Australia will need to pull off the greatest chase of this year's Twenty20 World Cup to reach the decider after Mohammad Rizwan powered Pakistan to 4-176 in the semi-final in Dubai.
In a dominant display against Australia's quicks on Thursday, Rizwan thumped 67 from 52 balls to put Pakistan in the box seat to face New Zealand in Sunday's final.
It came as Australia were left to rue two tough chances to remove the opener early, including one drop from David Warner running back at mid-off before Rizwan had scored.
The right-hander then made Australia pay, shaking off a blow to the helmet from Mitchell Starc to finish with three boundaries and four sixes after a shaky start.
Starc (2-38) finally removed him when he skied a ball to mid-off, but by then Pakistan were well on top on a ground where teams chasing have won 10 of 11 matches in this World Cup.
Off the back of the most prolific year in international Twenty20 history, Rizwan went after Australia's quicks.
While Pat Cummins recovered to finish with 1-30, Josh Hazlewood went wicketless for 49 as he was dispatched for three big sixes over the legside and another down the ground.
Both of Australia's right-armers were no-balled for waist-high no-balls, while one Hazlewood over went for 21.
Rizwan's knock came despite him being in hospital with a lung condition on Wednesday night, prompting Pakistan's Australian batting coach Matt Hayden to hail him as a "warrior".
Pakistan No.3 Fakhar Zaman then hit Pakistan home with a 32-ball 55 that included two sixes off Starc's last over, after also being put down by Steve Smith on 40.
No team has chased down more than 172 in this year's tournament, while it would also be the third-highest successful chase in finals matches in T20 World Cup history.
Again, Adam Zampa was Australia's best with the ball after Pakistan put on their best powerplay of the tournament with 0-47 from the opening six overs.
He got through his four overs with 1-22, removing the dangerous Babar Azam for 39 off 34 after both he and Glenn Maxwell (0-20 off three overs) built up the pressure.
After just nine runs came off the previous 11 balls, Babar was caught on the long-on boundary trying to slog sweep Zampa off the last ball of his second over.
Zampa had earlier put down a very tough chance from Rizwan on 20, diving forward at fine-leg trying to catch a ball that had been hit hard and low off Cummins.
Australia have reached just one T20 World Cup final previously when they lost to England in 2010, while Pakistan lost the 2007 final and won in 2009.
