Pakistan Champions beat West Indies legends to reach WCL 2024 final
1. Pakistan inflict 20-run defeat on opponents who fail to chase competitive total of 199 runs
In a thrilling encounter at Northampton's County Ground, Pakistan Champions secured their spot in the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2024 by defeating West Indies Champions by 20 runs in the first semi-final.
Pakistan set a competitive target of 199 runs, thanks to a resilient batting effort despite a shaky start. After losing early wickets, skipper Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal steadied the innings with a crucial 77-run partnership. Akmal's aggressive 46 off 31 balls was instrumental before his dismissal. Contributions from Aamer Yamin (37 off 17) and Sohail Tanvir (33 off 17) further bolstered Pakistan's total.
In response, West Indies started slowly and lost key wickets at regular intervals. Chris Gayle's brief onslaught was halted by Sohail Khan, who finished with four wickets for Pakistan. Ashley Nurse's rapid 36 off 24 raised hopes for the Windies, but his run-out proved pivotal. Despite late resistance from Rayad Emrit (29 off 9), West Indies fell short, managing only 178 runs.
Sohail Khan led Pakistan's bowling attack brilliantly, supported by Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik who took two wickets each. Fidel Edwards was the pick of the West Indian bowlers with three wickets.
Pakistan's victory sets up an eagerly awaited final showdown against either India or Australia, promising another thrilling chapter in the WCL 2024 saga.
