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.
Pakistan 176-4 (20)
Just a single from the last - Pakistan close on 176, which is probably just about par.
SIX AND FIFTY! Pakistan 175-4 (19.5)
BUTCHERY! Same ball, same shot, perhaps even bigger as Zaman again crunches Starc into the raucous Pakistan fans over cow corner.
Fifty for Fakhar Zaman from 31 balls with three fours and four sixes!
SIX! Pakistan 169-4 (19.4)
CLEARED AND READY FOR TAKE OFF! THAT’S ABSOLUTELY HUGE!
Fakhar Zaman goes deep in his crease and latches on to a slot ball, carting Starc over wide long-on for six.
Pakistan 163-4 (19.3)
A mistimed pull to fine leg, who is back on the fence, as Starc goes short. There’s a bit of dew already so Australia are avoiding trying the yorkers that had caused those earlier costly full tosses.
OUT! Shoaib Malik b Starc 1 (2b 0x4 0x6), Pakistan 162-4 (19.2)
Timbers shivered! Around the wicket and wide of the crease, Starc runs his fingers down the outside of the ball, just changing the pace slightly and beating a rather desperate heave at it from Shoaib Malik, ball cannoning into the top of middle and leg.
A strong last eight balls for Australia - can Mohammad Hafeez cause some damage?
Pakistan 162-3 (19.1)
Just a single from the first ball as Zaman drags a shorter, slower ball to long-on.
Pakistan 161-3 (19), Shoaib Malik 1, F Zaman 41, P Cummins 1-30 (4)
He can. A well-delivered off-cutter bouncer deceives Zaman, who is through his shot too soon and becomes the second Pakistan batter to have his grille disturbed this evening. Shoaib Malik, somewhat cruelly, calls his stricken teammate through for a single to give the set batter the strike for the last. Zaman fit to continue after a once over from the doctors.
Pakistan 160-3 (18.5)
This is excellent from Pat Cummins, two singles followed by two dots. Can he close the over out?
PUT DOWN! Pakistan 159-3 (18.2)
Now Smith drops one! It’s a simple enough chance again as Zaman slices his slog to Smith’s right at long-off, but the fielder perhaps loses it in the lights a little, forced to lunge at it from his knees as it fades on him at the last moment and shelling it. Cummins should have had two in two.
OUT! Asif Ali c Smith b Cummins 0 (1b 0x4 0x6), Pakistan 158-3 (18.1)
A golden duck for Asif Ali! Well, he’s finally got a tournament average, at least, but there will be no fireworks from Pakistan’s chief of pyrotechnics tonight. A miscued heave, and another simple snare for Steve Smith.
Shoaib Malik in but off-strike.
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