T20 World Cup 2022: New Zealand v Pakistan semi-final, latest news and scores

When the going got tough against New Zealand, Pakistan got tougher in booking its place in the T20 World Cup final. Let’s hope the Aussies were watching.

If Australia’s cricketers ever wanted a lesson in how to tough it out when things don’t go to plan, they could do worse than watch – and learn – from the way Pakistan have lit up the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan may not be the most talented team at the tournament, but no side is more determined and up for the fight than them.

Time and time again during this wild championship, Pakistan have looked down for the count, but each time, they have climbed back off the canvas and started swinging again.

It’s been a heart-stopping ride for their supporters but now, against all the odds, they are through to the World Cup final after beating New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.

Needing to score at 7.65 runs an over to win after the Kiwis made a respectable total of 4-152 off the back of a rapid unbeaten half century from Daryl Mitchell and a pedestrian 46 from skipper Kane Richardson, Pakistan reached their target without any real concern.

Mohammad Rizwan (57) and Pakistan captain Babar Azam (53) put on 105 for the opening wicket before Mohammad Haris chipped in with 30 at the end, departing just before his team clinched a seven-wicket victory with five balls to spare.

Pakistan was too good for the Kiwis.

With momentum now on their side, there’s nothing to stop Pakistan from going on and winning Sunday’s final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

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They will play either England, in a repeat of the 1992 one-day World Cup final, or their arch rivals India, just weeks after their blockbuster meeting in the group stages. Either way, it promises to be an epic encounter.

Aussie legend Matthew Hayden, who has been hired as Pakistan’s batting consultant, said they could go all the way.

“Tonight was very special and a few things came out for us. Everyone will talk about Babar and Rizwan, but that bowling attack did an unbelievable job,” Hayden said.

“Sky is the limit and both of these guys have done it for Pakistan for a number of years and I also want to mention Haris as well.

Mohammad Rizwan cracked a half century for Pakistan. Picture: Getty Images

“He faces every fast bowler in the nets and smashes them. On this surface, the bowlers had to adapt and we got Shaheen (Afridi) back up and running.

“Once it starts to reverse-swing, boy! he’s hard to handle. Haris (Rauf) can bowl 150kph. I’d like to face India, pretty much because of the spectacle. It’s unthinkable.”

Cricket’s perennial bridesmaids, the Kiwis were left licking their wounds and wondering when they will ever win a World Cup after so many near misses, while Australia was given a brutal reminder of everything they did wrong.

The Aussies only missed out on making the semi-finals because of net run rate but in reality they were miles off the pace and only had themselves to blame for their doomed defence.

Pakistan proved that by doing exactly everything that Australia couldn’t.

Australia’s tournament fell to pieces when they were hammered in their opening match by New Zealand.

Although they didn’t lose again, they never really recovered, looking flat and lacking in ideas in their remaining games.

Pakistan were the complete opposite, even though they had more reason to sulk. They lost their first two group matches – on the last ball against India, then by one run against Zimbabwe – but never gave up believing.

Luck played a part in them getting to the semis, with South Africa suffering a shock loss to the Netherlands in their last pool game, but fortune favours the brave.

There was nothing fluky about their semi-final win over New Zealand.

Poor fielding left the Kiwi bowlers frustrated. Picture: AFP

While the Australians crashed and burned when they played the Kiwis at the SCG in the group stage, conceding 200 runs then replying with just 111 – Pakistan were smarter with both bat and ball.

They dismissed New Zealand danger men Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips cheaply then saw off the twin bowling threats of Trent Boult and Tim Southee to lay the platform for what turned out to be a comfortable win.

That wasn’t all that set them apart from Australia.

It was also their predatory instinct.

Despite being in trouble early on in their must win pool match against the Proteas, the moment Pakistan got a sniff, they went straight for the kill.

Unknown at the time, it ultimately contributed to South Africa’s loss to the Dutch because it eroded their senses of invincibility.

Australia, needing to drastically improve their run rate in their last two games, weren’t as ruthless when their chances came against Ireland and Afghanistan. They won both games but the margin was closer than they should have been.

Pakistan also benefited from a cool-headed Aussie and a breakthrough player.

Matthew Hayden was recruited as a batting consultant and showed the value of his experience – and the perspective of an outsider – by pushing for the inclusion of Haris – who, like his team, has emerged as one of the revelations of the World Cup.