London, Jun 15 2009: Riding on opener Kamran Akmal’s sparkling half century, Pakistan romped into the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup after thrashing Ireland by 39 runs in their must-win last Super eight match here today.

With this win, Pakistan, who avenged their humiliating debacle at the hands of the Ireland in the 2007 ODI World Cup in Caribbean, joined South Africa in the last four stage.

Akmal smashed 57 off 51 balls with his partners frequently changing at the other end to propel Pakistan to 159 for five in their stipulated 20 overs after skipper Younis Khan elected to bat at the Oval.But Ireland’s chase was cut short by the fiery Pakistan bowlers Saeed Ajmal (4-19) and Umer Gul (2-19) at 120 for nine, despite a brave 36-ball 40 from their captain Williams Portersfield on a windy evening.

Following their impressive feats against Ireland, Gul and Ajmal also became the top two bowlers of the tournament with 12 and 11 wickets respectively in their kitty.

Portersfield, who opened the run-chase, with wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O’brien (7), appeared helpless in the absence of a stable partner. He, however, stitched a 45-run partnership with Kevin O’brien (26) through six overs before leaving the field in the 13th over.

Although promising 18-year-old Paul Stirling, at number three, also tried his best to steady the innings as he hit two fours in his 16-ball 17-run knock during his brief stay at the crease.

Earlier, Pakistan got off to a steady start with Akmal and the opener Shahzaib Hasan (23) adding 38 runs in 5.4 overs. But Ireland pacer Alex Cusak, who returned 4 for 18 in last match against Sri Lanka, soon removed Shahzaib by getting him caught by Kyle McCallan (2-26) at mid-off.

Boyd Rankin did his best to keep the Pakistan batsmen in check by conceding only seven run in his spell of three overs. Next batsman in, Shahid Afridi made useful contribution of 24 runs before he fell off a McCallan delivery which the all rounder sent to long on in a bid to hit a boundary but it flew a bit lower and was easily grabbed by John Mooney.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran, whose 50 came off 46 balls, hit a superb boundary to take Pakistan across the 100 run mark in the 13th over.

But Ireland struck within the space of two balls to send captain Younis Khan to pavilion. Younis faltered while negotiating a fine delivery from John West and was clean bowled with his middle stump displaced.

Ireland bowlers, doing an impressive job of restricting Pakistan on a batsmen-friendly track, whom they had ousted in the preliminary round of the 2007 ODI World Cup in Caribbean, got rid of Akmal in the 17th over with the help of Trent Johnston.

Akmal adorned his knock with four boundaries and a huge six.

Dashing batman Misbah-ul Haq kept the scoreboard ticking with his 14-ball 20 runs, aided by a four and a six, before he was caught behind by Niall O-Brien off McCallan delivery.

Ex-ICL player Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik added 18 runs for the sixth wicket.

For Ireland, captain Portersfield top-scored and Kevin O’brien was the second highest run-getter after he could not make use of the reprieve given to him in the 16th over when he was dropped of Saeed Ajmal.

Ajmal made amends in the same over by removing Kevin O’brien without allowing him to score a single run more.

Ireland lost as many as five wickets in the last five overs while scoring only 31 runs as none of the other batsmen than Portersfield, Kevin O’brient and Stirling could reach the double figure score.

Scoreboard of the Super Eight match of the Twenty20 World Cup between Pakistan and Ireland in the at the Oval here today.

Pakistan:

Kamran Akmal	b Johnston	57
Shahzaib Hasan	c McCallan b Cusack	23
Shahid Afridi	c Mooney b McCallan	24
Younis Khan	b West	10
Misbah-ul-Haq	c N O’Brien b McCallan	20
Abdul Razzaq	not out	15
Shoaib Malik	not out	4

Extras (LB-3, WD-2, NB-1)                 6

Total (For five wickets in 20 overs)    159

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-78, 3-102, 4-133, 5-141.

Bowling: B Rankin 4-0-11-0, T Johnston 4-0-45-1, A Cusack 4-0-41-1, R West 4-0-33-1,
K McCallan 4-0-26-2

Ireland:

W Porterfield	c Younis Khan b Saeed Ajmal	40
NJ O’Brien	c & b Mohammad Aamer	7
PR Stirling	b Shahid Afridi	17
KJ O’Brien	st Kamran Akmal b Saeed Ajmal	26
JF Mooney	c Abdul Razzaq b Saeed Ajmal	2
DT Johnston	b Umar Gul	0
AR White	b Umar Gul	5
AR Cusack	st Kamran Akmal b Saeed Ajmal	2
WK McCallan	not out	2
RM West	run out (Umar Gul)	1
WB Rankin	not out	5

Extras (B 1, LB 7, W 3, NB 2)                  13

Total (nine wickets in 20 overs)              120

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-42, 3-87, 4-93, 5-99, 6-108, 7-110, 8-110, 9-111.

Bowling: Mohammad Aamer 4-0-19-1, Abdul Razzaq 3-0-18-0, Shahid Afridi 4-0-26-1,
Saeed Ajmal 4-0-19-4, Shoaib Malik 1-0-11-0, Umar Gul 4-0-19-2.

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