Mike Hussey smashed 60 not out from 24 balls to put Australia into the World Twenty20 final after an amazing finish to the semi-final against Pakistan here on Friday.
Chasing Pakistan’s 6-191, Australia made 7-197 off 19.5 overs after looking gone at 7-174 with one over left.
But Hussey hit three sixes and a four in the final over bowled by spinner Saeed Ajmal to hand Australia victory against the defending champions.
Cameron White hit 43 from 31 balls including five sixes for Australia who will play England in Barbados in the final on SUnday (early Monday AEST).
Paceman Mohammad Aamer (3-35) dismissed Australia’s openers David Warner (0) and Shane Watson (16) and Brad Haddin hit a 25 before he was stumped off the bowling of Abdur Rehman at 3-58.
Michael Clarke (17) fell next over to the bowling of rival skipper Shahid Afridi as he was stumped attempting a big slog over mid-wicket.
Rehman’s second victim was David Hussey (13) at 5-105.
Left-arm quick Aamer, aged just 18, took his third wicket when White was caught at long-off in the 17th over.
Steven Smith (5) followed an over later at 7-144 and Pakistan looked home before Hussey’s heroics. The veteran batsman was mobbed by team-mates after the thrilling finale to the match.
Earlier, brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal hit half-centuries for Pakistan.
It was the highest total conceded by the Australians in their six matches in the tournament.
Kamran Akmal (50 off 34 balls) and Salman Butt smashed 82 for the first wicket.
Mitchell Johnson made the breakthrough when Kamran was brilliantly caught by David Warner at deep cover in the 10th over.
Butt (32) fell two overs later, sweeping leg-spinner Steven Smith to Warner at deep square.
Spinner David Hussey removed Afridi (8) at 3-114 and Dirk Nannes (1-32) dismissed Kahlid Latif for 13 as Warner took his third catch.
Umar was unbeaten on 56 from 35 deliveries including two fours and four sixes.
The teenager took 24 runs off Johnson (1-37) in the 18th over including three sixes.
Shane Watson and Smith bowled a combined four overs for 49 runs and Michael Clarke’s one over of spin cost 13 runs as Australia’s dominant bowling attack came unstuck at the semi-final stage.
Asked if he could believe his side had lost, Afridi said: “Not really.”
Clarke described Mike Hussey as “an absolute freak”.
“We knew if we had wickets in hand we had a chance,” he said.
“We’ve got the depth in the batting and we showed that again today. I can’t wait to get to Barbados.
“That’s one of the best wins I’ve ever been a part of.”
Man-of-the-match Hussey said he was simply trying to swing as hard as he could.
“I can’t believe we’ve won that game. It’s probably one of the best wins of my career.”
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