Pakistan win thriller in WT20

Umar Akmal’s 94 runs help Pakistan beat Australia, while Virat Kohli dominates as India beat the West Indies.

Pakistan's total of 191-5 was built around a 94 runs from Umar Akmal, who struck nine fours and four sixes [AFP]

A lionhearted effort by Pakistan’s bowlers powered the 2009 champions to a 16-run win over Australia in a high-scoring World Twenty20 match in Mirpur.

Pakistan, who looked determined to shrug off Friday’s defeat to arch-rivals India, were 25-2 in the fifth over when Umar walked in to join brother Kamran Akmal (31) and they shared a 96-run partnership in 8.3 overs.

Umar Akmal fell six runs short of his maiden Twenty20 International century as his 54-run blitz powered Pakistan to 191 for five.

Chasing 192, Australia were cruising at 126 for two in the 12th over before the Pakistan bowlers turned the match on its head.

Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Bilawal Bhatti claimed two wickets each as Australia were all out for 175.

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell blasted six sixes in a sizzling 74 and featured in a century-plus stand with Aaron Finch (65) but their efforts proved in vain.

When Maxwell departed after 33 balls of swashbuckling entertainment it triggered a collapse Australia could not recover from.

India tame Windies

India inched closer to a World Twenty20 semi-final spot after half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli secured a seven-wicket victory over holders West Indies in their super 10 stage match.

Put into bat, West Indies opener Chris Gayle hit a couple of sixes but often struggled to find the meat of the bat.

His innings ended on 34 after a mix-up with Marlon Samuels before the Indian spinners drove home the advantage.

Amit Mishra removed Samuels and Dwayne Bravo off successive deliveries to peg back the West Indies before fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja wrecked the middle order, claiming the next three wickets, including two in the final over.

In the chase, India lost opener Shikhar Dhawan in the first over to a dubious leg before decision but Kohli (54) and Sharma (62 not out) featured in a 106-run second wicket partnership to take the game away from their opposition.

Kohli once again displayed a silken touch, scoring fluently to underline his growing stature as one of the most promising batsmen in the game, and he got good support from Sharma who batted until the end.

Needing five runs to win off 12 balls with eight wickets in hand, India’s approach to victory was rather slow but their win was never in doubt even after they lost a struggling Yuvraj Singh in the final over.

India, who beat 2009 champions Pakistan on Friday and take on qualifiers Bangladesh next Friday, top Group Two with four points.

Source: AP