Pakistan will face India or Bangladesh in the final to be played at The Oval on Sunday
Pakistan outclassed England in all departments at Cardiff, got a convincingly won in the first semi-final of ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Pakistan has successfully chased down a 212-run target with 8-wickets spared and qualified the first time ever of the Champions Trophy final.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Captain Sarfraz Ahmad won the toss and decided to field first in the first semi-final of 2017 Champions Trophy on a used pitch in Cardiff.
Pakistani bowlers with some really outstanding bowling performance completely destroyed English batting line, and restricted their tournament’s only unbeaten side to 211 all-out in 49.5 overs, with no batsman reached to half-century.
Pakistan seamers superbly performed, especially Hasan Ali – took three for 35, Junaid Khan – two for 42 from 8.4 overs and Rumman Raees, playing his first one-day international – two for 44 from 9 overs.
Rumman Raees was replacing Mohammad Amir, who has a back spasm, Raees on debut bowled with verve and skill. His joyful celebration – standing mid-pitch, arm raised – encapsulated his team’s first-innings display.
The top scorers for England were Joe Root 46, Jonny Bairstow 43, Ben Stokes 34 and Eoin Morgan 33.
Chasing down an easy target of 212, Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali provided an impressive start as both batted with confidence to make together 118 runs for the first wicket.
Fakhar made 57, his second consecutive fifty, from 58 balls with seven fours and a six, Azhar Ali scored 76 off 100 balls with five fours and a six.
Pakistan completed their victory with eight wickets and 11.5 overs remaining. Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez remained not out on 38 and 31, respectively.
After being beaten miserably by their rivals India in their first match, Pakistan came from behind to defeat top-ranked South Africa and then Sri Lanka, and now emerged victorious against England to march into the final of the event for the first time.
Pakistan will now face the winners of the second semi-finals – India and Bangladesh – in the final to be played at The Oval on Sunday.