AUS vs PAK: Wade, Stoinis pull off thriller as Australia defeat Pakistan to face New Zealand in T20 WC final

Dubai: Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis pulled off a thriller as Australia chased the target of 177 to set up a date with New Zealand in the final of the ICC World T20 2021, here on Thursday.

Wade, who was dropped a ball before clubbing three back-to-back sixes off left arm-pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, saw his team race past the target with an over to spare.

With 22 runs needed off the final two overs, Pakistan captain Babar Azam gave the ball to Afridi, who immediately produced a chance, but Hasan Ali dropped Wade on the third ball of his over.

The dropped chance proved to be costly and Wade belted three big hits, including two special scoops, to race past the target. He smoked 41 off just 17 balls, striking at 241.18.

Wade stitched a crucial 81 runs for the sixth wicket with Stoinis, who remained 41 not out off 31.

Wade and Stoinis could chase the target after David Warner, who was wrongly given out by the straight umpire, and Mitchell Marsh added 51 runs for the second wicket and another 25 with Steve Smith.

Shadab Khan excelled with the ball for Pakistan and scalped four wickets.

Earlier, Pakistan made 176 for 4 after the combined efforts of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman.

The Pakistani openers put on 71 runs for the first wicket. In the process, they broke a couple of records. Rizwan became the first batsman to score 1000 runs in T20Is in a calendar year, and Babar raced past Virat Kohli to become the quickest batsman to score 2500 runs in the shortest format of the game.

Babar looked set to post a big total for Pakistan but was caught by Warner off spinner Adam Zampa. Rizwan built a solid partnership with Zaman and added 72 runs for the second wicket.

Zaman smashed Australian bowlers in the death by scoring a superb 55 off 32.

The final will be played on November 14 in Dubai. Both New Zealand and Australia have not won the T20 World Cup title. (UNI)