib Maqsood
A quick short ball, outside off, SM looks to pull but misses. Seemed like there was a noise there, but no one appeals. Lee only smiles at the batter.
2.4
0
Brett Lee To Sohaib Maqsood
Back of a length, outside off, Sohaib looks to heave it through the on side but misses.
2.3
4
Brett Lee To Sohaib Maqsood
FOUR! Nicely done. On a length, outside off, Maqsood gets across and flicks it beautifully through mid-wicket. Two fielders get across but make a mess of the fielding and the ball slips through!
2.2
0
Brett Lee To Sohaib Maqsood
A length ball, outside off, pitching and moving away, Sohaib Maqsood swings hard but misses.
2.1
1
Brett Lee To Sharjeel Khan
Around off, punched through the covers for a single.
End Of The Over 2 : 10/0
5 Runs
  • 01.1
  • 11.2
  • 41.3
  • 01.4
  • 01.5
  • 01.6
S. Maqsood
6 (7)
S. Khan
4 (5)
P. Siddle
1-0-5-0
1.6
0
Peter Siddle To Sohaib Maqsood
Outside off, pushed towards cover.
1.5
0
Peter Siddle To Sohaib Maqsood
Slower ball, down the leg side, Maqsood misses his flick and the ball lands in front of the keeper. No wide signalled, must have hit the pad but looking at Maqsood's reaction, he looks surprised as well, that it was not wided.
1.4
0
Peter Siddle To Sohaib Maqsood
Full, around off, pushed towards cover.
1.3
4
Peter Siddle To Sohaib Maqsood
FOUR! There comes the first boundary of the chase. A short ball, outside off, Sohaib Maqsood gets on top of the bounce, swivels and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.
1.2
1
Peter Siddle To Sharjeel Khan
Full, around off, Sharjeel pushes it towards cover and this time, takes the single. 69 more needed from 112 balls.
1.1
0
Peter Siddle To Sharjeel Khan
Full, around off, from around the wicket, Sharjeel Khan pushes it towards cover.
Pace can threaten you, while spin can embarrass. That's what Australia Champions have done with their batting. With due respect to Pakistan's spinners, this was by no means, a 74 all out wicket, that too, from 49/2. It was a total lack of application from the Aussies, as if they were not interested at all in playing this match. Because they had no gains. Win or lose, they would finish either second or third, so it was only about the opposition they would face in their semifinal clash. This score of 74 would have reminded the Aussies of the damage they inflicted on the Indians at the MCG, in 2008, where India were shot out for 74 in 17.3 overs. Brett Lee was a part of that contest and he comes a full circle with this encounter, against of course, a different opponent and at a different venue. It will be Peter Siddle to share the new ball.
End Of The Over 1 : 5/0
5 Runs
  • 10.1
  • 10.2
  • 10.3
  • 00.4
  • 10.5
  • 10.6
S. Khan
3 (3)
S. Maqsood
2 (3)
B. Lee
1-0-5-0
0.6
1
Brett Lee To Sharjeel Khan
Full, around middle, little bit of inward movement, but Khan negotiates it comfortably towards mid-wicket with a flick for another run. 5 singles in the opening over.
0.5
1
Brett Lee To Sohaib Maqsood
Full, around off, bit of extra bounce, Sohaib works it towards mid on and takes another single.
0.4
0
Brett Lee To Sohaib Maqsood
Full, around middle and off, hint of outswing, Maqsood defends.
0.3
1
Brett Lee To Sharjeel Khan
Full, on middle and leg, Sharjeel works it to deep mid-wicket for one.
0.2
1
Brett Lee To Sohaib Maqsood
On a length, outside off, Sohaib Maqsood works it through mid-wicket for a run.
0.1
1
Brett Lee To Sharjeel Khan
Short and wide outside off, Sharjeel Khan slaps it through the covers for a single to get the run chase underway.
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Match Info
  • Venue Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester
  • Weather Overcast
  • Toss Pakistan Champions won the toss and elected to field
  • Result Pakistan Champions beat Australia Champions by 10 wickets
  • Player of the Match Saeed Ajmal
  • Umpire
  • Referee
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