Playing international cricket since the last century, when some of his current teammates were not even born, Shoaib Malik on Sunday smashed a stunning 18-ball 54 to help Pakistan beat Scotland by 72 runs in the T20 World Cup. showed the way.
It was the joint-fastest half-century of the tournament with India’s opener KL Rahul’s 18-ball 50, which also came against Scotland, as Pakistan posted 189 for four, reducing the Scots to 117 for six. was stopped.
As his Indian tennis player wife Sania Mirza watched from the stands, 39-year-old Malik smashed six sixes during his unbeaten innings, which affected skipper Babar Azam’s fourth half-century of the tournament.
Batting first, Pakistan posted 129 runs in the last 10 with 60 for two in the half-leg.
With the ball, the in-form team did exactly what was expected of them in their previous Super 12 engagement to set a semi-final date with Australia.
Pakistan cemented their place in the last four with five wins in as many matches, underlining their credentials as one of the firm’s favourites.
Thanks to Malik’s scintillating innings, Pakistan scored 43 runs in the last two overs, including 26 off the last six balls bowled by Chris Greaves.
Incidentally, it was at this location that Malik made his One Day International debut against West Indies in October 1999. His first Pakistani captain Wasim Akram had retired from the game almost two decades ago.
Meanwhile, Babar, who once again played the accumulator, became only the third batsman after former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and India captain Virat Kohli to score four half-centuries in the T20 World Cup, who scored in 2007 and 2014 respectively. Achievement achieved. .
After a 60 for two in the half-leg, Pakistan scored 129 for 10.
Opting to bat first, Babar and Mohammad Rizwan got off to a quiet start as the Scotland bowlers managed to keep the run rate below six till the power play.
After hitting Bradley Wheel for a six over deep mid-wicket, Rizwan was dismissed by Hamza Tahir, who dismissed the batsman with a toss-up delivery before the wicketkeeper received an under-edge.
The Scots should be applauded for the way the Scots kept a lid on Pakistan’s score as they finished the power play on 35 for no loss, with Rizwan being dismissed for a wicket in the first ball of the next over. 35 runs done.
Pakistan were not so good at 60 for two in the halfway stage as Scotland managed to get their opponents to run for one ball.
However, things changed completely as Pakistan entered the back 10 with both Babar and the experienced Mohammad Hafeez (31 off 19 balls) clearing the ropes at regular intervals during a fast-paced 53-run third-wicket partnership. Cut loose for.
Babar was his usual classy man when he played the ball along the ground, but at the same time, he did not hesitate to go over the top, which resulted in three sixes.
After Babar was out, the show belonged to Malik.
Chasing massively, Scotland lost the wickets of captain Kyle Coetzer and Matthew Cross for just 36 runs.
Scotland were never in the game as they scored 42 for two at the end of the first 10 overs.
Richie Berrington was the only batsman from Scotland to score 54 off 37 balls.
The biggest positive for Pakistan’s bowling was Shadab Khan (2/14) bowling his googlies and leg-spinners just before the big semi-final against the Aussies.
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