Pakistan Cricket team reached semi final with all most all of the boxes check in batting and bowling after completing journey of super 12 as unbeaten. In the last match beat Scotland by big margin of 72 runs with the help of Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 54 runs on 18 balls and who declared player of the match.
Pakistan will face Australia in second semi final on 11th of November at Dubai and for which Shoaib Malik is not thinking any thing special and want to take that as another game to play with full strength and motivation and spirit team gained in super 12 stage.
” We have seen Australia how they were playing in the T20 world cup and it gone be tough challenge for both the teams but we are not thinking about any thing special about Australia but to take that as another game and this is the team management message to all of us, definitely now team management and players have time to look about the opponent in Semi Final for plannings” Malik answered question regarding semi final.
Malik who was not selected in the team on first fifteen selection but included as replacement of injured Sohaib Maqsood was disappointed about the selection committee decision but hoped to show his best in Pakistan’s domestic before final day of changes for ICC T20 WC2021.
” I was playing Caribbean at that time when team for T20 world cup announced and I was very disappointed and it hearts me than talked to my self to leave out my frustration and decide to play domestic and showed my abilities and still I am enjoying when ever entered into the ground and you know later inclusion in the team and 5-7 days at Lahore gel the team and we left for good in World Cup and we are doing best, team management also giving us confidence and dressing room is very calm and happy and we are waiting for another our best show” Shoaib showed his concerns about selection of Pakistan team and conclude the dressing room situation.
ICC Analyses of Pakistan V Scotland Match
Pakistan defeated Scotland by 72 runs to maintain a flawless record and secure the top spot in Group 2. This victory sets up a semi-final encounter with Australia at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
Captain Babar Azam scored 66 runs, while Shoaib Malik smashed an astonishing fifty off just 18 balls, as Pakistan posted a total of 189 for four from their 20 overs after opting to bat.
Despite Richie Berrington’s defiant unbeaten 54, Scotland only managed 117 for six in reply as their campaign ended in defeat.
The top scorer in the Super 12s, Babar began compiling his fifth half-century effortlessly, opening with a beautiful cover drive for four off Hamza Tahir.
Babar’s opening partnership with Mohammad Rizwan has produced two century stands, and the wicketkeeper-batsman launched Brad Wheal for a huge six over cow corner in the fifth over.
However, it wasn’t a day for building another significant partnership as Tahir tossed one up, inducing an under-edge from Rizwan. The catch was well taken by Matt Cross, dismissing Rizwan for 15.
Undeterred, Babar smashed a six off Mark Watt’s bowling that sailed over the roof of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
But the 27-year-old star lost another partner as Fakhar Zaman holed out to cow corner for eight to continue his lean run of form and make it 59 for two.
Mohammad Hafeez came to the crease and acted as a foil to his captain, who continued to torment the Scottish attack, taking Watt for successive fours with power and poise.
Hafeez found his groove in the 15th over, launching Safyaan Sharif for a massive six over long-on, followed by back-to-back boundaries, before being trapped LBW for an entertaining 31 runs.
Watt has been Scotland’s key weapon with the ball but found his economy rate ruined further with a brutal bottom-handed six from Malik to kickstart his innings.
It was Watt’s spin partner, leg-spinner Chris Greaves, who found success, as his control paid off with the crucial wicket of Babar. Babar was caught by George Munsey at long-on, departing after scoring 66 runs.
Malik took aim at Sharif and struck two further massive blows over midwicket and then down the arc to take the penultimate over for 17 runs.
Then Greaves faced the full force of the veteran batter, who hammered the last four legal deliveries of the innings for three sixes and a four, achieving Pakistan’s fastest-ever T20I fifty.
Scotland faced a challenging run chase from the outset, with their highest score in the tournament being 165. They began steadily, albeit without much flair.
They reached 23 for none with George Munsey finding scoring easier than his captain Kyle Coetzer, who was clean bowled by Hasan Ali for nine in the sixth over.
Pakistan struck again when Imad Wasim deflected a low drive from Munsey onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end, running out Cross for five runs.
And Shadab Khan broke the backbone of the Scotland batting order with two wickets in three balls midway through the innings.
Munsey fell on the first ball after the drinks break, nicking one to short third man, while Dylan Budge was bowled for a duck on his third delivery, leaving Scotland in trouble at 41 for four.
Scotland’s most consistent batter, Berrington, forged a strong partnership with Michael Leask, beginning when Berrington struck two boundaries off Hasan Ali in three balls.
Berrington took charge of the scoring in a 46-run partnership, while Leask contributed 14 runs at a run-a-ball before being bowled comprehensively by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Berrington continued his innings strongly, smashing Hasan Ali over long-on for a six and then reaching a superb fifty from just 34 balls.
In the final over, Haris Rauf dismissed Greaves for four runs as Scotland finished their 20 overs on 117 for six, falling short by 72 runs. Berrington remained unbeaten on 54.
In the semifinals, Group 1 leaders England will face New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on 10 November, while Group 2 leaders Pakistan will take on Australia in Dubai on 11 November. The final is scheduled to be held in Dubai on 14 November.
Scores in brief
Pakistan beat Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah by 72 runs
Pakistan 189/4 in 20 overs, (Babar Azam 66, Shoaib Malik 54 not out; Chris Greaves 2/43, Hamza Tahir 1/24)
Scotland 117/6 in 20 overs, (Richie Berrington 54 not out, George Munsey 17; Shadab Khan 2/14, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1/24)
Player of the Match: Shoaib Malik (Pakistan)
