Re: QF Australia vs. Pakistan 20th March 2015 @ Adelaide (3rd QF)
We know that a player can get out first ball or may make runs before getting out. Misbah wastes 20 to 30 balls before he start making runs. Misbah could still get out after wasting 20 to 30 balls without making much runs (fould be 5 to 10 runs in 20 to 30 balls). That means, even if Pakistan had good start (maybe making 80 runs in 100 balls), than wasting 30 balls would make that start bad and that means posting low score. If start was bad than situation could become much worse. That is the reason Pakistan randomly make 300 runs or chases 300 runs.
Anyhow, if first 4 batsmen are fast scorer than we can expect any one of them may score good runs fast and in that case Pakistan would be sitting with good score and plenty of balls.
That is why I think, after first 4 players, if Pakistan is in trouble than Misbah can come to stabilize the inning, else there is no need for Misbah to bat even at number 5 or 6.
Example: Pakistan against SA was 92 in 16.2 overs when Pakistan lost second wicket. Misbah came in and made first 9 runs in 29 balls. Since Misbah feel reluctant in running between wickets, he slowed down Younis too.
Result: Pakistan run rate became so low that it started effecting performance of other players who followed, and they lost their wickets trying to increase run rate.
End result: Pakistan was all out making 222 runs in last overs, that was just 130 runs more than what Pakistan was in 16.2 overs. Ideally, with such start, Pakistan should have made at least 300 runs .. if Maqsood and U Akmal would have followed before Misbah and before Younis (provided they had not lost their wickets early).