Images from the T20 World Cup Super 12s match between Pakistan and Scotland, in Sharjah, on Sunday.
Shoaib Malik blasted six sixes in an unbeaten 18-ball 54, after Babar Azam's fourth half-century of the tournament, as Pakistan trounced Scotland by 72 in their final Super 12s match of the T20 World Cup, in Sharjah, on Sunday.
Thanks to Malik's blitz, Pakistan scored 43 runs in the last two overs, including 26 off the final six deliveries bowled by Chris Greaves, to finish with 189 for 4.
In reply, the Scots could only muster 117 for 6, with Richie Berrington doing the bulk of the scoring with 55 off 40 balls, which included 4 fours and a six.
Pakistan finished the Super 12s stage unbeaten to take the No. 1 spot in Group 2, above New Zealand, who had beaten Afghanistan by eight wickets earlier in the evening in Abu Dhabi.
Malik's fifty is the tournament's joint-fastest alongside K L Rahul's 18-ball 50, which also came against Scotland. The stunning effort is also the fastest 50 scored by a Pakistan player in T20 internationals.
In the first semi-final, England will take on New Zealand, in Abu Dhabi, on November 10, while Pakistan and Australia clash in the second, in Dubai, on November 11.
Babar, who once again donned the role of accumulator, is only the third batter to score four half-centuries in a T20 World Cup, after former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and India captain Virat Kohli, who achieved the feat in the 2007 and 2014 editions of the tournament respectively.
Having struggled to 60 for 2 at the halfway stage, Pakistan scored 129 runs in back 10.
Opting to bat first, Azam and Mohammad Rizwan had a sedate start, as the Scotland bowlers did well to keep the run-rate below six at the end of the Power-play.
Having smoked Bradley Wheal for a gigantic six over deep mid-wicket, Rizwan was dismissed by Hamza Tahir, who drew the batter with a tossed-up delivery before getting an under-edge to the wicketkeeper.
The Scots deserved plaudits for the manner in which they kept a lid on the Pakistan scoring as the Powerplay ended with the score 35 without loss.
But that immediately changed to 35 for 1 off the first ball of the next over with Rizwan's dismissal.
Even as Babar went along nicely, one-down Fakhar Zaman's lean run in the tournament continued as the batter ended up giving a catch to Michael Leask while going for a big shot off Greaves.
Pakistan were 60 for 2 at the halfway stage, as Scotland managed to keep their opponents down to a run-a-ball.
However, things changed completely as Pakistan entered the back 10, with both Babar and the veteran Mohammad Hafeez (31 off 19 balls) cutting loose to clear the ropes at regular intervals during a brisk 53-run third-wicket partnership.
Babar was his usual classy self when he played the ball along the ground, but, at the same time, he did not hesitate to go over the top, the result of which were three sixes.
After Babar's dismissal, the show belonged to Malik, whose onslaught was on another level, with Scotland having no answer to the veteran’s power.
Malik hit three maximums in the final over to record his own half-century, reaching 54 off just 18 balls in a masterful display of power-hitting.
Chasing Pakistan’s imposing total, Scotland’s opening pair survived the early threat of Shaheen Shah Afridi, but struggled to get going under immense pressure from Pakistan’s attack.
The pressure to score ultimately did get to Coetzer, who went for a big shot in the sixth over and connected with just air as Hasan Ali’s slower ball clattered into the stumps.
Matthew Cross was run-out at the non-striker’s end to compound Scotland’s issues, as they were tied down to just 41 for 2 in ten overs.
A double strike by Shadab Khan straight after the drinks break only strengthened Pakistan’s control of the chase.
Opener George Munsey had been denied his preferred sweep shot during a patchy 17 off 31, and edged to short third going for a big shot off the first ball of the 11th over.
Dylan Budge went two balls later without scoring, cleaned up by a googly.
Afridi returned to remove Leask with a full and straight ball that sent the bails flying through the air like the sparks from a roman candle.
Then Haris Rauf completed a terrific day for Pakistan with the wicket of Chris Greaves in the final over as Scotland finished six down.
Richie Berrington was the standout performer with the bat for Scotland to give his side something to be proud of on the final day of their tournament, finishing unbeaten on 54.
