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 158-2 (18), Asif Ali 0, F Zaman 40, M Starc 1-23 (3)
The batters do well to come back for two to end an expensive over from Starc. Asif Ali on strike as Pat Cummins begins the 19th.
FOUR! Pakistan 155-2 (17.5)
The umpire hits the deck! A drive Fakhar Zaman nearly takes Chris Gaffaney’s hat to the boundary as he piles into a Starc full toss, crunching it arrow-straight.
Gaffaney dusts himself off and signals four.
SIX! Pakistan 149-2 (17.3)
Gigantic! Remarkable bat-speed through a relatively full ball from Fakhar, on strike after the batters crossed, and demolishing Starc over long-on into the posh seats.
OUT! Mohammad Rizwan c Smith b Starc 67 (52b 3x4 4x6), Pakistan 143-2 (17.2)
Mitchell Starc gets Mohammad Rizwan! Starc has looked a class apart tonight, around the wicket to Rizwan but still looking for wide yorkers, nailing it first up and then forcing a contortion as Rizwan reaches for the second, only able to ladle it up to the fielder at mid-off in the circle.
Unsurprisingly it is Asif Ali who strides out...
Pakistan 143-1 (17), M Rizwan 67, F Zaman 26, J Hazlewood 0-49 (4)
Those blows have lifted the largely Pakistan-supporting crowd, who are making plenty of noise as Rizwan slices a single to long-off as he hustles down the track to Hazlewood’s final ball. 21 from the over. Pakistan eyeing something in excess of 175.
SIX! Pakistan 142-1 (16.5)
Six! A shimmy across, a slot ball, a cleanly-struck slog over the rope!
FOUR! AND A FREE HIT! Pakistan 131-1 (16.5)
A horribly high full toss and hooked for four! Hazlewood’s attempted yorker slips from the hand and is virtually at head height as it reaches Mohammad Rizwan, but the batter adjusts well and hooks it away for four.
And will now have use of the free hit...
SIX! Pakistan 128-1 (16.2)
Much better! What a shot! This time Hazlewood misses his yorker, hitting a length and allowing Zaman to flay through it, driving crisply with plenty of bottom-handed welly over the long-off fielder for a much-needed maximum, to go to 23 (18b).
Pakistan 122-1 (16.1)
Fakhar Zaman is struggling a bit here. He tries to get down low and paddle sweep Josh Hazlewood but the seamer sticks to his plan, hitting a yorker outside off and preventing Zaman making contact.
Pakistan 122-1 (16), M Rizwan 56, F Zaman 17, A Zampa 1-22 (4)
Zampa does end very well! Just five from his last with Pakistan trying to come at him and that’s an excellent return on a pitch not offering prodigious spin. Sharp bowling: 4-0-22-1 his final figures.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments