India and Pakistan enter semi-finals

India and Pakistan completed the semi-final line up of the T20 World Cup as they beat Zimbabwe and Bangladesh respectively on Sunday.Set up by Shaheen Shah Afridi’s career-best T20I haul of 4-22, Pakistan entered the semifinals with a five-wicket victory against Bangladesh.

With South Africa faltering against Netherlands earlier on Sunday, the second game of the Adelaide Oval double-header turned into a virtual quarterfinal where Bangladesh had no hesitation in batting first. However, theirs was an innings of two halves where a solid start from half-centurion Najmul Shanto came undone by fine spells from Afridi and Shadab Khan in the second half.

Chasing 128, Pakistan were off to a slow start and veered off track in the middle overs with a cluster of wickets. But Mohammad Haris’ 18-ball cameo of 31 and Shan Masood’s unbeaten 24 eventually took them to the finish line with 11 balls to spare.In the other match Rohit Sharma’s side secured top spot in Group Two with a bruising 71-run win over Zimbabwe. They will meet England in the other semi-final.

They posted 186-5 with Suryakumar Yadav smashing a masterful 61 not out off 25 balls, to add to KL Rahul’s 51. Zimbabwe were unable to get going after losing Weseley Madhevere first ball and were bowled out for 115 in Melbourne.

Semi-Finals

November 9 New Zealand V Pakistan
November 10 England V India