Australia stun Pakistan to reach T20 World Cup final

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Australia have stunned Pakistan by five wickets in the second semi-final of ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Dubai and will face New Zealand in the lucrative final on November 14.

Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis starred after the Aussies lost half of the side in the run chase. The Men in Green had posted 176-4 courtesy of a brilliant batting display by Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman.

 

Pakistan were ahead but a remarkable inning from Matthew Wade (41* from 17) completely changed the tide.

Australia will face New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup!#PAKvAUS #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/FhTNr8FxdS

— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) November 11, 2021

 

Earlier, Pakistan was put in to bat by Australia captain Aaron Finch. The duo of skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan once again rose to the occasion.

They raced to 47 in the first six overs, the highest Pakistan scored in the powerplay during this tournament. Babar and Rizwan bagged respective records to their name. Babar reached 2500 T20I runs in the minimum number of innings (62) while Rizwan became the first batter in the history of the format to score 1000 runs in a calendar year.

 

Yet another record for Babar Azam. 🔥🔥🔥#PAKvAUS #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/WG9iAb6JtF

— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) November 11, 2021

 

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, Australia's best bowler of the tournament, provided the first breakthrough. Babar looked to attack Zampa but was caught at log-on by David Warner. Babar scored 39 off 34 balls with the help of five fours.

Rizwan was joined by out-of-form Fakhar Zaman, who was slow in his approach in the first 15 balls. Meanwhile, Rizwan showed some intent and reached half-century, his third of the competition.

On the other hand, Fakhar Zaman opened his arms, smacking a six in the 17th over, bowled by Josh Hazlewood. Pakistan scored 21 in the 17th over.

Rizwan fell to Mitchell Starc in the following over after playing a brilliant knock of 67. In his 52-ball innings, Rizwan hit four sixes and three fours.

Fakhar continued his charge but lost Asif Ali (0) and Shoaib Malik (1) in quick succession. Fakhar reached fifty after smoking two sixes in the final over. He remained undefeated on 32-ball 55. He hit three fours and a quartet of fours. Pakistan finished on 176/4, becoming first side to pass the 175+ mark in the tournament.

Starc bagged figures of 2/38 for Australia.

In return, pacer Shaheen Shah replicated his heroics of India's clash and trapped Australia captain Aaron Finch in front. Mitchell Marsh got away on umpire's call on the very next ball as Pakistan opted for a review

The Aussies accelerated in the fourth over bowled by Imad Wasim. David Warner hit 17 runs while Mitchell Marsh attacked Haris Rauf in the following over. Australia concluded the powerplay on 52/1.

Babar introduced Shadab Khan and the leg-spinner struck on the second ball. Marsh, looking to charge, got a top edge and Asif Ali completed the catch. Marsh scored 28 off 22 balls, powered by three fours and a six.

Warner continued his charge but Shadab removed Steve Smith (5) in his following over. Australia were dominating the run chase at the halfway mark but Shadab gave a big breakthrough of Warner.

Warner looked to cut and edged it behind to keeper Rizwan. It was the turning point of the match as the replay showed that Warner didn't nick the ball. The left-hander scored 49 off 30 balls, powered by three fours and three sixes.

Pakistan had tightened the screws of the Australians as the run-rate kept creeping and in the process, Glenn Maxwell (7) departed. Shadab took the price wicket and finished with impressive figures of 4/26, the best-ever by a bowler in the semi-finals of T20 World Cup history. 

 

Shadab Khan now has the best-ever bowling figures in a T20 World Cup semifinal.

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝: Shadab Khan 4-0-26-4
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝: Umar Gul 4-0-15-3#PAKvAUS #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/8TrNFSPLSA

— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) November 11, 2021

 

Australia pinned hopes on the last recognized pair of Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade. The duo delivered as they wrapped up the chase in the 19th over.

Wade smacked three consecutive sixes off Shaheen after Hasan dropped his catch. He scored 17-ball 41 while Stoinis made 40 off 31 balls.