Veteran Shane Watson is struggling with his batting form and was visibly uncomfortable against Pakistan in the third quarter-final at Adelaide on Friday, but the media Down Under is backing their all-rounder nevertheless. “Shane Watson has played an innings that scorebooks could never do justice to,” wrote the Weekend Australian of Watson’s scratchy but unbeaten 66-ball 64 against the Pakistanis the previous night. The 33-year-old struggled against Pakistan’s on-fire pacer Wahab Riaz’s short stuff and even ballooned a top-edge, when on just four, which Rahat Ali put down close to the fence. “Watson, axed by selectors seemingly for good, earlier in this tournament, produced one of the defining innings of his career,” said foxsports.com.au, who also went on to call him a “warrior” who “dug Australia out of perilous trouble”.

Shane Watson avoids a bouncer from Pakistan’s pacer Wahab Riaz in Adelaide on Friday. Pic/AFP