The importance of Stoinis’ 40 off 31 balls should not be understated. By taking Haris Rauf for 13 in the 17th over, the all-rounder ensured Pakistan would be taken out of their comfort zone.
Hasan melted under pressure, missing his mark with the ball in the 18th over and compounded his errors in the field.
Shaheen erred on the side of a full length, but Wade was one step ahead, twice scooping the left-armer over the rope in a frantic finale.
Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan cuts a dejected figure during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final match.Credit:Getty Images
Few would have thought their heroics would have been needed when a rampant Warner was at the crease.
The dynamic opener appeared to have the game in control, but Pakistan claimed the ascendancy after he was caught behind to a delivery he did not hit for 49 off 29 balls.
Warner did not call for a review, which would have overturned Chris Gaffaney’s verdict as Ultra Edge did not record a spike and replays showed a gap between the bat and the ball.
There was, however, a sound as the ball passed his bat and the Pakistanis’ appeal was full of conviction.
Australia’s run chase started poorly with skipper Aaron Finch hit plumb in front by one that swung back from Shaheen. Mitchell Marsh was inches away from an lbw call himself the very next ball.
This will be a bitter pill to swallow for Pakistan, who were unbeaten through the Super 12s and had their noses in front for much of the night, only to lose their nerve when the game was on the line.
Rizwan could well have been the hero himself, overcoming an illness that required hospitalisation the night before and a 144 km/h to the grille of his helmet to make 67 off 52 balls.
Rising star Shadab Khan (4/26) sent shockwaves through the Australian camp by claiming the wickets of Marsh, Steve Smith, Warner and Maxwell in consecutive overs.
Australia has plenty of room for improvement in the final. They failed to strike with the new ball, were punished at the death, leaking 54 runs from the final four overs, and were well below their best in the field.
Rizwan was given reprieves from Warner and Zampa on zero and 21 respectively. Both outfield chances were difficult, but the Australians set such high standards in the field, and the margin between success and failure can be slim at the top level.
Smith’s regulation drop of Fakhar Zaman on 40 hurt his side late, allowing the Pakistan No.3 to smack back-to-back sixes off Mitchell Starc in the final over.
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Leg-spinner Adam Zampa continued his excellent campaign, pulling his side back into the contest with the wicket of Babar for 39.
At the top of his game, Zampa has become a bowler who his captain can give the ball to confident that he will get the job done.
Only the world’s No.1 T20 bowler, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, has taken more wickets than Zampa’s 12 at 10.91 with an economy rate of less than a run a ball.
He and Maxwell applied the clamps during the middle of the innings against a set Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman, the value of which would become more apparent in the closing overs.
Josh Hazlewood is rarely dominated at international level, but on this occasion the giant quick had his colours lowered, conceding 49 runs from his four overs, including an over of 21.
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Wade the hero as Australia stun Pakistan in semi-final thriller
Source: Philippines Alive
