 | « Back to article | Print this article |
New Zealand secured their third straight win to book a spot in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 after beating Pakistan by 22 runs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali in their Super 10 stage match on Tuesday.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand rode on Guptill's knock to notch up a formidable 180 for five in the stipulated 20 overs.
In reply, Pakistan were restricted to 158 for five.
Chasing a stiff target, Pakistan were given a flying start by Sharjeel Khan, who blazed away to 47 off just 25 balls. Such was Sharjeel's onslaught that Pakistan were well past 50-run mark by the end of the fourth over.
Pakistan were cruising at 65 for no loss in the sixth over when Sharjeel, going for one too many, mistimed and ended up giving a catch to Guptill off the bowling of Adam Milne.
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner then had Ahmed Shehzad caught by Guptill for 30 in the ninth over with Pakistan at 79 for two.
As Pakistan suddenly found themselves on the backfoot, skipper Shahid Afridi revived hopes with a couple of quick boundaries and a massive six.
However, his dismissal by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi in the 16th over left the team in a spot of bother at 123 for four.
Pakistan's middle-order found it difficult to score at a quick rate. With the required run rate escalating, the pressure got to Umar Akmal (24) who, while trying to break the shackles, offered a catch off Milne.
Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed were unbeaten on 15 and 11 respectively when the match ended.
Earlier, opening batsman Martin Guptill smashed his 10th fifty in the game's shortest format to power New Zealand to 180 for five against Pakistan.
The right-hander hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 48-ball 80, sharing an opening stand of 62 with captain Kane Williamson after an unchanged New Zealand won the toss on a green-tinged surface at Mohali.
Guptill also combined with Corey Anderson (21) for a third-wicket stand of 52 that set the platform for Ross Taylor (36 not out) to finish with a flourish.
Right-arm pacer Sami took the prized wicket of Guptill in the 15th over, but by then he had done the damage.
And while Pakistan finally got Guptill when he was bowled by Sami, Ross Taylor stood in their way and scored a quick-fire 36 off 23 balls with the help of two boundaries and a six.
Mohammad Amir gave away 16 runs in the final over with Taylor hitting him for six and four to ensure that Pakistan would have to score over nine runs an over in their chase.
Mohammad Sami and captain Shahid Afridi picked up two wickets apiece for Pakistan, who made two changes to the team that lost to arch-rivals India on Saturday.
Mohammad Hafeez failed to recover from a knee injury while paceman Wahab Riaz was hit in the head by a ball during practice and were replaced by batsman Khalid Latif and spin-bowling all-rounder Imad Wasim.
A victory against Pakistan would cement New Zealand's place in the last four after already defeating hosts India and trans-tasman rivals Australia in Group Two.