Pakistan played best match of the tournament but Australia win !

Pakistani bowler Saeed Ajmal celebrates after taking the wicket of Australian batsman Mitchell Johnson during the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 .

CENTURION: Australia qualified for the champions trophy semi final with a thrilling two wicket win over Pakistan Wednesday at supersport park .

The defending champions Australia , having won the toss and restricted Pakistan to 205/6 of 50 overs , appear to be coasting home with 140 runs on the board , seven wickets in hand and almost 19 overs left .

but as the Pakistani bowlers came alive , wickets tumbled and Australia entered the final over needing five runs to win a match transformed into a thriller after being tedious to watch for so long .

Tail-enders brett lee and nuthan hurtiz picked off singles against super bowling by Umar gull and some inspired fielding to reach 206/8 in the best match so far after tournament.

Man of the match michel hussy top scorred with 64 and shan watson and mithel johnson took towo wickets each for the australians , who faced england Friday in the first semifinal.

Pakistan were never comfortable seam friendly wicket and opners Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi complied only 30 when the partenship was terminated on an overcast day.