Noteworthy performances by Shane Watson and James Faulkner saw Australia manage to post a convincing win over Pakistan, knocking out the sub continental giants out of the ICC World T20 following a 21-run loss on Friday.

Australia, riding on a fine batting display by captain Smith and Watson put 193 on the board for Pakistan, whose bowling attack known as one of the best in the world was sent to all parts of the park at the PCA stadium in Mohali, The Aussies were clearly better on all counts than a beleaguered Pakistan side. James Faulkner 5/27, Steve Smith (61 off 43) and Shane Watson (44 off 21) helped their side to keep themselves alive at the tournament.

The pitch in Mohali was quite a flat one and Australia’s decision to bat first looked the right one from the outset. They had another opening pair with Aaron Finch accompanying Usman Khawaja at the top. The duo got Australia off to a brisk start and the momentum was never allowed to dip. Australia’s fifty came up in the 6th over while the 100 was notched up in the 13th. The momentum continued to surge and the 150 came in the 17th over. The lynchpin of the innings was skipper Steve Smith with a fine unbeaten 61.

He had twice previously called for his batsmen to do better in the running between the wickets. In a stand with Glenn Maxwell, the duo saw negating the middle overs with some good running between the wickets. The odd boundary popped in as well through a bad ball, a top-edged reverse sweep and some good picking of the gaps. After the fall of Maxwell, it was Watson who came in. His role down the order was simple, to boost the run-rate and he did that perfectly with a 21-ball 44.

Australia ended posting a mammoth 193, 13 more than what New Zealand did against Pakistan on the same ground.

In the chase, Pakistan started in much the same way that they had done against New Zealand. This time, the steam lasted longer but was still not enough to go the full course. Sharjeel Khan got the chase going with a 19-ball 30 that had a string of pulled boundaries. Ahmed Shehzad fell to a tame top-edged pull and Sharjeel was a trifle unlucky to get bowled off the inside edge in the 6th over but Pakistan did not suffer a break in momentum.

This was the key factor that cost them the match against New Zealand. The mistake wasn’t repeated. 17 runs off the 7th over bowled by Watson, all to Umar Akmal, who impressed with an array of attacking shots. It was he, along with Shehzad, who was pummeled for a boundary-less knock in the previous game and the berating seemed to have gotten to Akmal.

He started off in frenzy and did not seem to let up. After the assault on Watson, the leg-spinner Adam Zampa was his next target. After hitting a boundary and a double, he was bowled going for an encore. Shahid Afridi did what he does best with a six and out. Khalid Latif was doing a Smith but Australia’s fielding was definitely a lot better than Pakistan’s, the gorund-fielding in particular. While Australia were cruising their doubles, Pakistan were always made to stretch and dive when they went for similar runs.

The chase desperately needed someone to do a Watson though. Pakistan’s innings had progressed in a very similar manner to that of Australia’s for 15 overs

With that loss, Pakistan’s dimal tourney comes to an end while Australia will go into their next game against India, on the same ground – in a virtual quarter-final – with the confidence boost of a good win.