AUSTRALIA has outlasted Pakistan in one of the T20 World Cup’s all-time semi-final thrillers to book its spot in Monday’s (1am AEDT) final against New Zealand.
In chase of Pakistan’s 4-176, Australia needed 20 runs from the final 10 balls when Matthew Wade picked out Hasan Ali, who dropped a simple catch that ultimately cost Pakistan its tournament.
Wade went on to hit three sixes from the next three balls off Shaheen Shah Afridi, including two ramp shots that won the game for Australia with five wickets and an over remaining.
For context, Afridi had conceded just 20 runs from his first 3.3 overs before conceding 18 from his last three balls.
It was the highest successful chase of the 2021 T20 World Cup, and came after Australia had slumped to 5-96.
Australia’s World Cup dreams were on the brink of being dead and buried for much of the second innings.
Afridi sent down arguably the most unplayable over of the entire tournament to start the innings for Pakistan, featuring a wonderball to trap Aaron Finch in front for a golden duck.
Later, Australia needed 62 runs off just 30 balls, and then 50 from the last four overs.
Since the 2016 T20 World Cup, Australia had only ever made 50 runs off the last four overs on three occasions.
But Wade took his rare moment to shine in Australian colours, albeit with some help from Ali’s drop, finishing as player of the match for his breathtaking 41 not out off 17 balls.
Speaking after the match, Pakistan captain Babar Azam singled out the Wade drop as the moment Pakistan’s fate was sealed.
“The turning point of the match was the dropped catch of Matthew Wade,” he said.
“A new batter coming in then and it would have been a different scenario and maybe a
Marcus Stoinis was also unbeaten after an important 40 off 31, Mitch Marsh made 28 off 22 while David Warner topscored with 49 runs off 30 balls before he was given out caught behind.
Astonishingly, there was no noise on snicko and replays showed a clear gap between bat and ball, suggesting Warner didn’t hit it.
Warner’s total included a six hit off a disastrous Mohammad Hafeez opening ball that bounced twice and was called a no-ball.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. A double bouncer hit for six,” Mark Nicholas said in commentary.
Soon after Warner’s wicket, Glenn Maxwell once again failed to fire, finding a fielder in the deep to be out for seven off 10 balls.
His wicket was the fourth of the night for leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who ended with stunning figures of 4-26 — the best figures of anyone in a men’s T20 World Cup semi final.
Steve Smith was also a victim of Khan, out for five off six balls playing an ill-timed sweep shot.
- Fox Sport
