ICC Twenty20 2009 Semi-final: Pakistan Defeat South Africa

The Pakistan cricket team might not have expected to get this far in a world series, and one would like to believe that at least for a few hours, all was well back Home. A good game of cricket was to be had, and the team needed to focus against a formidable opponent to have a chance of making it through to the finals.

The South Africans looked composed. They were coming off a five-match winning streak in this tournament. Their bowlers were in form. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat on a pitch that looked like it would turn later, and runs get harder.

Kamran Akmal started off well, scoring 8 in the first over. He had a few more boundaries and sixes, before being caught off Steyn in the third over, scoring 23 off 12 balls. Shoaib Malik came in, somewhat early, to partner Shahid Afridi, who just about appeared to be getting started. The pair played it slow and safe until the 11th over, when Afridi unlimbered himself and scored 18 off the over. His flamboyant innings came to an end soon after. Shoaib Malik plodded on for a while before turning over the batting to Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq for the final overs. The Pakistani team scored a respectable, though not spectacular 149/4 from their innings, perhaps wishing they had notched up a few more high-scoring overs.

The South African openers looked to set a good pace early on, so that the 7.5 required run rate did not climb up too soon. They looked to have the task well in hand, and were 26/0 after three overs. The run rate stayed pretty much constant until Graeme Smith was caught and bowled off Mohammad Aamer in the 6th over. In the next over, Shahid Afridi decided to up the ante and took Herschelle Gibbs wicket off the last ball. 104 runs were needed off 78 balls, with 8 wickets in hand.

AB de Villiers was dropped off the second ball of the ninth over, but fell to Afridi's short length the very next ball, and South Africa were now 50/3. Pakistan sensed the game might be turning, and that it might be a close finish. The score was 61/3 after the 10th, and 64 at the end of the 11th. The required run rate was now hovering near 10.

Umar Gul came in to bowl the 14th over. He bowled a few interesting deliveries but didn't bag a wicket. All the same, the required run rate had climbed to over 11, and there were little fireworks on display. South Africa scored a few more runs in the next over, but the chase was a long shot by now. Umar Gul tightened the screws further in the 17th over, giving away just six runs.

Jacques Kallis was caught by Shoaib Malik off Saeed Ajmal close to the boundary in the 18th over. He played a steady, good inning, but it wasn't enough. With two overs to go, South Africa were 121/4, 29 runs more needed. Umar Gul gave away just six runs.

A dot ball, a six, and a wicket - the final over had all the excitement of top quality cricket. In the end, 10 runs were needed off the last ball, and Pakistan, much to their surprise, were through to the finals of the ICC World Twenty20 2009 Championship.