Pakistan defeat Ireland to book a berth in last four

Pakistan booked their place in the World Twenty20 semi-finals and ended Ireland's slim hopes of qualifying for the last four with a 39-run victory at the Oval here this evening.

Pakistan made 159 for five and then held Ireland - the only non-Test side to have reached the second round Super Eights - to 120 for nine, with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking four wickets for 19 runs.

tomorrow's match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka will decide the other Group F qualifier.

Opener Kamran Akmal's 57 was the cornerstone of Pakistan's total in an innings where Ireland off-spinner Kyle McCallan again proved his worth with two wickets for 26 runs.

Meanwhile, pace bowler Boyd Rankin's four overs cost just 11 runs.

Akmal faced 51 balls with a six and five fours.

This was the first match between the sides since Ireland's shock win over Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean - a result which was overshadowed hours later by the death of then Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.

"He was an inspiring person for us, he was like a father-figure for me and the whole team," Pakistan captain Younus Khan, paying tribute to former England batsman Woolmer, told reporters.

Although pleased Pakistan were in the last four, Younus said their batting required improvement.

"We were still 20 runs short. It's not possible all the time to score 150 and restrict the opposition," he added.

"Especially against teams like South Africa, England and the West Indies, we need 170 plus."

Ireland lost opener Niall O'Brien early in their chase when the wicket-keeper was caught and bowled off a miscued hook by 17-year-old paceman Mohammad Amir.

Paul Stirling, himself only 18, came in for his first match of the tournament with Ireland 13 for one but got off the mark first ball with a superb cover-driven four off left-armer Aamir.

But the teenager, on 16, became the latest batsman to be bowled playing across the line against leg-spinner Shahid Afridi, who struck with his sixth ball and Ireland were 42 for two off seven overs.

Ireland captain William Porterfield batted steadily for 40 off 36 balls but when he was caught by opposing skipper Younus Khan off the bowling of Ajmal, Ireland were 87 for three in the 14th over.

With six overs left Ireland needed 72 more runs to win.

John Mooney, trying to keep Ireland up with the rate, also fell to Ajmal after he was caught in the deep by Abdul Razzaq.

Then Umar Gul, who took a Twenty20 international record five wickets against New Zealand, got in on the act by bowling Trent Johnston for a duck.

At 99 for five in the 17th over the game was up for Ireland, who later saw four tailend wickets tumble for three runs in six balls.

Both Akmal and fellow opener Shahzaib Hasan struck a six off Johnston, whose four overs went for an expensive 45.

The 19-year-old Shahzaib holed out off seamer Alex Cusack, who took four wickets in Ireland's narrow nine-run loss to Sri Lanka at Lord's on Sunday.

The hard-hitting Afridi showed glimpses of his talent while making 24 before striking McCallan's third ball straight to Mooney at long-on.

And 78 for two became 102 for three in the 13th over when Younus was bowled after an ugly slog sweep against New Zealand born left-arm spinner Regan West.

Akmal, looking to press on, was dismissed by a Johnston yorker as he went down the pitch.

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