Revitalised Babar blows away Kiwis

PAKISTAN completed a remarkable comeback from the brink of elimination to the final of the Twenty20 World Cup yesterday when they smashed New Zealand in Sydney.

It looked as if Pakistan’s World Cup was over when they were edged out by India at the MCG, then lost to Zimbabwe in their second game. But they scraped into the last four — helped by the Netherlands beating South Africa — and now return to Melbourne on Sunday to face the winner of today’s second semi-final. Pakistan were outstanding with the ball, in particular the brilliant Shaheen Afridi, before Daryl Mitchell clawed New Zealand up to 152 for four with an unbeaten 53. But it was not enough as Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan returned to form with a stand of 105 off 12.4 overs.

Pakistan batting coach and Australian great Matthew Hayden had predicted Babar would produce ‘something special’ here after previously scoring just 39 runs in the tournament — and after he was dropped by Devon Conway before he had scored, the Pakistan captain made a classy 53. Rizwan fell for 57 but Mohammad Haris settled any Pakistan nerves by hitting Lockie Ferguson for four and six in successive deliveries as Pakistan got home by seven wickets with five balls to spare.