T20 World Cup / 2nd Semi Final Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis Blitz Helps Australia Beat Pakistan By 5 Wickets

T20 World Cup | Matthew Wade (41 not out) and Marcus Stoinis (40 not out) put on a match-winning partnership of 81 runs off 41 balls for the sixth wicket to put a damper on the brilliant bowling of leg-spinner Shadab Khan (4 for 26) and Australia reached the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Australia defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the second semi-final played at the Dubai International Stadium. Australia will now face New Zealand in the final, where a new champion will be seen. Batting first, Pakistan scored 176 for four and then Australia chased down the target in 19 overs for the loss of five wickets. Apart from Shadab, Shaheen Afridi took a wicket. This performance of Shadab is the best performance by any bowler in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. With this win, Australia has maintained its 'unstoppable record' against Pakistan in knockout matches of the ICC tournament. This is Pakistan's first defeat in T20 International cricket since 30 November 2015 in the UAE. The Pakistan team had earlier won the last 16 matches in the UAE.

Chasing the target of 177 runs from Pakistan, Australia started poorly and Afridi sent captain Aaron Finch to the pavilion without opening the account on the second ball. David Warner (49) and Mitchell Marsh (28) then put on 51 runs in 36 balls for the second wicket. This growing partnership was broken by Shadab by dismissing Marsh. Marsh hit three fours and a six in 22 balls. However, Warner held on to one end. But he missed his half-century by just one run and Shadab got him in the hands of wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Warner hit three fours and as many sixes in 30 balls. Steve Smith (5) and Glenn Maxwell (7) could not do much. Australia needed 62 runs in the last 30 balls to play the final against New Zealand and Wade and Stoinis gave Australia a thrilling victory. Stoinis hit two fours and two sixes in 31 balls while Wade hit two fours and four sixes in 17 balls.

 Earlier, half-centuries from opener Mohammad Rizwan and return to form Fakhar Zaman put Pakistan on a strong score of 176 for four. Rizwan scored 67 runs in 52 balls, which included three fours and four sixes. He shared 71 for the first wicket with captain Babar Azam (39 runs off 34 balls) and 72 runs for the second wicket with Fakhar Zaman (55 not out off 32 balls, three fours, four sixes).

The Australian fast bowlers, especially Josh Hazlewood, had no control over their balls. He conceded 49 runs in four overs. Both his spinners Adam Zampa (1 for 22) and Glenn Maxwell (20 runs in three overs) bowled economical. Mitchell Starc (2 for 38) and Pat Cummins (1 for 30) also took wickets. Babar and Rizwan again got Pakistan off to a good start. Babar was in rhythm from the start and he took the initiative to get the ball to the boundary line. Pakistan scored 47 for no loss in the powerplay, which is their highest score in the first six overs of this tournament.

Aaron Finch tried the spin attack in the form of Maxwell in the third over itself. Rizwan did not even open the account when David Warner dropped his difficult catch at the boundary line. Rizwan took advantage of this and hit a six on Hazlewood. After this, however, Maxwell and Zampa created pressure, the effect of which was clearly visible on the batsmen. Babar sweeps the slog under this pressure in the first over of leg-spinner Zampa and gives Warner an easy catch at long on. He hit five fours in his innings.

When pressure was building on Pakistan, Rizwan completed 1000 runs in T20 Internationals this calendar year by hitting a six at square leg off Zampa. He is the first cricketer in the world to achieve this feat. Starc's bouncer hit the grille of Rizwan's helmet but it did not shake his faith. He hit another six on Hazlewood in the 14th over to take the team's score past 100 runs and then completed his third half-century of the tournament in 41 balls. After spending enough time at the crease, Fakhar showed his attitude by hitting a straight six on Hazlewood. Rizwan also scored a six in this over. Rizwan caught it off Starc but Fakhar was back in colour. He hit three sixes on Starc but Asif Ali (zero) and Shoaib Malik (one) could not do anything amazing.