Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi returned career-best figures of 4-22 to lead Pakistan into the ICC Men’s 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.
T20 World Cup: Reactions as Netherlands stun South Africa – ‘Unreal result, unreal tournament’
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 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.
Here’s a look at the reactions from the match:
Against all odds, Pakistan have made it to the #T20WorldCup semi-finals 🎉 pic.twitter.com/mM2XLdUjG9
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) November 6, 2022
We could have another 90000 plus India vs Pakistan match next Sunday. #T20WorldCup
— PP (@PrashantSport) November 6, 2022
Even if a lot of things had to go their way, still Pak did what they had to do especially that win against SA was something. Well done 👏
— Kartik O 🏏⚽🔗 (@KOCricket528) November 6, 2022
Some days cricket breaks your heart. Other days, it fills your heart with more joy than you could have ever imagined. And that can happen in the space of 2 weeks ♥️
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) November 6, 2022
Happy for Pakistan. They deserved a bit of fortune in this tournament.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) November 6, 2022
Only Pakistan. Only Pakistan can go from being on the brink of an embarrassing early exit to becoming the most dangerous team of a #T20WorldCup in the space of 6 days
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 6, 2022
After losing their first 2 matches of this T20 World Cup, Pakistan qualify for the semifinals from group 2.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) November 6, 2022
Pakistan cricket dil mai aati hai, samajh mai nahi
Personally I never doubted Pakistan for a single second… pic.twitter.com/Yk6uwFZ441
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) November 6, 2022
Pakistan somehow manage to qualify to the semifinals! Similar to the 1992 ODI World Cup in Australia. Imran Khan lifted the trophy in Melbourne in 92. Can Babar Azam do it next Sunday? #T20WorldCup
— PP (@PrashantSport) November 6, 2022
Feels like Pakistan 🇵🇰 are doing what Australia 🇦🇺 did last year.
— Natalie Germanos 🏏 (@NatalieGermanos) November 6, 2022
Aussies weren’t really on many people’s radar. But they did enough to get into the semi’s and the rest is history
Pakistan 🇵🇰 to win the #T20WorldCup ? 🤷🏼♀️
From nowhere to somewhere to everywhere. #Pakistan #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wxDTMRhBlX
— Jigar Mehta (@jigsactin) November 6, 2022
Scenes in Star Sports office seeing both India and Pak qualify for the SFs pic.twitter.com/AMoghMSPXp
— Manya (@CSKian716) November 6, 2022
We have our semi-finalists
— Natalie Germanos 🏏 (@NatalieGermanos) November 6, 2022
New Zealand 🇳🇿
England 🏴
India 🇮🇳
Pakistan 🇵🇰 #T20WorldCup
Pakistan’s #T20WorldCup is hard to fathom. At 48-4 v SA their chances of qualifying were around 3% - requiring a comeback v SA, Netherlands to beat SA & to then beat Ban themselves. They’ve not played their best cricket but equally weren’t far from winning all five matches.
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) November 6, 2022
(With inputs from AFP)