Last Update on: November 12th, 2021 at 02:10 pm
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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the Babar Azam-led Pakistan side to be proud of themselves after they were knocked out of the T20 World Cup by Australia in the semi-final fixture.
Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan (67) and Fakhar Zaman (55*) propelled them to a competitive score of 176/4 in the first innings.
Pakistan knocked out by Australia in a riveting semi-final
Babar Azam started well, getting to 39 off 34 balls before holing out to David Warner at long-on off Adam Zampa’s bowling that ended his 71-run stand with Rizwan.
Australia’s bowling spearhead Mitchell Starc (2/38) controlled some runs in the death despite being hit by Zaman for a few sixes and was supported by Pat Cummins (1/30) and Adam Zampa (1/22).
Coming into defending their total, Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan bowled a brilliant spell of 4/26 from his four overs to reduce Australia to 96/5 at one stage.
It was Australian wicket-keeper Matthew Wade and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who scripted a marvellous chase with their uneaten partnership of 81 to enter the final.
At the end of the 17th over, Wade had just scored eight runs off nine balls, and it was Stoinis, the one who was taking a risk by going after the bowlers.
But suddenly, Wade shifted his gears and smoked one big shot to Hasan Ali over long-on for a six, followed by a flicking a boundary on the final ball of the 18th over.
Wade was dropped by Hasan Ali just before he hammered three consecutive sixes to Pakistan’s best bowler Shaheen Afridi to wrap the match in the penultimate over itself.
You should all be proud of the quality of cricket you played: Imran Khan
Imran Khan told the players that he had faced similar disappointments on the field and asked them to look at their great campaign in the T20 World Cup.
“To Babar Azam & the team: I know exactly how all of you are feeling right now because I have faced similar disappointments on the cricket field. But you should all be proud of the quality of cricket you played & the humility you showed in your wins. Congratulations Team Australia,” Imran Khan tweeted.
Pakistan had won all five group stage matches to top the points table of Group 2.