Internet Desk: A Martin Guptill blitz sunk Pakistan by 22 runs as New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament at Mohali on Tuesday. The Black Caps rode on a 48 ball 80 from Guptill to post 180/5 before restricting Pakistan to 158 for five in their 20 overs.
The win took New Zealand to the top of Group B with an all win record so far. Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying in the last four were dashed after two straight losses.
Pakistan started their run chase on a positive note as left-hander Sharjeel Khan (47) helped his team reach 76/1 in seven overs.
But the introduction of Ish Sodhi by Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson produced the defining moment of the match as he removed the dangerous looking Shahid Afridi while conceding only 25 runs from his four overs. He also created enough pressure for Mitchell Santner to pick up two wickets and strangle Pakistan to a 22-run defeat.
Pakistan needed 52 runs in 24 balls with six wickets in hand. But Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik could hardly find the gaps, as Pakistan failed to hit a boundary in its last 31 balls and finished on 158 for five.
With its third consecutive win, New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.
Earlier, Martin Guptill led the way with some power-packed batting as New Zealand posted a challenging total of 180/5 in their World Twenty20 Group 2 match against Pakistan at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Tuesday.
Guptill smashed 80 runs off 48 balls with 10 boundaries and three sixes. Ross Taylor, who remained on 36 off 23 deliveries and Corey Anderson (21) played useful knocks in the later stages of the innings.
Pacer Mohammad Sami (2/23) was the best performer among the Pakistan bowlers, although he did take some punishment from Guptill in his first spell. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (2/40) also bagged a couple of wickets.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 180/5 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 80, Ross Taylor 36 n.o.; Mohammad Sami 2-23, Shahid Afridi 2-40); Pakistan (Sharjeel Khan 47, Ahmed Shehzad 30, Mitchell Santner 2/29, Adam Milne 2/26)