Pakistan v Australia predictions and Twenty20 cricket betting tips

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for Pakistan v Australia in Thursday's T20 World Cup semi-final in Dubai.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 2pm Thursday

Best bets

Adam Zampa top Australia wicket-taker
1pt 10-3 Hills

Mitchell Marsh to score over 18.5 runs
2pts 5-6 BoyleSports

Match preview

New Zealand hit odds of 12-1 in-play in Wednesday's T20 World Cup semi-final against England before some sensational ball-striking from Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham powered them to a five-wicket win and the Black Caps face either Pakistan or Australia in Sunday's final.

Pakistan were the only team to win all five of their Super 12 matches, beginning with a stunning ten-wicket victory over ante-post favourites India, and they are narrow favourites to see off Australia in the second semi.

The Aussies made a meal of chasing down 119 to beat South Africa in their opening game and were demolished by England in their third Group 1 fixture, losing by eight wickets with 50 balls remaining.

That defeat came in Dubai, which hosts the semi-final, but Australia eased to victories over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in their other two matches at the venue before David Warner (89 not out) and Mitchell Marsh (53 off 32 balls) fired them to a comfortable win over the eliminated West Indies.

The Aussies came into the tournament having lost 16 of their 24 Twenty20 internationals since the start of 2020 and their rout by England suggests they may still be vulnerable against the very best teams.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa is enjoying a superb tournament, however, claiming 2-12 against Sri Lanka and 5-19 against Bangladesh in Dubai. He also dismissed Jason Roy at the venue, one of only two England wickets to fall, and should be confident of adding to a tally of 11 wickets in five games.

Pakistan's batting is built around prolific openers Babar Azam, who has scored four fifties in five World Cup innings, and Mohammad Rizwan but Australia's top order is more of a moveable feast.

Marsh's clean hitting against the Windies last time out should earn him another crack at number three, where he has been a reliable runscorer for Australia this year.

The all-rounder finished the game against Bangladesh with 16 not out off just five balls and he has scored 45 or more in seven of his 12 T20 international innings batting at three.

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