Aussies beat Pak to enter T20WC finals

Matthew Wade came up with a barrage of sixes out of nowhere to script Australia’s sensational come-from-behind five-wicket victory over Pakistan here on Thursday and send his team into its second Men’s T20 World Cup final.

In a dramatic Dubai semi-final, Australia’s asking rate went to beyond 12 runs an over before Wade smashed three straight sixes to win it with six balls to spare on Thursday.

It was enough to set up a Sunday night decider against New Zealand, in a repeat of the 2015 ODI final.

But for so long both before and during Wade’s unbeaten 41 from 17 balls, Australia’s pursuit of Pakistan’s 4-176 for a spot in the final looked unlikely.

Aaron Finch went first ball to Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Steve Smith (5) and Mitch Marsh (28) both fell sweeping Shadab Khan (4-26).

Khan also had David Warner caught behind for 49 despite replays showing he’d missed the ball, as Australia’s hopes looked gone when he failed to review.

And when Glenn Maxwell became the fourth victim for Shadab, who recorded the best-ever T20 World Cup semi-final figures by a bowler, Australia were in a bigger hole.

However, just as Michael Hussey did 11 years ago in St Lucia, Stoinis and Wade broke Pakistan’s hearts.

The pair let the equation get down to 62 from five overs before Stoinis (40no from 31) got the margin back to 22 from the last two overs.

Then Wade exploded, with his last 33 runs coming from eight balls.

Dropped by Haris Rauf with 20 needed from 10, Wade hit the next three balls into the stands to seal the match with six balls to spare.

0

0