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.
Australia 80-3 (9), D Warner 43, Glenn Maxwell 1, Shadab 2-15 (2)
That wicket has brought Glenn Maxwell to the crease. Smith lasted only six balls but would they have been more valuable delivered to Maxwell? Australia still in decent shape with Warner in such good touch.
OUT! Steven Smith c Fakhar Zaman b Shadab Khan 5 (6b 1x4 0x6), Australia 77-3 (8.3)
Steve Smith holes out! He throws his bat about like a furious Star Wars character with a lightsaber, absolutely incandescent with his failure to find proper timing on a reaching slog sweep to a ball that just defeats him in the flight, coming down a touch short of the length for which Smith is swinging.
Another swirling catch in the deep from a Pakistan fielder (Fakhar Zaman this time) and Shadab has his second.
SIX! Australia 76-2 (8.1)
Down the track and into the stands! Another towering blow from David Warner, light on his feet but heavy with his hands as he deposits Shadab Khan some 20 rows back over long-on. 40 off 23 for the Australia opener now - having been dropped in the IPL, he’s properly back in form.
Australia 70-2 (8), D Warner 34, S Smith 5, Mohammad Hafeez 0-13 (1)
That is not an over that Mohammad Hafeez will wish to scrap-book, with a hideous wide down leg thrown in for good measure. In fact, he’s fortunate that it is only 13 from it. Australia edge back ahead, marginally.
SIX AND NO BALL! Australia 66-2 (7.1)
Here is some off-spin, as forecasted - Mohmmad Hafeez to have a twirl with David Warner on strike...
WHAT’S HAPPENED THERE?!? THE BALL HAS STUCK IN HAFEEZ’S HAND, BOUNCED TWICE AND BEEN ABSOLUTE MASSACRED OVER MIDWICKET FOR SIX! An extraordinary shot from Warner and a free hit next ball, too. Disaster of a start from Hafeez, though Warner gets just two from the freebie.
FOUR! Australia 57-2 (7), D Warner 24, Steve Smith 4, Shadab Khan 1-5 (1)
Australia sticking to their order so far - Steve Smith sent to the crease. They might have been tempted to send Glenn Maxwell in had it been two overs later but Smith has time to get himself in.
A proactive approach straight away! A cue-ender as he tries to paddle sweep a full ball from Shadab, before Smith gets away with a streaky cut that chops beyond Mohammad Rizwan’s waiting gloves and into the third man boundary for four.
OUT! Mitchell Marsh c Asif Ali b Shadab Khan 28 (22b 3x4 1x6), Australia 52-2 (6.2)
Taken in the deep! Shadab strikes with his second ball! Mitchell Marsh fails to pick a googly that leaps into the top edge as the right-hander tries to sweep.
High for the heavens it flies, falling back to earth like a meteor and down on the head of Asif Ali, who takes a tricky catch as the ball swirls late on him out of the lights.
Australia 52-1 (6), D Warner 23, M Marsh 28, Hasan Ali 0-8 (1)
Eight from Hasan Ali’s first. I’m a little surprised that Pakistan haven’t turned to off-spin yet - it is Warner’s weakness and Mitchell Marsh tends to struggle against spin, even, atypically, the ball turning into him.
Might we see some as the field is permitted to spread at the end of the powerplay? Not just yet - it is Shadab Khan’s leg-spin. Expect plenty of googlies, especially to Warner. Australia on top.
FOUR! Australia 49-1 (5.2)
Down the leg side and swivelled away! Four more to the tally of Mitch Marsh, picking up an errant short ball from Ali and sending him wide of short fine leg for four. He goes to 26 from 17 balls.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments