Cape Town: Umar Gul's sensational seam bowling and Imran Nazir's half-century ensured Pakistan a place in the ICC World Twenty20 final at New Zealand's expense.

Chasing a target of 144 runs, Pakistan won the semi-final encounter at the Newlands cricket ground here by six wickets after knocking off 147 runs in 18.5 overs. Skipper Shoaib Malik with 26 and Misbah ul-Haq with 16 saw their side through.

An opening partnership of 60 runs in 7.1 overs between Nazir and Mohammed Hafeez set things up for Pakistan. Hafeez smashed 32 off 21 balls with three fours and two sixes but it was Nazir who stole the show.

Batting with a runner, Nazir slammed 59 off 41 balls with five towering sixes and three fours to negate the New Zealand bowling attack. His attacking batsmanship got the crowds going, and the adrenalin rush was intense as ball flew to all corners of the park.

Jeetan Patel got the breakthrough when he trapped Nazir in front of the stumps, and skipper Daniel Vettori ended Younus Khan's misery, who scratched around for 15 balls, making four runs. Earlier, Hafeez was trapped in front of the stumps by Scott Styris.

Shahid Afridi fell tamely to Shane Bond for just six, and how Vettori would have wished for just 25 extra runs to defend. Pakistan emerged victorious simply because New Zealand didn't have any runs to play with.

Vettori finished with one for 22 in his four overs, Bond took one for 33 in his four while Patel ended up with one for 25 in 3.5 overs. Styris ended up with one for 14 in his three overs.

In their innings, New Zealand batters eliminated risks associated with T20 cricket and tried playing in a lot more conventional style to pay a heavy price in the end.

After deciding to take the first strike on a day marred by some rain – which halted the proceedings for 33 minutes – New Zealand managed 143 for eight in their 20 overs, thanks to exceptional pace bowling from Umar Gul.

Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum, the two opening batsmen, put on 50 for the first wicket before left-arm spinner Fawad Alam took a brilliant catch off his bowling to break the partnership. Vincent fell for 28 runs off the equal number of balls.

Afridi struck next with his quick leg-spinners, dismissing McCullum for 26, made off 27 balls, but it was Gul who at that stage put Pakistan in the driver's seat. In his second over, Gul dismissed Styris and Peter Fulton to skid the New Zealand innings somewhat.

Styris fell for 11 after hitting a four and a six and Fulton hit a full toss to skipper Malik after making ten.

Gul bagged three for 15 in his four overs, while Afridi was steady as well, taking one for 24 in his four.

The real danger for Pakistan arrived in the form of Craig McMillan, who has been on a six-hitting spree of sorts in this tournament. He immediately caused some concerns in the Pakistan camp when he smashed Alam for a huge straight six.

However, the fears were short-lived as McMillan was caught on the long-off fence by Younus Khan off Alam. He made 12 off six balls. The young man, playing his first match in the competition, was most impressive, returning with figures of two for 29 in his three overs.

The best bowler in the park today for Pakistan was Gul, by a mile. He bowled fast, and in the corridor, troubling all the Kiwi batters. Gul gave nothing away, and the bounce he generated off a slow Newlands wicket was quite sensational. Hailing from Nawakali in the North-West Frontier Province, Gul comes from the same town that produced squash legend Jahangir Khan.

For New Zealand, Ross Taylor held the innings somewhat with an unbeaten 37. New Zealand, however, would have liked a score of above 170, as they were 74 for two at the half-way stage.

New Zealand team
Brendon McCullum, Lou Vincent, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Craig McMillan, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Mark Gillespie, Jeetan Patel

Pakistan team
Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Younus Khan, Fawad Alam, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif

Officials
Mike Procter (match referee)
Daryl Harper and Simon Taufel (umpires)
Ian Howell (third)
Nigel Llong (fourth).

Cape Town: Umar Gul's sensational seam bowling and Imran Nazir's half-century ensured Pakistan a place in the ICC World Twenty20 final at New Zealand's expense.

Chasing a target of 144 runs, Pakistan won the semi-final encounter at the Newlands cricket ground here by six wickets after knocking off 147 runs in 18.5 overs. Skipper Shoaib Malik with 26 and Misbah ul-Haq with 16 saw their side through.

An opening partnership of 60 runs in 7.1 overs between Nazir and Mohammed Hafeez set things up for Pakistan. Hafeez smashed 32 off 21 balls with three fours and two sixes but it was Nazir who stole the show.

Batting with a runner, Nazir slammed 59 off 41 balls with five towering sixes and three fours to negate the New Zealand bowling attack. His attacking batsmanship got the crowds going, and the adrenalin rush was intense as ball flew to all corners of the park.

Jeetan Patel got the breakthrough when he trapped Nazir in front of the stumps, and skipper Daniel Vettori ended Younus Khan's misery, who scratched around for 15 balls, making four runs. Earlier, Hafeez was trapped in front of the stumps by Scott Styris.

Shahid Afridi fell tamely to Shane Bond for just six, and how Vettori would have wished for just 25 extra runs to defend. Pakistan emerged victorious simply because New Zealand didn't have any runs to play with.

Vettori finished with one for 22 in his four overs, Bond took one for 33 in his four while Patel ended up with one for 25 in 3.5 overs. Styris ended up with one for 14 in his three overs.

In their innings, New Zealand batters eliminated risks associated with T20 cricket and tried playing in a lot more conventional style to pay a heavy price in the end.

After deciding to take the first strike on a day marred by some rain – which halted the proceedings for 33 minutes – New Zealand managed 143 for eight in their 20 overs, thanks to exceptional pace bowling from Umar Gul.

Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum, the two opening batsmen, put on 50 for the first wicket before left-arm spinner Fawad Alam took a brilliant catch off his bowling to break the partnership. Vincent fell for 28 runs off the equal number of balls.

Afridi struck next with his quick leg-spinners, dismissing McCullum for 26, made off 27 balls, but it was Gul who at that stage put Pakistan in the driver's seat. In his second over, Gul dismissed Styris and Peter Fulton to skid the New Zealand innings somewhat.

Styris fell for 11 after hitting a four and a six and Fulton hit a full toss to skipper Malik after making ten.

Gul bagged three for 15 in his four overs, while Afridi was steady as well, taking one for 24 in his four.

The real danger for Pakistan arrived in the form of Craig McMillan, who has been on a six-hitting spree of sorts in this tournament. He immediately caused some concerns in the Pakistan camp when he smashed Alam for a huge straight six.

However, the fears were short-lived as McMillan was caught on the long-off fence by Younus Khan off Alam. He made 12 off six balls. The young man, playing his first match in the competition, was most impressive, returning with figures of two for 29 in his three overs.

The best bowler in the park today for Pakistan was Gul, by a mile. He bowled fast, and in the corridor, troubling all the Kiwi batters. Gul gave nothing away, and the bounce he generated off a slow Newlands wicket was quite sensational. Hailing from Nawakali in the North-West Frontier Province, Gul comes from the same town that produced squash legend Jahangir Khan.

For New Zealand, Ross Taylor held the innings somewhat with an unbeaten 37. New Zealand, however, would have liked a score of above 170, as they were 74 for two at the half-way stage.

New Zealand team
Brendon McCullum, Lou Vincent, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Craig McMillan, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Mark Gillespie, Jeetan Patel

Pakistan team
Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Younus Khan, Fawad Alam, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif

Officials
Mike Procter (match referee)
Daryl Harper and Simon Taufel (umpires)
Ian Howell (third)
Nigel Llong (fourth).