Shadab Khan turned out to be the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan in the semi-final clash against Australia. With four wickets for 26 runs, Shadab registered the best bowling figures by a bowler in the semi-final of T20 World Cup. The leg-spinner also became the first bowler to take a four-wicket haul in semi-final clash of the mega event.
The previous best bowling figures was also registered by a Pakistan bowler. Former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul took three wickets for 15 runs against New Zealand in Cape Town in the inaugural season of T20 World Cup. Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews (3/16 vs West Indies, 2009) and West Indies pacer Ravi Rampaul (3/16 vs Australia, 2012) have also take three wickets in the knockout clash.
This is also the second-best performance by a bowler in the knockout clash of T20 World Cup. The best belongs to former Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis who took four wickets for 12 runs against West Indies in 2012.
At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Shadab was introduced by skipper Babar Azam just after the powerplay overs. The leg-spinner got the wicket off the second ball he bowled breaking the second-wicket partnership. Mitchell Marsh could not time the slog sweep and got caught by Asif Ali.
Shadab got a wicket in every over breaking the back of Australia’s batting lineup. In the second over, it was Australia’s experienced campaigner Steven Smith. The last two wickets were crucial. Shadab got lucky when he got the wicket of David Warner despite the ultraedge showing that there was no edge. In his last over, Shadab got the wicket of Glenn Maxwell who tried to play a reverse sweep shot in the 13th over.
Shadab’s four-fer reduced Australia to 5 for 96 but brilliance of Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade in the death overs undid the damage in the middle overs. Pakistan’s unbeaten run came to an end as they got beaten by Australia with an over to spare.
