Aus vs Pak: Tale of the tape

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In this file photo, Babar Azam (C) leaves the field after getting out in the one-day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on January 26, 2017. — AFP
In this file photo, Babar Azam (C) leaves the field after getting out in the one-day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on January 26, 2017. — AFP

Pakistan and Australia face each other in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai tonight. It will be the fifth time the side from Down Under goes up against the Men in Green in the knockout stages of a cricket World Cup. The Aussies have triumphed in each of the prior four matches.

Ahead of their blockbuster encounter, here is the tale of the tape:

Pakistan

Top scorer at 2021 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam - 264

Top wicket taker at 2021 T20 World Cup: Haris Rauf - 8

Best two batsmen: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Best two bowlers: Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf

X-factor: Asif Ali

Underperformers: Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Ali

Path to semi-final

bt India by 10 wickets bt New Zealand by 5 wickets bt Afghanistan by 5 wickets bt Namibia by 45 runs bt Scotland by 72 runs

Australia

Top scorer at 2021 T20 World Cup: David Warner - 187

Top wicket taker at 2021 T20 World Cup: Adam Zampa - 11

Best two batsmen: Aaron Finch and David Warner

Best two bowlers: Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins

X-factor: Glenn Maxwell

Underperformer: Glenn Maxwell

Path to semi-final

bt South Africa by 5 wickets bt Sri Lanka by 7 wickets lost to England by 8 wickets bt Bangladesh by 8 wickets bt West Indies by 8 wickets

T20s head-to-head

Pakistan wins: 13 (includes one win on super over after tie)

Australia wins: 9

No result: 1

First T20 International meeting

Johannesburg, September 18, 2007

Captain Shoaib Malik (52) and Misbah-ul Haq (66) put on a century partnership as Pakistan stunned Australia by six wickets in the first Twenty20 meeting between the two sides at the inaugural World Cup.

The pair put on 119 off 78 balls for the unbroken fifth wicket to help their team recover from 46-4 and surpass Australia's 164-7 with five balls to spare at the Wanderers.

It was Australia's first appearance at the historic venue since South Africa successfully chased their formidable 434 with one ball to spare in a one-day international in March, 2006.

Pakistan's success was set up by left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir who claimed 3-31.

The Australian innings was marked by just one six from Michael Hussey, who top-scored with 37 off 25 balls.

Hussey and Brad Hodge put on 63 in 40 balls for the fifth wicket to boost the total after Australia were struggling at 92-4 in the 12th.

Last T20 International meeting

Perth, November 8, 2019

-- Australia routed Pakistan by 10 wickets with 49 balls to spare to clinch the series 2-0.

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