Younis Khan-led Pakistan team has advanced to the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2024 with only one loss in the tournament. On Friday, they defeated the West Indies by 20 runs in the first semi-final at the County Ground in Northampton.
Pakistan set a target of 199 runs, and their bowlers delivered an impressive performance, restricting West Indies to 178 runs and securing a spot in the final against either India or Australia.
Sohail Khan was Pakistan’s standout bowler, taking four wickets. West Indies had a slow start, scoring just seven runs in the first four overs, but Chris Gayle began hitting boundaries in the fifth over. However, Sohail dismissed Gayle for 26 runs, and West Indies lost wickets regularly.
Ashley Nurse played a quick 36-run knockoff of 24 balls and seemed poised to lead the chase but was run out by Kamran Akmal. Rayad Emrit contributed a fast 29 runs off nine balls before falling to Shoaib Malik. Sohail Khan took four wickets, while Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik each took two.
Pakistan, batting first, faced early setbacks as Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, and Shoaib Malik fell without significant contributions. Despite the swinging conditions, Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal’s 77-run partnership steadied the innings. Akmal scored 46 runs off 31 balls with eight fours before getting out. Pakistan then quickly lost Shahid Afridi (1) and Misbah-ul-Haq (0).
Fidel Edwards dismissed Younis Khan after scoring 65 runs. However, Aamer Yamin and Sohail Tanvir’s 61-run partnership down the order helped Pakistan reach a competitive total. Yamin scored 37 off 17 balls, and Tanvir added 33 off 17 deliveries.
For West Indies, Fidel Edwards took three wickets, Sulieman Benn got two, and Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Smith each took one.
