Dubai, 11 November 2021: Australia repeated history when they defeated a spirited Pakistan by five wickets to reach Sunday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against New Zealand. The match will produce a new T20 World Cup champion as it will be New Zealand’s maiden appearance, while Australia will try to make it second time lucky by adding the 20-over title to their Test mace, 50-over World Cup and Champions Trophy collections.
Matthew Wade did what Mike Hussey delivered 11 years ago at Gros Isle, St Lucia, when he clobbered four sixes and two fours in a 17-ball 41 as Australia scored 37 runs in 12 balls to overhaul Pakistan’s 176 for four with six balls remaining.
Then, Hussey had steered Australia home when he helped his side score 53 runs off the last three overs, including 23 off the five balls of the last over, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Wade added 81 runs for the unfinished sixth wicket with Marcus Stoinis in 6.4 overs to steer Australia home after they looked down and out at 96 for five in 12.2 overs.
Wade benefitted from a dropped catch by Hasan Ali to hit Shaheen Shah Afridi for three sixes in the penultimate over as Australia scored the required the 22 runs with an over to spare. Hasan had earlier went away for 44 runs in his four overs.
Australia, in pursuit of a record 176-run target, lost Aaron Finch to Shaheen Shah Afridi’s third ball before Shadab Khan dismissed Mitchell Marsh (28) from his second ball of the evening and then added the prized scalps of Steve Smith (5), David Warner (49) and Glenn Maxwell (7) to finish with figures of 4-0-26-4.
After scoring 52 for one in the PowerPlay overs, Australia reached 115 for five after 15 overs.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan returned from the sickbed and then survived a blow on his helmet off Pat Cummins to smash T20I record books, while Fakhar Zaman struck a 32-ball 55 not out as Pakistan collected 176 for four after being put into bat at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Rizwan, who spent time in the hospital for a chest infection and then missed Wednesday’s training session due to light fever, belted three fours and four sixes.
After putting on 71 runs with Babar Azam, who during his innings of 39 became the quickest to 2,500 T20Is, Rizwan switched another 72 runs partnership with Fakhar from 44 balls.
After Rizwan’s departure, Fakhar took charge and helped Pakistan to score 59 off the last five overs. Fakhar was specially ruthless against Mitchell Starc when he slapped him for three sixes, including two in the last over that yielded 15 runs and lifted Pakistan from 161 for three to 176 for five.
Pakistan collected 47 runs from the PowerPlay overs and then reached 71 for one at the halfway stage.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan 176-4, 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 67, Fakhar Zaman 55 not out, Babar Azam 39; Mitchell Starc 2-38)
Australia 177-5, 19 overs (David Warner 49; Matthew Wade 41 not out, Marcus Stoinis 40 not out; Shadab Khan 4-26)
Player of the match – Matthew Wade (Australia)
