Click here to follow Firstpost’s Live blog of ICC Champions Trophy second semi-final between India and Bangladesh for live scores and updates. Latest update: Pakistan stun England in the first semi-final, win by eight wickets, and qualify for the final of Champions Trophy 2017. The winning runs come off Mohammad Hafeez’s blade as he pulls it to the square leg fence for a boundary. Eng vs Pak Preview: Having swept aside all opposition in the group stage, hosts England are expected to face a strong pace attack when they take on Pakistan in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy cricket tournament in Cardiff on Wednesday. Pakistan managed to bundle out a formidable Sri Lankan batting line-up for 236 runs in their last Group B match after deciding to bowl first at the Cardiff Wales Stadium here on Monday. [caption id=“attachment_3617439” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
England captain Eoin Morgan (L) and Pakistan skipper Srfraz Ahmed (R). AFP[/caption] The Pakistan bowling attack comprising pacers Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir, Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali and their lone spinner Imad Wasim will look to test the strong England batting line-up as well. Junaid Khan and Mohammad Amir were in excellent form in the previous match against Sri Lanka and will aim to recreate some of that magic against the hosts. Some of the deliveries by the duo against Sri Lanka were almost unplayable and a similar performance at the same venue on Wednesday could prove to be ominious for England. If Pakistan do manage to upstage the hosts, it will be their first appearance in the final of a 50-over International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament since losing to Australia in the title clash of the 1999 World Cup. The last time they qualified for a 50-over ICC tournament was at the 2011 World Cup when they lost a thriller to arch-rivals India in Mohali. However, Pakistan’s power-packed line-up of fast bowlers is offset to some extent by the lack of too much firepower in their batting. Most of the Pakistan batsmen have struggled during the group matches. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed and opener Fakhar Zaman are the only Pakistan batsmen who have shown some kind of form in this tournament. Sarfaraz struck an unbeaten 61 runs in the must-win last group game against Sri Lanka, which Pakistan won by three wickets to qualify for the last-four stage. England, on the other hand, were the dominant team in Group A. They dominated teams like Australia, Bangladesh and New Zealand in home conditions for an all-win record in the group stage and will look to maintain their winning streak. England’s batting line-up, boasting the likes of Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morga, Ben Stokes and Jos Butler, has looked to be in an impressive form but is expected to face a stern test against the Pakistan bowling attack. Joe Root also sits among the top run scorers in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy scoring 212 runs in three matches with the highest score of an unbeaten 133 against Bangladesh. The bowling department for England has also looked good, trying to provide an equal balance to the side under the likes of pacers Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood, Jake Ball, Ben Stokes and their spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali who have consistently delivered for their side. England lead the head-to-head battle with a 6-4 record against Pakistan in ICC tournaments. The last time Pakistan defeated England in an ICC event was in 1996. Squads: England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(wk), Moeen Ali, Steven Finn, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood, Jake Ball, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Adil Rashid, David Willey Pakistan: Sarfraz Khan (c and wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammed Amir, Mohammed Hafeez, Shadab Khan and Shoaib Malik. With inputs from IANS
England vs Pakistan, Highlights, Champions Trophy 2017 cricket result: Pak stun England, advance into final
Catch the Live cricket score and all updates from ICC Champions Trophy semifinal 1 between England and Pakistan
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Pakistan’s ICC ODI tournaments finals:
Benson and Hedges World Cup,1992
ICC World Cup,1999
ICC Champions Trophy,2017*
Is this the most historic turnaround in Pakistan’s cricket history after the 1992 World Cup? Not only were they ranked number 8 out of 8, they also looked completely off colour in that opening game against India. There was talk in the innings break about why ICC was using an old pitch for this game. Pakistan’s batting hasn’t made this pitch look like the minefield that England thought it was. Give credit where it’s due: Pakistan were beyond exceptional with the ball, the captaincy was absolutely on point and Pakistan looked like a side wanting to win today.
This is Pakistan cricket. Make of it what you want to. Being a Pakistani supporter is fun and you won’t trade it for anything in the world.
After 37 overs,Pakistan 211/2 ( Babar Azam 38 , Mohammad Hafeez 27)
FOUR! FOUR! off the first and the fourth delivery. Hafeez scores both of them. He takes a single off the fifth ball. Pakistan need 1 run.
After 36 overs,Pakistan 202/2 ( Babar Azam 38 , Mohammad Hafeez 18)
15 off Ben Stokes’ 3rd over! Pakistan 10 runs away from the final berth.
After 35 overs,Pakistan 187/2 ( Babar Azam 33 , Mohammad Hafeez 10)
Pakistan firmly in the driver’s seat. Nothing can take away the spot in the final from them now. 4 runs off Ball’s 8th over.
After 34 overs,Pakistan 183/2 ( Babar Azam 32 , Mohammad Hafeez 7)
A single followed by four dots and missed stumping and a six. On the fifth ball, Hafeez came down the track with no proper intent and missed the ball. However Buttler fails to collect it and misses an opportunity. Wouldn’t have mattered much though. 29 runs needed.
After 33 overs,Pakistan 176/2 ( Babar Azam 31 , Mohammad Hafeez 1)
Pakistan in no hurry whatsoever. No close-in fielders seemed to have no impact on the Pakistan batsmen. 3 runs off the over.
After 32 overs,Pakistan 173/1 ( Azhar Ali 76 , Babar Azam 30)
Rashid continues. Four dots, a single and three runs off this over.
After 31 overs,Pakistan 169/1 ( Azhar Ali 73 , Babar Azam 29)
Pakistan need 46 runs off 20 overs and they score three runs off this over.
After 30 overs,Pakistan 166/1 ( Azhar Ali 72 , Babar Azam 27)
Adil Rashid bowls five dot balls in his 8th over. But the only ball off which he concedes runs goes for three runs.
After 29 overs,Pakistan 163/1 ( Azhar Ali 72 , Babar Azam 24)
Sambit Bal, Editor of ESPN Cricinfo, sums it up the best: I think it’s safe to say this now: even Pakistan batting can’t mess this up from here. 2 singles off the first five balls followed by a boundary.
After 28 overs,Pakistan 157/1 ( Azhar Ali 67 , Babar Azam 23)
This is sensible from Babar and Azhar. Respecting good balls and putting away bad ones. Rashid drops one short, Babar pulls it through mid-wicket for four. He is beaten one ball later but blocks the rest two solidly.
After 27 overs, Pakistan 152/1 ( Azhar Ali 67 , Babar Azam 19)
Nothing going England’s way. Babar pulls one but gets a top edge which falls short of the deep square leg. Azhar then steals a couple through deep mid-wicket. Plunkett hits back to bowl four dot balls. 3 runs off the over.
After 26 overs,Pakistan 149/1 ( Azhar Ali 65 , Babar Azam 18)
2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1: Adil Rashid’s 6th over. Pakistan need 63 runs off 24 overs.
After 25 overs,Pakistan 142/1 ( Azhar Ali 63 , Babar Azam 13)
Pakistan’s required run rate has fallen below 3 and they have scored 4 runs in Plunkett’s 4th over. Many predicted a one-sided match today and that is exactly what they are getting.
After 24 overs,Pakistan 138/1 ( Azhar Ali 61 , Babar Azam 11)
Pakistan play sensible cricket after that maximum as they collect four singles to end the over. Pakistan 74 runs away from securing a final berth.
After 23 overs,Pakistan 128/1 ( Azhar Ali 59 , Babar Azam 3)
Pakistan cruising at the moment. Four singles and a brace off Mark’s 8th over.
What do you reckon?
After 22 overs,Pakistan 122/1 ( Azhar Ali 55 , Babar Azam 1)
Babar Azam arrives at the centre after Fakhar Zaman’s wicket. He gets off the mark with a single to covers. Azhar Ali drills the third ball through covers for a brace. The last ball is short and wide, Azhar cuts it behind point. One run taken.