Pakistan rout Ireland to seal semifinal slot

 
Pakistan thus joined South Africa in the last four stage.

Akmal smashed 57 off 51 balls to propel Pakistan to 159 for five in their stipulated 20 overs after Younis Khan elected to bat at the Oval.

Ireland’s chase was cut short by Saeed Ajmal (4/19) and Umer Gul (2/19). The Irish finished at 120 for nine despite a brave 36-ball 40 from captain William Porterfield.

Porterfield appeared helpless in the absence of a stable partner. He did stitch a 45-run partnership with Kevin O’Brien (26).

Earlier, Pakistan got off to a steady start with Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan (23) adding 38 in 5.4 overs. Alex Cusack  removed Shahzaib by getting him caught by Kyle McCallan.

Boyd Rankin conceded just 11 runs in his four overs despite a useful contribution from Shahid Afridi, who made 24.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, whose 50 came off 46 balls, hit a superb boundary to take Pakistan across the 100 run mark in the 13th over.

Akmal adorned his knock with four boundaries and a huge six.

Dashing batman Misbah-ul Haq kept the scoreboard ticking with his 14-ball 20 including a six and a four, while Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik added 18 in quick time for the sixth wicket.

SCORE BOARD

PAKISTAN

Akmal b Johnston    57
Hasan c McCallan b Cusack    23
Afridi c Mooney b McCallan    24
Younis b West    10
Misbah c N O'Brien b McCallan    20
Razzaq (not out)    15
Malik (not out)    4

Extras (LB-3, W-2, NB-1)    6     
Total (for 5 wkts, 20 overs)    159

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-78, 3-102, 4-133, 5-141.

Bowling: Rankin 4-0-11-0, Johnston 4-0-45-1, Cusack 4-0-41-1, West 4-0-33-1, McCallan 4-0-26-2.

IRELAND

Porterfield c Younis b Ajmal    40
N O'Brien c & b Aamer    7
Stirling b Afridi    17
K O'Brien st Akmal b Ajmal    26
Mooney c Razzaq b Ajmal    2
Johnston b Gul    0
White b Gul    5
Cusack st Akmal b Ajmal    2
McCallan (not out)    2
West (run out)    1
Rankin (not out)    5

Extras (B-1, LB-7, W-3, NB-2)    13     
Total (for 9 wkts, 20 overs)    120

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-42, 3-87, 4-93, 5-99, 6-108, 7-110, 8-110, 9-111.

Bowling: Aamer 4-0-19-1, Razzaq 3-0-18-0, Afridi 4-0-26-1, Ajmal 4-0-19-4, Malik 1-0-11-0, Gul 4-0-19-2.