Afridi guides Pakistan to T20 title

Date released: 21 June 2009

Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the men's ICC World Twenty20 Final at Lord's. Follow every ball live with Lords.org.

^{Following the game with Lords.org? Email us your questions, comments & opinions: Live@Lords.org}

6:34pm Streamers fly and fireworks go off again at Lord's - this time it's the men's ICC World T20 trophy and the winners are Pakistan.

Pakistan captain Younus Khan lifts the trophy at Lord's

Both captains being suitably deferential of their own roles for their teams. Sangakkara for Sri Lanka saying: "I couldn't ask for a better team to lead or play with." and commenting on the unorthodox methods of many of his players: "Many of them slip through the cracks of formal coaching, playing tennis ball and beach cricket. We just find them and let them play along their own lines." - and how. The likes of Dilshan, Murali and Malinga - can you coach that?

Victorious captain Younus Khan also heaping praise on his own team. As they perform a lap of honour, heading mostly for the massed ranks of Pakistan fans in the Mound and Edrich Stands. Khan said of Afridi: "He knows he's a match winner for us. We need him in one-day cricket and he did it for us."

Fans on the pitch - some great steward scuffles but a lot of Pakistan fans really enjoying themselves. Not that we'd condone pitch invasions but you can understand their enthusiasm.

6:19pm Thank you all for following the tournament with Lords.org - you've been here in your thousands and we really appreciate it. All your emails (we read every one) - thank you.

Join us again soon - the next Live@Lords.org coverage? The Ashes...

6:18pm The player of the tournament is announced: it's TM Dilshan. No great surprise, his run-scoring was stupendous, if not today. Afridi gets the consolation of the man-of-the-match... that and the fact his team are the champions!

Lots of banners held up by the Pakistan fans - most taunting their arch-rivals India. My favourite: "Pakistan Champz - it's a boom-boom thing - where R U India?" held up in the Mound Stand here at Lord's.

6:10pm Afridi has to be a good shout for player of the tournament. All those runs, and vital runs - plus 11 wickets to his name. Really, very well played.

The team have got hold of a Pakistan flag and they're all delighted - they pause their celebrations to congratulate Sri Lanka on a well-played final. The Spirit of Cricket in action. Play hard, play fair.

Pakistan win the ICC World Twenty20

Afridi celebrates in characteristically flamboyany style 6:08pm Great celebration by Afridi, the crowd loved that. Just helmet off, arms held over his head as Malik ran to embrace him.

6:03pm 19th over: Just seven runs needed. We'd best go ball-by-ball - this could be it. Malinga to bowl it.

1st ball: One more to Afridi. Six needed.
2nd ball: Off his legs, wide of the 'keeper and four for Malik!
3rd ball: A single for Malik. The chance for Afridi to hit the winning run?
4th ball: There it is! A scrambled single. Afridi, helmet off just stands there, arms aloft!

Pakistan win by 8 wickets

5:53pm 18th over: Isuru Udana Thilakaratne will bowl this over. If Sri Lanka can keep this tight it could be close! Seven from the over. That single bringing up the 50 partnership. 26 needed from 18 balls.

Wow - that's a massive six. Perhaps not out of the ground but in terms of the match, the final. What a time to play that shot. A great shot from Afridi.

The all-rounder brings up his half-century with a smart four. Pakistan fans on their feet to applaud his efforts from just 37 balls, great batting.

5:47pm 17th over: 36 needed - 30 balls to get them. Lasith Malinga returns to the attack for Sri Lanka. A good over from Malinga just three runs from it.

5:44pm 16th over: Ajantha Mendis now at the Nursery End - Sri Lanka looking for another wicket ideally - they need to disrupt this partnership.

Scrambled singles bring up the 100 for Pakistan - from 89 deliveries.

5:40pm 15th over: Run-rate-required is exactly 8-an-over now. Pakistan still in control but they could do with upping the run-rate a bit. Eight from that last over is a bit more like it.

Muttiah Muralitharan swaps over with Jayasuriya again and first ball Afridi absoloutely clobbers him for six! A massive shot!

Four more from the next ball and the Pakistan fans are bouncing! Ten from this over already and Pakistan are making that required run-rate look easy. 14 runs from that over.

5:35pm 14th over: Pakistan need 64 more runs to win. Isuru Udana Thilakaratne back at the Nursery End. Just singles and twos from it.

5:32pm 13th over: The required rate is creeping up, nearing 8-an-over. They're not taking wickets Sri Lanka but they're slowing the scoring rate.

Sanath Jayasuriya returns at the Pavilion End.

5:27pm 12th over: Lasith Malinga returns - number 99 bowling his zippy, slingy pace from the Nursery End.

Malinga finding some real venom - a couple bouncing up around Afridi's chin.

5:26pm 11th over: Sri Lanka hanging on in there. Pakistan are still on top but every time they look set to take the match away from Sri Lanka, they fight back with a well-timed wicket.

5:22pm 10th over: Muttiah Muralitharan replaces Jayasuriya at the Pavilion End as Sri Lanka chop and change, desperate to breakthrough.

Another veteran takes a wicket early in the over. Murali tempts Hasan who just loops it to Jayasuriya. A bit needless that from Hasan when he looked well set.

Pakistan 63-2 - Hasan - c. Jayasuriya b. Muralitharan - 19

5:16pm 9th over: Spinner Ajantha Mendis swaps ends - he'll bowl at the Nursery End this time.

He beats Hasan with the flight and Sangakkara thinks he's stumped him - was his foot off the ground when he removed the bails? We go to the TV umpire... "not out" the verdict.

Hasan makes the most of a reprive again - hitting the next ball for four - again. Straight down the ground.

Next ball and he's done it again - down towards the Mound Stand this time and the Pakistan fans there cheer the ball all the way to the boundary.

5:13pm 8th over: Another bowling change, Sanath Jayasuriya comes on to bowl at the Pavilion End.

And the veteran's done the trick. He tempts Akmal down the wicket and he's stumped.

Pakistan 48-1 - Akmal - st. Sangakkara b. Jayasuriya - 37

5:07pm 7th over: 100 more runs needed, exactly - for Pakistan to win.

Angelo Mathews returns at the Nursery End. A momentary delay mid-over as Hasan re-ties his shoelace.

And another massive six for Akmal. Dropping to one knee he just flicks Mathews all the way into the Grand Stand. Wonderful shot.

5:03pm 6th over: Ajantha Mendis, the fourth and final 12-wicket man, comes on to bowl at the Pavilion End.

Akmal takes a few balls to size him up and then absolutely cracks him into the stand - jubiliant Pakistan fans cheering that. Six.

5:01pm 5th over: Muttiah Muralitharan comes on to replace Malinga.

Ones and twos but these two batsmen looking untroubled so far.

4:54pm 4th over: A small balloon appears over the back of the Mound Stand. Tamil protestors in St. John's Wood Road it would seem. The balloon has writing on it reading: "Yesterday Zimbabwe - today Sri Lanka."

Back on the pitch Mathews almost pulls off his second bit of jaw-dropping fielding in the tournament - a diving attempt which just evades his outstretched fingers.

Hasan makes the most of his reprieve driving the next ball down the ground for four runs. Good shot.

Akmal launches that one, the last ball of the over. Looks like it was going for six but just too much loft on it and it bounces just short of the rope. Four.

4:49pm 3rd over: Here comes Lasith Malinga in an early bowling change. He's the third man coming into this match with 12 wickets to his name. Umar Gul ended with 13 and currently is the competition's leading wicket-taker.

Malinga already topping 90mph. Then, with the last ball he winds it back to 75mph - that devilish slower ball he utilises so well. Hasan blocks it out - just.

4:44pm 2nd over: Isuru Udana Thilakaratne bowling from the Pavilion End. Just three from that over a little more encouraging for Sri Lanka.

4:40pm 1st over: Angelo Mathews gets the Pakistan innings started as he bowls from the Nursery End.

Akmal gets things underway for Pakistan with a drive for four from the third ball. Hmm... this reminds me of the way England Women started their reply just a few hours ago. They ended up lifting the trophy.

Eight from the first over - that four plus two 2s.

4:38pm Sri Lanka on the field and Sangakkara conducting a team-talk in an on-field huddle. After their skipper bailed them out of a hole, his team owe him a performance. With just 138 runs to defend it will need to be a good one.

4:34pm Fancy yourself as a headline writer? What will tomorrow’s back pages say? "Razzaq attack!" or "Master's Murali & Malinga" Live@Lords.org - the cheesier your puns the more we like them!

4:29pm Well, after that wicket-clattering start that's not a bad total for Sri Lanka. With their bowling attack I'd fancy them to defend most totals but Pakistan have given themselves a real chance in this match with that bowling and fielding display.

Sri Lanka close on 138-6

4:23pm 20th over: Sri Lanka on 121-6 heading into this final over of the innings.

Mohammad Aamir will bowl this last over. First ball goes high, high into the air over Lord's. Younus was scrambling but didn't quite make it - it drops safe. They run two.

Next ball and Mathews crashes it through the covers for four. Great shot, he's warming to the task nicely.

A catch... but in the Grand Stand! An absolutely mighty shot from Mathews and it goes all the way for six! The Grand Stand celebrate accordingly.

4:19pm 19th over: Penultimate over - can Sri Lanka post a decent, defendable total? Mathews is giving it a dash now - barely any foot movement just waiting for that one from Gul and cracking it for four.

A single from Sangakkara brings up another 50 landmark - the partnership this time.

Mathews' straight drive hitting Sangakkara, Gul and then trickling to a halt that time.

4:15pm 18th over: The Sri Lanka captain finds the rope again, fishing a ball from Ajmal out from around his pads for four this time.

Mathews is inspired by his captain, smacking that one back down the ground almost perfectly straight - it narrowly missed his team-mates stumps!

4:08pm 17th over: Sangakkara lofts that one just over the leaping Hasan at mid-wicket for the first four in a long while. It also brings up his half-century - well played.

Mathews darts a quick two and looks like he hurt his leg in that final sprint. That could be problematic - Sri Lanka will need his bowling skills soon. He seems to be ok - he's batting on.

Slightly less zip as the fielders have to change over and over for the left and right handed batsmen scoring singles. It is a sunny, hot day out there.

No need to run for that one - Sangakkara clips that one for four, bringing up the Sri Lanka 100.

4:04pm 16th over: Five overs left and a quick drink and pep talk for the batsmen. At 79-6 for they're in a tricky position. They need to up their scoring rate, but with just four wickets in hand they cannot take excessive risks.

Good running like that will help - two for Sangakkara. A succession of well-run twos, putting pressure on the fielders. Good cricket.

3:59pm 15th over: Gul switches ends - he replaces Afridi at the Pavilion End. The Lord's slope should help him move the ball away from the left-handed Sangakkara.

3:55pm 14th over: Saeed Ajmal replaces Gul at the Nursery End. He's on 12 for the tournament... so far. A succession of singles from the over, four of them.

3:52pm 13th over: Afridi's appealing - but the bails are off! He bowled him! Udana's gone.

Sri Lanka 70-6 - Udana - b. Afridi - 1

Gul on 13 for the tournament, Afridi on 11 now. Pakistan's bowlers staking their claim to be the tournament's leading wicket taker.

3:45pm 12th over: Here comes Umar Gul, on at the Nursery End. James Anderson will tell him that Lord's is a good ground for reverse swing. If Gul can find it, expect another flurry of wickets.

He won't find it there - that's a wide. Next ball, he gets it clean through Silva to "Ooohs" from the crowd.

And there's his reward! That one darted up at Silva's ribcage who moved back and hooked at it, straight to Ajmal.

Sri Lanka 67-5 - Silva - c. Ajmal b. Gul - 14

Poor Udana, it's like he's in another time zone. By the time he plays his shot most of Gul's deliveries are past him.

3:41pm 11th over: Afridi wants Silva LBW - he struck him on the boot it looked like. The appeal goes on as the batsmen run a bye.

Sangakkara rubs salt in the wound, driving that one away for four. Good shot by the left-hander and captain.

Four more as Sangakkara shows off his repetoire, nicking that one around his legs and past the wicketkeeper.

11 from the over - the most expensive so far.

3:38pm 10th over: Shoaib Malik comes on at the Nursery End - in another Pakistan bowling change.

Silva reaches forwards, drops to one knee and swats that one away square - beating the diving fielder on the boundary - for four runs.

3:36pm 9th over: Sri Lanka's run-rate is still decent (5.3 per over). If they can nudge that up a little they could reach a defendable target. Proving they don't run out of wickets first...

Just singles from the over.

3:29pm 8th over: Another bowling change, Saeed Ajmal replaces the unreplacable Razzaq. Ajmal is another man with 12 tournament wickets to his name already.

Ajmal beats Silva with flight and turn and Akmal has the bails off - but Silva was still in his crease.

No reward for "nearly" for Ajmal, as Silva nicks him for four from the very next ball. It beats the 'keeper and runs to the rope.

Man of the moment: Abdul Razzaq celebrates another wicket 3:29pm 7th over: Shahid Afridi comes on at the Pavilion End. Ten wickets in the tournament already. Pakistan still have Umar Gul (12 wickets) to come too! Sri Lanka are wobbling on the brink of collapse.

3:23pm 6th over: Another one down! This is the stuff of dreams for Pakistan. No, they cannot even have dreamed it'd start this well.

Jayawarane edges and Misbah-ul-Haq takes the catch at slip.

Sri Lanka 32-4 - Jayawardane c. Ul-Haq b. Razzaq - 1

3-17 for Abdul Razzaq. And to think, he was only called up after Yasir Arafat went home injured.

3:19pm 5th over: Pakistan sprinting to their positions, they, like their fans are "pumped" by this start. Not many teams recover from losing three wickets so early. Sri Lanka need something special and soon.

Comparing this to the start Pakistan made the last time these teams met they couldn't be more different. Sohail Tanveer bowled the first over that day - it was 11 deliveries long and cost 18 runs after a succession of wides and no balls.

Just singles from that over - Sri Lanka will be happy with that. They just need to take the wind out of Pakistan's sails for a bit.

3:14pm 4th over: Wow - that was dismissive by Jayasuriya. He just waited for that first ball of the over and simply hoisted it all the way over the rope to the Mound Stand.

Four more makes ten from the first two balls. Impressive batting, that one was deft rather than the power for the six.

Gone! Razzaq put so much extra effort in to that delivery he ended up flat on his face on the pitch - but he looks up to see Jayasuriya's bails flying!

Sri Lanka 26-3 - Jayasuriya - b. Razzaq - 17

3:10pm 3rd over: Dilshan's now got two noughts at Lord's in this tournament. His only other duck here? Against Ireland. After he topped the run-scoring charts that was noted as an anomaly but Pakistan came at him with a clear game-plan. Successive short deliveries eventually undid him.

Sangakkara finds the rope now. If ever Sri Lanka needed an innings from their captain it's now. Nerves jangling in the final as it is will have been made only worse by that terrible start.

Great shot. Sangakkara off his hips and threading the ball through the field expertly for four more. Sri Lanka fans flag-waving and looking far happier.

3:05pm 2nd over: Well, well, well. It looks like Pakistan are more than up for this. Hassan was mobbed after taking what was, in the end, quite a straightforward catch.

Dilshan "back in the hutch" is a real bonus. Abdul Razzaq bowls this over. Calamity for Sri Lanka! Mubarak's gone for a duck after facing just two balls.

Sri Lanka 2-2 - Mubarak - c. Hassan b. Razzaq - 0

Sri Lanka 2-2... in two overs. An astonishing start from Pakistan. Jayasuriya whips away the last ball of the over for the first four of the innings - something for the Sri Lanka fans to cheer - at last.

3pm 1st over: Mohammad Aamir will open the bowling at the Pavilion End. Here we go...

A snorting bouncer first ball! Dilshan ducks/sways out of the way and loud cheers from the Pakistan fans. There was no Dilshan 'scoop shot' on that one!

2:58pm Anthems complete Sri Lanka head to their dugout, the Pakistan team jog out to their fielding places, bowlers marking out run ups.

The Pakistan bowlers are going to need to be on the top of their game to try and tie down this, so far, irrespressible Sri Lanka batting line-up.

Real bounce for Aamir - bat, glove even a bit of grill on that one as Dilshan tries to swat it away but gets caught up in his crease.

What a start from Aamir! Dilshan is out! The tournament's leading run-scorer! He tried to play at that short one and just clipped a catch to Hassan at backward short leg.

Sri Lanka 0-1 - Dilshan - c. Hassan b. Aamir - 0

A wicket maiden for Aamir - brilliant start.

2:54pm Younus Khan leads Pakistan onto the field, closely followed by Sangakkara and the Sri Lanka team. Loud applause and cheers greet both teams.

2:51pm Glorious weather for cricket here at Lord's. Warm, dry, a little bit of sun and a gentle breeze - just enough to disturb the Sri Lanka flag stirring above their dressing room in the famous Lord's Pavilion.

The ground is almost full - the Pavilion looking the busiest it has during the tournament and the other Members' stands: the Warner Stand especially - looks full to bursting.

Still a scattering of empty seats in places - perhaps tickets bought by expectant India, South Africa (or England?) fans who couldn't bring themselves to watch after their team was knocked out?

2:45pm The 'ball boys' (and girls) are lined up waiting for the teams, the Sky TV camera man looks poised by the Pavilion steps. We're minutes away. Brace yourselves.

Anthems first then we're underway with the Men's ICC World Twenty20 Final. You won't miss a single piece of the key action with Lords.org.

2:41pm Pakistan are quite different from the team Sri Lanka beat here, two changes for them from that match they leave out Butt and Tanvir for Hasan and Razzaq.

Sri Lanka are just one player different, Kulasekera is left out for Isuru Udana Thilakaratne.

2:39pm Lord's is absolutely buzzing. The stands are a rainbow of blues and greens - more green for Pakistan fans it would seem but both teams will get a lot of support from a sold-out Home of Cricket.

2:32pm Team news: Pakistan: Akmal; Hasan; Malik; Khan; Ul-Haq; Afridi; Razzaq; Alam; Gul; Amir and Ajmal.

Sri Lanka: Sangakkara; Jayasuriya; Dilshan; Jaywardane; Mubarak; Silva; Mathews; Malinga; Muralitharan; Thilakaratne and Mendis.

2:31pm Toss news Younus Khan tosses the coin but it's Kumar Sangakkara who makes the right call.

He's elected to bat first. Of the seven matches here in the tournament so far the winning team has batted first on five occasions. Good odds.

2:27pm Captain's on the field, toss and team news soon.

2:15pm Still got nervous energy to burn before the final? Check out our newly revamped online shop: www.shopatlords.com.

Not only great new ranges and website functionality (zoom in and examine products in detail) - but for you, our loyal Lords.org readers a special offer.

Enter the discount code "LIVE" when you reach the checkout and we'll deliver whatever you purchase for free - just to say "thanks" for following the match with Lords.org.

2pm Another lap of honour at Lord's - it's the ICC volunteers getting the plaudits now. They've helped everywhere from selling tickets to up here in the Investec Media Centre. Well done everyone and thank you.

1:41pm We're still just under an hour and half from the start of the match (at 3pm). But we'll have all the team news and the result of the toss as it happens here at Lord's.

Sri Lanka start as strong favourites today (they beat Pakistan here in the Super Eight stage) but, even though it's a cliché: "It's a final, the form book goes out of the window."

Sorry. Send us your sporting clichés for this match. "A game of two halves" anyone?

Send us your emails - Live@Lords.org

1:38pm The first game today was a cracker and a great result for England. This game should be even better.

We've got all five of the tournament's leading wicket takers: Umar Gul, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis and Saeed Ajmal (all 12 wickets) and Shahid Afridi (10) should all play today.

The tournament's leading run-scorer, Tilakaratne Dilshan is a shoe-in for a place in the Sri Lanka line-up. Pakistan captain Younus Khan is the tournament's fifth highest run-scorer too.

The two leading wicketkeepers too: Kumar Sangakkara for Sri Lanka and Kamran Akmal for Pakistan each have eight dismissals.

1:11pm England Women have just lifted the first trophy of the day, beating New Zealand in the final.

The groundstaff descend onto the field, moving the boundary ropes for the men's final. Are you ready? We'll have every over live from Lord's.

Send us your emails - we want your predictions; shout-outs for your team; messages for your Dad if you forgot Father's Day - the lot!

9:30am Good morning cricket fans. It's another gorgeous morning here in north-west London. We're about one hour away from the start of the Women's ICC World Twenty20 Final - England vs. New Zealand:

• England win ICC World T20 at Lord's

Whether you're a cricket-watching veteran or new to cricket entirely we'll talk you through all the key action from Lord's - The Home of Cricket.

Keep an eye out for our icons (like this one which means the ball's been hit for six runs). They'll help you keep up-to-date with all the latest action at a glance.

Remember to refresh the page (pressing the F5 key is often easiest) to ensure you've got the latest score and action from the match. You'll read it first on Lords.org - we're quicker than the BBC (an entire over ahead of them at times!) and sometimes we even beat the Lord's scoreboards to it... sometimes!