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14-Jun-2017 16:23:00 GMT
England v Pakistan, CT 2017, 1st semi-final, Cardiff

Pakistan shock England to reach maiden Champions Trophy final

Cardiff: England's Champions Trophy hopes were destroyed by an eight-wicket semi-final thrashing at the hands of Pakistan in Cardiff.

England struggled on a slow pitch against some brilliant Pakistan bowling and fielding, mustering only 211.

Fakhar Zaman's 58 launched Pakistan's chase, while Azhar Ali made 76 as victory was sealed with 12.5 overs to spare.

Pakistan will play India or Bangladesh in Sunday's final at The Oval.

England move on to a Twenty20 series against South Africa next week, but the disappointment of this defeat could linger for some time.

Eoin Morgan's men were favourites to win the tournament, but were comprehensively outplayed in the Welsh sunshine in front of a crowd full of noisy and energetic Pakistan supporters.

Earlier, Hasan Ali took three wickets as Pakistan restricted England to 211 all out.

Sent in on a used pitch after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss, England found runs hard to come by, with no batsman making a fifty.

Joe Root top-scored with 46 and Jonny Bairstow, recalled in place of dropped opener Jason Roy, 43.

Paceman Hasan returned excellent figures of three for 35 in 10 overs.

Such was Pakistan's control that usually big-hitting England all-rounder Ben Stokes's 34 took 64 balls and did not include a single boundary.

But the way Pakistan collapsed to 162 for seven chasing 237 in their virtual 'quarter-final' against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Monday before winning by three wickets would have given England some hope at the mid-innings break.

Mohammad Amir, who made 28 not out Monday in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 75 with Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed (61 not out) was missing from this match because of a back spasm.

Brief scores
England -
211 (Root 46, Hasan Ali 3-35, Junaid 2-42, Raees 2-44)
Pakistan - 215 for 2 (Azhar 76, Zaman 57)
Result - Pakistan won by 8 wickets


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