NOTTINGHAM: Shahid Afridi smashed a scintillating half-century and claimed two crucial wickets to help Pakistan register a 7-run win over South Africa and march into the finals of the ICC World Twenty20 here at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Pakistan skipper Younis Khan had elected to bat and it was Afridi who gave their innings impetus with a 32-ball half century containing eight boundaries.
He shared in a third wicket stand of 67 in 10 overs with a more circumspect Shoaib Malik (34) but the last five overs only realised 29 runs in a total of 149 for four.
Then Afridi shone with the ball, dismissing Herschelle Gibbs and AB De Villiers and conceding only 16 runs in his four overs, as the Proteas failed to shrug off their chokers tag.
Jacques Kallis returned to the eleven for South Africa in their all important semi-final clash but his valiant effort of 64 runs off 54 balls was just not enough as the South African continued with their chokers tag.
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 for none after three overs. Graeme Smith was caught and bowled off Mohammad Aamer in the 6th over.
In the next over, Shahid Afridi 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.
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.
Earlier, Shahid Afridi's (51) smashed his maiden half century in T20s to help Pakistan post a competitive 149 for four.
Electing to bat on a dry Trent Bridge pitch, Pakistan recovered from early setback of losing two wickets inside the third over through Afridi and Shoaib Malik (34 off 39 balls) but lost way at the death to end their innings below 150.
South Africa hit back hard after Afridi was snapped up by part-timer JP Duminy in the 13th over. The flow of runs dried up and the last five overs produced just 29 runs without any boundary.
Younis' (24 not out) decision to bat first also seemed to have backfired as Pakistan lost their first two wickets inside the third over at 28.
Young opener Shahzaib Hasan did not trouble the scorers by returning to the dug out for a duck in the second over bowled by Wayne Parnell.
His opening partner Kamran Akmal (23 off 12 balls) though was in his aggressive best hitting two fours off the opening over bowled by Dale Steyn and another couple off boundaries off Parnell.
