No one really expected Pakistan to reach the final of the T20 World Championships - and that's exactly why they got there. Always expect the unexpected from Pakistan - so even though their journey final was not as smooth as Lanka's, no one can bet against them in the final.
When Pakistan lost this high octane warm-up game to India, the knives were out. Younis Khan and his men were written off as contenders. Continue reading below
And in their first group game against England, the wheels came off, Pietersen making a half-century to take the home team to 185. Pakistan's batsmen responded feebly, losing by an embarrasing 48 runs.
Against the Dutch, Pakistan had to win. And win big or they would be on the early plane back home. And they responded, batting with flair to get 175 and then the spin twins of Afridi and Ajmal decimating the Dutch.
The red hot Sri Lankans were Pakistan's first opponents in the Super Eight stage. Making 150 after batting first and despite a brave 50 by Younis Khan, Pakistan ended up 19 runs short in the game.
But suddenly against the Kiwis, Pakistan's campaign came to life - a fiery spell of five for six by Umar Gul, the best ever figures in a T20 international - ensured the Kiwis were shot out for a mere 99. The run chase was as easy as they come, completed with 7 overs to spare.
All Pakistan had to do now was to cream the Irish and make the last four and they obliged. Setting Ireland 160 to win, with Kamran Akmal's attacking 50 leading the way, the run chase was never on with Ajmal scalping four. Pakistan were in the last four.
In the semifinal, the unpredictable Pakistan were up against the unbeaten South Africans. The Proteas were firm favorites, but Shahid Afridi wasn't listening. First he clicked with the bat, top-scoring with 51 to take Pakistan to a respectable score and then came back with the ball to deal two deathblows in the space of two overs. South Africa became officially the world's worst chokers as the Pakistani bowlers wrapped up a thrilling game with a brilliant finish to enter the finals.
