Pakistan wins ICC World Twenty20 2009

Pakistan won the ICC World Twenty20 2009 with an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at Lord's on Sunday.

Man-of-the-Match Shahid Afridi made an unbeaten 54 as Pakistan made 139-2 to overhaul Sri Lanka's total. Kamran Akmal added 37 as he put on 48 for the first wicket with Shahzaib Hasan.

Sri Lanka's failure to take early wickets proved crucial as Afridi and Shoaib Malik (24) clinched victory with eight balls to spare.

Earlier, Sri Lanka, led by captain Kumar Sangakkara, had recovered to reach 138-6 after Abdul Razzaq had ripped through its top order to take 3-20.
Sangakkara anchored the innings, top-scoring with an unbeaten 64 as a succession of batting partners came and went until Angelo Mathews (35 not out) arrived at the crease and helped steer the pre-match favorites to a defendable, but ultimately inadequate total.

Pakistan made a sluggish start to the run chase and nearly lost Hasan in the fourth over when Mathews was inches away from taking a spectacular diving catch.

It was 39-0 after the powerplay and Akmal accelerated the innings in the next over, hitting Mathews for six over square leg.