SYDNEY (Reuters) — Pakistan will continue their rollercoaster ride at the Twenty20 World Cup into the final after beating New Zealand by seven wickets in front of a raucous crowd largely made up of their compatriots at the Sydney Cricket Ground this morning.

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi led the way with two for 24 as the Black Caps were restricted to 152 for four before openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam finally found their scoring touch with half-centuries in a 105-run stand to lay the foundation for victory.

Pakistan scraped into the last four only after the Netherlands had upset South Africa on Sunday but will now play India or England, who face off in the second semi-final in Adelaide tomorrow, in the title decider in Melbourne on Sunday.

“It means a lot [to reach the final],” said Pakistan captain Babar.

“We did not start the tournament well but after South Africa lost we took our opportunity and we are playing our best cricket and in the final.”

Riding the momentum of their great escape from the group stage, the 2009 champions lost the toss but still looked charged with confidence from the moment Afridi took the ball for the opening over.

New Zealand’s powerplay maestro Finn Allen cracked a four off the first ball, but had to be rescued from a leg-before decision by DRS on the second before departing trapped in front on the third.

Devon Conway was run out by a direct hit from Shadab Khan for 21 on the final ball of the powerplay to leave New Zealand on 38 for two and another danger man, Glenn Phillips, was meekly caught and bowled by spinner Mohammad Nawaz for six soon afterwards.

Captain Kane Williamson steadied the ship with Daryl Mitchell but departed for 46 when he attempted to paddle a slower Afridi ball that rattled into his unguarded leg stump.

Mitchell, New Zealand’s batting hero on their run to the final last year in Abu Dhabi, continued to an unbeaten 53 but his 35-ball innings featured only four boundaries, as tight bowling and athletic fielding kept him shackled.

Babar and Rizwan had failed to deliver on their considerable reputations in the group stage, but made up for it in some style with a blockbuster opening partnership.

The captain enjoyed a stroke of luck when he was dropped by wicketkeeper Conway off his first ball from Trent Boult but hammered 53 runs off the next 41 balls he faced before holing out in the deep.

Man of the match Rizwan reached the half-century mark soon afterwards before also holing out for 57 but Mohammad Haris kept up the pace with a bright 30 and Shan Masood got them over the line at 153 for three with five balls to spare.

“Credit to Pakistan, they were too good today,” Williamson said.

“At the halfway stage we felt we had something to defend there [but] Pakistan were outstanding with the bat and they ran that down with ease. We certainly wanted to make them work harder for those runs.”