Xtra Time Web Desk: Australian wicket keeper batter Mathew Wade hit Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi for three consecutive sixes to power his team into the final of the T20 World Cup on Thursday. Chasing 177 runs to win, Australia romped home with five wickets remaining and still an over to go.
With Australia needing 22 runs from 12 balls, Babar Azam threw the ball to his main strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi. Wade hit the left-arm seamer for back-to-back sixes on the last three balls of the over to seal the game for Australia.
Wade also shared an unbeaten 81 run stand for the sixth wicket Marcus Stoinis to shift the momentum in Australia’s favour. Stoinis, who played the aggressor at the start of the partnership, witnessed some brutal power-hitting from Wade from the other end in the penultimate over.
Wade remained unbeaten on 41 off just 17 balls as his innings was laced with four sixes and a couple of fours. While, Stonis scored 40* off 31 balls.
Chasing 177 runs to win, the Aussies did not have the greatest of starts, losing their captain Aaron Finch off the second ball of the innings bowled by Afridi. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh added 51 runs for the 2nd wicket off only 32 balls to put pressure back on Pakistan.
However, Shadab Khan spun his web in the middle-overs to wrap Australia’s middle-order cheaply. The Aussies were 96/5 at one stage and the momentum was completely in Pakistan’s favour but Wade and Stoinis changed the script to guide Australia to their second final of the T20 World Cup.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman hit attacking half-centuries to drive Pakistan to 176 for four against Australia in the second semi-final. Rizwan, who top-scored with 67, and Zaman, who hit an unbeaten 55 off 32 deliveries, put on 72 runs for the second wicket to help Pakistan to a challenging total after being into bat first in Dubai.
Australia will now face New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup on Sunday (November 14) at the same venue.