In the shortest format, the story can turn in just a few overs. Till the 19th over during Australia’s chase of 177 for victory, it was about why David Warner Didn’t review his caught behind the decision, an error that cost the Aussies a place in the T20 World Cup final. Soon Hasan Ali caught and dropped the match.
After Warner’s dismissal Glen MaxwellAustralia were reduced to 97/5 in the 13th over after K. It was a game for Pakistan to lose. But Australia filled their team with all-rounders and it proved to be the difference in the end.
After losing the T20I series in Bangladesh, Australia captain Matthew Wade called for bravery from his teammates in that series. Here he was considered a symbol of bravery. other side, Marcus Stoinis, Brilliantly paced his innings. The duo had a simple plan to take the game deeper before launching the attack.
Around Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan, there were several weak links in Pakistan’s bowling which got exposed on a flat pitch. But the equation was still tough for Australia when Afridi came to bowl the final over.
Wade had to swing, but he shifted his slogan towards deep midwicket. Hassan overruns the ball and drops the catch. Wade hit three sixes in the next three balls, leaving Hasan behind 0/44 in four overs with guilt.
Imad Wasim had tears in his eyes at mid off. Hassan was bouncing on the ground at the end. Maybe he was not well. Pakistan came into the semi-finals with some health concerns, the worst being Mohammad Rizwan, turning up to play for his country after spending two nights in the ICU with flu-like symptoms. A half-century opening the innings told a lot about his character.
Just one dropped catch and three hit deliveries on death ended Pakistan’s illustrious World Cup campaign. Afridi, who conceded just 14 runs in his last three overs, conceded 21 runs in his last over.
Nevertheless, Australia turned out to be their nemesis. Down Under’s men marched ahead to set up the Trans-Tasman final on Sunday. Once in a knockout, they are a different kettle of fish.
To Warner’s relief, Wade and Stoinis spare his blush. After Pakistan posted 176/4, Australia’s response was always going to be Warner-heavy and as long as the opener was there, their team was ahead of Pakistan on comparable scores.
Warner was batting beautifully and getting hit by Shadab Khan after the drinks break felt like an aberration. Rizwan started the celebratory race as soon as he caught the ball from behind the stumps. Shadab joined them. Warner stood for a while and started walking back to the dug-out. The snickometer showed no spike and the on-field umpire had to reverse his decision if the southpaw had opted for a review.
This could have been the determining factor in the game. Australia had a close shave.
Brings color to Pakistan cricket match. His players play emotional cricket. The electric atmosphere at the Dubai International Stadium for the second semi-final made even a calm customer like Babar Azam almost a Virat Kohli, the way he shouted, jumped and punched.
Afridi had removed his customary wicket via a fatal inswinger. Aaron Finch For a golden duck. But Warner wisely played Afridi’s first spell, attacked Wasim at the other end and got out. Michelle Marshaw for company. Together they attacked the opposition, silenced the crowd and accelerated the Pakistan captain.
Babar picked Shadab despite Warner’s presence at the crease. He was in dire need of a breakthrough. Marsh brought up his own fall, failed to clear a long-hop outside off stump and resorted to a slog on the next ball. With the ball reaching the height of the Dubai skyscraper, Babar was screaming incessantly and yelling at Asif Ali to catch him. The catch was taken and the captain was over the moon.
Australia made a tactical error by sending out-of-form Steve Smith Maxwell ahead. Smith’s wicket was a matter of time and Shadab brought him out of his misery. And after Warner’s scalp, the leggie blamed Maxwell for returning with 4/26 in his next over.
Earlier, Babar was very tough with the bat in the beginning and on antibiotics, Rizwan helped his captain very well. Consuming plenty of fluids was the antidote and the ‘keeper-batsman played a daring innings of 67 runs off 52 balls. Fakhar Zaman, under suspicion for his indifferent form in the lead up to the semi-finals, chose to score the big game. He scored 55 runs in 32 balls. The way he went deep into the crease and converted good length deliveries into hitables was very impressive.
Barring Mitchell Starc, the Australian fast bowlers were somewhat indifferent with their line and length. Still, they need adam zampa To pull things back. With 12 wickets in six matches and an economy rate of less than six runs per over, the leg-spinner is in the running to be the player of the tournament.
Brief scores: Pakistan: 176 for 4 in 20 overs (Mohammed Rizwan 67, Fakhar Zaman 55 not out; Mitchell Starc 2/38) Lost to Australia: 177 for 5 in 19 overs (David Warner 49, Matthew Wade 41 not out, Marcus Stoinis 40 not out, Shadab Khan 4/26).
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