2nd Semi-Final, Dubai, November 11, 2021, 07:30 PM
Pakistan
176/4(20.0ov)
Australia
177/5(19.0ov)
Australia beat Pakistan by 5 wickets
Right then, 5 in 5 for Australia in World Cup knockouts against Pakistan and that also stops the winning streak of the Men in Green in the UAE. We are done with this match and have only one left to go in this edition of the T20 World Cup. The grand finale is going to be a blockbuster clash as it will reignite the trans-Tasman rivalry. New Zealand versus Australia on Sunday, 14th November 2021. Whoever wins, we sure will have a brand new champion, just like in 2019 in the ODI format! The action will begin at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT) but you can join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers!
Aaron Finch, the winning skipper of Australia, says that at no stage they felt that the game was in their bag. Praises Wade for the way he played along with Stoinis. Admits that they were a bit sloppy with their fielding in this match but this win shows the depth of their team. Further adds that it was a nice toss to win but confesses that he hoped to lose it and bat first on what was a great wicket to bat on.
Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, says that they scored as many runs as they had planned and feels they also bowled well in the first half but the chances they gave away cost them. States the turning point was the dropped catch (Wade's drop in the 19th over) and had that been taken, it could have been different but he is proud of how the boys fared in this tournament and hopes to learn from this loss. Also says they have played well throughout and that will help them in future. Ends by saying that they have got very good support and they enjoy playing here in front of their supporters.
Matthew Wade is the Player of the Match! He says that a couple of ramp shots were pre-meditated and he is glad to get a couple of sixes like that. Adds that Stoinis was quite confident about them getting over the line and helped him. Says that he was confident of targeting the shorter boundary against Afridi. Credits Stoinis for the way he batted and says that he got them to a situation where they were a few blows away from getting over the line. Confesses that the feeling has still not sunk in.
Presentation time...
The winning juggernaut of Pakistan has been halted by Australia. They were invincible in this tournament and it is going to be a hard defeat to swallow. Their batting gave them a fine platform and the way they bowled, it was their game till the start of the partnership between Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade. Shadab Khan's bowling effort where he hunted down Warner, Smith, Marsh and Maxwell, went in vain and he is unfortunate to end on the losing side.
Before Matthew Wade went bonkers in the 19th over, he was dropped by Hasan Ali and that probably was the moment that cost Pakistan the match. There is a famous catchphrase - 'To be the man, you gotta beat the man!' Wade was the man this evening and he took out Pakistan's best man in Shaheen Afridi to earn a stunning win for Australia.
After the Drinks break, Shadab Khan immediately removed the dangerous Warner, caught behind. Although the UltraEdge didn't detect any edge. David not opting to review the decision was a massive moment of this chase as Australia lost Glenn Maxwell soon after that. There were quite a few reckless shot selections from the Aussies and they found themselves in a precarious situation. With 62 needed off 30 balls and 5 Aussie wickets left, the ball was in Pakistan's court, just like it was in England's court in the first semi-final. If it was Daryl Mitchell last evening for New Zealand, it was Matthew Wade for Australia - two unlikely heroes for their teams.
The chase started with Shaheen Afridi hurling fireballs at the Aussies. His first over was extraordinary where he took out Aaron Finch for a golden duck and nearly hunted down Mitchell Marsh as well. After the first two overs though, things eased out for Australia and Marsh formed a quickfire 51-run stand with David Warner. The Powerplay went well for them and despite losing Marsh and Steven Smith after that, the Aussies were in control at the halfway mark, needing 88 to win with David Warner looking in ominous form.
Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!!! Matthew Wade turned back the clock and donned the cape of Michael Hussey and gave Shaheen Afridi the treatment that Mr Cricket handed to Saeed Ajmal in the semi-final of the 2010 T20 World Cup. What a compelling run chase, it was a bit like last evening and the chasing team once again won with one over to spare. The Aussie dugout is pumped up, emotions flooding out there, what a game, what a win - AUSTRALIA ARE IN THE FINAL!
In over# 19
6
6
6
2
1wd
1lb
0
Shaheen Afridi 35/1(4)
18.6
6
SIX! There is no last over! If the previous one did not seal the deal, this definitely did. Matthew Wade, take a bow. AUSTRALIA ARE IN THE FINAL AS THEY WIN BY 5 WICKETS! Another outrageous stroke from Wade. He tries the paddle scoop, it is a full toss on middle, Wade times it well over the fine leg fence for a biggie.
18.5
6
SIX! That is out of here! Matthew Wade, you beauty! What an innings from him. That is probably the blow that seals the deal for Australia. This is right in his slot. Full and on middle, this is heaved over the mid-wicket fence. Another hit will do it.
A big conference. Shoaib Malik, Shadab Khan and Babar Azam are in discussion with Shaheen Afridi. Does the pacer have another trick up his sleeve?
18.4
6
SIX! This will hurt Hasan Ali even more! Pindrop silence here in the stadium as Australia now only need 12 off 8 balls. It is their game to lose. What an audacious shot this by Wade! He plays the paddle scoop. This is a 148 KPH delivery, full and on middle, Wade just uses the pace and scoops it over the fine leg fence.
18.3
2
DROPPED! Hasan Ali, has he just dropped the game? He has had a forgetful outing so far. Shaheen can't believe it and the fans are also shell-shocked. A slower one, on middle, Wade lifts it towards deep mid-wicket, not off the middle. Hasan Ali runs to his left, gets to the ball but spills it. Two taken.
18.3
1wd
WIDE! Shaheen gets away with one! He bowls one down the leg side, Wade just needed to get some bat on it but misses. Wided.
18.2
1lb
NOT OUT! Pitched well outside leg! Pakistan lose a review. It was a review more in desperation. Shaheen hits the deck hard again and attacks the stumps. Stoinis looks to flick but is late into the shot. He misses. It hits the pad and rolls towards point. The batters go for one as there is an appeal by the bowler. The umpire moves away. He then signals a leg bye. It is reviewed but the replays show that the on-field call is the right one.
Review time! This seems like a review taken in hope by Pakistan. A review is taken for LBW. No bat on it. Pitching way outside leg. The review is lost.
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