Pakistan entered the final of the T20 Cricket World Cup restricting New Zealand to 152 and hitting up the required runs in 19.1 overs in the first semi final at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday.
Pakistan will await the winners of the England versus India second semi final match to be played today in Adelaide.
Restricting the Kiwis in their batting Pakistan’s openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan almost effortlessly began the run chase scoring at will to reach 55 in the first six power play overs that assured them of victory.
The duo parted company after sealing the result with a 105-run stand for the first wicket when Babar Azam in a hurry to finish off the match hit a ball from Trent Boult to be caught near the boundary for a score of 53 made in 42 balls with seven fours.
But Rizwan stayed on untroubled until he dispatched a full toss from the same bowler to be caught at deep cover for 57 off 43 balls with five fours.
Eventually Pakistan had to score just two runs in the last over bowled by Tim Southee whose 3.1 overs cost him 24 runs without a wicket.
Earlier New Zealand batting first were rescued by a 68-run partnership between Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell who took the score from a shaky 49 for 3 in eight overs.
Their stand could have gone on for more had Williamson in hindsight not played a scoop shot that he missed and saw the ball from paceman Shaheen Shad Afridi crash into his middle stump.
He made 46 in 42 balls with one four and one six but Mitchell stood firm to make an unbeaten 53 from just 35 balls that had three fours and one six.
Together with James Neesham, Mitchell took New Zealand past the 150 mark that may have look beyond reach when the Kiwis lost the wicket of Finn Allen leg-before for 4 to Afridi in the third ball of the innings followed by that of Devon Conway for 21 and Glen Phillips for 6 with the total at 49.
Scores:
New Zealand 152 for 4 in 20 overs (Devon Conway 21, Kane Williamson 46, Daryl Mitchell 53 not out, James Neesham 16 not out, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2 for 24)
Pakistan 153 for 3 in 19.1 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 57, Babar Azam 53, Mohammad Haris 30, Trent Boult 2 for 33)