Pakistan vs Bangladesh, T20 World Cup 2022 Highlights: PAK beat BAN by 5 wickets, reach semi-finals

Two singles and a streaky boundary from that first over. The Adelaide Oval is slowly picking up noise and it is a partisan crowd here. For now, it looks like this match is going to be a humdinger.

Najmul Got away with that one. Looking to work the fourth ball of the over to the onside, it takes a top edge and flies the other way to the boundary.  

Here we go then, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Liton Das, who had given India an almighty scare in their last match, open for Bangladesh, Shaheen Afridi has the ball in his hands. 

In what could be bad news for Pakistan fans, and all those hoping to see an India vs Pakistan final, teams who have won the toss at this venue have not lost a single match here. And that includes the Netherlands against South Africa. Well, well, well...

They both walk out, the Adelaide Oval is abuzz now. Both Bangladesh and Pakistan fans can realistically dream without either team having to think about the India-shaped asterisk on top of the result of this match. The Bangladesh national anthem plays out first, followed by Pakistan's. 

Babar Azam: Wins always give you confidence. Harris set the momentum then Iftikhar and Shadab finished it off. We are looking forward to this match. We have the same team.

Shakib Al Hasan: We will bat first. Looks a dry wicket. Put the runs on the board and defend. We know the importance of the game. We will have to play well. We are all calm. We have three changes.

Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan(w), Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

Bangladesh have won the toss and chosen to bat first. 

So, it is confirmed that a spot is vacant in Group 1 for the semi-finals. South Africa sit there for now but the winner of this match will pass the Proteas on points. If there is a no result today, which won't happen, Pakistan will qualify because South Africa's NRR has dipped below theirs. 

The Netherlands have defeated South Africa by 13 runs! Absolutely brilliant work from the Dutch and South Africa, who seemed to be the most comfortable team in this group, are now on the brink of getting knocked out. It is confirmed now, Pakistan only need to beat Bangladesh to go through, as simple as that.  

Well with what is happening in the match between South Africa and Netherlands it is hard to think about anything else really. They have lost Heinrich Klaasen, possibly their last hope of running this target down, and South Africa are now down to their last three wickets. It is Maharaj and Rabada in the middle! Nightmare for the Proteas. Remember, if South Africa lose this and Pakistan beat Bangladesh, the Proteas are out, Pakistan are through. India, meanwhile, qualify automatically if Netherlands win today. Extraordinary, the Netherlands have been sensational in this tournament. 

This could actually happen, the match between India and Zimbabwe could become a dead rubber because it is just going from bad to worse for South Africa. They are chasing a target of 159 and are now down to 113/6. David Miller is one of two players to have fallen in the 16th over.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan(w), Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Nasum Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain

Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Haider Ali

Now the most obvious way for Pakistan seemed to be to hope that India lose after they beat Bangladesh. However, South Africa are having a pretty difficult time chasing down a target of 159 against the Netherlands. If they do end up losing this match, Pakistan might just replace them on the Group 2 table if they beat Bangladesh and go through witho

We are into the final chapter of Pakistan's mission impossible, well mission improbable to be more precise but that doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? Pakistan have to beat Bangladesh today, preferably by a big margin, and then hope that Zimbabwe stun tournament favourites India. If Pakistan win by an absurdly huge margin, it could cause India some headache about having to win in a specific manner to make sure their net run rate remains above that of their arch-rivals'. There is cricket and mathematics on offer today and a place in the semi-finals at stake. Let's dip into it.