Half-centuries from openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and an opening partnership of 105 helped Pakistan to romp to a seven-wicket victory against New Zealand in their T20 World Cup semifinal at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
An unbeaten half-century from Daryl Mitchell earlier helped New Zealand post a fighting total of 152 for four after choosing to bat first but Pakistan, who only made the semifinal as a result of South Africa’s shock loss to the Netherlands, galloped to victory with five balls to spare and take their place in the final at the MCG on Sunday.
Pakistan captain Babar endured a miserable tournament until the semifinal but finally came good with 53 from 42 balls (7x4) while Rizwan posted his 23rd T20I half-century with 57 from 43 balls (5x4). Both men were caught in the deep off the bowling of Trent Boult (2-33) but their contributions to victory were emphatic.
Mohammad Haris struck 30 from 26 balls before slicing a full toss from spinner Mitch Santner to deep cover but he, too, made certain of victory by smashing fast bowler Lockie Ferguson for a six and a four in the 19th over to reduce the target to a mere two runs from the final over.
Earlier NZ allrounder Mitchell finished on 53 not out from 35 balls having struck three fours and a six helping the Black Caps recover from 49 for three but it was an excellent, all-round bowling display from Pakistan which left the Black Caps 10-15 runs short of a par total.
They lost dangerous opener Finn Allen (4) to the third ball of the innings when giant leftarmer Shaheen Shah Afridi swung a delivery back into the right-hander to trap him lbw and fellow opener Devon Conway was run out for 21 on the last ball of the Power Play at which point New Zealand were 38 for two.
Conway pushed a delivery straight to Shadab Khan at mid-off and set off for a risky single but Shadab’s direct hit caught him short at the bowler’s end. Conway faced 20 deliveries and struck three fours.
Glenn Phillips (6) was dismissed just 11 runs later attempting to whip a delivery from left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz through the leg-side only to see it grip on a dry pitch and loop back to the bowler off a leading edge.
Kane Williamson departed at the start of the 17th over for 46 from 42 balls when a slower ball from the excellent Afridi (4-0-24-2) was too clever for the Black Caps captain who was bowled behind his legs playing an attempted lap-sweep. He hit a solitary four and one of just two sixes in the innings when he pulled seamer Mohammad Wasim over midwicket.
Mitchell struck the other with a cracking straight drive against legspinner Shadab Khan who was the most expensive of the bowlers with a modest 33 runs coming from his four overs.
The second semifinal, between India and England, takes place at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
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NEW ZEALAND: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (capt), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
PAKISTAN: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi