Australia defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Thursday (November 11).
In the all-important game, Pakistan posted 176/4 on the board after being asked to bat first. Mohammad Rizwan (67 off 52 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (55* off 32 balls) slammed stunning half-centuries while skipper Babar Azam contributed 39.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was the stand-out bowler for the Kiwis, claiming one wicket by conceding 22 runs in his stipulated four overs.
In reply, the Aussies overhauled the target with an over to spare. Opener David Warner set the tone with a blazing knock of 30-ball 49 but it was the duo of Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis that took Australia over the line.
Australia needed 62 off the last five overs and Wade and Stoinis took the Pakistani bowlers to the cleaners to get the job done. While Stonis remained unbeaten on 31-ball 40, Wade smashed Shaheen Afridi for 22 runs in the penultimate over to seal the deal and the southpaw finished with 41 not out off 17 balls.
For Pakistan, leg-spinner Shadab Khan returned with impressive figures of 4/26 in his four overs but it went in vain as the Babar Azam-led side suffered their first loss in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
For their match-winning knocks, Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis received rich praises from the cricket fraternity on Twitter.
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