As it happened - Pakistan vs Scotland, Men's T20 World Cup, Super 12s

Five wins, five different Player of the Match awards for Pakistan. And none for Babar Azam. Truly a team performance to make the semis.

And on that note, it is time to say goodbye. We also say goodbye to Scotland. And, also, goodbye to the Sharjah venue for the T20 World Cup. No more games here now as the competition moves to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the last four games. See you tomorrow for more T20 World Cup action. Chin up, Scotland...congratulations, Pakistan! Well done to both of you.

Kyle Coetzer: "We've had a fantastic group. Playing in UAE conditions are challenging and different. But we are looking forward to Australia and the next World Cup. It's been a great experience for us and for associate teams it's been a great tournament - Namibia too."

Babar Azam: "I think one thing that has helped us is that we have played combined cricket, we have played as a unit. Our plan today was to score runs. Although we couldn't utilise the powerplay, the way Hafeez bhai and I batted, and how Shoaib bhai finished.... the experience he showed, he showed why he is so revered. The way we are playing, we will look to take this momentum into the semi-final and give our 100%. Dubai is one of the best stadiums. The way fans support us there, and today, it is enjoyable. The cheers from the fans make us even more confidence."

So the itinerary is done and decided.

Only one Asian side in the final four, and that's Pakistan. Its Pakistan v Australia on November 11 in Dubai, but that will be the second semi-final. When they face off, they will already know who their opponents in the final would be: England v New Zealand - a redux of the 2019 ODI World Cup final - on November 10 in Abu Dhabi.

But before we sign off, here's a recap of the key stats from this game. Azam (264 runs) is now four ahead of Jos Buttler on the tally for most runs in the competition. And earlier today, Mohammad Rizwan went past Chris Gayle to take the record for most runs in a calendar year for T20 runs. Click here for Babar's record. Click here for Rizzy's record.

But wait... there's more! Azam just keeps on racking up the records. Here are a few more from today: Azam's fifty today was his 19th T20 fifty in 2021, going past Virat Kohli's record of 18. The half-century also tied him with Matthew Hayden (his Pakistan batting coach) and Kohli for 4 fifties in a single World T20 competition. Rest assured he will be looking to smash that in the first semi.

Played five. Won five. Ten points.

The only team to have a 100% win record, Pakistan have now made the semi-finals after another rollicking victory. This time the margin is 73 runs, and it would've been more if it wasn't for Richie Berrington's half-century.

Berrington was the only batter who looked to get on top of the Pakistan bowlers. No other Scotland batter had a strike-rate of more than 100.

If 190 on the board didn't make Pakistan massive favourites to clinch the game, strangling Scotland to 41 for 34 after 10.3 overs surely meant that Cricinfo's predictor gave Scotland a 1% chance of victory. Another team effort with the ball. Although Imad did not take a wicket, he conceded only 17 in his four. Shaheen 1/24, Rauf 1/27, Hasan 1/33 and Shadab 2 for 14 in his four.

Shoaib Malik is the Player of the Match for his 18-ball 54: "As we have seen previously, if you don't lose early wickets you can put up a good total. I had that in my mind. Was talking in dressing room to reach 150 without losing early wickets. If you're playing on a good strip, the goal is to take a couple of balls and start playing. But on these tracks, if you take 6-8 balls, you can assess better and then play the game. I told myself I will get in and then maximise my runs. You take all the confidence from a win. For myself, I'm in good form. Want to be more consistent. Overall, still fit enough. Feel fit, and yes, its going to be a big game next."

Something for Scotland to enjoy.

Berrington, their big-hitting allrounder has not backed away from a fight. He's struck a boundary off every bowler he has faced this evening, and his reward is the half-century he has got against a top bowling attack. Although scotland are at 108 for 5 after 18 overs, his performance has brought a smile or two out of the Scottish fans over here. Berrington's fifty was his second of the competition for Scotland, no other batter from their side has made a half-century.

Its been a strangle from Pakistan's bowlers after the first three overs. The next seven have brought just 22 runs with two wickets back in the hut.

It has been spin that has done most of the good work. Imad Wasim was quick to bowl out inside ten overs - with 1/17 while Shadab Khan has conceded just six runs in his two overs.

But was there a missed opportunity? Should Pakistan have bowled Imad in the back 10, perhaps, as a way to test his potential in that period of play? We all know how tidy Imad is in the powerplay, and in the first ten overs if you have to extend it.

Meanwhile, for Scotland, this is another disappointing batting performance so far. Kyle Coetzer, who can be extremely explosive, ended his campaign with another single-digit score culminating in a forgettable tournament. George Munsey struggled for 31 balls, mis-hitting shots and getting leading edges.

And as I type this, Munsey slices a shot to short third man. Out for a 31-ball 17, and Shadab gets on the wicket tally first ball after the drinks break.

The first three overs of the powerplay made it look like Scotland were going to go hard at the target. But after making 19 in the first three, the runs have dried up. Imad Wasim concedes 1 off the fourth, Haris Rauf concedes three, and then Hasan Ali sees off the powerplay with a wicket maiden including Kyle Coetzer's wicket.

Pakistan's two most experienced batters - one who made his international debut in 1999 and the other in 2003 - have put on a show here. Hafeez lit the early fire to smack 31 in 19 balls, going with controlled aggression, and after that Malik has made this crowd come alive in the final few overs. Hits his sixth six in 18 balls to reach his fifty in just 18 balls, and there's no better way to end a T20 innings. Asif Ali hugs him, the crowd rejoices, and even Sania Mirza is standing up to applaud his effort in the VIP area. 77 off the final five - a thrilling end to an innings that was otherwise sedate. 26 off the last six.

Malik's 18-ball fifty, at a strike-rate of 300, is tied 1st on the list of fastest 50s in this competition. KL Rahul was the other one to get an 18-ball fifty.

Hafeez: "We wanted to get 175, the momentum was there. Nicely finished by Malik"

Nothing to see here. Babar's rate of scoring fifties for Pakistan is astonishing. Fourth time in five T20 World Cup games that he has ticked past fifty.

Although it hasn't been his fastest fifty, he has picked the pace up in his last 10 balls. After sixteen overs, Pakistan are 124/3 after 16 overs, having just lost Mohammad Hafeez after a 19-ball cameo of 31.

With four overs to go, and plenty of wickets in hand, can Pakistan breach 180?

Tell us!

A few mistimed slogs. A few shots where he couldn't get under the ball. And eventually Fakhar is out for a 13-ball 8 that saw no boundaries.

Is that somewhat of a worry for Pakistan, entering the knockouts? At drinks, Pakistan are 59 for 2 in 9.4 overs.

Hafeez now in the middle.

Rizwan falls after a struggle, making 15 in 19 balls, and dismissed caught behind off Tahir. Rizwan had a slow start against Namibia too, but then managed to change gears after the tenth over to score an unbeaten 79. Not to be today.

That means Fakhar Zaman is in early. He's scored under 50 runs in three innings so far in the competition - no better time than today to get a solid score.

Pakistan, meanwhile, are going at less than six an over with the end of the eighth over approaching. Babar operating at a strike-rate of 100.

What a terrific year it has been for Mohammad Rizwan. He has just gone past Chris Gayle's 2015 record of most T20 runs in a calendar year! Over 1666 runs, and still counting. This link has the list of top run-getters in a calendar year - and there are some big names in there.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's start has been sedate. Rizwan looked a tad aggressive in the first over against Tahir's spin, but could get just one from the opening over. Brad Wheal conceded six, and Safyaan Sharif has started the third over strong. Pakistan 14/0 in three

Speaking of Safyaan Sharif, before the game, he told us in an interview that getting Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan out would be a 'massive achievement.' He's got Pakistani background and trained at the same Faisalabad club as Saeed Ajmal as a teenager. Click here to read the interview.

Teams unchanged through league/group phases in a men's ICC event: (Min: 4 matches)

Netherlands in 2014 T20 World Cup (7 matches)
Pakistan in 2021 T20 World Cup (5 matches)
West Indies in 2014 T20 World Cup (4 matches)
India in 2016 T20 World Cup (4 matches)

Babar Azam has won the toss. And they will complete the group stage unchanged. Captain says he wants to put runs on the board and apply scoreboard pressure.

But Scotland have given two other players a hit out today. Budge and Tahir are in for MacLeod and Evans.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Scotland: George Munsey, Kyle Coetzer, Matthew Cross, Richie Berrington, Dylan Budge, Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Hamza Tahir, Safyaan Sharif, Brad Wheal

We had a crack at this question in their game against Namibia, discussing whether different batting combinations or bowling choices may help them test their bench strength.

But all they did in that game was bat first, and (successfully) test their skills defending a total. They did not play a different XI than their first three games with Babar Azam saying that it was the first time they were playing in Abu Dhabi and so wanted their first-choice players get acclimatised. The team has now moved to Sharjah for this Scotland fixture - so you'd think if a few batters could get switched around? Or maybe a rest for a bowler? My spidey sense feels Babar will field another team with no changes - with the risk of "losing rhythm" a concern since Pakistan's last game was on November 2. An eight-day gap for a key player between games (the semis are on Nov 10 and 11) may not be a tempting proposition for the Pakistan camp.

Anyway, 20 minutes to the toss. The few kinks they would want to iron out, irrespective of the team's excellent run here, is Fakhar Zaman getting some runs, who has crossed 11 only once this competition. But he enjoys batting at Sharjah - a strike-rate of 150+ in his last five T20s at this ground. More here in Umar Farooq's Preview.