New Delhi: Former ICC World Twenty20 champions suffered their third defeat in the 2016 edition to crash out of the marquee tournament on Friday at Mohali.
The Shahid Afridi-led side lost to Australia by 21 runs in their Super 10 Group 1 match at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
Earlier in the tournament, the 2009 champions had lost to India and New Zealand in the five-team group. Their only win came against Bangladesh.
Australian, after winning the toss, set a target of 194 runs against Pakistan with skipper Steve Smith leading from the front with a classic undefeated 61 off 43 balls. His innings was defined by outrageous stroke making.
In the last ball of the 19th over, the skipper toyed with Wahab Raiz to hit a brilliant leg-side four after taking stance wide off the off stump. It looked like he was standing in a different pitch.
Hard hitting batsman Glenn Maxwell (30 off 18) and retiring Shane Watson (44 off 21) helped the Aussies cause after a good opening stand between Usman Khawaja (21 off 16) and Aaron Finch (15 off 16).
David Warner, however, failed to make an impact scoring only nine off six balls.
Imad Wasim was Pakistan's most successful bowler with two wickets from his four overs. The spinner leaked 31 runs.
Riaz also got two wickets, conceding 35 runs, even as their strike bowler Mohammad Amir failed to pick up a wicket for the second successive match. He was wicketless against New Zealand on Tuesday.
In reply, Pakistan managed only 172 for the loss of eight wickets with Aussie paceman James Faulkner completing a five-wicket haul.
Openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad posted a 20-run stand inside the third over, but the latter perished after making one. Khan batted with some purpose in his 19-ball innings to score 30 runs.
Khalid Latif was the top-scorer with 46 runs from 41 balls. Umar Akmal (32 off 20) and Shoaib Malik (40 off 20 ) also batted well in the losing cause.
Afridi, who is likely to announce his retirement from international cricket, could only score 14 runs from seven balls.
For Australia, who will now play India in a virtual quarter-final against India, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Coulter-Nile lead the attack, but Faulkner was the star today.
The 25-year-old registered best bowling figures for an Australian. The left-arm fast-medium bowler's figures read an impeccable 4-0-27-5.
He was ably supported by young spinner Adam Zampa, who took two wickets conceding 32 runs. Hazlewood also got a wicket.
Bangladesh have already crashed out of the tournament, after losing all three matches they have played so far.
