Gul grabs three wickets as NZ restricted to 143-8

CAPE TOWN, Sep 22 (Reuters) Fast bowler Umar Gul claimed three wickets for just 15 runs in four overs to help Pakistan restrict New Zealand to 143-8 in their Twenty20 World Cup semi-final at Newlands today.

Gul was the fifth bowler to be used and wasn't introduced until the 12th over but responded with the key wickets of Scott Styris, Peter Fulton and Jacob Oram.

Ross Taylor top scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 37 from just 23 balls. He belted the otherwise impressive Mohammed Asif for 17 in the final over of the innings to give his team a fighting chance of reaching the final.

Openers Brendan McCullum and Lou Vincent added 50 for the first wicket but wickets fell regularly thereafter to stunt a promising start.

REUTERS PDS AS1914