Pakistan remained on course for a record-breaking sixth Hong Kong Cricket Sixes title after a four-wicket semi-final victory over Australia on Sunday.

As has been the case so often over the past three days, Australia were indebted to captain Dan Christian for taking them to a competitive total.

Hitting exclusively to the leg side, Christian crashed six sixes from the final over of his side’s innings, bowled by a Asif Ali, who also sent down one wide, as Australia moved from 70 for one to 107 without further loss.

Jack Wood earlier struck 36 from 17 balls before being beaten by the pace of Faheem Ashraf, who took one for 12 from his solitary over.

Pakistan had their foot to the floor from the outset of their reply. Ali compiled magnificent knocks in his team’s victories over United Arab Emirates and India on Friday.

And he was at it again, racing to 32 from seven balls. Attempting to emulate Christian after launching the first three balls of an Andrew Fekete over beyond the boundary, however, he crashed a shot into the hands of the Australian skipper at deep extra cover.