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Victoria firebrand James Pattinson's suspension over an ugly Sheffield Shield incident has effectively amounted to nothing after the one-day clash he was banned for was washed out.

Play never got under way between Victoria and NSW as persistent rain fell at the MCG on Friday, with the match abandoned and declared a draw.

Two points were awarded to each side in their first match of the one-day competition after a delayed start to the season because of interstate border closures.

Pattinson was unavailable for the match after Cricket Australia ruled he had overstepped the mark in an on-field stoush with Daniel Hughes during the most recent Shield contest between the teams.

Pattinson was frustrated by Hughes as the Blues batter dug in on the final day of the match on Monday.

After one delivery, the former Test firebrand threw the ball towards Hughes, which hit the NSW opener on the foot.

Pattinson was found guilty by CA of throwing a ball at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner.

He was suspended for the one-dayer and also fined his Shield match fee.

Pattinson will return for Victoria against NSW when the teams meet for a third time in a Shield contest this season, starting at the SCG on Friday.

In-form quick Scott Boland will also return for Victoria after he was rested from the one-day match.

© AAP 2021

Justin Langer has lauded the efforts of Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis after the pair pulled off a great escape against Pakistan to put Australia within one win of their maiden Twenty20 World Cup title.

In a dramatic Dubai semi-final, Australia's asking rate went to beyond 12 runs an over before Wade smashed three straight sixes to win it with six balls to spare on Thursday.

It was enough to set up a Sunday night decider against New Zealand, in a repeat of the 2015 ODI World Cup final.

For so long both before and during Wade's unbeaten 41 from 17 balls, Australia's pursuit of Pakistan's 4-176 for a spot in the final looked unlikely.

Aaron Finch went first ball to Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Steve Smith (5) and Mitch Marsh (28) both fell sweeping Shadab Khan (4-26).

Khan also had David Warner caught behind for 49 despite replays showing he'd missed the ball, as Australia's hopes looked gone when he failed to review.

And when Glenn Maxwell became the fourth victim for Shadab, who recorded the best-ever T20 World Cup semi-final figures by a bowler, Australia were in a bigger hole.

However, just as Michael Hussey did 11 years ago in St Lucia, Stoinis and Wade broke Pakistan's hearts.

The pair let the equation get down to 62 from five overs before Stoinis (40no from 31) got the margin back to 22 from the last two overs.

Then Wade exploded, with his last 33 runs coming from eight balls.

Dropped by Haris Rauf with 20 needed from 10, Wade hit the next three balls into the stands to seal the match with six balls to spare.

He ramped Shaheen twice and flicked him over the legside once in a brutal 147 seconds that ended previously-unbeaten Pakistan's tournament.

"Their partnership was outstanding," Australian coach Langer said of the Wade-Stoinis combination.

"It was really calm (in the group). We know how deep we had and we know how talented (we are).

"We've been watching our guys at training, so I think there was a real confidence the whole way through.

"We've been talking about how we need some finishers and it's just so pleasing to see Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade grabbing that opportunity.

"We've tried different combinations over the last 12 months or so to find those finishers and we've found a couple of rippers at the moment."

Australia are now timing their run brilliantly, and will enter the final as favourites.

They were far from their best with the ball in the semi-final, as their pacemen faltered and they missed chances in the field.

Mohammad Rizwan, who spent two days in hospital with a chest infection this week, was dropped on zero and 20 before he made 67 from 52.

Fakhar Zaman thumped an unbeaten 55 from 32 after being dropped on 40, while Josh Hazlewood went for 0-49 from his four overs.

Mitchell Starc also went the distance in his last over but bowled well for his 2-38, while Pat Cummins finished with 1-30.

But again Adam Zampa bowled brilliantly to claim 1-22 and remove key man Babar Azam, with the legspinner also likely to be a force in the final.

Winning experience also shapes as a factor, with Australia the oldest team in the tournament and all that maturity paying off at the death against Pakistan.

"Experience is key in these games," Wade said.

"Even though we lost a few early wickets and things weren't really going our way early, there was no real panic in the dressing room.

"We all thought it was going to be a young man's game when T20s first came in.

"But certainly the more experienced players tend to have a little bit more success."

© AAP 2021

Rain has delayed the start of the one-day cup clash between Victoria and NSW at the MCG.

Both sides are lining up in the competition for the first time this season on Friday, having been unable to play until late last month because of state border closures.

The 50-over contest comes on the back of two Sheffield Shield clashes between the rivals - both won by Victoria.

But there may not be much action, with persistent rain forecast around Melbourne.

Play was due to begin at 2.35pm and must start by 7.39pm or the match will be called off.

Victoria firebrand James Pattinson is unavailable through suspension after hurling a ball in anger towards the stumps which hit Blues batsman Daniel Hughes on the foot, in an ugly incident during the most recent Shield clash.

© AAP 2021