In the Super League, England's narrow victory against Pakistan set up a mouth watering semifinal battle for Aaqib Javed's charges against eternal rivals India.

In two other inconsequential games, Zimbabwe outplayed New Zealand by 96 runs at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the last Super League tie while in the Plate section, Uganda ended their torrid World Cup adventure with a smile by recording a fivewicket win against Canada at the MA Aziz Stadium.

SUPER LEAGUE GROUP 2
England v Pakistan: England finished atop the group after Pakistan fell short by five runs at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.

On a sluggish wicket, England were put in and laboured to 197 all out despite another fine knock by captain Alastair Cook. Coming off two consecutive hundreds, left-hander Cook looked on course for his third but on 87 (130 balls, 7 fours) became one of paceman Riaz Afridi's five victims. He had added 124 with Steven Davies (53) before a collapse that saw nine wickets go down for 65.

Afridi and new ball partner Ali Imran Pasha showed the value of having pace through the air by dismantling England with some full-length deliveries in the late overs. Afridi finished with 5 for 42 while Pasha claimed three for 45.

Pakistan made a hash of chasing the moderate total. Tim Bresnan, Liam Plunkett and Adam Harrison made early inroads to reduce Pakistan to 56 for 4. But Salman Hadir and Fawad Alam staged a recovery with a stand of 52.

But Mark Lawson picked up both batsmen to turn the game in England's favour again. Then Zulquarnain Haider threatened to win the match all by himself with a rapid 44 of 41 balls but Samit Patel had him caught and Pakistan were dismissed for 191 in 47.4 overs.

England will meet the West Indies in the second semifinal on March 2. Pakistan and India appear in the first on February 29. Both games are day-nighters and will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Zimbabwe v New Zealand: Already eliminated the two sides only had pride to play for. Zimbabwe posted an impressive 272 for eight after deciding to bat first in the day-night fixture. Opener Brendan Taylor cracked a 145-ball 127 with 18 fours and a six.

New Zealand never looked in contention and only a brisk 44 (35 balls, four fours, three sixes) from last man Te Ahu Davis took them to 180.

Stanley Marisa and Sean Williams took three wickets each.

PLATE GROUP 2
Bangladesh v Ireland: The sides had already qualified for the semis but the race was on to win the group and avoid meeting Australia in the last four.

Ireland opted to bat first but were undone by the left-arm spin of Nadif Chowdhury and were all out for 141 in the 47th over. Nadif ran through the middle order with figures of four for 14 from 7.4 overs.

Bangladesh's batting had sent all the wrong messages throughout the competition but this time they came good. Key opener Nafis Iqbal hit an unbeaten 86 as victory was achieved in the 30th over for the loss of two wickets.

It was the local lad's second half-century in the World Cup. Bangladesh now have the easier prospect of meeting Scotland in the second Plate semifinal on March 1 at the Divisional Stadium.

Ireland have to deal with the wounded Aussies, still smarting from their shock ouster from the main competition in the first semifinal at the MA Aziz Stadium on February 29.

Uganda v Canada: Canada batted first and reached 231 before they lost their last wicket in the final ball of the 50th over. There were important contributions Trevin Bastiampillai (40), Karun Jethi (43) and Shaheed Keshvani (65).

Anything over 200 has proved tough to chase in this World Cup but Uganda did it in style. Martin Ondeko and Hamza Saleh put on a decisive 121 for the third wicket. Saleh was run out for 50, but Ondeko saw the Africans home home with five wickets in hand and three overs to spare. The only sore point for Ondeko was that he missed a richly deserved hundred by just one run.