Pakistan join West Indies in semi-finals of Double Wicket World Championship

Shahid Afridi Photo © Colin Cumberbatch, courtesy St. Lucia Tourist Board

Pakistan secured another convincing victory in the first game of the second day of the Double Wicket World Championship at Beausejour, St Lucia. Pakistan passed England's score of 38 in the third over of their reply, and then batted out the remaining overs with few alarms to secure their second victory of the tournament.

Batting first, England again lost valuable wickets throughout, three dismissals costing them dear. Flintoff was bowled by Afridi in his first over as he attempted a delicate glide down to third man, and it was an uphill struggle for England from thereon. Flintoff got into the swing by the fourth over, hitting two sumptuous fours off the bowling of Afridi, but England's progress was again pegged back as Hollioake was bowled taking a huge swing at Wasim Akram. Further consolidation followed, but the good work was undone when Flintoff was bowled by a trademark Wasim Akram Yorker in the final over.

A score of 38 was never going to be enough, as Shahid Afridi rapidly confirmed as he took 20 off the first four balls of the innings. Even the loss of his wicket to Hollioake's last ball of the first over did not hamper progress towards the England total. Thirteen runs came off Flintoff's first over, and the Afridi fireworks resumed with two big sixes over mid-off and a well placed four through backward point off Hollioake. Attempting another big hit, Afridi then got in a tangle, chipping the ball high in the air. The catch was dropped, but by then Pakistan had passed the England total, and it was just a case of batting out the remaining overs. It was a safety-first approach in more than one way from then on, as Afridi was protecting an apparent back injury following his earlier miscued shot.

West Indies and Pakistan progress from Group 1 to tomorrow's semi-finals.