Pakistan are the first team into the T20 World Cup decider after a dominant win over New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the first semi-final on Wednesday evening.
In front of a crowd predominantly in support of the sub-continent nation, Pakistan advanced to their third final in tournament history, but first since 2009, while New Zealand were brought short of reaching the same stage they made last year.
Winning the toss and electing to bat on a pitch without any grass coverage, it appeared the Black Caps had landed the first blow.
That appeared to be even more so the case when Finn Allen smacked a boundary down the ground off the first ball, but he would depart just two balls later after a successful review had saved him one, and an unsuccessful one saw him depart a ball later to the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi.
New Zealand struggled to get going with any great fluency during the powerplay, and found themselves 2 for 38 at the end of six overs with Devon Conway run out on 21.
Kane Williamson held the innings together, but Glenn Phillips' departure at 3 for 49 left the Black Caps in all sorts, sitting on 3 for 49 off 8 overs.
Williamson, who would be the final man out at 4 or 117 on 46 from 42, was joined by Daryl Mitchell with 53 off 35 balls in a top-scoring effort that took New Zealand to 4 for 152 in the face of Afridi's 2 for 24, which led the way for Pakistan.
It was the run chase which stole the show for Pakistan though, with captain Babar Azam (53 off 42) and Mohammad Rizwan (57 off 43) putting on 105 for the opening wicket in 12.4 overs.
The opening partnership had the game all but beyond doubt with time to spare, and while both would ultimately fall, Pakistan had the chase down to a run a ball with overs to spare.
Mohammad Haris, who joined Rizwan at the crease, would belt boundaries during the final over to ensure Pakistan wound up ahead of the eight ball despite the late wicket of Rizwan, with Shan Masood joining him at the crease to stear the nation over the line.
Pakistan would ultimately bring the equation down to two runs off seven balls required before Haris would depart, getting a top edge which fell to Finn Allen at short fine leg.
Shan Masood would ultimately hit the winning run with five balls to spare.
Pakistan will now await the winner of the England-New Zealand semi-final in the tournament final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Match summary
New Zealand 4/152 (20) (Daryl Mitchell 53 off 35*, Kane Williamson 46 off 42, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/24 off 4 overs) def by Pakistan 3/153 (19.1) (Mohammad Rizwan 57 off 43, Babar Azam 53 off 42, Mohammad Haris 30 off 26, Trent Boult 2/33 off 4 overs)
