Cheered all the way by a packed crowd, Pakistan kept their cool in a tricky run-chase to win the low-scoring yet enthralling encounter to hand the defending champions their first World Cup defeat since May 1999.

On a two-paced wicket, Australia labored to 176 before being bowled out for the first time in a World Cup match in almost 12 years. It was also their lowest score in a World Cup game since 1999. Pacers Umar Gul (3-30) and Abdul Razzaq (2-8) did most of the damage.

Lee, who had never lost a World Cup match before, lifted Australia’s hopes with his sheer pace taking 4-28 including the prized scalps of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq off successive deliveries in the 23 over.

But youngsters Asad Shafiq (46) and Umar Akmal (44 not out) kept Pakistan on course before veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq (20 not out) hit two consecutive boundaries off spinner Jason Krejza to finish off the job with 54 balls to spare.

Pakistan did get a scare when they slipped from 98-2 to 142-6 within a span of ten overs but Umar and Razzaq helped them coast to victory that has given them a quarterfinal date with the team that will finish last in Pool B. The team positions in that group will be decided after Sunday’s match between India and West Indies.

For the jubilant Pakistanis, it was a team effort in every way.

Gul, their pace spearhead, recovered from a knee problem early in his first spell to bowl with a testing line and probing pace before getting enough reverse swing to wrap up the Aussie innings.

Razzaq, who failed to impress with the new ball in earlier games was pressed into the attack in the 35 over. He ended any Aussie hopes to revive their innings with two wickets for eight runs in four overs.

Mohammad Hafeez bowled ten overs on the trot, tying up the Australian batters to finish with 1-26 and the prized scalp of Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain.

In the run-chase, the young Asad followed his unbeaten 78 against Zimbabwe with a vital 46 for which he stayed on the wicket for almost two-and-a-half hours to keep Pakistan on course for what is a morale-boosting triumph ahead of next week’s quarterfinals. He batted with great temperament and featured in important partnerships of 53 and 41 with Younis Khan (31) and Umar Akmal respectively.

Umar returned to the line-up after sitting out the game against Zimbabwe due to an injured finger to play a key role in the run-chase. He did have a few lapses of concentration but the youngster batted aggressively to keep the Aussie pacers at bay during his match-winning knock. He hit four boundaries and a six in his 59-ball knock.

Kamran Akmal managed to put aside the memories of his horror show in the 110-run loss against New Zealand with three catches and a 27-ball 23 as an opener.

Earlier, Gul put the Aussies on the back foot by scalping the in-form Shane Watson (9) with one that nipped off the seam to shatter the stumps.

Ponting, struggling for runs in the tournament, then added 63 for the second wicket with Haddin but the Aussie captain never really looked comfortable during his 33-ball stay on the crease. He finally fell to Hafeez trying to cut him only to produce a thick edge, pouched by Kamran. Although umpire Marais Erasmus failed to pick it up, Pakistan reviewed his ‘not out’ decision, which was overturned by the TV umpire.

Ponting, who struck two boundaries in his 19, has a tally of just 102 runs from six matches in this tournament.

From then onwards, the Aussies lost wickets at regular intervals. The next to go was Haddin with Kamran taking a smart catch off Wahab Riaz. Haddin’s 42 came off 80 balls and included three hits to the fence.

When Cameron White (8) went back after getting involved in a terrible mix-up with Michael Clarke, all eyes were on the Australian vice-captain and new man Mike Hussey to rescue the innings. But the duo fell in quick succession to leave the Aussies precariously placed at 144-6 in the 38 over.

Razzaq troubled Clarke before dislodging his off bail before Hussey fell to Rehman, handing Misbah a simple catch at short midwicket.

In his next over, Razzaq extracted some extra bounce to beat Mitchell Johnson and Kamran, having a good day in the field for a change, made no mistake.

Gul returned in the attack and managed enough reverse swing to rip through the Australian tail. He cleaned up Krejza with an inswinging yorker and then got rid of Brett Lee. In between, Shahid Afridi stretched his tournament tally to 17 wickets by bamboozling Steven Smith with a googly.

Australia, who picked an unchanged line-up, opted to bat first on the tricky Premadasa wicket. Pakistan took the field with one change – Umar Akmal coming in for misfiring opener Ahmed Shehzad.