Pakistan faces Sri Lanka in Semis

• Pakistan Qualifies for semis on net run rate
• South Africa Helped Pakistan reach Semis
• Beating Australia with Big Margin was a turning point
• Spin trio helped Pakistan once again

The entire Pakistani nation will today be thankful to South Africa 1^st for
 leaving India hopeless and then to spin trio Ajmal, Raza and Afridi for taking then to Semis. Pakistan managed it to semis on the basis of better net run rate. Sri Lanka will play Pakistan and Australia face West Indies in the semi-finals.

Earlier, Pakistan gave themselves a big chance of reaching the World Twenty20 semi-finals Tuesday with a shock 32-run win over Australia, who qualified regardless on net run-rates.

Pakistan made 149-6 after being sent in to bat in the group two Super Eights match at the Premadasa stadium, before a five-man spin attack restricted Australia to 117-7.

Prolific spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed 3-17, but it was 20-year-old Raza Hasan who was declared man of the match for conceding just 14 runs and taking two wickets in four overs of steady left-arm spin.
Both teams ended the Super Eights on four points each, which knocked winless South Africa out of the tournament.

Pakistan captain Mohammad was all praise for boys when he said: “I am grateful to see the effort put up by the boys today. It was a big game for us and we needed to be at our best against a side like Australia. Once we got a good total, we knew we will do well because there was going to be help for the bowlers. Raza Hasan was brilliant, a great find for us.”

Sri Lanka and the West Indies have already qualified from group one.

Veteran Mike Hussey was Australia’s mainstay with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls, as none of the other batsmen managed to cross 15 against the rampaging spinners. Australia never looked comfortable after their in-form openers, Shane Watson and David Warner, were dismissed by the fifth over with only 19 runs on the board.

Pakistan’s innings revolved around left-hander Nasir Jamshed’s 55 off 46 balls, which contained four boundaries and two sixes. Abdul Razzaq marked his return to the side in place of Yasir Arafat to make 22 from 17 balls. Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc claimed 3-20 for Australia.