After Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with his career best bowling spell, Mohammad Haris smashed a gusty knock to take Pakistan into the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals as they handed Bangladesh a five-wicket defeat at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Haris smacked a 18-ball 31 while Mohammad Rizwan finished with a-run-a-ball 32 to pull Pakistan to 128-5, with 11 balls to spare, chasing down a paltry 127-8.

Afridi, who returned his T20 best figures of 4-22, struck early for Pakistan as the left-arm quick sent back Liton Das for 10 after Bangladesh elected to bat first.

Nasum Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman and Ebadot Hossain scalped one wicket each.

Pursuing a meager 128 Pakistan made a decent start as their opening stand amassed 57 without any loss before Bangladesh wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan handed a life to Mohammad Rizwan in the third delivery of Taskin Ahmed’s opening over, slipping a catch when the latter was yet to open his account.

However the duo stopped by Nasum Ahmed after Babar gave a catch to Mustafizur for a slow 25 0ff 33 balls in 10.3 overs.

His fellow colleague Rizwan also copied him just after an over that shortened Pakistan to 61-2.

Later, Mohammad Haris formed a 20-ball 31 and 14-ball 29 with Mohammad Nawaz and Shan Masud respectively to lead their side to the harbor of the much desired victory.    

Earlier, opted to bat first, Bangladesh opener Liton Das who gave India a scare with his 27-ball 60 in a narrow defeat at the Adelaide Oval, looked dangerous with a six off Shaheen but three balls later gave away a catch at gully.

Najmul Hossain Shanto capitalised on a reprieve when the usually safe Shadab Khan dropped the left-handed batsman on 11 at short extra. The opener went on to top-score with 54.

Shanto put on 52 runs with Soumya Sarkar, who came out attacking.

Soumya hit 20 off 17 before an attempted reverse paddle sweep cost him his wicket off Shadab, who struck again on the next delivery, albeit amid controversy.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan was given out lbw but he reviewed the decision and it appeared from replays that the ball grazed the bat before it hit the pad, but the third umpire upheld the on-field call.

Shakib looked stunned, waved his hands and didn't want to walk off.

A Shadab hat-trick was averted by Afif Hossain.

Shakib's wicket seemed to affect the Bangladesh batsmen, who suddenly looked out of sorts.

Off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed bowled Shanto soon after the batsman reached his second T20 fifty.

Bangladesh lost regular wickets and Shaheen struck twice in one over and then picked a fourth for the first time in his T20 career.

Afif Hossain hit an unbeaten 24.