T20 World Cup | Semi-Final: Hasan Ali lets Pakistan down as Matthew wades the way for Australia

Shaheen Afridi, the most lethal weapon for Pakistan was handed the ball by skipper Babar Azam when Pakistan needed to defend 22 off the last two overs and Afridi almost delivered as after giving only two singles on his first two balls, he got Matthew Wade to commit a mistake and a mistimed hit was flying straight to Hasan Ali at deep mid-wicket, all the Pakistani hopes were riding in that catch as the wicket would have meant a new batter and anew batter facing Shaheen Afridi is never a pretty sight for the batting team. 

But Hasan, who had just conceded 15 off his last over and finished his spell at 0-44 in the four overs dropped the sitter. That might be the biggest drop of his career so far as it meant that not only did Australia get two easy runs, but the morale of the entire Pakistani unit was gone although Shoaib Malik tried his efforts best to console Hasan Ali. What happened in the next three balls was pure carnage by Wade. 

On the fourth ball, he got down on one knee and played a scoop over fine leg for a six. The next ball was at length and slower as well, it sat up nicely and was dispatched over Hasan Ali at mid-wicket for a six. Needing six from seven, Wade once again chose to play the scoop, going down on his haunches, he hit it over Mohammad Rizwan’s head for a six to finish the game in style. 

Wades’ knock of 41 off just 17 balls was the deciding factor as Australia won the game by five wickets and marched into only their second ever T20 World Cup final where they will face their trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand on November 14 in Dubai itself. The 33-year-old wicket-keeper batsman sporting a handsome moustache proudly received the Player of the Match award. 

The Aussie chase hadn’t started in an ideal way whatsoever, rather it was the worst possible start with skipper Aaron Finch getting out on a golden duck and Mitchell Marsh surviving a close LBW call. David Warner on the other hand kept bowlers at bay and remained busy throughout his knock of 49 off 30 balls. 

He added 51 with Marsh before the latter was caught by Asif Ali off Shadab Kahan’s bowling. Shadab would go on to then get the wickets of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Warner as well, all in a span of 19 runs to push Australia from 77-2 to 96-5. 

It was then that Marcus Stoinis and Wade got into a partnership. They kept hitting a boundary in an over and didn’t let the run rate get above 13 at any point. It was their unbeaten partnership of 81 off just 40 balls that got the Aussies through. 

Earlier in the evening, after winning the toss Australia put Pakistan to bat first. As always, Babar and Rizwan gave a steady start and added 77 for the first wicket before Babar got out trying to accelerate. Rizwan completes his fifty and scored a 52 ball 67. But it was the innings of Fakhar Zaman in which he hit 55 off just 32 balls, smashing Micthell Starc for three sixes that got Pakistan to a comfortable 176 in 20 overs. 

Adam Zampa was the best Aussie bowler with figures of 1-22 in his four overs. Even Pat Cummins bowled a beauty of a 19th over, giving away just three runs and stopping the Pakistani side from getting past 180.