PAK vs SCO T20 WC Highlights: Pakistan beat Scotland by 72 runs in Sharjah

It has been another dominating show by the Men in Green in the T20 World Cup as they beat Scotland by an emphatic 72 runs in Sharjah to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. Pakistan hence finish top of the table with their 16th straight win in the UAE. 

Leask makes room to go for the big one, but is beaten by the sheer pace of the delivery from Afridi as the woodwork stands disturbed. Leask goes back for 14 and Scotland go 5 down for 87 in 15.3 overs

Michael Leask and Richie Berrington have added a 40-run stand off 28 balls laced with four boundaries but Scotland stand 108 runs away from the target with 30 balls remaining.

Rarely have we seen Munsey struggling at the crease. Stats show that Munsey loves to play the reverse sweep once every three balls. We did see that against Ashwin the other night. But Babar Azam has been spot on by stating fielders in a manner to deny Munsey using his favourite weapon. Munsey registered 18 dot balls in his 31-ball stay, comprising only two boundaries. Shadab eventually ended his struggle in the first ball after break before picking his second wicket dismissing Dylan Budge for a duck.

Scotland 41/4 in 10.3 overs

What is the worst way to get out in a match? Simon Doull, on air, admitted getting run out at the bowler’s end. And that’s what happened to Cross. He was loitering outside the crease for a single and Wasim got his hand on the ball slapped back by Munsey and Cross departed for just 5.

Scotland 36/2 in 8 overs

After a cautious start to their 190 chase, Scotland lose opener Coetzer for just 9. Failed to connect with the fuller and slower delivery as the ball took the inside edge to rattle against the middle stump.

Scotland 23/1 in 5.3 overs

Munsey thumped the slower delivery from Afridi through mid-off for a boundary in the opening over. Coetzer punched one through covers for a four in the second and Munsey hit another in the third over against a 146ks delivery from Afridi.

Scotland 19/0 in 3 overs

Scotland openers make their way to the middle. Shaheen Afridi to begin the proceedings for Pakistan attack.

Scotland hands the final over to leg-spinner Chris Greaves, and Shoaib Malik says thank you. He slams three sixes and a four against Greakes Pakistan score 26 runs off the final over!

Malik also reaches his half-century off just 18 deliveries!

Pakistan’s first 10 overs – 60 runs
Pakistan’s next 10 overs – 129 runs

What an acceleration!

Interestingly, Pakistan’s 50, 100 and 150 have all come with boundaries. Shoaib Malik takes Pakistan past 150 with a big six over deep square.

Pakistan 163/4 in 19 overs

Babar Azam departs on 66. An impressive innings from the Pakistan captain comes to an end as he attempts to clear the long-on boundary. Good catch from George Munsey; Chris Greaves picks his second.

Pakistan 146/4 in 18 overs

An excellent innings from Babar Azam. Despite the regular fall of wickets, Babar remained undeterred and continued a healthy strike-rotation, while punishing the occasional bad deliveries. He slams his half-century off 40 balls. 

Fourth fifty in the tournament – joint-highest for most half-centuries in a T20 World Cup. He’s tied with India’s Virat Kohli.

Pakistan 124/3 in 16 overs

Mohammad Hafeez departs after a crucial 31-run knock off just 19 deliveries. Saafyan Sharif traps Hafeez in front of leg-stump. His innings, however, has given Pakistan a strong platform to finish the innings on a high.

Pakistan 112/3 in 15 overs

Mohammad Hafeez joins the party. He brings Pakistan’s 100 with a huge six wide of long-off. The right-hander has maintained an aggressive approach throughout the tournament and here, he is playing the aggressor yet again, allowing Babar to play his natural game.

Pakistan 104/2 in 14.3 overs

The Pakistan captain finds a couple of boundaries against Watt. A relatively good over for Pakistan as Watt concedes 12 off his third.

Pakistan 87/2 in 13 overs

Mohammad Hafeez played an excellent cameo role against Namibia, remaining unbeaten on 32 off 16 deliveries. Here, however, he needs to rebuild the Pakistan innings alongside Babar Azam who seems undeterred with the dismissals, rotating at a healthy strike rate.

Pakistan 68/2 in 11 overs

In the last game, the Pakistan openers picked pace after the Powerplay but here, the side finds itself in some trouble. Pakistan lost Rizwan straight after the Powerplay, and then Fakhar gave his wicket away right before the halfway mark of the innings. 

The left-hander’s horrid run in the 2021 T20 World Cup continues. In a bid to up the ante, Fakhar gives away an easy catch at deep square leg. Spinner Chris Greaves strikes in his first over.

Pakistan 59/2 in 9.4 overs

Babar Azam brings Pakistan’s 50 with a six. The side reaches the 50-run mark in 8.1 overs. The Pakistan captain, alongside Fakhar Zaman, attempting to rebuild the innings after the early blow.

Fakhar Zaman has had a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign so far, scoring only 48 runs in four innings. As the tournament enters the knock-out stage, the Pakistan no.3 will be aiming to get some runs on the board.

Rizwan departs. Hamza Tahir with a wicket in the first ball after Powerplay! The opener plays for the cut but the ball stays low, as Rizwan nicks it for wicketkeeper Matthew Cross. Excellent catch!

Pakistan 38/1 in 7 overs

Yet another slow start from Babar and Rizwan in the Powerplay while batting first. They had scored 29/0 against Namibia in the first six overs in their previous game, and continue to score at less than 6 rpo today.

Mohammad Rizwan goes big over square. Wheal drags his length fuller, probably in search of some swing. Rizwan had prepared himself for a jab, however, and a lack of movement gives the batter an easy opportunity to loft it over square. 

Pakistan 32/0 in 5 overs

Despite the three wides in Mark Watt’s first over, Watt has conceded only four runs off his first over. 

The spinner has arguably been Scotland’s best bowler in this edition, conceding at an economy rate of only 5.54 so far.

Pakistan 18/0 in 4 overs

Good rotation of strike in the second over from the Pakistan openers, as they accumulate six runs off Bradley Wheal’s first.

Mohammad Rizwan is now the highest T20 run-scorer in a calendar year. He goes past West Indies’ Chris Gayle (1,665 in 2015) for the record.

Tahir, who is playing his first game of the 2021 T20 World Cup for Scotland, concedes only one run in his first over. Tight lengths.

Pakistan 1/0 in 1 over

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan open for Pakistan against Scotland.

ICYMI: Rizwan is only 5 runs away from going past Chris Gayle’s record for most runs in a calendar year in T20s.

For the final time, the Scottish national anthem in this edition of the T20 World Cup, followed by Pakistan.

Babar Azam (Pakistan): We want to put runs on the board and put pressure on them. To be honest, we are only looking to carry on the momentum. We are playing the same team. The people are supporting us and we are happy with our performance.

Kyle Coetzer (Scotland): Two fantastic opponents, India and Pakistan, to test ourselves against in these conditions. We have to test ourselves against the best. We came in believing that we are capable of beating them, and that is how we are going out.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi

Scotland: George Munsey, Kyle Coetzer(c), Matthew Cross(w), Richie Berrington, Dylan Budge, Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Hamza Tahir, Safyaan Sharif, Bradley Wheal

Pakistan win toss, opt to bat against Scotland in Sharjah.

Kyle Coetzer remains positive ahead of the side’s final game of the 2021 T20 World Cup campaign.

“We’ve got to make sure we go in there with as much confidence as we possibly can do. We’ve got one last show, one last crack of the whip while we’re out here… We’ll go in there with as much enjoyment and freedom as we possibly can and try and make the most of the opportunity.”

Mohammad Hafeez lauds his side for producing consistent performances, but insists that the key is to not get carried away. 

“We respect each other’s talent, and we wish everyone, like, just go out there and do well. That is something very special in this team for this campaign. Yes, we’re playing good cricket, but the goal is not achieved yet.”

And so, it’s official: Pakistan and New Zealand have qualified for the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup from Group 2.

On Saturday, England and Australia had qualified from Group 1.

The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter is only five runs away from overtaking Chris Gayle’s record for most T20 runs in a calendar year. Rizwan currently has 1,661 runs this year in all T20s (40 matches).

Pakistan: All players are available for the side against Scotland. However, the team management has the luxury to rest players as they please, as the side has already qualified for the semis.

Scotland: The availability of Josh Davey remains the only doubt for the side. 

Pakistan have met Scotland thrice in T20Is. Their first encounter was in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, where Pakistan cruised to a 51-run win.

In 2018, Pakistan toured Scotland for a two-match T20I series. The side defeated the hosts in both games.

Matches – 3
Pakistan wins – 3
Scotland wins – 0

Kyle Coetzer’s men made a blistering start to their campaign, topping their Round 1 group which included a formidable Bangladesh side. However, in Super 12s, Scotland conceded losses in all of their four games. The side gave an excellent fight to New Zealand where they dragged the game close, falling short by 16 runs and Scotland will be hopeful of a similar performance against Pakistan.

Pakistan have produced exemplary performances in the 2021 T20 World Cup so far. Their 10-wicket win against arch-rivals Pakistan seemingly set the tone for their campaign, as they cruised past New Zealand and then registered easy victories over Afghanistan and Namibia to become the first side to qualify for the semi-final. 

If Pakistan finish 1st in their group, they will meet Australia for a place in the final.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Pakistan vs Scotland – Match 41 in the T20 World Cup. Pakistan will be aiming to finish with five wins in as many matches, while Scotland will look to end their campaign on a high.