Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam slammed half centuries as Pakistan powered past New Zealand by seven wickets and into the T20 World Cup final Wednesday, transferring inside one win of a second title.
They will meet both England or India -– who play on Thursday in Adelaide — within the November 13 decider on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Pakistan set the tone on the Sydney Cricket Ground with some razor sharp fielding and disciplined bowling that restricted New Zealand to simply 152-4.
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In entrance of 36,443 strongly pro-Pakistan spectators, Rizwan (57) and Azam (53) took aside the Black Caps’ famend bowling assault in a 105-run opening stand, and regardless of a nervous end after each fell, they accomplished a deserved victory with 5 balls to spare.
Pakistan final claimed the title in 2009 at Lord’s in England after they beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets, and it has been a rollercoaster journey in Australia to make one other final.
After agonising last-ball losses to India and Zimbabwe within the group section, they bounced again to topple the Netherlands and South Africa. Then in opposition to the chances they went by means of when the Proteas had been surprised by the Dutch and Pakistan eased past Bangladesh.
New Zealand, who topped Group 1, had been aiming to make the final for the second consecutive time, however their hunt for a maiden T20 title once more fell quick.
Teams batting first had received 5 from six video games performed in Sydney this match and when Kane Williamson received the toss he had no hesitation in asking Pakistan to bowl, but it surely proved to be powerful going.
Babar hits kind
In an eventful opening over, Finn Allen hit Shaheen Afridi for 4 off the primary supply then was given out the subsequent ball lbw.
It was overturned on evaluation due to an inside edge solely for Afridi to promptly do the identical once more and this time it was plumb.
Devon Conway and Williamson steadied the ship however some advantageous fielding restricted them within the six-over powerplay, the place solely two fielders are allowed outdoors the 30-yard circle.
It included the spectacular run out of Conway for 21 by Shadab Khan, who scored a direct hit from mid-off.
They suffered one other large blow when hazard man Glenn Phillips was caught and bowled by Mohammad Nawaz for six.
Daryl Mitchell and Williamson started taking extra dangers after the 10-over mark with the primary six coming within the thirteenth over.
Williamson was undone on 46 by an Afridi yorker after a knock that yielded solely two boundaries earlier than Mitchell, unbeaten on 53, and Jimmy Neesham, who scored 16, added 29 runs within the final three overs.
Pakistan skipper Azam, who was determined for runs after making simply 39 in 5 matches earlier than the semi-final, was dropped first ball by wicketkeeper Conway off Trent Boult within the reply.
But after his nervy begin he hammered a 4 off Boult and associate Rizwan additionally helped himself to 2 boundaries in a pricey 15-run over for New Zealand.
They plundered extra boundaries off Tim Southee in one other 15-run over, racing to 55-0 from the powerplay.
Azam introduced up his half-century earlier than New Zealand bought a glimmer of hope when he was caught within the deep off Boult and the identical bowler then eliminated Rizwan.
But Mohammad Haris (30) and Shan Masood (3 not out) saved their nerve to steer them house.
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