Pakistan beat Bangladesh by five wickets in Adelaide to qualify for T20 World Cup semi-finals; Babar Azam's men through to last four after South Africa shocked by Netherlands; Pakistan to play New Zealand in Wednesday's first semi-final; India face England in the second on Thursday
Sunday 6 November 2022 13:44, UK
Pakistan profited from South Africa's slip-up against Netherlands as they clinched a spot in the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Adelaide.
South Africa were eliminated after a shock 13-run defeat in Sunday's first game, meaning the winner of Pakistan and Bangladesh's match later on would join India in progressing from Group 2.
Pakistan restricted the Tigers to 127-8, thanks chiefly to Shaheen Afridi's 4-22, and then reached their target with 11 balls to spare as Shan Masood (24no from 14) guided his team home.
The result marked a stunning turnaround for Pakistan who were staring at an early elimination after beginning their tournament with last-ball defeats to India and Zimbabwe.
But subsequent victories over Netherlands, South Africa and now Bangladesh, coupled with the Proteas' loss to Netherlands, has taken Pakistan into the semi-finals for the second straight year.
Babar Azam's side finished second in their pool after India beat Zimbabwe in Sunday's third and final game to top the group.
Pakistan will play Group 1 winners New Zealand in Wednesday's first semi-final in Sydney with India taking on England in Thursday's second last-four clash in Adelaide, with both matches starting at 8am UK time.
Left-arm quick Shaheen was electric for Pakistan, bagging his first wicket in the third over when Litton Das - who had thumped India around Adelaide Oval on Wednesday - sliced to backward point to fall for 10 off eight deliveries.
Shaheen also accounted for Mosaddek Hossain (5), Nurul Hasan (0) and Taskin Ahmed (1), while leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2-30) struck twice in as many balls in the 11th over, dismissing Soumya Sarkar (20) and Shakib Al Hasan (0) after Bangladesh had reached 73-1.
Shakib's lbw dismissal was controversial, with the third umpire deciding the Bangladesh captain had not got bat on ball despite what looked like an inside edge.
Soumya's wicket triggered a collapse of 7-53 and with an under-par total - one in which Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 54 - Bangladesh needed early scalps in the Pakistan reply.
However, Mohammad Rizwan (32 off 32) was dropped on nought by wicketkeeper Nurul third ball and he made Bangladesh pay by sharing an opening stand of 56 in 10.3 overs with Babar (25).
Regular wickets kept Bangladesh in the hunt but with 52 needed from 42 balls, Mohammad Haris (31 off 18) pumped two sixes and a four and Masood two fours in three balls off Shakib to ease the pressure.
