Just 19 days after the West Indian team routed Bangladesh in a match lasting barely 31 overs in total at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, the tables were turned on them by a Pakistan team full of confidence after their win over Australia. Once Chris Gayle departed for 8 in the third over, the Windies were always on the back foot, and two wickets to Mohammed Hafeez in the 6th over sent them sprawling on the canvas. Sarwan and Chanderpaul ground out a 42 run partnership at just two runs an over, but then Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal ran through the middle order, at one stage taking four wickets for two runs. Only a 40 run partnership from Chanderpaul and Roach took them over 100, but 112 was never going to be enough. Afridi finished with 4/30 and has a tournament leading 21 wickets.
However, Mohammed Hafeez was the deserved man of the match after returning the fine figures of 10/3/16/2, and then carving the West Indian attack all over the field as Pakistan knocked off the runs without loss. Even the West Indies lost one in chasing down Bangladesh's 58. However, there was no consolation prize for the West Indian bowlers - Hafeez finishing unbeaten on 61 (64 balls) along with Kamran Akmal on 47 (61 balls). The two openers hit 17 boundaries - as the winning runs came in the 21st over - in contrast to the West Indian's mere 7 boundaries and one six.
Pakistan move into the semis in great shape, and have reason to be optimistic whether they have a rematch with Australia, or a battle with hosts India.
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