5 Things: Pakistan's lost opportunity, Australia's toughest test ahead

Here are five things we learned from Australia's quarterfinal win against Pakistan on Friday at the Cricket World Cup:

1. Catching the difference

The very first wicket was a sign of things to come when Australia's Shane Watson took an excellent catch, diving to his right from first slip to dismiss Pakistan opener Sarfraz Ahmed. Australia's clinical precision continued, clinging to anything that came their way, to claim all 10 wickets out caught, just the sixth time that has happened in Cricket World Cup history.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's sloppy fielding cost them any shot at a victory. A spectacular spell produced by fast bowler Wahab Riaz was undone by a dreadful dropped chance by Rahat Ali after Watson had scored just four runs. (Watson finished unbeaten on 64.) Watson and Glenn Maxwell later punished Pakistan to finish off the match.

2. The indispensable Mitchell Starc

On paper, Mitchell Starc may have only took two wickets compared to Josh Hazlewood's 4 for 35, but the Australian once again showed why he has been the most valuable bowler of the tournament. His opening spell set the tone by cramping up Sarfraz on numerous occasions, leaving the Pakistan opener increasingly uncomfortable.

Starc's 18 wickets are not only a tournament best, but also nearly double Australia's next best bowler (Mitchell Johnson, with 10). India, South Africa and New Zealand all have a far better balanced distribution of wickets in their bowling attacks, while Australia have been heavily reliant on Starc for early breakthroughs.

3. Despite win, Australia still vulnerable

The co-hosts had a relatively easy hurdle to clear against Pakistan, but India will present a far sturdier challenge in next week's semifinal in Sydney. You can make the case that India's batting is stronger with Shikhar Dhawan starting in front of Virat Kohli. Their bowling is also better balanced than Australia, particularly in the spin department, where specialist offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been superb.

Australia, meanwhile, have tried to sneak by using Maxwell's part-time spin. India may have struggled against Australia in the ODI tri-series that preceded the Cricket World Cup back when India went two months without a victory on tour, but that seems like a long time ago now.

4. Australia-India semifinal will probably decide title

All signs point to Thursday's second semifinal yielding the tournament champion.

New Zealand have looked invincible, but they've played all their matches at home. To win the Cricket World Cup, they have to get past West Indies and South Africa, and prove they can win outside of New Zealand. If South Africa can beat the New Zealand-West Indies winner, they'd have to then defeat Australia on home soil, a team they lost against 4-1 in an ODI series back in November. If India were to reach the final, it would be a rematch of the Feb. 22 group-stage match on the same Melbourne Cricket Ground where India routed South Africa.

5. Sparse crowds continue

Attendance at the first two quarterfinals in Australia were underwhelming, but many blamed weekday-scheduled matches that didn't feature one of the host teams. There were no such excuses Friday.

Australia's match drew a crowd of 35,516 at the Adelaide Oval, a stadium with a 53,500 capacity. Australia's domestic Twenty20 tournament semifinal at the same ground was sold out in January. Two Adelaide Strikers matches at Adelaide Oval this season also drew in excess of 40,000 people, and the Strikers' average attendance for regular-season games was 35,960.

Australia captain Michael Clarke took to Twitter shortly after Friday's quarterfinal to rally more support for the semifinals.

Bottom line: Having a ground two-thirds full for a Cricket World Cup knockout match involving a host team should be an embarrassment for tournament organizers.