Thaindian News

Colombo, March 20 (IANS) Australia’s loss to Pakistan here ended their 34-match winning streak in the World Cup and is the first one under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy.

Other highlights:

* Australia posted their first defeat, after winning 26 games under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy at the World Cup, and eight before that. He enjoys a success percentage of 96.29 at the World Cup - 26 victories, one defeat apart from one no-result game out of 28 played.

* Australia (176) posted their second lowest World Cup total against Pakistan - their lowest is 172 off 45.2 overs at Perth on March 11, 1992. This is their lowest since 1992 and the sixth lowest in the World Cup. They were bundled out for 129 against India at Chelmsford on June 20, 1983. They were bowled out at 213 at Edgbaston against South Africa on June 17, 1999 - the last instance in the World Cup when they lost all ten wickets.

* Both countries - Australia and Pakistan - have won the same number of games - four each at the World Cup.

* Pakistan’s superb win by four wickets ended Australia’s undefeated sequence of 34 games in the World Cup. Their winning percentage (58.33) has improved a lot during the present World Cup - won 35 and lost 25 out of 62 played (NR 2).

* Umar Gul’s s second Man of the Match award at the World Cup is his fourth in ODIs. He had first received the MOM award for posting 71 against Kenya at Hambantota on February 23, 2011.

* Shahid Afridi, with 17 wickets at 11.47 runs apiece in six games, has emulated a record for most wickets by a captain in a World Cup. Imran Khan had captured 17 wickets at 13.05 runs apiece in seven games in 1987-88.

* Abdul Razzaq bowled magnificently for an economy rate of 2.00 - the best in an innings at the World Cup. His bowling performance (4-0-8-2) is his best against Australia at the World Cup - his best performance is 3 for 25 against Zimbabwe at The Oval on June 11, 1999.

* Michael Clarke has averaged 112.50 at the group stage in the 2011 World Cup, aggregating 225 at a strike rate of 94.93, including two fifties, in six games. He is the only Australian player to have averaged 85-plus in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. He had averaged 87.20 in 2011 - 436 in eleven games, including four fifties, in nine innings. He also took his runs’ tally at the World Cup to 661 at an average of 94.42 in 17 matches, including six fifties. His strike rate of 94.97 is quite impressive indeed.

* For the first time in the World Cup, Brett Lee has captured four wickets in consecutive matches - 4 for 46 against Canada at Bangalore on March 16, followed by 4 for 28 against Pakistan at Colombo on March 19. The fast bowler has taken his wickets’ tally to 23 at an average of 19.73 in 12 games - the most by any bowler in 2011.

* Shane Watson’s runs tally this year is the highest for Australia, aggregating 571 (ave.57.10) in twelve games. His run-aggregate is exceeded only by Jonathan Trott in 2011, aggregating 711 (ave.59.25) in 13 matches, including two hundreds and five fifties.

* Brad Haddin is the leading run-getter in the present competition, aggregating 279 at an average of 55.80.