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For now Pakistan can relish their favorite and un-expected win over the world champions. After a long dismal chain of bad performances, win over Australia in a most reviving way, was a fresh blow for Pakistanis when they were observing the Ramadan:the month of fasting.

First surprises came, when Shoaib Malik & Co. did a fantastic spell of accurate bowling and on-toes fielding against the mighty Aussie bats. Early departure of formidable Mathew Hayden laid the foundation for a good match Pakistanis could enjoy. Gilchrist was looking ominous to Pakistan, but then Sohail Tanvir clipped his wings, when flying machine Gilchrist was about to take off after smashing 24 runs on 12 balls.

Australian Skipper and Andrew Symonds, who historically likes to play against Pakistan, started showing stars to Pakistan, and it was the time, when famous Australian recovery was on the cards, but the lucky stars were smiling at the Pakistanis, because Afridi was continuously disturbing Ponting and Symonds alike. Symonds was bowled by Afridi at 29, and Hafeez got rid of Ponting at 27. No sixers was offered by any one of them.

Michael Hussey and Brad Hodge then tried to support the rare crumbling champ side. They both managed to sustain the Australian innings and played some top cricketing non-slog shots. Hussey made 37 and Hodge made 36. Hussey also hit the single Australian six of the innings. Australia managed 164, and by knowing the Pakistan blow-ups of the past, it was a competitive target nonetheless.

Pakistan achieved the target all right. But this win was more than the result. The result was multi-dimensional and it was lesson-rich. Pakistan introduced a new facet of Twenty20 that it wasn’t all about slog and swinging the bat wildly. They proved that partnerships were still in vogue and very much pertinent even in Twenty20. Mighty 119 bond between skipper Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq was the feast of the night.

After the usual failure of openers, and the inept incidental Younis Khan, things started to look familiarly bleak for the Pakistanis. Shoaib Malik’s 52 and Misbah’s 66 included sixes galore. Misbah hitted the longest six of the year, that was 111m long. Their fours were sweet, their sixes were stingy, and their strike rate was lightening.

Now Pakistan is in the semi finals. A very good omen for Pakistani cricket and the battered fans at home. But the question is, will they able to carry on this winning streak?