LONDON, CMC – Umar Gul finished with the best figures in a Twenty20 International to set Pakistan up for a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the Twenty20 World Cup yesterday.
Gul captured five wickets for six runs from three overs as Pakistan bowled New Zealand out for a modest 99 in 18.3 overs in their second Group-F match of the Super Eights at The Oval.
Pakistan stuttered through their chase before Shahid Afridi formalised the result with 41 balls remaining, when he top-edged a slog/sweep into mid-wicket for two off off-spin bowler Nathan McCullum.
Shahzaib Hasan led the way for Pakistan with four fours and two sixes in 35 from 28 balls and Afridi carried Pakistan over the threshold with 29 from 18 balls.
But Gul stole the spotlight, when he short-circuited New Zealand’s charge with incisive fast bowling which was supported by lively fielding.
Scott Styris’ 22 was the best New Zealand effort with the bat, and his scalp – brilliantly caught inside the long-on boundary by Afridi running almost 50 yards back from mid-on – started the Gul show, and left the Black Caps on 73 for five in the 13th over.
Gul struck next ball when he trapped Peter McGlashan lbw for eight and in his next over, when he bowled Nathan McCullum for seven.
He also struck twice in his following over when he bowled James Franklin and had Kyle Mills caught in covers for a one-ball duck.
