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! AND FOUR! Australia 139-5 (16.4)
Demolished into the stands! A crunching hook from Marcus Stoinis as a Haris Rauf short ball sits up invitingly and that is an enormous blow!
And he follows it up with a four! Close to a yorker from Rauf but Stoinis has just enough room to bring his bat through, slithering at great pace between the non-striker and the stumps for another crucial boundary. Like a long-hitting golfer’s drive, with a hint of left to right movement.
Australia 129-5 (16.2)
Top fielding! 39 years of age and Shoaib Malik is still throwing himself around like a teenager with little regard for their safety, tumbling awkwardly but keeping Australia to two.
Australia 127-5 (16), M Stoinis 25, M Wade 8, Hasan Ali 0-29 (3)
Decent fight back from Hasan Ali, closing with a cutter and drawing a dot as Matthew Wade fails to adjust to the change of pace.
That is a concern for Pakistan, however - Ali falls to the floor after the exertions of that off-cutter and will need a drink, and a chat with the team doctor. He doesn’t look particularly well but he’ll in all likelihood have six more balls to bowl - unless Babar Azam gambles with six balls of Imad Wasim. 50 needed from 24 balls.
FOUR! Australia 122-5 (15.1)
Twelve of the last 30 will presumably be bowled by Hasan Ali, probably the most hittable of Pakistan’s seamers. And here comes Marcus Stoinis, all sharp edges and muscular power as he drives cleanly wide of long-off. Four runs!
Two more to the leg-side and a no-ball, too! Hasan Ali oversteps.
Australia 115-5 (15), M Stoinis 15, M Wade 7, Shaheen 1-14 (3)
Just wide of the fielder! A leading edge from Marcus Stoinis, Shaheen producing a ripping off-cutter, and very nearly into the hands of backward point. Mohammad Hafeez puts in a despairing dive, and Australia take two to third man.
Six from the over. 62 required from 30 balls.
Missed run out! Australia 111-5 (14.2)
Stoinis is nearly on his way! Matthew Wade curiously calls through his partner for a single as Stoinis is struck in the midriff pulling and had a pivoting Shaheen in his follow-through been on target with his hurl for the bowler’s end, Australia would have been in proper strife.
Australia 109-5 (14), M Stoinis 11, M Wade 5, Haris Rauf 0-19 (2)
A nifty finish from Haris Rauf, snaking a slower ball by Marcus Stoinis’ indecisive push outside off.
Six overs left, 68 to get, and Shaheen Shah Afridi is taking off his cap.
FOUR! Australia 108-5 (13.4)
Edged, but falls short! Haris Rauf’s overs have been back-loaded after taking some tap earlier and he draws an error from Matthew Wade, cutting a ball neither wide nor short enough for the shot and fortunate that it falls short of Mohammad Rizwan.
That’s a decent riposte! Full and on off-stump and a crisp drive back over the bowler’s head to give Wade his first runs.
Australia 103-5 (13), M Stoinis 11, Matthew Wade 0, Shadab Khan 4-26 (4)
Matthew Wade is the new batter, by the way, and defends a googly from Shadab to extra cover to close an outstanding night for an outstanding talent. To think that Shadab came into this tournament under a little pressure after a dip in his recent bowling returns: 4-0-26-4, a wicket in every over, and the best ever figures in a men’s T20 World Cup semi-final. A potentially match-winning spell.
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