Pakistan beat Bangladesh by five wickets in their last Super 12 match to join Group 2 rivals India in the World Twenty20 semi-final in Adelaide on Sunday. The Netherlands lit up the final day of Group 2 action as they dashed South Africa’s semi-final hopes by pulling off a huge upset against Temba Bavuma’s side. Their 13-run victory sent India into the semi-finals and breathed new life into Pakistan’s quest for a place in the last four.
India, who close their group campaign against Zimbabwe in Melbourne later on Sunday, and Pakistan are level on six points, while South Africa finished on five. New Zealand and England qualified for the semi-finals from Group 1. Bangladesh got off to a good start after captain Shakib Al Hasan opted to bat and were 70-1 at half-time. Shadab Khan dismissed Soumya Sarkar and Shakib in consecutive deliveries, though the lbw decision against the Bangladesh skipper, who had set off down the track, looked dubious with replays showing the edge.
Najmul Hossain made 54, but Bangladesh failed to make the most of a decent start and settled for 127-8. Pakistan captain Babar Azam (25) and deputy Mohammad Rizwan (32) started cautiously but failed to convert starts and departed in successive overs. Mohammad Haris produced an airy 31 in the Pakistan camp to calm nerves as the 2009 champions won by 11 balls. Earlier, chasing 159 to reach the semi-finals, South Africa managed to be bowled out for 145-8. Netherlands’ top four batsmen usefully helped the Dutch side reach 158-4 after being put into bat at the Adelaide Oval.
Stephan Myburgh (37) and Max O’Dowd (29) got them off to a decent start, adding 58 runs to the opening stand. Tom Cooper carded a 35 and Colin Ackermann chipped in with an unbeaten 41 to take them past the 150 mark. South Africa struggled to get going in their reply when they lost both their openers – Quinton de Kock and Bavuma – in the over. Brandon Glover, who took three wickets in nine overs, then powered through South Africa’s middle order to set up a memorable victory for the Dutch side.
