Perennial underdogs New Zealand discover their path to the ultimate blocked by a plucky Pakistan aspect.
Who: Pakistan vs New Zealand
When: November 9, 08:00 GMT
The place: Sydney Cricket Floor, Sydney, Australia
The primary semi-final of the T20 World Cup is between two groups who, for differing causes, not many anticipated to see at this stage of the event.
New Zealand’s underdogs tag at each World Cup is as perennial as it's perplexing. The Black Caps have reached not less than the semi-finals of each World Cup since 2015 and have been dropping finalists in 2019 (50 overs) and 2021 (20 overs).
Regardless of this stellar document, few anticipated them to make it out of the group that additionally featured England and hosts Australia, by no means thoughts topping it.
Pakistan, in the meantime, evoked the spirit of their 1992 World Cup triumph the place they certified for the semi-finals regardless of profitable simply one in every of their first 5 video games and went on to raise the cup.
To say their event thus far has been a rollercoaster trip can be an understatement. Eulogies for his or her World Cup marketing campaign started pouring in after their loss to Zimbabwe however wins of their remaining three group video games and a serving to hand from Netherlands who defeated South Africa, noticed them seal a semi-final berth.
Mathew Hayden "They flip up on massive moments & that is what I like most in Pakistan Cricket. Babar Azam is off form however there's calm earlier than each storm, In 2007 WC Gilchrist was off color however in last he proved out to be a match winner, Babar to shine quickly" #PakvsNz#T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/GA45AFyntK
— Ahmad Haseeb (@iamAhmadhaseeb) November 8, 2022
Head-to-head
Pakistan maintain the sting over New Zealand of their T20 head-to-head document, having received 17 of the 28 matches.
Previously 12 months, the 2 have crossed paths quite a few occasions. Of their Tremendous 12 tie on the World Cup final 12 months, Pakistan comprehensively defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets. Forward of this 12 months’s event, groups, together with Bangladesh, performed a T20 tri-series the place Babar Azam’s males received two of the three video games in opposition to the Black Caps, together with the ultimate.
However Kane Williamson will take encouragement from the truth that Pakistan has misplaced every of its final three semi-finals within the event
Path to the ultimate
New Zealand
The Black Caps hammered hosts and champions Australia of their event opener, had a match washed out and misplaced a high-quality contest to England earlier than reaching a fifth successive white-ball World Cup semi-final as group winners.
- Beat Australia by 89 runs
- Match deserted vs Afghanistan
- Beat Sri Lanka by 65 runs
- Misplaced to England by 20 runs
- Beat Eire by 35 runs
Pakistan
Pakistan’s journey began with a outstanding loss to India in entrance of 92,000 followers in Melbourne which was adopted by an equally dramatic upset by the hands of Zimbabwe and a rain-disrupted win over South Africa.
They scraped into the last-four by beating Bangladesh however solely after a shocking upset of South Africa by the Dutch within the last spherical of group matches had cleared the trail.
- Misplaced to India by 4 wickets
- Misplaced to Zimbabwe by one run
- Beat Netherlands by six wickets
- Beat South Africa by 33 runs
- Beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets
4 groups stay 🤩
All of it begins on the SCG 🏟#T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/MkSsYYE0pd
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) November 8, 2022
Key matchups
Australia’s pitches have been completely suited to the formidable tempo assaults of either side.
Shaheen Afridi has proven indicators of returning to his greatest after damage and is ably supported by Haris Rauf and Mohamad Wasim.
For New Zealand, their trusted trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson have all been spectacular.
The semi-final will hinge on the groups’ batting. New Zealand’s high order is strewn with firepower in Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen and Devon Conway. Whereas Kane Williamson has been woefully in need of kind, his 61 of 35 of their final group sport in opposition to Eire is an encouraging signal for New Zealand.
Pakistan’s star openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam have thus far struggled for fluency. Whereas gamers like Iftikhar Ahmed, Shan Masood and Shadab Khan have stepped up at common intervals, Pakistan will lead their openers to fireside if they're to achieve their first T20 World Cup last since 2009. After which there may be the current discovery that's Mohammad Haris.
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