Hassan Ali was the man who dropped not only Matthew Wade but the world cup for Pakistan on the ball of Shaheen Afridi in 19th Over.
Australia won the toss and contain the winning history in the knock out round against Pakistan in the ICC Tournament even after the bad decision of David Warner Out given by umpire.
Babar Azam backed Hassan Ali, He is match winner bowler definitely every one in the dressing room back up him and we will do more because i still believe in him, some times it happened and if you miss the chances you never get back the match.
“Rizwan! I asked him after he back from the hospital about the situation and wish to play the match and he was very good, confident and want to play the match with full enthusiasm, we the management backed Hassan Ali in the dressing room before start of the match and I still believe in him as he is a match winner bowler but you know if you missed the chances you can not win the matches” Babar Azam replied to a question from Adrees Malik.
ICC Review of the match
Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis formed a formidable partnership, leading Australia to a remarkable five-wicket triumph over Pakistan and securing a spot in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 against New Zealand.
When David Warner and Glenn Maxwell fell in successive overs from Shadab Khan, the chase of 177 seemed doomed, but Stoinis and Wade had other ideas as they put on 81 in 7.4 overs.
Stoinis initiated the resurgence by attacking Haris Rauf, but it was Wade who inflicted the most damage, smashing three successive sixes off Shaheen Shah Afridi after being dropped by Hasan Ali, thus sealing an improbable victory.
Pakistan posted 176 for four batting first, with half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman contributing significantly. Shadab Khan’s four for 26 seemed to have tilted the game in their favor.
Australia’s team has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the tournament, and once again, they displayed it in this match, clawing their way out of a difficult situation to secure a spot in their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.
The match indeed unfolded dramatically, with Pakistan’s batting consultant Matthew Hayden disclosing that Mohammad Rizwan had spent the previous night in the hospital due to a lung issue. However, despite this setback, Rizwan was deemed fit to play in Dubai as Pakistan took to the field to bat.
And while he looked very nervous early on, Babar Azam was able to score quickly before Rizwan settled in.
Rizwan’s luck seemed to favor him when he almost got dismissed off Maxwell, an unexpected choice to bowl in the powerplay. Warner made a valiant effort to take a stunning catch over his shoulder but narrowly missed.
Rizwan’s momentum shifted notably during the first ball of the fifth over, delivered by Josh Hazlewood. He confidently dispatched the ball for a six over the legside, seemingly gaining confidence with each stroke. Additionally, he received a stroke of luck when Adam Zampa failed to hold on to a difficult chance off the last ball of the powerplay. Despite Zampa’s effort, the ball slipped from his grasp just inches from the ground, granting Rizwan a fortunate escape.
Pakistan had their best powerplay score of 47 for none, with Babar continuing to push the scoring. However, Maxwell and Zampa tightened the screws, restricting the flow of runs. Under pressure, Babar attempted to take on Zampa but ended up picking out Warner on the boundary.
Maxwell’s bowling was proving crucial, ensuring that Australia’s fifth bowler would not prove the weak link as he went for just 20 from three overs.
Rizwan’s charge was slowed by a vicious short delivery from Mitchell Starc which rattled into the grill on his helmet.
In response, he smashed Hazlewood for a six and reached his half-century on the next delivery.
In this tournament, Pakistan have excelled in the final four overs, and it was no different here. Fakhar finally found his groove, smashing Hazlewood for a six over long-on before Rizwan put away a high full toss for four and then sent the resulting free hit into the stands for six. Hazlewood conceded 21 runs in that over, finishing with 49 runs off his four overs, proving to be expensive.
Eventually, Rizwan departed for 67, scooping Starc to mid-off. However, Fakhar, who hadn’t quite found his form in the tournament thus far, seemed to have settled in. In the next ball, he smashed Starc miles back over his head before narrowly missing umpire Chris Gaffaney with a straight four.
Asif Ali had been hitting a six every three balls in this tournament on average, but he couldn’t contribute this time, as he picked out Steve Smith on the boundary off his very first ball from Pat Cummins.
It should have been two wickets in two balls, but Smith put down Fakhar on the next delivery, running in from the boundary as he watched the ball bounce out of his hands.
While Cummins conceded just three runs off the 19th over, and Starc removed Shoaib Malik at the start of the last, back-to-back sixes from Fakhar propelled him to an unbeaten 55 and Pakistan to an imposing total of 176 for four.
Australia’s chase got off to a rocky start as Shaheen Afridi produced one of the standout overs of the tournament to kick things off. He trapped Aaron Finch leg before wicket off the third delivery, then Mitchell Marsh narrowly avoided a similar fate from a yorker next ball, surviving the review thanks to a pair of umpire’s calls.
In the fourth over, Warner started to take a liking to Imad Wasim, and as he and Marsh got going, suddenly Australia were motoring along.
By the end of the powerplay, they had 52 for one, the best of any team against Pakistan, but Shadab did for Marsh, a steepling catch well held by Asif as he fell for 28.
Mohammad Hafeez was brought into the attack, but his first ball didn’t go according to plan. Gripping the ball awkwardly, it came out all wrong, bouncing twice before Warner lifted it into the stands. Adding insult to injury, it was also a no-ball.
Steve Smith became Shadab’s second victim, attempting another attacking shot only to find the fielder in the outfield. Fakhar, once again, proved to be a safe pair of hands.
Warner was nearly run out after a misjudged single from Maxwell gave Fakhar a chance with a direct hit.
Warner seemed to have the win within reach, and as long as he was at the crease, Australia remained the favorites. However, right after the drinks break, he went after one from Shadab that moved away from him, resulting in an edge through to Rizwan. The reaction of both bowler and keeper showed their elation as Warner departed for 49, telling its own story.
Interestingly, a replay suggested that Warner had missed the ball, but like everyone else, he evidently believed he had made contact, hence opting not to review the decision.
Shadab was piling on the pressure and he got another, again with the help of some good fielding, as Haris Rauf caught Maxwell with a diving grab in the deep from a reverse sweep as Australia’s most destructive batter departed for seven.
It was down to Stoinis and Wade and after another fine over from Shaheen, the equation was 62 from five overs.
Stoinis was the first to challenge the bowlers, targeting Haris with a massive six over midwicket, followed by a four driven straight back past the bowler.
In the next over, it was Wade who took on Hasan, smashing him back over his head for a six to bring up the fifty partnership as Australia scored 15 off the over, leaving 22 to get off two.
In the penultimate over, Shaheen Khan returned to the attack. Hasan Ali had an opportunity to dismiss Wade but dropped a catch in the outfield after Wade missed a heave over midwicket. Immediately after, Wade adjusted his stance, jumping across his stumps, and scooped Shaheen for a six, bringing Australia tantalizingly close to victory.
The next ball suffered the same fate, picked up and smashed over the leg side before he finished the job in style with a third maximum.
Scores in Brief
Australia beat Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai by five wickets
Pakistan 176/4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 67, Fakhar Zaman 55 not out; Mitchell Starc 2/38, Adam Zampa 1/22)
Australia 177/5 in 19 overs (David Warner 49, Matthew Wade 41 not out; Shadab Khan 4/26, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1/35)
Player of the Match: Matthew Wade (Australia)
