Wade hits three sixes in a row and Australia beats Pakistan to enter the Final
By Kersi Meher-Homji
What a win! What a climax as Australia beat Pakistan by 5 wickets to meet New Zealand in the Final of the Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday night!
As over 98 percent of the spectators at Dubai in the T20 World Cup supported Pakistan, we did not hear “Ozy. ozy, ozy, oi, oi, o” but I did say it often watching the thriller on TV in the early hours this morning. Matthew Wade was the hero with his hat-trick of sixes which sealed the match for the Aussies.
This semi-final was a thriller especially in the last 30 minutes when it appeared that either side could win.
Pakistan scored 4 for 176 in their allotted 20 overs. Opening batsmen Mohammad Rizwan (67 runs) and skipper Babar Azam (39) added 71 runs in 60 balls. Then Rizwan added 72 more runs for the second wicket with Fakhar Zaman (55 not out). Pakistan appeared in total command when they were 143 runs for the loss of only one wicket off 104 balls. But they lost three wickets for 33 runs.
Set 177 runs to win, Australia started badly despite opener David Warner’s 49 runs off 30 balls. But wickets toppled at the other end. It looked that Pakistan would win when Australia was 5 down for 96, still 81 runs needed for an unlikely win off 46 balls.
But cometh the hour and cometh the men, Marcus Stoinis (40 not out in 31 balls hitting 2 sixes) and Matthew Wade (41 not out in 17 balls with 4 spectacular sixes). Needing 22 runs to win in twelve balls, Wade hit a hat-trick of sixes in the 19th over from Shaheen Shah and Australia triumphed by 5 wickets with six balls in hand.
There were tears in the eyes of the Pakistan supporters in the Stadium as their country lost.
Person of the Match Wade was the hero behind Australia reaching the Final to meet New Zealand.
He said at the presentation, “Talking to Marcus Stoinis at the other end, we discussed what the bowlers were looking to do. [Shaheen] probably bowled more pace-on than I expected. When I got in there with Marcus, he 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. It got down to two a ball and from there it was if you got one in your arc, just try to hit it. Probably hasn’t sunk in yet, I’ve just finished batting. I’m just happy to contribute. I was out of the team for a while, just happy I got an opportunity again.”
11th November is Remembrance Day in Australia to remember the war veterans. It also became a day to remember for Australian cricketers and Aussie cricket followers.
Ozy, ozy, ozy, oi, oi, o!
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