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Rediff.com  » Sports » Road to the final: Pakistan

Road to the final: Pakistan

By Harish Kotian at Lord's
June 20, 2009 20:55 IST
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You write off Pakistan at your own peril.

They lost their two warm-up matches and then just about managed to squeeze into the Super Eights, but since then have been unstoppable.

The key to Pakistan's good showing in the tournament so far has been they have been able to up their ante in matches that really count.

Bowling has been their main weapon and who can forget Umar Gul's brilliant spell of five for six in three overs to finish off the Kiwis.

But it could be a different cup of tea when they take on the Sri Lankans in the final on Sunday, who have excelled both with the bat and ball.

It will take something out of the ordinary to beat the in-form Lankans and one team that can do it is Pakistan.

A look at the run to the final:

A HORROR START FOR PAKISTAN

After losing the two warm-up games, things didn't get any better for Pakistan as they lost to England by 48 runs to find themselves on the verge of elimination.

Pakistan's decision to field first backfired as England posted a mammoth 185 for five in their 20 overs courtesy of Kevin Pietersen's 58 from 38 deliveries.

For Pakistan, Younis Khan waged a lone battle with 46 from 31 deliveries as they finished on 137 for seven in their 20 overs.

 They needed to beat the Netherlands in their final group game or else faced an early exit from the tournament.

PAKISTAN BOUNCE BACK

It turned out to be an easy affair for Pakistan in their must-win match against the Netherlands to progress to the Super Eights.

Kamran Akmal smashed 41 from 30 deliveries and Younis hit a quick 36 from 20 deliveries to take Pakistan to a strong 175 for five in their 20 overs.

Shahid Afridi then took centrestage with the ball, claiming four for 11 in four overs, to rout the Dutch for a paltry 93 in 17.3 overs.

SRI LANKA TOO HOT TO HANDLE

The in-form Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed quick 46 from 39 deliveries to steer Sri Lanka to a 19-run victory against Pakistan in the Super Eights.

Lasith Malinga came good with the ball, claiming three for 17 in four overs to restrict Pakistan to 131 for nine, chasing 151 for victory.

Captain Younis Khan tried his best to keep his team in the hunt with 50 from 37 deliveries, but received little support from his other team-mates.

PAKISTAN POLISH OFF KIWIS

Umar Gul left New Zealand batsmen gasping for breath with his reverse swing and guide Pakistan to a crushing six wicket victory with 41 deliveries to spare.

Gul was almost unplayable as he claimed five for six in three overs, the first five-wicket haul in Twenty20 cricket, to bowl out the Kiwis for 99 in 18.3 overs.

Opener Shahzaib Hasan hit 35 from 28 deliveries, inclusive of four boundaries and two sixes, as Pakistan chased down the runs in 13.1 overs for the loss of four wickets.

IRELAND NO MATCH FOR PAKISTAN

Opener Kamran Akmal got Pakistan off the blocks with a quick innings of 57 from 51 deliveries to help them post 159 for five in their 20 overs.

The Irish batsmen never came close to chasing down the target and finished on 120 for nine to lose by 39 runs.

Saeed Ajmal impressed, claiming four for 19 in his four overs, while Gul took two for 19.

PAKISTAN STORM INTO FINAL

Shahid Afridi finally came good with the bat with a cracking half-century and followed that up with a superb bowling performance to guide Pakistan to the final.

South Africa were clear favourites for the match, but Pakistan rose to the occasion in style, posting 149 for four after electing to bat first with Afridi scoring 51 from 34 deliveries.

Jacques Kallis hit a brisk 64 from 54 deliveries but South Africa were never in the contest once Afridi claimed the wickets of Herschelle Gibbs and Johan Botha in successive overs.

Pakistan restricted the Proteas to 142 for five to storm into their second successive World Twenty20 final.

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Harish Kotian at Lord's

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