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 44-1 (5), D Warner 21, M Marsh 22, Haris Rauf 0-14 (1)
14 off Haris Rauf’s first over after those two boundaries to open it. After the grand theatre of Shaheen’s first, Australia have reloaded well.
SIX! Australia 40-1 (4.2)
Welcome to the game Haris! Mitch Marsh has a degree of familiarity with Rauf from their battles in the Big Bash and knows what to expect, sitting deep in his crease to wait for the on-pace back-of-a-length ball and pulling fiercely for the midwicket fence. It goes all the way!
And four more next ball! Streakier, with Marsh late on his defensive jab, but an edge beats a diving third man fielder on the boundary and Australia are beginning to fight back.
Australia 30-1 (4), D Warner 19, M Marsh 10, I Wasim 0-22 (2)
Mitch Marsh keeps the strike with a single off the last ball of Imad Wasim’s second over. That’ll be him done for now, you’d think, but will Pakistan be tempted to seek another powerplay wicket by keeping Shaheen on...
They won’t. Babar Azam goes to his other high-pace quick - Haris Rauf into the attack.
FOUR! Australia 28-1 (3.4)
Even better! This is high-class manipulation from Warner, this time getting across his stumps and low, lifting a scooped sweep over short fine leg for another cleanly-struck four. He’s pouncing on a preferred match-up.
SIX! Australia 24-1 (3.3)
LARGE! A thunderous strike from David Warner, rocking back deep in his crease on a slightly short ball from Imad Wasim from around the wicket, waiting for it to just check in the surface ever so slightly and bringing that great chunk of willow through the back of it. Long and high over midwicket!
Carved! Another fine stroke, giving himself room and picking an offside gap to bisect. He does so perfectly. Imad under pressure.
Australia 13-1 (3), D Warner 4, M Marsh 8, Shaheen 1-8 (2)
Shane Watson is on commentary, likely getting horrible flashbacks as he watches a Pakistan left-arm quick tie Australian batters in knots at a World Cup. He recalls the torture he endured at the hands of Wahab Riaz strangely fondly, in fact.
FOUR! Australia 12-1 (2.3)
Shot! Marsh stands tall to one that is just pushed across him and drives very nicely on the front foot straight of extra cover for four.
NO BALL! Australia 8-1 (2.2)
The stadium is virtually charging in alongside Shaheen as he bristles with intensity through his run-up...
Overly intense! An over-step, just! Nothing behind the line, and a free hit for Mitch Marsh to swing at...
Dot ball! A slower ball into the surface and Marsh is in another timezone with his pull.
Australia 6-1 (2), D Warner 3, M Marsh 3, Imad Wasim 0-5 (1)
More placid fare than Shaheen’s first - three singles, one from a Warner reverse sweep, and an inside-edgy flicked two from Mitch Marsh.
Right - back to the main eventer.
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