T20 World Cup 2021: I was a bit nervous, potentially knew it could be my last opportunity to represent Australia – Matthew Wade

Australia’s wicket-keeper bat Matthew Wade was delighted after he guided his team into the T20 World Cup final after playing a match-winning knock of 41 runs off just 17 balls as Aaron Finch-led team defeated Pakistan by five wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Wade has been in and out of the national team and he knew that this was his last opportunity to prove his mettle. The southpaw joined forces with Marcus Stoinis when Australia was behind the eight-ball as they were 96-5 and needed another 81 runs to win off 41 balls.

22 runs were needed off the final two overs and Wade got a reprieve when Hasan Ali fluffed his catch at deep square-leg on the third ball of the penultimate over, which was bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Wade then hit three consecutive sixes to finish the game and take his team over the line in a nail-biting contest.

Addressing a press conference at the end of the game, Wade said: “I don’t feel like it’s on the line anymore so much because I’m not 23 anymore. If this is it, this is it. It’s not really on the line for me it’s gonna be all over I suppose. I was a little bit nervous coming into the game, knowing that potentially it could be my last opportunity to represent Australia. Just wanted to do well and really wanted us to win this game and give us an opportunity to win the whole thing.”

It will now be a Trans-Tasmania final as Australia will face their neighbors New Zealand on Sunday. Wade added that they will give their best in the all-important final.

“We’ve got a great bunch of guys in that dressing room and guys that have I played for a long, long period of time with. I feel like this game was probably hard-earned and maybe what the final will be. Now we’re in it, we’ve got nothing to lose and we’re gonna do our absolute best. And that might be my last game too, and as I’ve said to you before in the past and I am comfortable with it,” Matthew Wade concluded.

As both Australia and New Zealand have entered the final, we will have a new first-time winner of the T20 World Cup. It should be another thrilling contest between these two top teams and it will be interesting to note who will come out on top on Sunday in Dubai.