4.6 overs (0 Run) Shortish and outside off, Babar flashes his bat at it and gets it away off the outer half to short third man. Dot. Apart from a six, it still was a decent over by Josh Hazlewood.
4.5 overs (1 Run) Very full and around off, Rizwan drives it towards mid off and scampers across to the other end.
4.4 overs (0 Run) Swing and a miss! Slightly short and around off, Rizwan once again tries to deposit it over square leg with his cross-batted shot but fails to connect.
4.3 overs (1 Run) On a length and around off, Babar plays a mistimed shot towards mid off and sets off for a run. David Warner makes a diving stop inside the ring.
4.2 overs (1 Run) Short in length, outside off and it's carrying some extra bounce, Rizwan taps it down towards short third man and takes a single.
4.1 overs (6 Runs) SIX! High and handsome! This will make Mohammad Rizwan feel a lot better. He loves playing in that direction of the field. This one is delivered on a length, Rizwan uses the angle of the bowler and heaves it over square leg for a maximum.
Another change. Finch is desperate for the first wicket. Josh Hazlewood is back on. He went for 5 in his first over.
3.6 overs (0 Run) Shortish and around off, Babar strokes it to covers and looks for a run. This time Rizwan sends him back and the fielder misses his shy at the striker's end. Could have been close. End of an ordinary first over by Pat Cummins.
3.5 overs (0 Run) Length ball on off, at 145 kph, Babar stays back and plays it down to short mid-wicket. Rizwan wants a run but is sent back. A loud scream of no from the Pakistan skipper. Someone needs to calm down Mohammad Rizwan at the moment.
3.4 overs (1 Run) Cummins gets away with a bad ball here. Short and down the leg side, Rizwan only manages to fetch a single by pulling it down to fine leg.
3.3 overs (1 Run) Again the line is straight from Pat, Babar wrists it behind square leg and picks up a single.
3.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Well played! Babar looks so elegant. Cummins is slightly short and slightly straight, Babar turns inside the crease and glances it wide of short fine leg for a boundary.
3.1 overs (1 Run) Fractionally short and around off at 86 mph, Rizwan tries to pull but is early into the shot. It takes the inner edge and deflects off his thigh pad to backward point. They cross.
3.1 overs (1 Run) Wide! Sliding down the leg side, a length ball, Rizwan swings his bat at it but fails to connect.
Pat Cummins comes on now.
2.6 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Easy pickings! Flighted delivery, full and down the leg side, Babar goes down and swipes it behind square leg, this time it's in the gap and a boundary results. 10 from Maxwell's first over.
2.5 overs (0 Run) Flatter and shorter on middle, pulled across the line but straight to square leg.
2.4 overs (1 Run) Again Rizwan is early to skip down the track, he is deceived in flight but does well eventually to push it towards cover-point for a run.
2.3 overs (4 Runs) DROPPED AND FOUR! That would have been a spectacular catch by David Warner. A very tough chance but once he reached there, he should have taken it. Flighted delivery, full and around off, Mohammad Rizwan is very anxious to get going, dances down the track for a big shot but miscues his aerial shot behind mid off. Warner runs back, keeps his eyes on the ball and then manages to have both his hands around it as well. However, it slips out of his grasp and then rolls away to the fence. Full marks to the effort.
2.2 overs (1 Run) Tossed up and around middle, Babar flicks it in front of square leg and takes a single.
2.1 overs (0 Run) Fuller and on middle, skidding straight on, Babar tries to flick but gets a leading edge towards covers.
Change. Time for some spin as Glenn Maxwell is set to roll his arm over.
1.6 overs (0 Run) Josh pitches it up and around off, Rizwan drives it off his front foot to mid off. A fine first over by Hazlewood apart from a boundary ball.
1.5 overs (0 Run) On a length and close to off, Rizwan pushes it with an angled bat to point and again looks for a run. Babar is firm in sending him back.
1.4 overs (0 Run) Back of a length, around off, Rizwan is a bit fidgety at the crease, tries to dab it down but gets an under-edge. It rolls behind to the keeper. Rizwan wants a run but is sent back. A lot of nervous energy there.
1.3 overs (1 Run) This time a length ball is angled into the batter, Babar works it to the right of mid on and rushes across to the other end for a run. Smart batting.
1.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Fine shot! Josh Hazlewood is a little too full and wide outside off, Babar Azam gets the chance to show his class here. He presses forward, allows the ball to swing and then crunches his drive through covers for a glorious boundary.
1.1 overs (0 Run) Right on the money, as usual. Josh Hazlewood hurls across a length ball on off, Babar brings down a straight bat in defense.
Josh Hazlewood runs in from the other end. Chris Woakes got early success in the game against New Zealand. Given that Josh Hazlewood bowls similar lines and lengths, Finch would expect him to deliver big time.
0.6 over (0 Run) Swing and a miss! Better, much better line from Starc. Serves it on a length and just outside off, some visible inward movement again, Rizwan sticks back and tries to slash it through point but misses. A mixed bag first over by Mitch!
0.5 over (1 Run) Starc is yet to get his line right here. Delivers another one on middle and leg, it's clipped behind square leg for a run.
0.4 over (4 Runs) FOUR! Wrong line from Starc and it has been duly punished by Babar Azam. An inswinger attempted by the bowler but the line starts from around leg and it swings down further, Babar gets enough bat behind it to send it to the fine leg fence. Lovely use of the pace.
0.3 over (0 Run) Width on offer outside off, slightly short in length, Babar slaps it through the line but picks the cover-point fielder.
0.2 over (0 Run) Better line. Starc delivers it on a length around middle, shaping in, Babar Azam works it off his pads but finds the square leg fielder.
0.1 over (1 Run) Pakistan are away with an extra! Starc speeds in and lands it on a length outside off, there is a nice inward movement as Rizwan flashes his bat at it. He fails to get any connection and the ball curls to the left of the keeper. Wade gets some gloves behind it and the batsmen cross for a bye.
Done with the pre-match formalities! Finch leads his team out on the field. The star batters of Pakistan, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, stride out to bat. Loud cheers from the crowd as they walk out. Mitchell Starc will start with the ball. But before that, Australians take the knee while the Pakistan players have their hands on their hearts to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Here we go. All ready to rumble...
Before the match, both the teams along with the match officials walk out in the middle for the national anthems. Plenty of green in the crowd and it will be interesting how big of a 'home' advantage Pakistan have here. First, the anthem of Australia will be played followed by that of Pakistan.
A quick interview with Mohammad Hafeez. He says that as a team they are mentally and physically ready for this match. Adds that this team has great potential and it is very special to see the players respond to different situations. Shares that they are very relaxed and very confident leading into this clash. Confesses that the expectations are always very high when they play in an ICC tournament and they wish to cross these two hurdles and lift the trophy.
Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan, says that they will try to put runs on the board and then defend it. Adds that it is an honour for him to lead such a talented bunch of players. Says that they have played quite a bit of cricket in the UAE and they will try to make good use of that experience. Informs that they are playing the same side.
Aaron Finch, the captain of Australia, says that he feels it is a good wicket and it won't change a lot. Adds everyone is quite relaxed, there will be nerves once they step on the field but they are up for it. Mentions that the Powerplay overs have played a huge part and both teams have got firepower in their bowling. Informs that they are unchanged.
Pakistan (Unchanged Playing XI) - Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi.
Australia (Unchanged Playing XI) - Aaron Finch (C), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (WK), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Toss - Babar Azam and Aaron Finch are in the middle. The former flips the coin, Finch calls correctly and AUSTRALIA ELECT TO FIELD!
Stat alert - Dubai has favoured the chasing teams in this edition of the T20 World Cup. In the 11 games played at this venue so far, only once a team has successfully defended the total. If we zoom in more, no team has defended a total in night games. Dew has played a major role here and hence the toss is going to be critical.
Mitchell Starc is down for a chat. The speedster says that he has improved throughout the tournament and adds that he did not have a lot of smoothness leading up to the competition so he is happy to get back in the groove. Adds that they had a couple of days off before this game and they had good practice sessions. Says that while it is important to pay attention to the batters of Pakistan, they also need to focus on their own strengths as a bowling attack.
Another cracker of the game coming our way. With the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all in one game, be assured to see some fiery pace bowling coming at the batters and that should be a mouth-watering phenomenon to witness. Will it be Australia locking horns with New Zealand in the final? Or will it be Pakistan continuing their dominance and meeting the Kiwis on Sunday? We will find out in due course of time.
Pakistan have been a team to beat in this World Cup. Right from their first game against the arch-rivals, India, they were on the money. Since then, they have gone from strength to strength and it has been hard to find a weak spot in their team so far. Their openers have been prolific but the biggest positive for them in their last game against Scotland was the performance of their middle order. Senior players like Hafeez and Malik have contributed when needed and they have a fearsome finisher in the form of Asif Ali. Their bowling traditionally being their stronger suit has been top-notch as well and we can expect another strong performance by this well-oiled Pakistan unit.
Coming into this tournament, Australia had a poor run to get over. They lost their series against West Indies and also against Bangladesh. But, Australia have been right on top in this tournament - a complete team performance one might say. David Warner and Aaron Finch have assured Australia a perfect start, and with Mitchell Marsh coming back into action, the middle order hasn't really got much to do. The Aussie speedsters have been consistent throughout the tournament and their main spinner, Adam Zampa, has been in great form too. They look very well settled and pretty solid. Will we see Finch and his men move a step closer to lifting the trophy that has eluded Australia till now?
It is time for Australia and Pakistan to lock horns in this second semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Hello and a very warm welcome to our coverage. This is an ICC tournament and Pakistan have another streak to break in this game. Australia have won all their ICC knockout games against Pakistan. But streaks are meant to be broken as Pakistan showed in their first game of the tournament against India by breaking the much more hyped streak comfortably. Furthermore, Pakistan have won their last 16 T20Is in UAE and this is one streak they would like to continue. Either way, if both teams stay true to their billing tonight, we are in for another evening of exciting action.
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