Gul grabs T20 history

Gul makes T20 history with first international five-wicket haul

Last updated: 13th June 2009

Gul grabs T20 history

Gul: First five-for in T20

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ICC World Twenty20 2009 - Group F
The Brit Oval
New Zealand 99 (Umar Gul 5-6) v Pakistan 100-4
Pakistan beat New Zealand by 6 wkts

Pakistan paceman Umar Gul made international Twenty20 history by grabbing five wickets and blitzing New Zealand in a six-wicket success at the Oval.

A must-win scenario for Pakistan forced the very best out of them in their Super Eights clash with the Black Caps - as they skittled out New Zealand for just 99 before reaching 100-4 with 41 balls to spare.

Fast bowler Gul, already the most prolific bowler in Twenty20's short international life, became the leading wicket taker at the tournament with 10 after his sublime spell yielded figures of 5-6 from just three overs.

Younis Khan's men headed into the match knowing only victory would do in their bid to remain in the World Twenty20, and after losing the toss it started badly for Pakistan as Mohammad Aamir's first over went for 14.

However, Daniel Vettori's decision to bat first was soon looking a bad one as New Zealand slumped to 55-4, with the returning Abdul Razzaq getting rid of Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill.

Gul comes on

The Black Caps sat on 72-4 when Gul entered the fray with devastating effect.

Gul's first wicket came courtesy of a stunning Shahid Afridi catch - as he burst 40 yards at full pace to clutch a steepler from Scott Styris narrowly short of the long-on boundary.

Peter McGlashan went lbw as leg before wicket after charging a full swinging delivery in the same over, and Gul then switched to the Pavilion End to claim three more scalps.

Nathan McCullum and James Franklin both saw their stumps rearranged by full-length Gul deliveries, and when Kyle Mills looped up a simple catch on his first ball Gul was on a hat-trick.

Gul could not claim the hat-trick but had claimed five wickets when skipper Vettori was run out and left the Black Caps facing the impossible task of defending 99.

Steady start

Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan put on 36 for the first wicket, and even when the latter was run out for 35 to leave Pakistan on 61-2 they still looked comfortable.

Vettori came on to bowl and he quickly removed Razzaq and Shoaib Malik and 71-4 represented just a hint of a wobble in the Pakistan ranks.

Skipper Younis Khan was there though, and along with Afridi they guided Pakistan to a comfortable six-wicket victory after just 13.1 overs, which keeps them right into the competition.

With three teams on two points now in Group F, Sri Lanka just need to beat Ireland to go through, but Pakistan are now right in the mix as they face the Irish in their last game while New Zealand face the Sri Lankans.