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Cape Town - The Proteas have been eliminated from the World Twenty20 after Pakistan defeated Australia by 32 runs in Colombo on Tuesday.
South Africa still play India later but it will only be a game of academic importance for AB de Villiers's men.
Pakistan made 149-6 after being sent in to bat and then restricted Australia to 117-7 at the Premadasa Stadium. Both teams ended the Super Eights on four points each.
Australia advanced to the semi-finals, despite the defeat, due to them having the best net run-rate in the group. India need a big win over South Africa later on Tuesday to stop Pakistan's progress into the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka and the West Indies have already qualified from group one.
Veteran Mike Hussey was Australia's saviour with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls as none of the other batsmen managed to cross 15 against the rampaging spinners.
Australia never looked comfortable after their in-form openers, Shane Watson and David Warner, were dismissed by the fifth over with only 19 runs on the board.
Australia, who needed to make 112 or more to qualify, achieved the target when Hussey cut seamer Umar Gul to the fence off the first ball of the final over.
Gul's two overs at the end were the only ones by a seamer as the spinners shared 18 overs between themselves.
Pakistan's innings revolved around left-hander Nasir Jamshed's 55 off 46 balls, which contained four boundaries and two sixes.
After the openers were removed by the sixth over, Jamshed put on 79 off 55 balls for the third wicket with Kamran Akmal, who made 32 before both batsmen were dismissed in the space of three deliveries.
Abdul Razzaq marked his return to the side in place of Yasir Arafat to make 22 from 17 balls. Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc claimed 3-20 for Australia.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 149-6 (Nasir Jamshed 55, Kamran Akmal 32, Abdul Razzaq 22; Mitchell Starc 3-20) def. Australia 117-7 (Mike Hussey 54 not out; Saeed Ajmal 3-17, Raza Hasan 2-14, Mohammad Hafeez 2-22) by 32 runs
South Africa still play India later but it will only be a game of academic importance for AB de Villiers's men.
Pakistan made 149-6 after being sent in to bat and then restricted Australia to 117-7 at the Premadasa Stadium. Both teams ended the Super Eights on four points each.
Australia advanced to the semi-finals, despite the defeat, due to them having the best net run-rate in the group. India need a big win over South Africa later on Tuesday to stop Pakistan's progress into the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka and the West Indies have already qualified from group one.
Veteran Mike Hussey was Australia's saviour with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls as none of the other batsmen managed to cross 15 against the rampaging spinners.
Australia never looked comfortable after their in-form openers, Shane Watson and David Warner, were dismissed by the fifth over with only 19 runs on the board.
Australia, who needed to make 112 or more to qualify, achieved the target when Hussey cut seamer Umar Gul to the fence off the first ball of the final over.
Gul's two overs at the end were the only ones by a seamer as the spinners shared 18 overs between themselves.
Pakistan's innings revolved around left-hander Nasir Jamshed's 55 off 46 balls, which contained four boundaries and two sixes.
After the openers were removed by the sixth over, Jamshed put on 79 off 55 balls for the third wicket with Kamran Akmal, who made 32 before both batsmen were dismissed in the space of three deliveries.
Abdul Razzaq marked his return to the side in place of Yasir Arafat to make 22 from 17 balls. Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc claimed 3-20 for Australia.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 149-6 (Nasir Jamshed 55, Kamran Akmal 32, Abdul Razzaq 22; Mitchell Starc 3-20) def. Australia 117-7 (Mike Hussey 54 not out; Saeed Ajmal 3-17, Raza Hasan 2-14, Mohammad Hafeez 2-22) by 32 runs
