Sports
T20 World Cup: Australia rules the roost, thrash Pakistan by 5 wickets
Australia stunned Pakistan in the second semi-finals of ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Thursday.
It's Mattew Wade who struck three sixes in the second last over to make Austrlia win over green shirts. The catch of Wade dropped by Hassan Ali in the second last over proved to be a turning point as he then didn't spare Shaheen Afridi.
Skipper Babar Azam also termed the droppage of catch a turning point that favoured Australia. Australia scored 177 for 5 in 19 overs.
Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis did the damage late on for Australia after David Warner’s fiery 49 had set the chase up, with four wickets from Shadab Khan not enough to stem the tide.
Tasked with chasing down 177 to win the second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final, Australia were hit with Shaheen Shah Afridi at his very best in the opening over, with Finch falling for a first-ball duck and Mitchell Marsh surviving a tight LBW review off the next delivery.
Australia rode out the storm and seemed to be taking control of the match as Warner raced to a rapid 49. But spinner Shadab Khan seemed to turn the game in Pakistan's favour, taking 4/26 including a controversial dismissal of Warner, to leave the game on a knife-edge.
Yet the remarkable semi-final had one final twist in the tail, as Wade and Stoinis let fly late on to get Australia across the line and knock out the tournament’s form team.
Pakistani leg-spinner Shadab Khan did his best, raking in figures of 4/26 against Australia [the best for a T20 World Cup semi-final] but it wasn't enough.
After the Shadab scare, Australia managed to bounce back as Stoinis and Matthew Wade struck up a solid partnership, hitting Hassan Ali and Shaheen Afridi for a couple of sixes.
Earlier, Pakistani openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan had formed another 50-run partnership against Australia.
Pakistani openers had found boundaries against Australia's fast bowlers and all-rounder Maxwell.
Mohammad Rizwan was dropped twice as he attempted to hit the ball out of the park.
Australia decided to bowl first again Pakistan in the T20 World Cup semi-final after skipper Aaron Finch won the toss.
Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first. Opener Rizwan struck 67 followed by 41 by Fakhar Zaman who socred 55.