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 1-1 (1), David Warner 1, Mitchell Marsh 0, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-1 (1)
Marsh then plays right around another in-ducker that ducks like a fighter jet beyond his nervous drive at it outside off, Mohammad Rizwan appealing with arms aloft, more in over-excitement than in actual hopes of drawing a decision.
Marsh finally gets bat on ball as he pats Shaheen’s sixth ball back to the bowler. What a start from Pakistan’s left-armer!
NOT OUT! Australia 1-1 (0.4)
This is even more brutal, carving into the front toe like a chainsaw through an ice sculpture as Marsh gets his feet in a right mess.
Where’s it hit him? UMPIRE’S CALL! It’s clipping leg stump, but will stay not out! This is utterly unplayable stuff from Shaheen.
REVIEW! GIVEN NOT OUT BUT DOES SHAHEEN HAVE TWO IN TWO!
Another vicious inswinger and Mitchell Marsh might be on his way first ball too! Given not out on the field but Pakistan have sent this upstairs and that looked rather adjacent!
They are checking the run out first - not out. On to the LBW
OUT! Aaron Finch lbw b Shaheen Shah Afridi 0 (1b 0x4 0x6), Australia 1-1 (0.3)
WHAT A DELIVERY! That is some ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi!
92mph and late movement from a full length, careering in to Aaron Finch’s inviting forward stride, making sweet love to the knee roll as it arcs for the stumps. A simply unplayable ball to start for Finch, who before that averaged 173 in T20 international cricket against left-arm seam. But Shaheen, as he has been all tournament, is in a different class!
Australia 1-0 (0.2)
It will be Shaheen to start, immediately arcing one wide of David Warner’s defensive prod outside off as he finds early away movement to the left-hander.
Warner nudges one to leg to get off the mark.
Tactics - Can Shaheen strike again?
Shaheen Shah Afridi will hope to throw Australia of course. He is a simply stunning sight in full flow with the swinging new ball, and though Aaron Finch tends to be strong against left-arm seamers, both he and David Warner will be test by the tournament’s most captivating bowler so far. Afridi will have to get one, and preferably two, you’d say, because otherwise Australia will be able to pace the chase with wickets in hand.
Australia have five right-handers in the top six but are generally weaker against spin than pace, Maxwell aside. Don’t be surprised if Pakistan still give an over or two to Mohammad Hafeez or Shoaib Malik through the middle. Here we go!
Tactics - Will Australia promote Glenn Maxwell?
Australia have played with their order at times in this competition and it would be no surprise to see them again do so tonight. 177 is big enough that Steve Smith’s steadying hands are probably of more limited usage than when chasing a more modest total, while with Pakistan likely to try and go spin heavy through the middle overs on this track, don’t be surprised if, presuming Australia are able to get through the powerplay unscathed, Glenn Maxwell is pushed up the order to try and take down Pakistan’s spinners.
Pakistan make 177 in their 20 overs
Pakistan will be pleased to have catapulted themselves up to an eminently defendable total. They probably could have attacked earlier on a surface that looks good for batting but some death overs savagery from Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman will give their bowlers something rather handy to bowl at. Australia’s spinners were able to use the skiddy surface well - it looks a track to suit Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan, who will hope to exploit the opposition’s weakness against spin.
Australia will be pleased, too, though. With dew already apparent and the surface only getting better, 177 is something they will set about hauling down with relative confidence.
Matthew Hayden speaks to the host broadcaster
“Obviously, there is a conflict of interest because my heart is Australia, but I love being a part of this batting lineup. This is a great opportunity for Pakistan.
“Rizwan was in hospital a night ago with some sort of lung condition. This is a warrior who has got great courage.”
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