Pakistan Champions advanced to the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2024 by defeating West Indies Champions by 20 runs in the first semi-final at County Ground, Northampton, on Friday.
Chasing a target of 199 runs, West Indies fell short, bowled out for 178 in the final over.
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Pakistan set a total of 198 runs, highlighted by their captain’s 65 runs, with contributions from Aamer Yamin and Sohail Tanvir later in the innings.
Batting first, Pakistan had a rocky start, losing Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, and Shoaib Malik early without scoring. The West Indies bowlers exploited the overcast conditions effectively, but a vital 77-run partnership between captain Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal steadied the innings.
Akmal scored 46 runs off 31 balls before falling, and shortly after, Pakistan lost Shahid Afridi (1) and Misbah-ul-Haq (0) quickly. Younis Khan was dismissed by Fidel Edwards after making 65 runs, but Pakistan continued to build their score with a 61-run partnership between Aamer Yamin and Sohail Tanvir.
Yamin contributed 37 runs off 17 balls, while Tanvir added 33 runs off 17 deliveries. For West Indies, Fidel Edwards took three wickets, Sulieman Benn claimed two, and Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Smith each took one.
Later today, India Champions will compete against Australia Champions in the second semi-final at the same venue. The WCL 2024 final is set for tomorrow at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Squads:
Pakistan Champions: Kamran Akmal (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Younis Khan (c), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed.
West Indies Champions: Dwayne Smith, Chadwick Walton (wk), Jonathan Carter, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Daren Sammy (c), Rayad Emrit, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, Tino Best, Sulieman Benn.
