Afridi fifty seals title for Pakistan
Pakistan gave their nation a moment to savour amid troubled times after beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets at Lord's
Pakistan gave their nation a moment to savour amid troubled times after beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets at Lord's
Pakistan, who fell agonizingly short in 2007 and have been through so much strife as a country in the two years since, have pulled off a magnificent victory. Lord's is a sea of roaring green.
Spare a thought for the Sri Lankans who were unbeaten right through the tournament. they've played brave and innovative cricket and were felled by an inspired side. It's Pakistan's moment though ... and aren't they enjoying it. Malik's generous in his praise for Shahid bhai but he played a crucial innings too, staying calm at one end, scoring at just over a run a ball.
I can hear the horns blaring in St. Johns Wood already, it will go on long into the night. It was emotional at Trent Bridge a few days ago, I can't imagine what it will be like today.
"An ultimate tournament to watch. True learners-Pakistan. They wee runner ups last time and they have done it this time. A great show by Sri Lanka, Ireland and Windies," says Rahul.
It's presentation time ...
"Cricket has won! Again! Hopefully, this will bring better support and bigger things Pakistan's way...which would only mean better cricket in the sub-continent. Congratulations Pakistan, and Shahid Afridi. You've given your fans enough to talk about," says Sam.
Afridi is the Player of the Match, again, and just listen to that ovation as he comes up to receive his award. It's massive. He credits Younis for sending him up in the order and telling him to just play his game. "The guys were really motivated," he says, and it showed.
And the Player of the Tournament is ... Tillakaratne Dilshan! He's been in outstanding form, scoring over 300 runs. It's a crying shame he failed today but such is cricket. It didn't surprise him that Pakistan bounced him today and he says the move to the top of his order has helped his career.
"I'm very proud of my team," says Sangakkara. "I'm proud about their fight, their attitude and I think we're going to be a really good team. It was tough for our bowling unit to keep on defending totals during the tournament, we could have done with 20 runs more. That's (Sri Lanka's) the best bowling unit in the world." Sangakkara signs off by thanking Sri Lanka's fans for their support ...
Pakistan's players go up to get their medals and are roared on by the crowd. Shahid Afridi, says Nasser Hussain. ROAR, goes the crowd ... Kamran Akmal, says Hussain ... you get the drift. The loudest cheer is for Umar Gul, Razzaq gets a loud one as well, he's returned to the Pakistan fold in spectacular fashion.
"It was fantastic, we were underdogs, all credit goes to the team and the nation," says Younis. "A team like us needs a good start and suddenly we got that. I knew if we restricted them to 140-150 it would be chaseable. This is a gift from us to our nation." Well done Pakistan!
Younis goes up to take the trophy from David Morgan and it's a team moment now. There are ribbons and ticker playing all over the place and the Pakistan players are soaking it in.
"Dohl and bangra all over pakistan, lots of people out and having fun," says Hassan. They are singing again at Lord's, "Dil dil Pakistan, jaan jaan Pakistan." The party is going to continue long into the night. The players are doing a lap of honour now. Razzaq's carrying the trophy. They're doing quite a quick lap! Younis has the flag draped over his shoulders and is walking at a more leisurely pace.
That's about it from us at Cricinfo today. Thank you for all your emails right through the tournament, we hope you've enjoyed our coverage of the World Twenty20. On behalf of Will Luke today, and all the other commentators, this is George Binoy signing off. Cheers.
Afridi on strike, how fitting if he hits the winning run.. brace yourself...
Pakistan are two away ... from being the new World Twenty20 champions. Move over India!
The noise is unbelievable, they love it when Pakistan win, they love it more when Afridi's the one winning it for them. Malinga will bowl, can he pull off the impossible? Will Afridi go for glory? What a finish to the tournament ... stay with us.
As a young tyro, he bowled a seismic over to set Pakistan on their way to the T20 World Cup title. Now he's the elder statesman of their bowling pack
When it all came together, thrillingly, dangerously, solidly, for a team, a country, that needed it badly
Shahid Afridi has said the short gap between the two World T20 tournaments has taken the sheen off Pakistan's win
Despite cricket's myriad problems, the ICC managed to stage a near-perfect event - a tournament that was fun but not frivolous
Pakistan's win has brought respite from death and bombs and given a nation the gift of celebration
| Group A | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| IND | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1.227 |
| IRE | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.162 |
| BAN | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -0.996 |
| Group B | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| ENG | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.175 |
| PAK | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.85 |
| NED | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2.025 |
| Group C | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| SL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.626 |
| WI | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.715 |
| AUS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.331 |
| Group D | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| SA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3.275 |
| NZ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.309 |
| SCOT | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -5.281 |
| Group E | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| SA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0.787 |
| WI | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.063 |
| ENG | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.414 |
| IND | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -0.466 |
| Group F | |||||
| Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
| SL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1.267 |
| PAK | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1.185 |
| NZ | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.232 |
| IRE | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.183 |