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Australia overwhelm Pakistan to reach semis
Adelaide: Putting up an impressive show, Australia reached the semi-finals of the cricket World Cup as they defeated Pakistan by six wickets in the third quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval here on Friday.
Fast bowlers Josh Hazzlewood (4-35) and Mitchell Starc (2-40) and spinner Glenn Maxwell (2-43) helped Australia bowl out Pakistan for 213 in 49.5 overs. Several Pakistani batsmen got starts but failed to make it count.
In reply, Australia got over the line in 33.5 overs with the help of Steven Smith (65) and Shane Watson (68 not out).
Opener Aaron Finch (2) and David Warner (23) fell early as Pakistan looked to take early wickets. Especially, left-armer seamer Wahab Riaz bowled with full steam and fire.
He removed Warner and skipper Michael Clarke (8) to leave the hosts reeling at 59/3 in the 11th over.
However, rising star Smith and experienced Watson forged an 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket to take their side nearer to the target.
While Smith registered his sixth One-Day International (ODI) fifty, Watson recorded his 33rd half-century.
After Smith fell to Ehsan Adil, Maxwell came to the middle and blasted a 29-ball 44 to remain not out along with Watson.
Pakistan also let Australia get away by dropping two crucial catches off Riaz. Watson was batting on four when he was dropped by Rahat Ali at fine-leg.
Later, Maxwell also got a reprieve early during his knock as Sohail Khan dropped a miscued shot at third man.
Earlier, electing to bat, Pakistan struggled from the beginning. Right-handed openers Ahmed Shehzad (5) and Sarfraz Ahmed (10) lost their wickets by playing bad shots.
Sarfraz chased an away moving delivery from pacer Starc to offer a diving catch to Watson at the slips. Shehzad also fell soon. The 23-year-old played away from the body and gave a regulation catch to Michael Clarke at the slips off fast bowler Hazzlewood.
Later, several batsmen got starts but failed to make it count and that proved detrimental for Pakistan.
With his team at 24/2 in the sixth over, skipper and ever reliable Misbah-ul-Haq (34) joined young Haris Sohail (41) in the middle. The right-left combination exercised damage control with a 73-run stand for the third wicket.
Misbah, who will quit One-Day International (ODI) cricket after this World Cup, seemed once again to be a stabilising factor. A flourishing partnership steadied things for Pakistan for a while.
But the 40-year-old Misbah attempted a slog-sweep off spinner Glenn Maxwell that failed to clear Aaron Finch at deep mid-wicket. The skipper left the scene with his team in a spot of bother at 97/3 in the 24th over.
Sohail soon followed his captain to the pavilion as he ended up edging a Mitchell Johnson bouncer into the hands of wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
With these two wickets, Pakistan were pushed on the backfoot and failed to recover. Talented Umar Akmal (20) also failed to get going, while veteran Shahid Afridi played true to his character.
Irrespective of his team’s precarious situation, the former captain swung his bat at will and made a 15-ball 23. Often blamed as someone who does not show responsibility, Afridi was holed out at deep mid-wicket off a Hazzlewood delivery.
Sohaib Maqsood (29), Riaz (16) and Adil (15) ensured that Pakistan crossed the 200-run mark.
For Australia, Hazzlewood was the pick of the lot as he took four wickets for 35 runs in hus full quota of 10 overs. Left-armer Starc and Maxwell picked two wickets apiece. Seamers Johnson and James Faulkner took a wicket each.
All these contributed to Pakistan’s agony. With such a small target, the Australian team that bats deep, were always the favourites to win.
In the second semi-final on March 26, Australia will meet defending champions India, who thrashed Bangladesh in the second last eight contest on Thursday.
Brief scores: Pakistan 213 all out in 49.5 overs (Haris Sohail 41, Misbah-ul-Haq 34; Josh Hazzlewood 4-35, Mitchell Starc 2-40, Glenn Maxwell 2-43) lose to Australia 216/4 in 33.5 overs (Shane Watson 68 not out, Steven Smith 65, Maxwell 44 not out; Wahab Riaz 2-54, Ehsan Adil 1-31).
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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