Defending champions West Indies on Tuesday pummelled a listless Pakistan by 84 runs to set up the ICC World Twenty20 clash against Sri Lanka
Samuel Badree
Dhaka: Defending champions West Indies entered the World Twenty20 semi-finals with a 84-run victory over Pakistan in the crucial group two match of the Super-10 round in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The West Indies recovered from 81-5 to post 166-6 after electing to bat and then bowled out Pakistan for 82 in 17.5 overs at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
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West Indies bowler Samuel Badree (C) celebrates with captain Darren Sammy (L) and Krishmar Santokie after taking the wicket of Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik during their ICC World Twenty20 match vs Pakistan at The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
It was the biggest win for the Caribbean side in the Twenty20 format.
Leg-spinner Samuel Badree (3/10 in 4 overs) showed why he is so highly-rated as he decimated the Pakistan top-order with a controlled effort, mixing the skidders with his googlies.
Sunil Narine (3/16) was too good for the middle and lower order as none of the top-eight crossed 20.
Pakistan lost the momentum in the last three overs when Sammy and Bravo took 59 runs.
After this, West Indies fielders led by the colourful Chris Gayle also created relentless pressure on the Pakistan batsmen.
While chasing, Pakistan got off to a worst possible start when left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie bowled a brilliant bowl first up. It was a sharp inswinging delivery to Ahmed Shehzad (0) which hit him right on the toe of his front-foot and umpire Ian Gould adjudged him leg before.
Badree made it two-down in the very next over when Shehzad's opening partner Kamran Akmal (0) didn't reach the pitch of the delivery as he didn't get the elevation and Bravo got a simple catch at mid-off.
The match was as good as over when Umar Akmal (1) was fooled by Badree's googly as Ramdin complete the stumping. It was 9/3 and Pakistan were down in the dumps.
It only got worse when Shoaib Malik (2) stepped out only to miss a Badree delivery and Ramdin got his second stumping of the night.
At the end of Powerplay, Pakistan were out of the match with the scoreboard reading 13 for four.
Sammy rightly bowled out Badree in one spell and he had fantastic figures of 4-0-10-3 to show for his efforts.
When Narine came in at the start of the 10th over, Pakistan skipper Hafeez was already batting in 'Test' mode having scrapped around for 31 deliveries scoring only 19 in the process. His patience gave away as he tried an uncharacteristic hoick off Andre Russell and Chris Gayle took another simple catch at covers.
It was 37 for five and Sohaib Maqsood (18) gave a slog and miss charge to Narine to make it 42 for six as any chances of a miracle ended then and there.
Earlier, Pakistan rattled the West Indies top-order before a late recovery lifted the defending champions to 166-6.
The West Indies, electing to bat after winning the toss, slumped to 81-5 before skipper Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo put on 71 for the sixth wicket off just 32 balls.
Bravo smashed four sixes and two fours in a 26-ball 46, while Sammy remained unbeaten on 42 off 20 balls that contained five fours and two sixes.
The West Indies plundered 71 runs in the last four overs, taking 21 runs in the 18th bowled by seamer Umar Gul and 24 in the 19th by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
The West Indies lost both openers by the fourth over, with Chris Gayle stumped off Mohammad Hafeez for five and Dwayne Smith caught behind off Sohail Tanvir for eight.
Lendl Simmons and Marlon Samuel add 39 for the third wicket when both batsmen fell in the 11th over to reduce the West Indies to 67 for four.
Lendl was run out for a 29-ball 31 while attempting a cheeky single, while Samuels was bowled by Shahid Afridi for 20 after striking a six off the previous delivery.
West Indies batsman Darren Sammy (L) celebrates with teammate Dwayne Bravo after playing a shot during their ICC World Twenty20 match vs Pakistan at The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
It soon became 81-5 as Denesh Ramdin holed out in the deep off left-arm spinner Zulfiqur Babar, but Sammy and Bravo stepped in to stem the rot.
West Indies will clash with group one winners Sri Lanka in the first semi-final in Dhaka on Thursday, while India meet South Africa at the same venue on Friday.
The final will take place in Dhaka on Sunday.
Brief Scores: West Indies: 166 for six in 20 overs (Dwayne Bravo 46, Lendl Simmons 31; Mohammad Hafeez 1/15). Pakistan: 82 all out in 17.5 overs. (Mohammed Hafeez 19, Shahid Afridi 18; Samuel Badree 3/10, Sunil Narine 3/16).
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