Australia beat Pakistan by five wickets to set up T20 World Cup final clash with New Zealand

Big-hitting Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade power Australia to dramatic five-wicket win over Pakistan and set up T20 World Cup final date with New Zealand

  • Mohammad Rizwan hit 67 as Pakistan posted an imposing 176-4 from 20 overs 
  • Australia were reduced to 2-1 after an electric first over from Shaheen Afridi
  • But Marcus Stoinis (40no) and Matthew Wade (41no) secured a thrilling victory


Australia will meet New Zealand in Sunday’s T20 World Cup final after Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade took them to a pulsating five-wicket win over Pakistan.

At 96 for five in pursuit of 177 after four quick strikes by leg-spinner Shadab Khan – including David Warner, who walked for an edge despite missing the ball – the Australians seemed set to follow England’s exit.

But Stoinis, who had finished successful chases against South Africa and Sri Lanka, helped turn the match as a crowd dominated by Pakistani green and white fell silent – not least when Hasan Ali badly dropped Wade at deep midwicket off Shaheen Shah Afridi with 20 needed off 10 deliveries.

Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade guided Australia to a dramatic five-wicket win over Pakistan

Wade hit three successive sixes after being dropped by Hasan Al to seal a stunning victory

Wade hit three successive sixes after being dropped by Hasan Al to seal a stunning victory

Wade pinched two runs from the error, then sensationally struck Afridi’s next three balls for six, with two audacious ramps sandwiching a leg-side pick-up. 

Ali and Pakistan – the only team to have won all five Super 12 games – looked on aghast. Like New Zealand, Australia completed a daunting chase with an over to spare on Thursday.

‘If we had taken that catch, it might have made the difference,’ said Pakistan captain Babar Azam.

Mohammad Rizwan hit 67 as Pakistan posted an imposing 176-4 from their 20 overs

Mohammad Rizwan hit 67 as Pakistan posted an imposing 176-4 from their 20 overs

Wade, who finished with 41 off 17, was jubilant: ‘When I got out there, Marcus was really confident we’d get them, even though I was a little unsure. He found the boundaries early on, and I was happy to chip in at the end.’ 

Pakistan’s innings of 176 for four had revolved around 67 off 52 by their in-form opener Mohammad Rizwan and an increasingly fluent 55 off 32 by Fakhar Zaman.

Afridi then produced an electric first over, trapping Australian captain Aaron Finch lbw first ball. 

But, for the umpteenth time at this World Cup, the toss handed the advantage to the side choosing to bowl, and Warner kept his side in it with a 30-ball 49, before Stoinis and Wade supplied the icing. 

The Aussies were in deep trouble after four quick strikes by leg-spinner Shadab Khan

The Aussies were in deep trouble after four quick strikes by leg-spinner Shadab Khan 

Stoinis helped turn the match by hitting 40 off 31 balls including two fours and two sixes

Stoinis helped turn the match by hitting 40 off 31 balls including two fours and two sixes

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