Pakistan qualify for WCL 2024 final after defeating West Indies in semi-final
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NORTHAMPTON: (Web Desk) Pakistan Champions on Friday won the first semi-final of the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2024 against West Indies Champions by 20 at the County Ground in Northampton, and qualified for the tournament’s final.

 The Green Shirts set a 199-run target, and then showcased a brilliant display. Now, Pakistan have qualified for the tournament’s final where they will face one of India or Australia.

Sohail Khan bagged four wickets and restricted the West Indies to 178 runs.

West Indies had scored just seven runs in the first four overs but they soon found the rhythm as Chris Gayle started hitting boundaries in the fifth over.

However, Gayle’s innings did not last long as he was removed by Sohail for 26 runs.

West Indies kept on losing wickets at intervals but Ashley Nurse played a rapid knock of 36 runs on 24 balls, he looked like the man to guide the Windies to chase but he was run out by Kamran Akmal.

Down the order, Rayad Emrit played a 9-ball 29-run innings but he fell prey to Shoaib Malik.

Besides Sohail (4), Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik took two wickets each.

A 77-run partnership between skipper Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal put Pakistan out of danger. They looked set on the crease but Akmal ended up losing his wicket after scoring 46 runs on 31 balls with eight fours.

Afterwards, Pakistan lost two more wickets with Shahid Afridi (1) and Misbah-ul-Haq (0) walking back to the pavilion. Younis was removed by Fidel Edwards after 65 runs, but Pakistan continued to post runs on the scoreboard as Aamer Yahim and Sohail Tanvir formed a 61-run partnership down the order.

Yamin scored 37 on 17 balls while Tanvir contributed 33 on 17 deliveries.

For West Indies, Edwards bagged three, Sulieman Benn got two while Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Smith picked one wicket each.