Pakistan beat Scotland by 72 runs in Sharjah on Sunday to set up a T20 World Cup semi-final clash against Australia.
Skipper Babar Azam scored a polished 47-ball 66 – his fourth fifty in five matches – while Shoaib Malik smashed an 18-ball 54* as Pakistan posted 189-4 in their 20 overs.
Scotland were never in the hunt as they managed 117-6, with Richie Berrington fighting a lone hand during his 37-ball 54*.
Pakistan will now face Australia in the second semi-final in Dubai on Thursday while England meet New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Scotland lost skipper Kyle Coetzer (nine), Matthew Cross (five) and George Munsey (17) before they crossed 50 and it was left to Berrington and Micheal Leask (14) to add 46 for the fifth wicket.
But the asking rate continued to mount as spinner Shadab Khan (2-14) kept up the pressure. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali claimed a wicket each.
Earlier, Babar had set the platform with another fine innings.
Malik then punished the Scottish attack during his fiery knock comprising six sixes and one four, taking 26 off Chris Greaves’ last over.
Babar smashed five fours and three sixes to become the tournament’s highest run-scorer, passing England’s Jos Buttler’s 240 in five matches with 264 in as many games.
He holed out to spinner Greaves in the 18th over as Pakistan lifted the scoring rate, adding 129 in the last 10 overs and an incredible 77 in the final five.
Babar and Mohammad Rizwan (15) had put on a slow 35 for the opening stand.
Rizwan, when on five, broke West Indian Chris Gayle’s record for most T20I runs in a calendar year. Rizwan now has 1,676 runs in 41 matches. Gayle had notched 1,665 in 36 matches in 2015.
Mohammad Hafeez scored a brisk 19-ball 31 with four fours and a six.
© Agence France-Presse
