Pakistan vs Australia LIVE: T20 World Cup 2021 semi-final result and reaction
Australia will take on New Zealand in Sunday’s final
Australia will take on New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup after beating Pakistan in the semi-final in Dubai.
Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman smashed breezy half-centuries to help Pakistan post 176-4 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Put in to bat, Pakistan got off to a strong start with Rizwan (67) and skipper Babar Azam (39) forging a 71-run partnership for the opening wicket. Fakhar provided the late charge for the 2009 champions with an unbeaten 55 off 32 balls.
Set 177 for victory, David Warner made 49 before Australia rode unbeaten cameos from Marcus Stoinis (40*) and Matthew Wade (41*) to clinch the win with one over to spare.
They will now play rivals New Zealand in Sunday’s final after they beat England on Wednesday.
SIX! Pakistan 88-1 (11.4)
Release for Mohammad Rizwan! That is enormous! Flat and fired at the stumps from Adam Zampa but perhaps slightly too full, and Rizwan is swiftly down on one knee like an eager man with ring in his pocket, sweeping mightily over midwicket for a rather large six.
And the next ball is missed by Matthew Wade and hurries away for four byes!
Pakistan 75-1 (11), M Rizwan 31, Fakhar Zaman 1, G Maxwell 0-20 (3)
Superb from Glenn Maxwell, and that is Australia’s fifth bowler quota done with for the cost of 31 - which is probably about as good as Aaron Finch would have expected against a proactive Pakistan.
Might the captain even give Maxwell another? It would be a gamble but may give him options at the death.
Pakistan 72-1 (10.3)
Huge appeal from Matthew Wade as he gathers down the leg-side, belatedly joined by Maxwell who had skidded one beyond Fakhar Zaman’s flick...
Nothing doing. Zaman had connected with his own pad as he tried to turn it around the corner.
Drinks!
Pakistan have perhaps let Australia dictate this contest, largely happy to sit in after the powerplay but thus allowing Australia to get through some cheaper overs and still have plenty left from their three big quicks. Zaman will have a key role to play, you’d think, as the man to attack Adam Zampa, who has bowled excellently so far. Little surprise that Glenn Maxwell will continue with a left-hander now at the crease.
OUT! Babar Azam c Warner b Zampa 39 (34b 5x4 0x6), Pakistan 71-1 (10)
Draws the error! Adam Zampa gets Babar Azam!
The frustration had built across 12 economical balls and Zampa, perhaps sensing it, throws in a loopier leg-break to close the over. Babar’s eyes light up at a rare chance to have a swing at it but he is short of the elevation required for such a stroke, perhaps striking low on the bat as he targets cow corner. He skews to David Warner at long-on, who takes a good catch at neck height on his tip toes just inside the boundary.
And that will make the conversation at drinks rather more pleasing for Aaron Finch and his team. Fakhar Zaman will replace Babar.
Pakistan 71-0 (9.4)
There isn’t a huge amount of turn for Australia’s spinners but this is very canny stuff, Adam Zampa using his changes of pace and variations well to tie Pakistan’s opening pair up.
Pakistan 68-0 (9). M Rizwan 27, B Azam 38, G Maxwell 0-16 (2)
Sharp bowling strategy from Maxwell, from around the wicket alternately cramping the batters with darts into the pads or giving it a bit of a flight short of a length outside off, forcing Pakistan to generate the power to a strong offside field. It’s defensive bowling, but effective - six from the over, all singles, which Australia will definitely take.
Pakistan 64-0 (8.2)
A nasty drag down to start but a mistimed pull brings Pakistan only one.
Pakistan 62-0 (8), M Rizwan 24, B Azam 35, M Marsh 0-11 (1)
Another picture-perfect cover drive brings Babar two more to a now around-the-wicket Marsh, who is soon back over and dragging a short ball at his shoelaces, and rightly wided as it bounces high above the Pakistan captain’s head.
11 from the over, 21 from the first two from Australia’s combined fifth option. It always looked a concern. Glenn Maxwell is back to bowl his second.
FOUR! Pakistan 57-0 (7.2)
Here’s Australia’s fifth-bowler again, this time taking the guise of Mitchell Marsh - and Pakistan attack him straight away! A scrampered two is followed by a majestic pull with rigor mortis arms through straight midwicket to a ball that wasn’t that short. It races to the fence, and brings up 2500 runs in the format internationally for Babar - the fastest to the mark in history.
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