New Zealand beat Pakistan by 22 runs to book semi-final berth

MOHALI: After posting a mammoth total of 180-5, New Zealand restricted Pakistan to 158-8 beating them by 22 runs to cement their place in the semi-finals of World Twenty20 here on Tuesday.

Despite a blazing start by openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shahzad, who scored 47 (25) and 30 (32) respectively, others failed to capitalize on the launching pad provided by the two. Khalid Latif made 3, Umar Akmal 24, captain Shahid Afridi 19, Shoaib Malik 15 and Sarfraz Ahmed 11 for Pakistan.

In-form opener Martin Guptill was the star of the Kiwi innings who smashed 80 runs off just 48 balls to lift his side to 180-5 in the Super 10 encounter.

The right-handed Guptill hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 48-ball 80, sharing an opening stand of 62 with captain Kane Williamson, after an unchanged New Zealand won the toss on a green-tinged surface at Mohali.

Sharjeel Khan (47) gave his team a brisk start in their chase with New Zealand either bowling too short or too full on his pads as Pakistan raced to 61-0 in five overs.

However, the rest of Pakistan’s batsmen found it extremely difficult to find the boundaries after paceman Adam Milne dismissed the left-handed opener, who hit nine fours and a six in his 25-ball knock.

Kiwi left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who was taken for 15 runs in the first over of the innings, came back superbly to finish with figures of 2-29 in his four overs and, along with leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, applied the brakes on Pakistan´s scoring.

Milne also kept the batsmen on a tight leash with figures of 2-26 as Pakistan could only manage 158-5 in their 20 overs.

It was New Zealand´s third straight win in Group Two after victories over hosts India and trans-tasman rivals Australia.

Earlier, Guptill also combined with Corey Anderson (21) for a third-wicket stand of 52 that set the platform for Ross Taylor (36 not out) to finish with a flourish.

Mohammad Amir gave away 16 runs in the final over with Taylor hitting him for six and four to ensure that Pakistan would have to score over nine runs an over in their chase.

Mohammad Sami and captain Shahid Afridi picked up two wickets apiece for Pakistan, who made two changes to the team that lost to arch-rivals India on Saturday.

Mohammad Hafeez failed to recover from a knee injury while paceman Wahab Riaz was hit in the head by a ball during practice and they were replaced by batsman Khalid Latif and spin-bowling all-rounder Imad Wasim.

The defeat will further fan criticism the team is facing from fans back home as they are becoming more and more hostile following each Pakistani defeat.  The officials are preparing a guillotine not just for skipper Afridi but for most of the team’s under-performing players.

Following the team’s dismal performance against India last week, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan had said T20 captain Shahid Afridi will retire after the conclusion of ongoing World T20 in India– Reuters/Geo