Wade, Stoinis crush Pakistan’s dreams

Six, six, six and it was all over for Pakistan. Matthew Wade smashed Shaheen Afridi for 22 runs off the 19th over of the innings to gun down Babar Azam's high-flying side and take Australia into the final of the ICC T20 World Cup at the Dubai Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The Aussies proved yet again that they can never be written off on the biggest of stages, snatching a win from the jaws of defeat, but the tide turned in the third ball of the 19th over -- with Australia needing 20 off 10 deliveries -- when Asif Ali dropped Wade at deep mid-wicket.

The left-hander did not wait for the final over to get the 22 run that they needed off the final two overs, smashing three sixes to Afridi to reach the 177-run target with an over to spare.

Not many thought the Aussies would pull off an unlikely escape when they needed 62 off the last five overs, but Wade and Marcus Stoinis kept their heads down and started to believe.

Something extraordinary was required and, from 96 for 5 inside 13 overs, Wade and Stoinis did exactly what was needed, adding an unbeaten match-winning 81-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Man-of-the-match Wade remained not out for 41 off just 17 balls, a knock that featured four sixes and two fours, while Stoinis provided ample support and was unbeaten on a 31-ball 40 that included two sixes and two fours.

With this win, Australia kept their 100 per cent winning record against Pakistan in knockout stages of ICC events intact.

Interestingly, the two teams that Bangladesh had recorded series wins against prior to the flagship event will now face each other in the final on November 14, with New Zealand booking a place by beating England.

Despite Afridi removing skipper Aaron Finch for a golden duck in the first over of the innings, Australia staged a counter-attack as David Warner and Mitchell Marsh combined for 52 runs in the Powerplay.

But leg-spinner Shadab Khan brought Pakistan back into the game, starting by removing Marsh for a 22-ball 28. He went on to dismiss Steve Smith for five but his biggest contribution was getting the wicket of Warner. The left-hander was given caught behind after scoring 49 off 30 balls, but replays showed that there was no connection between bat and ball.

Australia faced another blow when Shadab bagged his fourth wicket, removing Glenn Maxwell for seven, allowing Pakistan to dream of a place in the final before Wade and Stoinis dashed those hopes.

Earlier, Pakistan put up a perfect display of T20 batting and ticked all the right boxes to post a challenging 176 for 4 riding on fifties from Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman after being asked to bat.

Pakistan rode on a brilliant platform laid by skipper Babar Azam and Rizwan as they had their best Powerplay score in the tournament of 47 without loss. And then some powerful hitting by Fakhar saw Pakistan score 54 runs off the last four overs.

Fakhar remained unbeaten on 55 off just 32 balls, striking four sixes and three fours. In-form Pakistani openers Babar and Rizwan played sensibly but ensured they got a boundary off every over in the Powerplay.

Rizwan was fortunate to be dropped twice early in the innings but both were difficult chances.

From 117 for 1 after 15 overs, Pakistan then initiated a late launch and after Rizwan's dismissal after scoring a team-high 67 off 52 balls, Fakhar took over. Despite losing the wickets of Asif Ali and Shoaib Malik cheaply Fakhar, who was having a quiet time in the mega-event, fired at the right time.