Cricket: Australia sustained a 32-run defeat in their final Super Eights match against Pakistan, but were still able to celebrate a place in the World Twenty20 semi-finals while their conquerors faced an anxious wait in Colombo. Pakistan are also through to the last four on net run-rate after India could only beat South Africa by one run in the late game.
Australia's final score of 117 for seven was nowhere near enough to win the match, in reply to 149 for six, but ensured their net run-rate stayed ahead of Pakistan's.
Australia skipper George Bailey won the toss and opted to field first, Mitchell Starc making good on that call when he removed the dangerous Mohammad Hafeez for four with the first ball of the second over.
The left-armer should have added the scalp of Nasir Jamshed for a duck two deliveries later, but he was dropped by Glen Maxwell at slip.
Jamshed was soon off the mark and a couple of quick boundaries by Imran Nazir got Pakistan's innings going.
The on-song Shane Watson accounted for Nazir (14) just before the end of the powerplay, but Jamshed continued compiling runs steadily alongside Kamran Akmal.
Jamshed struck Pat Cummins for the first six of the day in the 11th over and followed with a second off Xavier Doherty moments later.
Four more off Brad Hogg brought up Jamshed's 50 and Akmal clubbed a six of his own off the veteran spinner.
Doherty eventually prised out Jamshed for 55 and Starc returned to remove Akmal and Shahid Afridi as he returned three for 20.
Only Abdul Razzaq, with 22 off 17 balls, made a significant contribution in the closing overs.
Australia's dangerous opening pair failed a trial by spin, both Watson and David Warner lbw for eight to Raza Hasan and Hafeez respectively.
Number three Mike Hussey provided the backbone of the innings, making 54 not out in 47 balls, including the boundary that ensured his side would continue in the competition. But he was the only man to get to grips with the Pakistan attack.
Bailey hit a four and a six before falling for 15 to Saeed Ajmal, who also deceived Matthew Wade and Cummins with successive balls.
Hafeez and Hasan finished with with two wickets apiece as Cameron White and Maxwell also fell to turn.
India's one-run victory over South Africa in Colombo was in vain.
Pakistan's win over Australia earlier in the day had rendered South Africa's hopes of qualification redundant but India needed a large margin of victory over the Proteas in their final Super Eights match to seal their passage and deny Pakistan a place in the next stage.
Suresh Raina top-scored with 45 as India reached 152 for six but they were unable to restrict their opponents to a score of under 122 and they eventually just squeaked to victory after South Africa were all out for 151, with Faf du Plessis' 65 off 38 balls not enough to get them over the line.
Gautam Gambhir got India off to a fantastic start after they had lost the toss, punching Dale Steyn through the covers for four off the first ball of the innings.
It was a rare highlight for the left-handed opener, who had his middle stump knocked out after inside edging Morne Morkel in the fourth over while India were two down eight balls later when the in-form Virat Kohli was caught behind down the leg side off Jacques Kallis.
Needing to rebuild India were then left further in the mire when Virender Sehwag was bowled by Robin Peterson for 12 after brainlessly charging down the pitch, having just hit the slow left-armer's previous delivery for a huge six.
Yuvraj Singh's cameo of 21 from 15 balls boosted India but the all-rounder was cleaned up after being deceived by a slower ball from the impressive Morkel and it was left to Rohit Sharma and Raina to rebuild.
The two put on a crucial partnership of 44 for the fifth wicket and although Sharma was trapped in front by Peterson for 25 off 27 balls, Raina and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (23 not out) steadily accumulated in the closing stages to aid India's cause.
Dhoni's men needed to restrict South Africa to a total of 121 or below to qualify for the semi-finals and they got off to a great start when Hashim Amla edged Zaheer Khan's second delivery to slip.
Fellow opener Kallis pulled Irfan Pathan to Rohit at midwicket and India looked to be in a superb position when Proteas captain AB de Villiers chopped Yuvraj onto his stumps.
Du Plessis ensured it would not be plain sailing for India, however, and he completed a fine half-century with an inside edge for four off Yuvraj, who would have his revenge when the South African was caught by Raina at long-off.
His innings, which contained six fours and two sixes, helped De Villiers' side pass 122 - to the delight off the remaining Pakistan fans at the R Premadasa Stadium - although Zaheer took two wickets in as many balls to finish with three for 22 and give India hope of finishing their tournament on a positive note.
Sixes from Albie and Morne Morkel in the final over left South Africa needing two off the final two balls but Lakshmipathy Balaji, having dismissed the former off his second ball, then bowled the latter to claim his third wicket and seal victory for India by the tightest of margins.