Shahid
Afridi smashed back-to-back sixes in the final over to clinch a dramatic
one-wicket win over India in their Asia Cup clash in Mirpur.
Shahid Afridi celebrates Pakistan's
victory
With just last-man Junaid Khan in
support, Afridi launched Ravichandran Ashwin over the ropes to move Pakistan a
step closer to claiming a place in the final.
India, who had posted 245 for eight,
now face the prospect of missing out on next Saturday's decider after their
death bowling was again called into question.
It had looked very different when
Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck twice in the penultimate over to leave Pakistan
needing 10 from the final six balls.
Ashwin then immediately bowled Saeed
Ajmal around his legs, but when Junaid got off strike Afridi (34 not out) ended
the game in typically brutal fashion with two balls to spare.
Rohit Sharma (56) and Ambati Rayudu
(58) hit half-centuries for India before Ravindra Jadeja smacked an unbeaten 52
from 49 balls to leave Pakistan with a testing total to chase on a slow pitch.
Ajmal underlined the effectiveness
of the slow bowlers with three for 40, while Mohammad Hafeez and debutant
Mohammad Talha grabbed two wickets apiece.
Hafeez then paced the Pakistan chase
with 75, from 117 balls, but was fifth man out in the 44th over with 200 on the
board.
Afridi picked up the slack and while
the tail fell around him the all-rounder dramatically dragged his side across
the line, finishing unbeaten on 34 from 18 balls.