Australia pulls off World Cup miracle after huge blunder

Nobody expected Australia to make the World Cup final — especially after its middle order crumbled — but miracles do happen.

Matthew Wade was the hero for Australia. Photo: Getty Images.

Australia has pulled off a miracle run chase to qualify for the final of the T20 World Cup thanks to some stunning hitting at the death.

Matthew Wade thumped three consecutive sixes in the 19th over to drive Australia to a five-wicket win that looked well out of reach when the middle order stuttered in pursuit of Pakistan’s 4/176.

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Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade were the heroes, playing astonishing knocks. Stoinis smacked 40 off 31 balls while Wade — who has hardly batted outside the top three in white ball cricket — crunched an unbeaten 41 from just 17 deliveries to enhance his status as a finisher after coming to the crease at No. 7.

“When I got out there with Marcus, he was really confident we’d get them, even though I was a little unsure,” admitted Wade.

“He found the boundaries early on, and I was happy to chip in at the end.”

When David Warner was out caught behind for 49 off 30 — despite not hitting the ball — the Aussies were 4-89 from 10.1 overs after Aaron Finch (golden duck), Mitchell Marsh (28 off 22) and Steve Smith (five off six) had all departed.

Glenn Maxwell couldn’t work his magic, gone for seven, but Stoinis and Wade — who combined to guide Australia home in its first game of the tournament against South Africa — performed another rescue mission.

Stoinis was batting brilliantly and with three overs to go his side needed 37 for victory. He hammered a six and Wade slapped a four to leave them requiring 22 from 12 balls.

Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi has been one of Pakistan’s standouts this tournament and stepped up to bowl the penultimate over. Wade was gifted a life when Hasan Ali dropped a simple chance at deep mid-wicket — and it cost Pakistan the game.

With four runs already off the first three balls of the over — including two runs courtesy of Ali’s drop — Wade played a ridiculous lap shot over fine leg for six, smashed another maximum over the leg side then got down on one knee again to lap a third ball over the rope and secure an astonishing victory with six balls to spare.

Australia will play New Zealand in the final starting at 1am on Monday morning (AEST).

Wade didn’t think the dropped catch was the turning point, while Pakistan captain Babar Azam defended Ali after the blunder.

“I think we needed 12 or something, 14 maybe at that stage. I felt like the game was starting to swing in our direction at that stage anyway,” Wade said of his lifeline.

“I think by the time that the catch drop went down I was pretty confident we were in a really good position to get the runs.

“If that had happened three or four overs before hand, that would dictate the outcome of the game a little bit more.”

Azam added: “He (Ali) is my main bowler and he has won many matches for Pakistan. Players drop catches but he is a fighter and I will back him.

“Everybody doesn’t perform everyday. There is a day when one performs, it was just not his day. He is down and we will lift his mood. People will talk but we keep playing.”

Matthew Wade was the hero. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Hasan Ali will be having nightmares about this. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Before the tournament, plenty of sceptics questioned whether Australia would even get out of the group stage, let alone make the final. Ranked sixth in the world in the T20 format, Justin Langer’s troops had suffered humiliating defeats to the West Indies and Bangladesh in white ball series earlier this year and the signs weren’t great despite a first-up win over South Africa when they stumbled their way to a modest target.

A loss to England was expected but convincing wins over Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Windies saw the Aussies progress to the final four — and now they have a chance to claim their first ever T20 World Cup trophy against the Kiwis.

Pakistan started strongly and would have been pleased with its batting effort. Openers Mohammad Rizwan (67 off 52) and Azam (39 off 34) laid a solid foundation before some fireworks from Fakhar Zaman, who nailed 55 not out from just 32 balls with four sixes and three fours.

Josh Hazlewood copped some serious punishment, conceding 49 runs from his four overs while leg-spinner Adam Zampa confirmed his reputation as Australia’s most reliable short-form bowler, taking 1/22 in a miserly spell.

‘Oh my god’: World reacts to astonishing win

Adam Zampa was the best with the ball. (Photo by Aamir Qureshi/AFP)

The cricket world was in awe of Australia’s chase. Aussie legend Shane Warne tweeted: “So good! Just bloody awesome from @MatthewWade13 & what a partnership that was with the Hulk (Stoinis). Australia found a way when a few big players didn’t contribute at all! Should be a ripping final.”

English cricket commentator and journalist Isabelle Westbury had an amusing take — especially after England was knocked out by the Kiwis in the semi-finals after smashing Australia in the group stage.

“Australia winning now, after getting smashed by England in the group stages, nipping into the knockouts & teeing up a final v the nice guys next door is the living embodiment of the Australian cricket stereotype. And every Englishperson’s worst nightmare. How very dare they,” she wrote.

“Also hell, the utter madness of Warner and Wade being the two to do it for Australia (i.e. the two ppl in this team who are the English idea of bona fide baddies) is absolutely the funniest outcome.”

Indian great VVS Laxman wrote: “Wow, Australia, Wow! What a knock from Matthew Wade!! This was Pakistan’s game to win, but Australia were not to be denied.”

Writer Raj Chohan said: “Wow didn’t know Wade had that kind of innings in his locker. Insane.”

Former Indian fast bowler RP Singh added “Stunning fight back from Australia! Wade is not bad after all!” while former Aussie wicketkeeper Ben Dunk chimed in with: “Ohhh my goodness, what a finish!!”

Sports writer Ron Walker tweeted: “I don’t watch a lot of 20/20 cricket but oh my God Australia.”

Ex-Australian spinner Fawad Ahmed said it was an “unbelievable effort” from Aaron Finch’s team and cricket commentator Adam Collins called it “bonkers”.