Pakistan give up chase as New Zealand reach semi

MOHALI: Pakistan failed to meet the challenge as they were beaten by 22 runs in their crucial match against New Zealand in the World Twenty20 Super Ten Group Two here at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium on Tuesday night.New Zealand have qualified for the semi-finals after recording the third consecutive win in the tournament.Chasing an improbable target of 181, opener Sharjeel Khan made an explosive start, smashing 47 from 25 balls with nine fours and a six to take Pakistan to 65 in the sixth over but as soon he departed, the hopes of winning the match were gradually fading out.Then, Khalid Latif who did not play any T20 International since 2012, failed to impress and got out for just three runs.Later, Ahmed Shehzad was also dismissed for 30 when Pakistan reached 96 in the 13th over.When Shahid Afridi joined Umar Akmal, they were expected to accelerate the run rate but they could add only 27 runs from 17 balls before Afridi got out after hitting 19 off nine balls with two fours and a six.Pakistan still needed 58 runs from 29 balls but Umar Akmal was also gone for 24 when Pakistan were on 140 in the 18th over.Then, Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Nawaz could not hit any four or six as Pakistan finished on 158-5 in their 20 overs.Earlier, Martin Guptill’s 48-ball 80 guided New Zealand to post a big total of 180 runs for five wickets after they opted for batting first.Guptill with his captain Kane Williamson provided a sound start of 62 before the latter fell to fast bowler Mohammad Irfan for 17. Then soon another wicket fell when captain Shahid Afridi got Colin Munro caught by Khalid Latif for seven.Later Guptill and Corey Anderson added 52 from 34 balls before Guptill was bowled by fast bowler Mohammad Sami, after an aggressive innings of 80, laced with three towering sixes ten fours in 48 balls. Another wicket fell quickly as Anderson was caught by Shoaib Malik off Afridi for 21.Ross Taylor along with Luke Ronchi took the score to 164 when Sami got Ronchi out caught by Malik for 11.However, Taylor remained not out on 36 as New Zealand set an improbable target of 181for Pakistan.Sami bowled extremely well taking two for 23 and Afridi got two for 40 while Irfan took one wicket.’