NORTHAMPTON: Pakistan qualified for the final of World Championship of Legends 2024 after beating West Indies by 20 runs in the first semi-final of the league at County Ground in Northampton on Friday.
Having set a target of 199 runs, Pakistan’s bowlers delivered an impressive performance, propelling their team into the tournament’s final. They will now await the winner between India and Australia.
Sohail Khan emerged as Pakistan’s standout bowler, claiming four wickets and limiting West Indies to a total of 178 runs.
West Indies had a sluggish start, managing only seven runs in the initial four overs. Their momentum picked up when Chris Gayle began hitting boundaries in the fifth over.
However, Gayle’s innings was short-lived as he was dismissed by Sohail after scoring 26 runs.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, West Indies saw Ashley Nurse accelerate with a quickfire 36 off 24 balls, appearing poised to steer the Windies towards their target until he was run out by Kamran Akmal.
In the lower order, Rayad Emrit contributed a brisk 29 off just 9 balls before falling to Shoaib Malik.
Sohail claimed four wickets, while Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik took two each in Pakistan’s bowling effort.
Earlier after being put in to bat first, Pakistan set a target of 199 runs for West Indies in the first semi-final of the ongoing World Championship of Legends.
Pakistan got off to a shaky start, losing Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, and Shoaib Malik early with total 10 runs. The West Indies bowlers capitalized on favorable conditions with swing under cloudy skies.
However, a crucial 77-run partnership between captain Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal steadied Pakistan’s innings. Akmal played aggressively, scoring 46 off 31 balls with eight boundaries before his dismissal. Pakistan suffered setbacks with back to back dismissal of Shahid Afridi (1) and Misbah-ul-Haq (0).
Younis Khan anchored the innings with 65 runs before being dismissed by Fidel Edwards. Lower-order batsmen Aamer Yamin and Sohail Tanvir then built a rapid 61-run partnership, boosting Pakistan’s total. Yamin scored 37 off 17 balls while Tanvir contributed 33 off 17 deliveries.
Fidel Edwards was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, taking three wickets, supported by Sulieman Benn with two wickets, and one each for Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Smith.
Later today, the India Champions will take on Australia Champions in the second semi-final at the same venue. The final of WCL 2024 is scheduled for tomorrow at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Playing Squad
Pakistan Champions: Kamran Akmal (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Younis Khan (c), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed.
West Indies Champions: Dwayne Smith, Chadwick Walton (wk), Jonathan Carter, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Daren Sammy (c), Rayad Emrit, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, Tino Best, Sulieman Benn.
