Australia defeat Pakistan by 5 wickets in Dubai in the second semi-final to set up a trans-Tasman final against New Zealand on Sunday.
Chasing 177, Australia were given a big blow in the first over when Shaheen Afridi trapped Aaron Finch lbw. After playing out three tight opening overs, David Warner unleashed against Imad Wasim, whacking the spinner for a six and two fours in a 17-run over.
Mitchell Marsh thumped a maximum and three fours to take Australia to 52/1 at the end of the powerplay. But Marsh soon perished, trying to attack Shadab Khan, who also got the better of Steve Smith. Between those two wickets, though, Warner slogged two more sixes, keeping the required rate under 9 with half of the innings to go. Warner, however, lost his wicket to Shadab, just one short of his fifty.
Shadab capped off his superb spell with the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell, caught at deep point off a mishit reverse-sweep. Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade kept Australia alive with plenty of powerful hits bringing down to 22 runs needed off the last two overs.
After getting a life from a dropped catch by Hasan Ali, Wade ramped Afridi for a six over fine leg before depositing the pacer over mid-wicket and completing the chase with another ramp six to send Australia in the final. The partnership between Stoinis and Wade yielded 81 runs off 41 balls.
Earlier, after being put in to bat first, Pakistan were off to a flyer from openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. The pair put up 47 runs in the powerplay; Babar scored 24 runs and Rizwan 21, both off 18 balls each. Babar stroked 4 classy boundaries while Rizwan smashed Pakistan’s first six of the innings.
The partnership grew at run-a-ball for the next four overs and was broken by Adam Zampa, when Babar (39 off 34) holed out at long-on.
Rizwan, though, attacked Zampa for a slog over deep mid-wicket before slamming Josh Hazlewood over the same area. Fakhar Zaman got going with a couple of boundaries. Rizwan, who raised his fifty off 41 balls, and Zaman then clobbered a six each to Hazlewood taking the lanky pacer for a 21-run over.
Mitchell Starc got rid of Rizwan for 67 off 52 balls but was smoked for a six and four by Zaman. Cummins dismissed the dangerous Asif Ali for a duck, caught at long-on, while Starc castled Shoaib Malik. However, Zaman tonked Starc for two massive sixes to reach his half-century off 31 balls as Pakistan put up 176.
Twitter Erupts As Australia Defeat Pakistan In The Semi-Final, Book Date With New Zealand In The Final:
What a game !! Congrats to the Aussie boys on finding a way to win – well done to @davidwarner31 & Zamps. @MatthewWade13 who was absolutely bloody awesome, well done mate & the Hulk Stoinis was outstanding too. What a final between Aust & NZ at the #ICCT20WorldCup2021
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) November 11, 2021
What an eye catching match it has been, congratulations to team Australia for making it to the finals! Well played Team Pakistan #PAKvAUS #T20WorldCup ?
— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) November 11, 2021
So good ! Just bloody awesome from @MatthewWade13 & what a partnership that was with the Hulk (Stoinis). Australia found a way when a few big players didn’t contribute at all ! Should be a ripping final ✅? https://t.co/1bQUDM2ZBU
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) November 11, 2021
What are game to watch well deserve Australian team to reach finals really fight back amazing match all the best New Zealand and Australia for finals#Aajtak #NewZealandCricketTeam #IndianCricketTeam #StarSportsHindi
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) November 11, 2021
Congratulations Australia for reaching the finals. hard luck team pakistan, you guys played really good cricket in #T20WorldCup
— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) November 11, 2021
MATTHEW WADE. OH. MY. GOODNESS. GRACIOUS. ME.#Tasmania #Tassie #Whataknock
— Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) November 11, 2021
Well tried #pak cricket! You were really good until today but Australia were better. Well done Aussie?
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 11, 2021
Wow just wow! #PAKVSAUS #T20Worldcup
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) November 11, 2021
Aussie Aussie Aussie oye oye oye What a win … class top class batting #wade .. @T20WorldCup #PAKVSAUS
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 11, 2021
What a finish to the semi final no:2. Simply a smashing victory for the Australian team ?? ??#T20WorldCup #AUS #AUSvPAK
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) November 11, 2021
Ohhh my goodness, what a finish!! #PAKVSAUS
— ben dunk (@bendunk51) November 11, 2021
Ohhh my goodness, what a finish!! #PAKVSAUS
— ben dunk (@bendunk51) November 11, 2021
The toppers from both groups couldn't make it to the final.
T20 is a funny game and that's what makes it so interesting ?Well played Australia!
So now we're gonna have a new T20 Champion with #AUSvNZ in final#PAKvsAUS pic.twitter.com/iOeLQZVGBt— DK (@DineshKarthik) November 11, 2021
NZ required 57 from 24 last night and did it with six balls to spare, Australia 50 from 24 tonight and have landed the identical result. Bonkers. Matthew Wade's finest moment in international cricket. #T20WorldCup
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) November 11, 2021
There will definitely be a new @T20WorldCup champion this year. Two amazing semi finals. Pakistan lose their only game in the tournament at the wrong time.. the cup is going down under for sure.
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) November 11, 2021
We witnessed some outstanding cricket back to back in the #semifinals under pressure. Congratulations #Australia. #Pakistan you can be proud of your campaign so far! #T20WorldCup
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) November 11, 2021
When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
It’s the Aussie way! ?— Kevin Pietersen? (@KP24) November 11, 2021
Australia time and again proves why there are the best when it comes to big tournaments. Phenomenal Victory, Well Done Wade and Stoinis #PAKvAUS #T20WorldCup
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) November 11, 2021
Why didn’t @davidwarner31 review it? Big question … pic.twitter.com/eFM64E70QB
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 11, 2021
What a master class we have witnessed today by @76Shadabkhan ?? Great spell.. spin is king against Aussies @T20WorldCup
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 11, 2021
What a game !! Congrats to the Aussie boys on finding a way to win – well done to @davidwarner31 & Zamps. @MatthewWade13 who was absolutely bloody awesome, well done mate & the Hulk Stoinis was outstanding too. What a final between Aust & NZ at the #ICCT20WorldCup2021
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) November 11, 2021
Matthew Wade from 8* (9) to 41* (17)
Another Aussie left-hander ending Pakistan in semis— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) November 11, 2021
"#PAKVSAUS Match last over tak jayega"
Shaheen afridi: pic.twitter.com/ru3dzjqVHk— Bruce Wayne ? (@Nama_gram) November 11, 2021
This was Pakistan's 5th loss out of 5 games they've played against Australia in ICC Knockout matches.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 11, 2021