Pakistan hand Australia a 50-run thrashing

Pakistan batsmen pummelled Australia on their way to a thumping 50-run win in their third and final league match in the 2002 Hong Kong Sixes tournament. With their all-win record, the Pakistanis have now booked their place in the Championship round.

Earlier, Moin Khan, who won the toss and decided to bat yet again, proceeded to back his decision with a lusty 34 off 10 balls. The Pakistan captain smashed two fours and four sixes before he was forced to retire.

Naved Latif, another player who has represented Pakistan in Test cricket, also made 34 off just eight balls with two fours and four sixes, as the Pakistans went hell for leather. Soon the tournament record for the highest team total seemed in jeopardy. With Naved-ul-Hasan coming to the party, making 12 off just four balls, Pakistan eventually ended up with 115/2, equalling the erstwhile record.

The Australians, who had been upset by Hong Kong in their opening match, seemed to have given up the chase even before it began. Though openers Dene Hills (33 off 11 balls) and Shaun Young (26 off 13 balls) got among the runs, their team was always behind the asking rate.

The last vestiges of hope which Australia might have entertained were swept away when Navad-ul-Hasan completed a hat-trick, removing Scott Prestwidge, Southam and Colin Miller for ducks. It was just the second hat-trick in the tournament's history. Hasan's teammate Mohammad Zubair had earlier achieved the feat, dismissing Derek Crookes, Dean Laing and Fanie de Villiers in a match against South Africa in 1997. Australia, however, managed to play out their quota of overs before capitulating to a 50-run defeat.