Match Details

AUS vs PAK 44th Match, T20 WC 2021

AUS

177-519.0

Australia won by 5 wickets

PAK

20.0176-4

Match info

Live

Scorecard

Player of the Match

Matthew Wade

Australia

41(17)

AUS - 2nd Innings

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	48	52
10 Over	84	89
15 Over	132	115

PAK - 1st Innings

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	44	47
10 Over	76	71
15 Over	109	117
20 Over	172	176

Commentary

We have had two fascinating semi-finals. What more could you ask for from a neutral's point of view. We will join again for the mega final on Sunday between neighbours Australia and New Zealand. A rematch of the 2015 fifty overs final. Who will come out triumphant? Do join us to know everything. Till then it's ta-ta and a very good night to all of you from me (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) and my fellow commentators Anurag Dasgupta, Anurag Singh and Arjun Bhalla.

Aaron Finch | Australia captain: "No not at any stage I believed we were through. the way Wade held his nerves was unbelievable. Just got my feet in a bit of a range. Most batsmen are vulnerable at the start. I thought we were very sloppy today but it shows the depth of our team. We need the support of all the 15 players and we have got 17 of them out there. Yeah, it was. I think teams chasing has been so successful. It's really strange. The lights come into effect and speed up the wicket. A nice toss to win. I thought losing the toss would be a fair call for me as I wanted to set up a total here."

Babar Azam | Pakistan captain: "I think the way we started in the first half the way we planned we got there. Then the target was there for them. If we give chances to teams like Australia, they will cash in. Turning point was the catch of Hasan Ali.

New batsman would have made a difference. Bit as a player you have to be on your toes and have to grab your chances. But the way we have played the tournament I think I am very satisfied as a captain. Definitely, when you play such a big event like this on a particular day you have to come out good. We committed a few mistakes in crunch moments which cost us the game.

Definitely, the way the crowd has supported all through UAE, the team has enjoyed a lot. people in Pakistan have also supported as tirelessly and I thank them for that."

Arya: Coming back to the match, it was always going to be a stiff run chase for the Aussies and they were pushed to the corner pretty early in the very first over as Shaheen Afridi bowled one of the finest first overs in the history of the game. He got Aussie skipper Aaron Finch for a golden duck and almost got Mitchell Marsh the very next delivery. He managed to survive by the barest margins and from there on it was Warner and Marsh who started taking the attack to the Pakistan bowlers and races off to 50 before the powerplay ended.

Some quick wickets in the middle overs pushed Australia to the backfoot. Shadab Khan was quite magnificent in the middle overs and bagged four wickets to unsettle the Aussies. 5 wickets with a score under 100 and Pakistan would have fancied their chances. However it was a sensational partnership between Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade which helped Australia storm their way back into the game.

Just as Babar Azam mentioned in the presentation ceremony, it was the catch of Wade in the penultimate over of Shaheen Afridi which turned out to be a big moment in the game. Hasan Ali was the culprit. However after that dropped chance, Wade was all over Shaheen Afridi as he scooped him for a massive six over fine leg, then clobbered a length delivery over deep square leg fence and then again scooped a fast one from Shaheen over the keeper's head to seal the deal for the Aussies.

Mathew Wade | Player of the Match: "I was constantly talking to Marcus Stoinis at the other end and was discussing what the bowlers are trying to do. Shaheen probably bowled more pace on delivery than I generally expected. When I joined Marcus, we knew we could chase this down. He found the boundaries early on and I was happy to contribute towards the end. It hasn't sunk in as I've just finished batting. I was happy to contribute for my team. I was out from the side, so I am happy to repay the faith."

Arya: All of a sudden Michael Hussey reloaded and that too in a version never seen before. This has to be one of the finest innings in a run-chase ever. What a match to be part of. These are the matches where you feel blessed to be in this profession. A spare of thought for Pakistan. They played an exceptional brand of cricket all through the tournament and even today they were on top for the majority of the match. However, it is Australia who has held their nerves and crossed over the line with an over to spare.

OVER 19

Australia

177/5

Matthew Wade

41(17)

Marcus Stoinis

40(31)

Shaheen Afridi

1-35(4.0)

Singh: Really, I can't believe my eyes. What a match to be a part of!! Matthew Wade has played one of the finest knocks he will ever play on a cricketing pitch.

Arjun: SIX-SIX-SIX and Wade does in some style. History has repeated itself. Australia have done it. Then it was Michael Hussey, now it is Matthew Wade. Take a bow, sir. You have done something extraordinary tonight. Unbelievable scenes in Dubai as Australia pull off one of the biggest heists I've seen in this T20 World Cup. Some sad faces as well. Emotions on all the faces of the Pakistani players and their supporters.

18.6 S Afridi to M Wade

6 That's it, match done and dusted! Brilliant from Wade, brilliant from Stoinis. Australia have won this game by 5 wickets and have entered the finals in some style. Mike Hussey 2.0 version here. Shaheen goes for his attempted yorker and misses it by a whisker. Wade shuffles across once again and again connects with his scoop over the fine leg fence.

18.5 S Afridi to M Wade

6 Another one from Wade!! This is sensational from Wade! Oh my gosh, I can't believe what I am seeing at the moment. Wade has almost done it for Australia now. Afridi goes for a cutter and pays the price for it. Wade was kind of expecting it as he stays still and mows it over the deep square fence...

Arjun: The predicator was 55-45 in favour of Pakistan, before that dropped chance. Now it's 72-28 in Australia's favour. Cricket is surely a game of fine margins.

18.4 S Afridi to M Wade

6 Superb from Mathew Wade! This is mesmerising from the Aussie wicket-keeper batter. He tries something cheeky and it comes off nicely. Nervy times here. Length on the stumps as Wade shuffles across, tries a scoop over the short fine leg fielder and times it to perfection. Wade, you beauty...

Arjun: Dropped it. Hasan Ali has dropped Wade at deep mid wicket, while running in hard. Has he dropped the match here? Has he? Only time will tell..!!!

18.3 S Afridi to M Wade

2 Goes higher on the leg side and Hasan Ali has dropped it at deep mid!! His poor outing continues here. He covered a lot of ground, but over-ran in the end. Length on the stumps. Wade goes for a heave on the leg side. He strikes it from the toe-end of the bat as the ball was high in the air. Hasan Ali sprints to his left and almost took the catch. Looks like he overran it.

18.3 S Afridi to M Wade

WD Fuller and sliding down the legs. Little tickle would have helped Australia's cause here. Wade misses a bat on it as the ball flies to the keeper. Wide called by the umpire.

Pakistan have reviewed the LBW decision. Ultra edge coming up.. flat line as it passes the bat. Off to ball tracking. Pitching outside leg and Pakistan lose the review.

18.2 S Afridi to M Stoinis

1lb Trapped on the front leg! Will Pakistan go for a review? Yes, they do. Was the impact outside the leg? Maybe. Length on the middle and off. Stoinis goes for a flick and gets rapped on the front leg. The ball rolls down to the off side and they sneak in a leg bye..

18.1 S Afridi to M Stoinis

0 Gets an inside-edge and that hasn't carried to the keeper! Rizwan thought he had taken it cleanly. Slightly short on the stumps. Stoinis goes for a pull and gets an inside-edge. Rizwan dives to his left and the ball just falls short of him.