SYDNEY (SKY NEWS) November 09 – Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam slammed half-centuries as Pakistan powered past New Zealand by seven wickets and into the Twenty20 World Cup final Wednesday, moving within one win of a second title.
Pakistan, who has now won four matches in a row since starting the tournament with successive last-ball losses to India and Zimbabwe, will face India or England in Sunday’s showpiece at e MCG, with those two teams meeting in Thursday’s second semi-final in Adelaide.
Babar’s side restricted New Zealand to 152-4 in Wednesday’s first semi-final in Sydney, before reaching their target with five balls to spare as the skipper banished his Super 12 blues with 53 from 42 deliveries in an opening stand of 105 from 76 balls with Mohammad Rizwan (57 off 43).
Despite a slightly nervy finish after both fell, Mohammad Haris’s 30 off 26 balls helped complete a deserved victory.
After consecutive victories in all matches this time Kane Williamson won the toss and choose to bat first.
An absorbing encounter began in dramatic fashion with New Zealand opener Finn Allen (4) bashing the first ball of the match for four, overturning an lbw dismissal by Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-24).
Conway was run out for 21 by Shadab Khan, who scored a direct hit from mid-off and they suffered a big blow when Glenn Phillips was caught and bowled by Mohammad Nawaz for six.
Daryl Mitchell and Williamson began taking more risks after reaching the 10-over mark at 59-3 with the first six coming in the 13th over.
Williamson was undone on 46 by an Afridi yorker after a knock that yielded only two boundaries before Mitchell, unbeaten on 53, and Jimmy Neesham, who scored 16, added 29 runs in the final three overs.
“At the halfway mark we thought we had a competitive total but it was disappointing not to make Pakistan work harder,” said Williamson who saw his side shell a series of catchable chances in a sloppy fielding display.
“It´s a tough pill to swallow,” he said. “I think if we want to be honest, we wanted to be more disciplined with our areas. Like I said, Pakistan deserved to win.”
Pakistan skipper Azam, who was desperate for runs after making just 39 in five matches before the semi-final, was dropped the first ball by wicketkeeper Conway off Trent Boult in the reply.
They plundered more boundaries off Tim Southee in another 15-run over, racing to 55-0 from the powerplay and bringing up their century stand in the 12th over.
Azam brought up his half-century before New Zealand got a glimmer of hope when he was caught in the deep off Boult and the same bowler then removed Rizwan.
Babar remarked ” Thanks to the crowd, Feels like we are playing at home.”
