T20 World Cup: Pakistan beat Bangladesh to seal semi-final spot
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ICC Men's T20 World Cup Group 2, Adelaide |
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Bangladesh 127-8 (20 overs): Shanto 54 (48); Shaheen 4-22, Shadab 2-30 |
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Pakistan 128-5 (18.1 overs): Rizwan 32 (32), Haris 31 (18); Nasum 1-14 |
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Pakistan won by five wickets |
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Scorecard; Tables |
Pakistan sealed the
final semi-final spot at the Men's T20 World Cup with a nervy five-wicket win
over Bangladesh.
Chasing 128 to win, they made hard work of it
in Adelaide, but Mohammad Haris' enterprising 31 off 18 balls proved pivotal as
they won in 18.1 overs.
South
Africa's 13-run defeat by the Netherlands meant the winner
would join India in the final four from Group 2.
It seals a remarkable turnaround for Babar
Azam's side, who lost their opening two Super 12 games.
A key feature of that turnaround, which came
after defeats by India and Zimbabwe, has been a return to form and full fitness
for left-arm pace bowler Shaheen Afridi, who impressed at the death, finishing
with 4-22.
There are still concerns for Pakistan though,
with their usually dynamic opening partnership struggling for fluency.
Babar again looked rusty in his 33-ball 25,
while opening partner Mohammad Rizwan, who made 32, was dropped by wicketkeeper
Nurul Hasan before scoring.
Pakistan captain Babar said: "We enjoyed
the [Netherlands] win. But we are sticking together now. We will get together
and discuss our mistakes but also positive things."
The exact make-up of the semi-finals will be decided by the result of India's game against Zimbabwe at 08:00 GMT. An India win would see them top Group 2 and face England in Adelaide on Thursday, while Pakistan would play New Zealand in Sydney on Wednesday. A defeat would see India and Pakistan swap places.
After the Netherlands' shock victory, both
teams knew a win would see them progress, having gone into the day knowing they
needed the Proteas or India to lose to stand any chance of going through.
It led to some early-over nerves from both
sides, but Bangladesh settled and laid a nice platform at 73-1 after 10 overs.
However, the wickets in the 11th over of Soumya
Sarkar and Shakib Al Hasan, who was controversially given out lbw despite
appearing to get an inside edge, opened the game up for Pakistan.
That gave them belief and they bowled superbly
in the back 10, squeezing Bangladesh. Their fielding and catching was faultless
from there, resulting in them restricting the Tigers to 127-8.
The chase was odd. There was a lack of
conviction from Babar and Rizwan and against better opposition their batting
may well come unstuck.
The pair did battle to 57-0, but both fell in
quick succession to leave Bangladesh a route back into the game at 61-2.
A scenario of 59 needed off 48 balls was
threatening to look difficult, especially on a slow pitch on which it was
difficult to score freely, but Haris hit two leg-side sixes to break the back
of the chase.
He was dismissed with seven still required,
but Shan Masood showed a calm head to get Pakistan over the line, and finish
unbeaten on 24 from 14 balls.
Bangladesh captain Shakib said: "Of
course at the halfway stage we wanted to get somewhere around 145 - that
would've been more reasonable.
"This is the best performance we had in a
T20 World Cup. We could've done better but having said that this is the least
we could expect."
