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! Australia 165-5 (18.4)
UTTERLY AUDACIOUS! EXTRAORDINARY STUFF FROM MATTHEW WADE!
Full and fast and scooped for SIX OVER FINE LEG! A bold choice of shot, but perfectly executed, swift of foot, quick of thought, jumping across his crease and finding a way to get Shaheen Away.
12 needed off 8. Australia favourites...
DROPPED! Australia 159-5 (18.3)
HASAN ALI DROPS IT! Matthew Wade drags it to leg off the toe end, Hasan makes outstanding ground to get beneath it...but drops it at waist height as he reaches out in front of him!
Consoling pats on the back from Shoaib Malik. Two to Wade.
WIDE! Australia 157-5 (18.2)
A wide! Shaheen seeks Matthew Wade’s heels but pushes it down leg. 20 off 10.
NOT OUT! Australia 156-5 (18.2)
PITCHING...OUTSIDE LEG! Stoinis survives. A good decision under pressure from Chris Gaffaney. Pakistan suspected as much, a slightly speculative review with two left in the bag. One from the first two balls. 21 needed off 10.
REVIEW! Australia 156-5 (18.2)
An appeal, but where did it pitch? REVIEWED! Stoinis pinned on the pad as he goes back to a fullish ball and if that hasn’t just landed outside leg that may be curtains...
Australia 155-5 (18.1)
DID IT CARRY? No, taken on the bounce! An inside edge from Marcus Stoinis as he tries to pull and just, just, short of Mohammad Rizwan moving well to his left. A dot.
FOUR! Australia 152-5 (18), M Stoinis 40, M Wade 21, Hasan Ali 0-44 (4)
A vital boundary to finish! Hasan Ali isn’t far off his yorker again but Matthew Wade is deep in his crease and wise to the intended strategy, able to manoeuvre it fine of backward square leg off his shoelaces and collect four more.
22 off the last two overs - how does Babar Azam manage these? Surely it will be Shaheen now to try and put the pressure on...
Bingo. This could decide things. Six balls from Shaheen.
SIX! Australia 149-5 (17.3)
Wade weighs in! An off-cutter from Hasan Ali, designed to bite away from the left-hander’s hitting arc but instead sitting up right in the path of it, and while it is skied slightly more than he might have liked there is plenty enough carry.
Australia 143-5 (17.2)
A single to Stoinis, a double for Matthew Wade, whipping nicely off his toes.
Australia 140-5 (17), M Stoinis 38, M Wade 8, H Rauf 0-32 (3)
A dot and a single to finish up the over but Australia back on level terms, just, as this encounter swings back and forth. 37 from the last three overs with Marcus Stoinis firing - this could be mighty tight. Hasan Ali to close his spell.
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