NOTTINGHAM: Shahid Afridi hit 51 off 34 balls as Pakistan made a challenging 149-4 in the World Twenty20 semi-final against South Africa at Trent Bridge here on Thursday.The hard-hitting batsman smashed eight boundaries, counting four in succession off Johan Botha, after Pakistan chosen to bat on a wicket expected to assist spinners later.Pakistan, who was 120-3 after 15 overs, failed to build on the early advantage and managed just 29 runs in the final five overs. South Africa, unbeaten in the tournament so far, regrouped after Afridi's assault and did not concede a boundary after 14.4 overs.Pakistan captain Younus Khan returned unbeaten on 24, while Abdur Razzaq was on 12."It's not an easy wicket to bat on, the ball is not coming onto the bat," said Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik."Our bowlers will use their variations and that will help them."South Africa's JP Duminy praised his team's bowlers who limited Pakistan to just 29 runs in the last five overs."Shahid Afridi played really well and hit the ball nicely," said Duminy."But it was a great fightback by us in the last five overs. The bowlers did really well and were judgment the block holes."Pakistan made a frenetic start, racing to 28 off the first 15 deliveries but at the cost of two wickets.After Kamran Akmal had taken eight runs in Dale Steyn's first over, Shahzaib Hasan fell in the second over for zero when he miscued a big hit off left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell.Akmal struck a six in Steyn's second over, but fell off the next delivery as he top-edged a pull to Albie Morkel at mid-on. Akmal made 23 from 12 balls with four boundaries and a six.Afridi, promoted to number three, swung Jacques Kallis for two fours in one over as Pakistan reached 47-2 by the time the field restrictions ended after the sixth.Afridi brought up his half-century off 33 deliveries after slamming off-spinner Botha for four consecutive boundaries in the 11th over that realised 18 runs.A desperate South African captain Graeme Smith turned to slow bowler Jean-Paul Duminy in the 13th over and struck gold first ball as Afridi holed out to mid-wicket.Shoaib Malik, who faced 39 balls to make 34, also returned playing a lofted shot as Botha took a well-judged catch at long-on off left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe.
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