GROS ISLET, St Lucia - Michael Clarke was so nervous he couldn't even watch Mike Hussey's final-over heroics in the World Twenty20 semi-final in St Lucia.
Needing 18 off the last over to pass Pakistan's 6-191, Hussey hit 6-6-4-6 from consecutive balls to deliver Australia a spot in the final
against England in Barbados.
Clarke could be seen on TV biting his fingernails as the game see-sawed to its exciting climax, but in the last few balls he was out of view.
"I enjoy biting my nails when I'm nervous I guess," the skipper said.
"I couldn't watch the last over. I watched the first ball when Mitchell Johnson got a single.
"Then I've gone back into the change rooms. I heard loud cheers.
"I knew it was a six and then another six and I thought oh my God, what is going on out there?
"I was too nervous. I couldn't watch."
Hussey said he had a fairly simple game plan in the final over.
"Just try to slog every ball for six," he smiled.
"I knew he (spinner Saeed Ajmal) would probably try to spear a few fast yorkers in. If he got them right then I don't think there's too much I could have done.
"Thankfully he probably just missed his length a little bit.
"I don't know what I was saying to myself. It's all a bit of a blur.
"I was just saying please this last ball, please come out of the middle.
"I just wanted to feel what it felt like. I didn't know what it was going to feel like and it's an absolutely amazing feeling.
"It's the best feeling you can ever have, to hit the winning runs for your country, particularly in such a big game as a semi-final.
"I'm so happy and it was great to see the elation on all the other boys' faces. We're so excited to be in the final."
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis refused to blame his bowlers for letting the game get away from them.
"We didn't go wrong anywhere," he said.
"One should give credit to Australia the way they batted. They kept the momentum going all the way.
"Especially Cameron White's innings (of 43) and then Hussey who did the real damage.
"I still can't believe it."
- AAP
