Stoinis, Wade end Pakistan's streak and put Australia in final

Two semi-final encounters, two stunning run chases! What Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham did to England last night, Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis did the same to Pakistan in the second semi-final on Thursday (November 11). Matthew Wade came up with a barrage of sixes out of nowhere to script Australia's sensational five-wicket victory in Dubai and helped them set-up a date with New Zealand in the grand finale. Australia needed 62 runs in the last five overs but Wade and Stonis got the job done with six deliveries to spare.

Chasing 177, Australia lost Aaron Finch early but David Warner (30-ball 49) and Mitchell Marsh (22-ball 28) added 51 runs for the second wicket to lay a decent platform. Shadab Khan then scalped four wickets in the middle overs and it looked like Pakistan were going to run away with the game but Stoinis (31-ball 40*) and Wade (17-ball 41*) had other ideas. The latter was dropped by Hasan Ali in the penultimate over and then finished the job with three consecutive maximums. With this win, Australia also ended Pakistan's 16-match winning streak in the UAE.

Earlier, asked to bat, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam batted with a lot of intent and managed 47 runs in the powerplay. That's when Adam Zampa (1/22) and Glenn Maxwell (0/20) slowed things down a bit and the former got rid of Babar (34-ball 39) in the 10th over, bringing an end to a 71-run opening stand. Rizwan, however, carried on and kept finding boundaries at regular intervals, allowing out-of-form Fakhar Zaman to settle in. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed three fours and four maximums in his 52-ball 67 and became the first batter to aggregate 1000 T20I runs in a calendar year. Zaman too found some rhythm and pounced on all the half-volleys fed by Mitchell Starc. The left-handed batter smacked 55* off 32 deliveries and hammered Starc for three sixes and a four in his last two overs.

Pakistan enjoyed their best powerplay of the tournament and batted smartly in the first six overs. Rizwan, who was down with flu ahead of the game, did not look at his best early on and Babar took the lead by attacking the Australian pace attack. The Aussies were looking for some swing early on but they were not able to get it. The Pakistan skipper began with his trademark cover drive off a late outswinger from Josh Hazlewood. Among the five boundaries he hit, his short-arm jab between deep midwicket and long-on stood out.

Zampa, who has been Australia's go to bowler in the middle overs, finally got the breakthrough Australia needed by having Babar caught in the deep with Pakistan reaching 71/1 in 10 overs. More than the ball, it was the pressure created by Zampa that led to the wicket. Rizwan, who was dropped twice in the innings, got into the act after Babar's dismissal. He grew in confidence as his innings progressed and once he he got his trademark half full half sweep shot right off Hazlewood, he looked much more dangerous.

Australia did well from overs 7-11, conceding only 28 before Rizwan changed gears. Rizwan got his second six off Hazlewood two overs later, dispatching the seasoned pacer over deep midwicket. Zaman, who did not have a lot of runs under his belt heading into the semifinal, hit a flat six over long off to gain confidence. With Zampa completing his tidy effort, Pakistan were looking for a big over and that happened to be the 17th when Hazlewood was hammered for 21 runs, including a six off a free hit.

After Rizwan's dismissal, Zaman displayed his power hitting skills against Mitchell Starc, clubbing him for a six and four in a 15-run over. Zaman finished the innings on an exhilarating note, depositing Starc for two massive sixes to take the team past 170.

In response, Australia were kept in the chase by Warner and Marsh after skipper Finch was trapped lbw in another sensational first over bowled by Afridi. With Pakistan on top, Warner chose to counter attack and he was successful in his endeavour taking Australia to 52/1 in the powerplay. He smashed three sixes including one off Mohammad Hafeez delivery that bounced twice before reaching his bat.

With Australia reaching 89/3 in 10 overs, the game was very much in balance. However, Warner fell after drinks break, caught behind off Shadab but replays suggested he had not nicked it. The opener thought he had nicked it too and chose not to review it. With Stoinis and Wade in the middle, Australia needed something special. Both were able to reduce the equation to 22 off the last 12 balls.

With the match hanging in balance, Babar brought his trump card, Afridi back into the attack and the left-arm pacer nearly responded to his skipper's call with the wicket of Wade, who was dropped by Hasan Ali at deep midwicket in the third ball of the over. The Australian wicketkeeper cashed in on the chance and smashed Afridi for three consecutive sixes - two scoops and one heaved over deep mid-wicket - to seal the game for his side.

(With inputs from PTI)