Cricket: Black caps beat Pakistan to reach semis [+pictures]

Stephen Fleming (left) and Shane Bond celebrate. Picture / Reuters

Skipper Stephen Fleming and Scott Styris struck fifties to steer former winners New Zealand into the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy with a 51-run victory over Pakistan this morning.

Styris braved back trouble to top-score with 86 and in-form Fleming stroked 80 as the Kiwis reached 274 for seven after being asked to bat first by rival captain Younis Khan.

Strike bowler Shane Bond then led their pace attack with three wickets for 45 as Pakistan were all out for 223 in 46.3 overs despite Mohammad Yousuf (71) and Shoaib Malik (52) rallying them from 83 for four.

The 2000 champions ended with two wins and a loss in Group B.

Pakistan and South Africa -- both have a win and defeat -- clash in Mohali on Friday night NZ time with the victor taking the second last-four berth. Sri Lanka have been eliminated after a lone win.

Fleming produced another captain's effort with his second fifty of the tournament on his record 194th cap as one-day skipper to walk away with the man-of-the-match award.

He added 108 runs for the fourth wicket with Styris to revive the innings from 60 for three on a good batting pitch.

The left-handed batsman surpassed Sri Lankan Arjuna Ranatunga's record as captain for most one-dayers.

He was caught and bowled by off spinner Shoaib Malik to end a 105-ball knock studded with eight fours and a six.

Styris, 31, sidelined for the opening game due to the back problem, was almost run out on 16 after a mix-up but wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal failed to throw down the stumps from close.

He went on to add 52 runs for the fifth wicket with Jacob Oram (31) and 34 for the next with Brendan McCullum, who made 27 off 13 balls as 99 runs came in the last 10 overs.

The Black Caps pacemen reduced Pakistan to 83 for four on a bouncy pitch affording seam movement after two games on the under-prepared Brabourne stadium track in Mumbai.

Bond dismissed opener Imran Farhat (6) after he was dropped on two by Fleming at first slip. Kyle Mills had skipper Younis Khan (2) caught at point.

Oram then dismissed both opener Mohammad Hafeez (43) and the dangerous Shahid Afridi (4), who top-edged a pull to backward square leg.

Yousuf and Malik added 94 runs for the fifth wicket before Bond returned to have Yousuf caught at cover.

Mills and Oram claimed two wickets apiece.

Pakistan needed 83 off the last 10 overs and their hopes were dashed when Malik holed out left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori to deep mid-off to make it to 202 for seven.

- REUTERS