ICC World Twenty20 Group B: Pakistan 175-5 (20 ovs) bt Netherlands 93 (17.3 ovs) by 82 runs
Pakistan secured a place in the Super Eight phase of the World Twenty20 after thrashing the Netherlands by 82 runs.
Kamran Akmal (41) fired two sixes and Younus Khan (36) hit three as Pakistan made 175-5 after opting to bat first.
The target of 176 was effectively 151 for the Netherlands to go through and eliminate Pakistan on run-rate.
But spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi both took two wickets in three balls and Akmal four superb stumpings, as the minnows were routed for 93.
In such an important contest following their 48-run defeat against England, all the batsmen contributed in the Pakistan innings.
Even when the runs began to dry up in the middle, Misbah ul-Haq came in at the start of the 14th over and soon hit the first boundary for 30 balls.
The 18th over proved the most prolific, Younus wielding two sixes, one smartly caught by a sprightly member in the pavilion.
After Younus holed out to long-on, Misbah hit the final ball of the over down the ground for four more.
Dirk Nannes, the fastest bowler in the tournament having reached 150km/h, also proved one of the best, conceding only one four in his first three overs of accurate left-arm over seam.
He was hit for one mammoth six over long-on by Afridi in the final over but returned next ball to uproot the leg-stump.
The total was more than adequate and Afridi then shone with the ball, striking with his first delivery and varying his pace magnificently.
If his all-round contributions continue in this vain, and Akmal remains clinically sharp with the gloves and purposeful at the top of the order with the bat, the 2007 finalists will surely be a force to be reckoned with again.
Dutch skipper Jeroen Smits admitted his side had crumbled under the pressure and said: "We didn't play that well. Afridi was outstanding and on these wickets we've struggled."
Stoutly built opener Dan Reekers gave them a solid start, clipping three authoritative fours in the first eight balls before he was caught at deep mid-wicket and the innings quickly subsided.
"We had to score 151 and I think that was too much for us," Smits said. "Our bowling was OK but we should have restricted them to 150."
Pakistan captain Younus was understandably rather more satisfied and said: "Everything went to plan.
"Beforehand I said 170 or 180 would be enough.
"It's always good fun when you have a tight game and come from behind and win. The spinners are doing very well at the moment."
Akmal deservedly collected the man-of-the-match award after becoming the first keeper to take four stumpings in a Twenty20 international.
"I work very hard on my wicket-keeping and I'm very happy," he said. Of his batting he added: "Twenty20 is a fun game so I just play positive. I had a very good start and we did well through the innings."
0 comments:
Post a Comment