The sun was shining brightly the whole day but not on the hosts. Pakistan have surprised a lot of people by getting this far and more so the ease with which they demolished England. No Amir? No problem. They gave very little away, not much room for England to smash the bowling around and in the end England's 211 was anything but competitive. Hassan Ali led the way with 3 wickets and the spinners did the containing job well. Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali made the chase look ridiculously easy.
So it will be an all-Asia final. Pakistan will play the winner of the India-Bangladesh game tomorrow. Another India-Pakistan game? If that's the case, let's hope it is competitive for a change. Till tomorrow, it's goodbye!
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Updates:
Hassan Ali is the Man of the Match : "I stuck to my plans. I bowled just like I did against South Africa. I went for 70 runs against India. I credit Azhar Mahmood for helping me improve. Morgan's wicket was the most satisfying. I dedicate this award to my brother who celebrates his birthday tomorrow."
Morgan : We failed to adapt to the conditions. We didn't adjust well with the bat. 250-270 would have been a good score. We knew we would be playing on a used pitch. Three wasn't anything wrong with the pitch. Pakistan played on this pitch previously and that helped them.
Sarfraz : Credit to the bowlers. Rumman bowled well today. We knew that if we could keep them to 220 we can chase. After the India game, credit to the team management. Hassan is an energetic bowler."
How easy was that? Stokes bowls short and Hafeez swivels and pulls him to the long leg boundary to seal the win. One of the more one-sided contests in this tournament. Takes Pakistan to the final, their first since the 2009 World T20.
37 overs - Pakistan 211/2. Target 212
Moeen drops it short and Hafeez rocks back and slaps it wide of cover, looking to get this done with quickly. Another cut and this one is squarer. The win will have to wait another over.
36 overs - Pakistan 202/2. Target 212
A free hit to fast track this chase. Stokes bangs it in short and he is penalised. Hafeez tonks the free hit ball for a six over long-on. I wonder how this would have panned out had it been Anderson and Broad instead of Ball and Wood. Azam shows his class by leaning down and playing an exquisite cover drive. Youngsters I hope you're watching
34 overs - Pakistan 183/2. Target 212
Frustration for Rashid. Hafeez comes down the track, yorks himself and Buttler fluffs a stumping chance. The next ball, Hafeez gives charge again and launches a six just over the rope close to long-off
33 overs - Pakistan 176/2. Target 212
Okay maybe not! Azhar makes room and comes down the track to Ball, not the best idea to a ball that's pitched short, he tries to swat him away to the leg side but gets an inside edge to the leg stump
Azhar b Ball 76
32 overs - Pakistan 173/1. Target 212
Azhar comes down the track to Rashid and plays an inside out shot over cover and it nearly is another boundary. Can Azhar sneak in a hundred?
31 overs - Pakistan 169/1. Target 212
With fielders in catching positions front on the off side, Azam decides to chip down the track and cut it square to the deep. They scamper through for a quick single the following ball
29 overs - Pakistan 163/1. Target 212
Rashid bowls it too short and Azam helps himself to a four to deep midwicket. Morgan's trying some innovative field sets to push for a wicket. For Plunkett there's a short extra cover and short mid-off in catching positions. Azhar drives the final ball down the ground, he moves to the 70s now.
25 overs - Pakistan 149/1. Target 212
Singles coming easily, via sweeps and cuts and drives down the ground. Pakistan need just a further 63 as we reach the halfway stage.
24 overs - Pakistan 138/1. Target 212
Azam uses his feet and goes through with the shot with ease, lofting Rashid for a straight six. Pakistan making this chase look all too easy. Where was all this when they played India?
22 overs - Pakistan 122/1. Target 212
England finally have a breakthrough but is it a bit too late? It's Zaman facing Rashid, he makes room to play an expansive stroke but doesn't pick the googly, Buttler stumps him and Zaman walks
Zaman st Buttler b Rashid 57
21 overs - Pakistan 118/0. Target 212
Rashid gets the ball to turn sharply and beat the outside edge of Azhar Ali's bat. That's the closest England have got to taking a wicket in the last half hour or so. There was an appeal for a stumping - the ball rebounded off Buttler's pad - but Azhar was safe. Then a appeal for a caught behind by Wood to Zaman which was reviewed by England. No bat involved. England trying everything.
18 overs - Pakistan 105/0. Target 212
A single to the off side brings up Pakistan's 100. Zaman makes room to Moeen and lofts him inside out over extra cover. The Fakhar Zaman fan club is growing in numbers I'm sure.
17 overs - Pakistan 99/0. Target 212
Zaman gets his fifty with a gently clip off Rashid to the deep on the leg side, removes his helmet and salutes the crowd. Pakistan are bossing this. Back to back fifties by Zaman
16 overs - Pakistan 95/0. Target 212
Zaman's 50 is not too far away. Plunkett drops it short and he rocks back and pulls in front of square into that massive gap at midwicket.
15 overs - Pakistan 88/0. Target 212
Can spin do the trick for England? Not on early evidence, as Zaman gives the legspinner Rashid the charge and nearly launches it over the rope at long-off. Earlier Zaman made it back at his crease just in time before the throw from fine leg reached the keeper.
14 overs - Pakistan 81/0. Target 212
Pakistan need only 131 with all ten wickets in hand. England need to get all ten, no chance of restricting them.
13 overs - Pakistan 78/0. Target 212
Pakistan all the way so far! Short ball from Stokes is pulled away by Azhar for a six over fine leg, then Azhar slams one away past backward point. He has gone past that shaky start against Wood. England just can't separate these two
12 overs - Pakistan 66/0. Target 212
Double bowling change as Plunkett comes on. It doesn't bring about any magic as he drifts on the pads and is whipped away by Zaman to fine leg. A slick cover drive by Azhar heads for what looks a certain boundary but the fielder does well to slide and cut it off. Good commitment
11 overs - Pakistan 56/0. Target 212
The openers have passed 50. Stokes comes on and drops it short but down leg and Azhar easily pulls him to fine leg
10 overs - Pakistan 49/0. Target 212
Is this Zaman's day? Another short one from Ball and pulled in front of square for a boundary. Then a top edge goes swirling down to fine leg and still lands safely, two fielders converging.
9 overs - Pakistan 42/0. Target 212
The short ball isn't really working for England as of now as Zaman happily pulls Wood safely over square leg.
8 overs - Pakistan 35/0. Target 212
Lovely placement from Azhar as he rocks back and punches Ball wide of point, Bairstow dived but he was nowhere close. England desperate for a wicket to kickstart something.
7 overs - Pakistan 30/0. Target 212
Ouch! Zaman is struck on the side of the helmet as he looks to hook Wood. He's fine. Wood meanwhile continues to tease Azhar outside off. Wood tries to distract him by moving wide of the crease just before delivery and he still beats him.
5 overs - Pakistan 26/0. Target 212
Wood teasing Azhar outside the off stump. The ball skids through and he fends it off. Zaman steals a quick single by dropping the ball on the pitch
4 overs - Pakistan 23/0. Target 212
Quite a brisk start from Pakistan. Zaman comes down the track to Ball and still manages to pull him for a four to deep square leg. What confidence!
3 overs - Pakistan 18/0. Target 212
Ball gets sharp inswing but it drifts far too wide down the leg side so four freebies for Pakistan. Zaman pulls Wood but the ball does not carry to fine leg. Wood nearly gets the outside edge off Azhar
1 over - Pakistan 10/0. Target 212
Zaman gets a short ball from Wood and gets a top edge that goes over the keeper, everyone and lands over the rope. Wood bowls a better bouncer to end the over.
49.5 ov - England 211 all out
Even the free hit is difficult to get away! Good slower ball by Junaid, Ball makes room and misses. Wood hits in the air down the ground and Malik does well to pull it back. Thy try to steal a bye but Sarfraz underarms the ball to the stumps and we have a ruin out to end the innings. So England fail to bat out 50 overs, only just.
Mark Wood run out 3
49 overs: England 207/9
The only boundaries available are through lucky edges, it seems. Plunkett makes room and gets an outside edge wide of Sarfraz. The next ball is pulled and the fielder was there well in front of the rope to take it. This time the ball doesn't evade Azhar after those earlier drops!
Plunkett c Azhar b Raees 9
48 overs: England 201/8
There's an overstep by Hassan but the free hit doesn't ptoduce a boundary either. It's an inside edge and the ball dribbles to fine leg and they scamper two runs, Plunkett had to hurry. Stokes makes room, doesn't read the slower ball and is beaten. The following ball he makes room and gets a top edge and Hafeez takes the skier at cover.
Stokes c Hafeez b Hassan 34
47 overs: England 196/7
Good fielding in the deep, the ball was racing to deep midwicket and the fielders coordinate well for the relay throw. Stokes makes room and hits it hard looking to beat cover but finds the man there. He is frustrated. The next is a bouncer but too high. Just six off the over and the boundaries are just not coming.
46 overs: England 190/7
Hassan bowls and Stokes makes room and drills it to the deep, looks for a second but slips at the crease so just a single. Plunkett gets a full toss but he fails to plonk it. Stokes keeps strike for the next over. Not one bowler so far has bowled out 10 overs. Shows how Sarfraz has rotated his bowlers.
45 overs: England 187/7
Pakistan are not giving much width for the likes of Stokes to free his arms. Raees gets it to swing in sharply and Stokes works it away. Even 225 looks tough from here.
44 overs: England 182/7
England finding various ways to make things worse for themselves! There's an appeal for an lbw to Rashid but the ball rolls to the off side and they try to steal a run, Rashid is struggling to get to the other end and there's a direct hit and he's short of his ground.
43 overs: England 180/6
The sun's out and batting isn't looking easy, thanks to Pakistan. Raees comes round the wicket to Rashid and consistently beats him with the ball moving away. Raees bowls the bouncer to Stokes but is penalised.
42 overs: England 177/6
Shadab brought back. The Pakistan fielders are diving everywhere. Stokes trying to break free. A fumble at the deep costs an extra run
41 overs: England 173/6
Junaid's keeping it tight and not giving much width. He's not afraid to bang it in short - that fetched him his last wicket.
40 overs: England 169/6
Excellent catch in the deep and Moeen has to go! Junaid drops it short, invites the pull there are two fielders in the deep converging and Zaman does well to hang on as the momentume\ was taking him further to his left, it could easily have popped out as he hit the ground but he was guarding the ball for dear life. Can England bat out 50 overs? Rashid walks in
Moeen c Zaman b Junaid 11
38 overs: England 161/5
Moeen giving England some momentum here as he gets on his knee and slogs Hafeez to deep midwicket for a boundary
37 overs: England 155/5
The worry for England is that the bowlers at both ends are in control getting the ball to swing. Stokes tries to force one away but the field is up. Junaid teases him with a slower ball that's banged in short. Then Stokes tries to punch one past mid-off and there's a misfield. The final ball is pulled to deep square
36 overs: England 153/5
Some classic seam bowling on display here as Hassan beats Moeen twice from round the wicket, the ball holds its line and nearly takes the edge. Moeen breaks the shackles with a stylish punch past backward point that beats the diving fielder in the deep
35 overs: England 149/5
The drinks break produces a wicket and Pakistan are delighted! Buttler stays back at the crease to Junaid and gets an outside edge to Sarfraz, the ball straightened. Good ball and England are well and truly struggling here. Junaid gets some inswing to Stokes. Ends the over with a bouncer. Pakistan have a spring in their step
Buttler c Sarfraz b Junaid 4
34 overs: England 148/4
Hassan doesn't have the habit of walking a few steps before starting his run, a bit like Ntini - not making any comparisons here! Looks like he's got loads of energy and he's enjoying his bowling because he's picking up wickets.
33 overs: England 146/4
Morgan throws it away with a soft dismissal and it's that man Hassan Ali again making an impact! Hassan was brought back for a new spell and Morgan gave the charge looking to force it away somewhere on the off side and got a thick outside edge to the keeper. England not doing themselves any favours at the moment.
Morgan c Sarfraz b Hasan 33
31 overs: England 139/3
How did that miss the leg stump? Morgan made room to pull and the ball from Hafeez skidded through and sneaked past leg stump and brushed Sarfraz's glove. Stokes turns the last ball for a single.
Saw a few umbrellas out... to protect from the sun! No need to panic.
30 overs: England 136/3
Trust Morgan to come up with something out of the box. He wasn't able to force Shadab away with the spin as midwicket kept coming in the way, so he plays the reverse sweep instead, knowing that third man was up. The ball comfortably cleared him and ran down to third man
29 overs: England 130/3
Hafeez keeping it tight not giving much room to the left-handers. Will the Root wicket slow down the run rate? Slightly tricky period for England with two attacking players at the crease.
28 overs: England 129/3
No fifty for Root and England lose a wicket at the wrong time! Root tries to cut Shadab but doesn't get the turn he was looking for, thick edge and well taken by Sarfraz, easy one for the umpire. Here's Stokes
Root c Sarfraz b Shadab 46
27 overs: England 127/2
As Root approaches his fifty he gets adventurous with a paddle sweep, no short fine leg but not played fine enough to beat the fielder in the deep
26 overs: England 123/2
Morgan goes for the reverse sweep, the ball lobs off him and first slip runs across and takes the catch, Morgan reviews it immediately after the umpire gives him out. The ball lobbed off his forearm, missed the glove and bat and it was sailing over the stumps so even an lbw is not possible. Morgan stays. He dives the final ball for four wide of cover
25 overs: England 118/2
Hafeez makes the mistake of dropping it too short and Morgan has the time to rock back and pound it through the wide open spaces at deep midwicket. Root knocks the final ball to the deep
24 overs: England 111/2
Shadab Khan to continue with his legspinners. This Pakistan attack has a lot of balance with Hafeez (off spin), Imad (left-arm) to go with Shadab. Three off the over
23 overs: England 108/2
Hasan drags one short and down the leg side and Morgan pulls and the ball sneaks past the diving Sarfraz to the fine leg boundary. 7 off that over.
21 overs: England 96/2
Morgan gives Hasan the charge and looks to smash it down the ground but he's cramped for room. I wonder if England are batting with some target in mind. In these sunny conditions it's easy to get carried away.
18 overs: England 89/2
Steady start for Hafeez just three off his over. Hassan continues, Sarfraz runs over and has a chat with the bowler. Morgan cuts when offered width. Hasan bowls a bouncer to Root and it's one for the over, he still keeps it short to Root who defends high on the bat. Pushes for two to end the over.
17 overs: England 81/2
Bairstow's run of luck ends! Just minutes after he was dropped at slip, he pulls it straight to deep square leg, no trouble this time as the fielder hardly had to move, Hasan Ali gets a wicket straight away. Morgan walks in
Bairstow c Hazeef b Hasan 43
16 overs: England 80/1
The ball's not really sticking in the palms of the Pakistani fielders so far! Bairstow survives, he looks to play a booming cover drive off Shadab and gets a thick outside edge to first slip where Azhar fails to take it above his head, the rebound nearly carries to Hasan at gully who dives but the ball drops well short. Azhar's not had a good morning in the field
13 overs: England 67/1
Shadab Khan drops it short and Root pulls it through midwicket for a four. There was a close call in the first ball when Root got a leading edge that dropped wide of mid-off
11 overs: England 58/1
Some gaps on the off side as Wasim bowls, six singles off the over
10 overs: England 52/1
Dropped! Root survives, he looks to pull Raees in front of square over midwicket, Azhar at short midwicket jumped and tried to take it over his head but could only get a hand to it.
9 overs: England 45/1
Mid-on is pushed back for Wasim, the batsman pushes it down the ground, Wasim is looking to skid the ball in and hence bowling it slightly short, Has Root in a tangle for two consecutive balls and there's a shout for an lbw but it looked sliding down leg
8 overs: England 44/1
It's a sunny morning in Cardiff. Good time to be batting and England will be looking for a big score. Raees neds to be careful not to err in line as he strays on the pads and Root whips it to the square leg boundary
7 overs: England 37/1
We have spin fairly early today as Imad Wasim, the left-armer comes on. Root gives the charge but can't get it past mkidwicket. Wasim drops it short and Root cuts it past point, the fielder dives but can't stop it
6 overs: England 34/1
Raees gets Hales! A soft dismissal as Hales drives on the up and ends up giving catching practice to Babar Azam at cover, Hales made room and came down the track to signal his intentions
Hales c Babar Azam by Raees 13
5 overs: England 29/0
Was shaping up to be a quiet over by Junaid to Bairstow until the last ball which was crashed by Bairstow past cover for four, tje slower ball became a half volley
4 overs: England 24/0
Another appeal for an lbw and the umpire gives him out and this time England review. Hales takes his time, consults Bairstow and then reviews it. A good review since Raees landed this outside leg stump. No inside edge so the only element of doubt was where it pitched.
England 20/0 after 3 overs (A Hales 6 off 7 | J Bairstow 14 off 11)
Bairstow is off. Junaid Khan trundles in (he does trundle, doesn't he?) and his angle feeds Bairstow's favourite area, his legs. He tucks the first four away square and the next is punched through Mid-wicket.
England 7/0 after 2 overs (A Hales 5 off 6 | J Bairstow 2 off 6)
Debutant pacer Rumman Raees into the attack now. Is Pakistan's left-arm pace conveyor belt in perpetual motion?
Decent over to start, as England get a hang of the youngster.
England 5/0 after 1 over (A Hales 4 off 3 | J Bairstow 1 off 3)
Well, Pakistan are wasting no time in getting first use of this wicket — Junaid Khan reviews in a big appeal for LBW second ball, but umpire's call stands even though it pitched in line and was headed for the off-stump bail. The Umpire's Call has got to be more unpopular than a Siren's. But Hales stamps himself with a creamy off-drive through Mid-off off the last ball. Majestic.
Toss and pitch
Pakistan gets it right with the coin, and will bowl . But they are without the vicious Mohammad Amir, who has a bum back. He will be replaced by debutant Rumman Raeees.
For England, Jonny Bairstow replaces Jason Roy.
The wicket at Cardiff will be as treacherous for the batsmen as it was on Pakistan's Monday clash with Sri Lanka.
Teams
England: 1 Alex Hales, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Liam Plunkett, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jake Ball.
Pakistan: 1 Azhar Ali, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Rumman Raees, 9 Shadab Khan, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Junaid Khan.
