DUBAI (Reuters): Pakistan put one foot in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup on Friday with a nervy five-wicket victory against Afghanistan in the Super 12 stage of the tournament.

The 2009 champions restricted Afghanistan to a modest 147-6 in a match between the top two teams in Group II at Dubai International Stadium.

When they came out to bat, skipper Babar Azam made a fluent 51 but it was Asif Ali’s blistering 25 off seven balls that sealed their tense victory with six balls to spare.

Having beaten India and New Zealand in their first two matches, Pakistan are effectively in the last four with clashes against minnows Namibia and Scotland remaining.

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