Muscat Daily

Shaheenust­arsuasupak­istanureac­h Tpnuworldu­cupusemikf­inals

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Adelaideiu­australiau­kufast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi returned career-best figures of 4-22 to lead Pakistan into the 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.

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.

An India win would put them top of Group 2 and tee up a mouthwater­ing semi-final against England.

Man-of-the-match Shaheen, who missed the recent Asia Cup with injury, said: “I have im

proved. 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 had looked dead and buried after an opening defeat

against India and a shock loss to Zimbabwe.

But they roared back to outplay South Africa last week and had a spring in their step after the South Africa loss earlier Sunday.

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.

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(AFP) Pakistands­ushaheenus­hahuafridi­uecfuceleb­ratesuwith­uteamkmate­suafter takinguthe­uwicketuof­ubanglades­hdsutaskin­uahmedu

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