Shahid Afridi gave a spectacular all-round performance to propel Pakistan to a seven-run victory over South Africa in their Twenty20 World Cup semi-final at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Afridi scored 51 from 34 balls in Pakistan’s 149 for four and then took two for 16 from his four overs as South Africa struggled to 142 for five.
Pakistan are to meet the winners of last night’s semi-final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in the final at Lord’s tomorrow.
PHOTO: AFP
“It was our last chance, it was a semi-final, we don’t have any other chances after that. It is good for our team and it is good for Pakistan cricket,” Afridi told Sky Sports.
Afridi, batting at No. 3, finally recaptured the explosive form which makes him such a threat in one-day cricket.
He took four boundaries off an over from off-spinner Johan Botha, including a wristy glide to third man.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith opted to persevere with spin, tossing the ball to part-time off-spinner J.P. Duminy.
Afridi tried to crash Duminy’s first ball through the leg-side but managed only to loft it to A.B. de Villiers at mid-wicket who completed the catch.
After Afridi’s departure, only Shoaib Malik with 34 from 39 made any impact and Pakistan added just 29 from the last five overs with one boundary.
Jacques Kallis anchored the South African reply with 64 from 54 balls including seven fours and a six.
He put on 40 for the first wicket from 5.5 overs with Smith (10) but the introduction of Afridi’s quick leg-spin turned the match around.
Afridi beat the dangerous Herschelle Gibbs (5) with a leg-spinner outside the off-stump then bowled him with a delivery that slipped straight through. He followed up by bowling de Villiers for one.
Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was also outstanding with one for 23 from four overs and his dismissal of Kallis, caught on the long-on boundary by Shoaib Malik, was the beginning of the end for South Africa.
“Afridi really played a great knock and got them ahead of the game and we had to fight back and we did that,” Smith said. “We had a solid start. Jacques played really well, but we were just unable to finish it off.”
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