Pakistan annihilate Kiwis to reach T20 WC final, As Pakistan advanced to the T20 World Cup final for the third time by defeating New Zealand by seven wickets in today’s opening semifinal at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan recovered their form when it counted.
Pakistan annihilate Kiwis to reach T20 WC final
After Pakistan’s bowlers bowled with discipline to limit New Zealand to 152-4 during the knockout stage, both of the openers, who had inconsistent performances throughout the group stage of the competition, struck fiftys. It was thought that Pakistani batters would also find it difficult to rotate the scoreboard on a sluggish pitch, but the second innings’ pitch appeared to be better. But that didn’t diminish the brilliance of Babar and Rizwan’s opening-position batting performance.
Pakistan completed the winning target of 153 while losing three wickets and with five balls to spare thanks to Babar’s 42-ball-53 and Rizwan’s 57-ball-43. Pakistan previously made it to the final twice, in 2007 and 2009. They lost the championship to India in the first competition in 2007, but they took home the prize in 2009. However, with the win, Pakistan maintained its unblemished record against New Zealand in ICC tournament knockout matches.
In just 12.5 overs, Babar and Rizwan utterly destroyed New Zealand’s 105-run partnership. The two openers’ ninth-century partnership was easily the highest and four better than the combo of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who have five to their credit. Trent Boult, a fast bowler, outplayed both batters for 33 runs in four overs, but Pakistan had already established themselves as the clear favorites to defeat New Zealand by that point. Before Rizwan holed out a shot to sweeper cover, Boult first had Babar caught by Mitchell to end the partnership.
When Rizwan left, Pakistan was only 21 runs away from winning the match. Mohammad Haris scored 30 runs off of 26 before being dismissed in the penultimate over, putting Pakistan within one run of victory. Pakistan fans, who showed up in large numbers at the historic SCG, were sent into a frenzy when Shaan Masood hit the winning single. Daryl Mitchell helped New Zealand surpass the 150 run barrier earlier with an unbeaten 53 off 35. With 2-24, Shaheen Shah Afridi was Pakistan’s top bowler. He scored in the first over when he caught Finn Allen leg-before for 4.
After New Zealand captain Kane Williamson decided to bat first, Allen got the day began with a boundary off the opening ball of Afridi. But in the third ball, the renowned fast bowler exacted retribution and suffocated the Kiwis with a show of ferocious bowling. With the help of Devon Conway and Kane Williamson, New Zealand attempted to recover, but Pakistan slowed things down even further by forcing a run out that resulted in Conway’s dismissal for 21. New Zealand’s situation only became worse when Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Glenn Phillips for six runs in the eighth over, bringing their score to 49-3.
Despite the fact that their innings never picked up the anticipated speed, Williamson and Mitchell’s 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket put their team back in the game. Afridi then returned to his second spell to eliminate Williamson, who appeared to be about to lose control. With one four and one six, Williamson made 46 out of 42 shots. However, Mithcell’s 35 ball, 53 not-out innings, which included three fours and a six, helped the team surpass 150. He did not go out on 16 with James Neesham.
Know more: