SYDNEY: Pakistan, India, New Zealand and England managed to reach the Semi Final of the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2022 on Sunday (6th of Nov 2022).
Pakistan, that beat Bangladesh to reach the semis, will now clash with New Zealand on Wednesday (9th of Nov 2022) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
India will face the cricket team of England on Thursday (10th of Nov 2022) Adelaide Oval.
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi returned career-best figures of 4-22 to lead Pakistan into the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in a do-or-die clash on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 128 for victory in Adelaide, Pakistan achieved their target with 11 balls to spare and join arch-rivals India in the final four from Group 2.
The clash turned into a virtual quarter-final after the Netherlands stunned South Africa in the opening match of the day, a result which put India into the semis.
India play Zimbabwe in the last Super 12 match of the tournament in Melbourne later Sunday to decide who plays whom in the last four. New Zealand and England qualified from Group 1.
Man-of-the-match Shaheen, who missed the recent Asia Cup with injury, said: “I have improved. Not easy to come back from injury… but I’m trying my best.
“As a team, we are very happy. We’ve played great. Bowl in the right areas and fast was the plan.”
Asked if he was looking forward to the semis, he joked: “Now we are looking forward to the final.”
Pakistan bounced back from its opening defeat against India and a shock loss to Zimbabwe to outplay South Africa last week.
They had a spring in their step after the shock South Africa loss earlier Sunday and Shaheen struck early as the left-arm quick sent back Liton Das for 10 following Bangladesh’s decision to bat first at the Adelaide Oval.
Najmul Hossain Shanto capitalised on a reprieve when the usually safe Shadab Khan dropped the left-handed batsman on 11 at short extra. The opener went on to top-score with 54 for Bangladesh.
Shadab struck twice on successive balls including Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan out lbw, but he reviewed the decision and it appeared from replays that the ball grazed the bat before it hit the pad.
But the third umpire upheld the on-field call as Shakib looked stunned, waved his hands and didn’t want to walk off.
A Shadab hat-trick was averted by Afif Hossain.
Shakib’s wicket seemed to affect the Bangladesh batsmen, who suddenly looked out of sorts and managed a below-par total despite an unbeaten 24 from Afif.
Bangladesh lost regular wickets and Shaheen struck twice in one over and then picked a fourth for the first time in his T20 career.
Mohammad Rizwan, who made 32 after he survived a dropped catch on nought, and Babar Azam, who scored 25, launched the chase in an opening stand of 57 but Pakistan seemed to lose their way in the middle.
Rizwan fell to fast bowler Ebadot Hossain in the next over as Bangladesh looked to fight back and had Mohammad Nawaz run out on four.
But Mohammad Haris made 31 and put on partnerships including a 29-run stand with Shan Masood, unbeaten on 24, to guide Pakistan into the semi-finals.
Scoreboard after Pakistan beat Bangladesh in a Group 2 match at the Twenty20 World Cup in Adelaide on Sunday:
Bangladesh
N. Hossain Shanto b Iftikhar 54
L. Das c Masood b Shaheen 10
S. Sarkar c Masood b Shadab 20
S. Al Hasan lbw b Shadab 0
A. Hossain not out 24
M. Hossain b Shaheen 5
N. Hasan c Haris b Shaheen 0
T. Ahmed c Azam b Shaheen 1
N. Ahmed c Wasim b Rauf 7
M. Rahman not out 0
Extras (b2, lb3, w1) 6
Total (8 wickets, 20 overs) 127
Did not bat: E. Hossain
Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Das), 2-73 (Sarkar), 3-73 (Shakib), 4-91 (Shanto), 5-107 (Mosaddek), 6-107 (Nurul), 7-109 (Taskin), 8-126 (Nasum)
Bowling: Shaheen 4-0-22-4, Naseem 3-0-15-0, Wasim 2-0-19-0 (w1), Rauf 4-0-21-1, Shadab 4-0-30-2, Iftikhar 3-0-15-1
Pakistan (target 128)
M. Rizwan c Shanto b Ebadot 32
B. Azam c Mustafizur b Nasum 25
M. Nawaz run out (Das) 4
M. Haris c Nasum b Shakib 31
S. Masood not out 24
I. Ahmed c Shanto b Mustafizur 1
S. Khan not out 0
Extras (lb7, nb2, w2) 11
(Total (5 wickets, 18.1 overs) 128
Did not bat: M. Wasim, N. Shah, H. Rauf, S. Shah Afridi
Fall of wickets: 1-57 (Azam), 2-61 (Rizwan), 3-92 (Nawaz), 4-121 (Haris), 5-126 (Iftikhar)
Bowling: Taskin 3-0-26-0 (nb1), Nasum 4-0-14-1 (w2), Shakib 4-0-35-1, Mustafizur 4-0-21-1, Ebadot 3.1-0-25-1 (nb1)
Toss: Bangladesh
Result: Pakistan won by five wickets
Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (RSA), Joel Wilson (WIS)
TV Umpire: Langton Rusere (ZIM)
Match Referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Pakistan Cricket Team for their performance in a crucial super stage fixture against Bangladesh, and notching a place in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 being underway in Australia.
On his Twitter handle, the president expressed the hope that the Green shirts would also win the next fixtures.
He also appreciated the bowling spell of Shaheen Afridi who took four wickets.
“Well done! Exceptionally talented and lucky Pakistanis. Allah Shukar, we make it to the semi-finals. Great bowling by Shaheen Afridi, you are a gem.
“God knows we needed this good news to uplift us. Good luck to the green shirts for the semi-finals. Inshallah, we will win,” he tweeted.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while appreciating the national team in a tweet, said that it was a big moment for all.
PM Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the Netherlands cricket team for their win against South Africa.
“Big moment. Congratulations to all of you. Well played, Pakistan and Netherlands,” Shehbaz Sharif said.
Newspakistan.tv | YouTube Channel
