Babar Azam returned to form as a resurgent Pakistan beat New Zealand by seven wickets to reach their first T20 World Cup final since winning the competition in 2009.
Pakistan, who have 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 the MCG, with those two teams meeting in Thursday’s second semi-final in Adelaide (8am UK time).
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).
Babar was dropped first ball by New Zealand wicketkeeper Devon Conway and went on to notch his highest score of the competition, having topped out at 25 in the previous round while averaging a paltry 7.80 and recording four single-figure dismissals in five knocks.
Pakistan team mentor Matthew Hayden had promised Babar would produce “something very special” in the semi-final and the 28-year-old duly delivered, albeit with a huge helping hand from Conway.
Rizwan’s departure at the end of the 17th over with 21 runs required gave New Zealand hope but Mohammad Haris (30 off 26) carted Lockie Ferguson for successive boundaries in the 18th to put Pakistan back in firm control before Shan Masood laced away the winning single off Tim Southee one ball into the 20th.
Pakistan are now dreaming of another World Cup title in Australia, 30 years after Imran Khan’s ‘cornered tigers’ rallied to win the ODI version after, much like the current crop, being on the brink of elimination.
For New Zealand, their hopes of a third World Cup final in four years were dashed, with the runners-up in last year’s T20 World Cup to Australia and the 2019 50-over World Cup to England the latest victims of a revived Pakistan.
More to follow…
What’s next?
For Pakistan, it’s Sunday’s final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. For the competition, it’s Thursday’s second semi-final between India and England at Adelaide Oval. Watch that match live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, with build-up beginning at 7am ahead of the first ball at 8am.