In the first semi-final of the ICCT20 World Cup, Pakistan has qualified for the final after defeating New Zealand by seven wickets.
Pakistan achieved the target of 153 runs in the 20th over for the loss of three wickets. On behalf of Pakistan, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan played the main role in the victory of the team. Both played innings of 53 and 57 runs respectively. Trent Boult took two wickets for New Zealand.
Batting first, New Zealand scored 152 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs after winning the toss in the match played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Daryl Mitchell remained not out with 53 runs while Kane Williamson scored 46 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets for Pakistan
Pakistan’s innings
In pursuit of 153 runs, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan came into the field for Pakistan. In the first over, Rizwan told that today he will not play defensively but aggressively. On Trent Boult’s fourth ball, wicketkeeper David Conway dropped Babar Azam’s catch, which cost New Zealand dearly.
The two openers then rained down fours and walloped New Zealand’s bowling. Babar and Rizwan shared the ninth 100-run partnership in T20 Internationals. Babar Azam completed his half-century off 38 balls with the help of seven fours. He scored 53 runs off 42 balls and was caught out by Trent Boult.
Near the target, Mohammad Rizwan also caught a low full toss from Trent Boult on the boundary. He scored 57 runs off 43 balls with the help of five fours.
New Zealand’s fielding in the most important match was very poor. Ash Sodhi drops the catch of Mohammad Haris. Harris, who was dismissed close to the target in the previous match too, lost his wicket when he tried to hit an unnecessary short to Mitchell center ball in this match too when only two runs were needed for victory.
Shan Masood played the winning short for Pakistan. He remained not out on three and Iftikhar Ahmed Zero.
New Zealand’s innings
Finn Allen and Dion Conway opened the innings for New Zealand. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first over was very sensational. He tried his traditional in-swing first ball which turned out to be an over-pitch and Finn Allen hit a brilliant boundary at mid-on. But on the next balls, the pre-injury Shaheen appeared. His second ball hit Finn Allen’s bat into the pads and Empire raised their finger on Pakistan’s strong appeal. However, after New Zealand’s revue, Empire’s decision was reversed. On the next ball too, Finn Allen looked distraught and returned to the pavilion after being LBW again on the pads.
After the early loss, the New Zealand batsmen batted cautiously and only hit the balls that came into their zone. However, in the sixth over, David Conway was run out trying to take a run. He scored 21 runs.
The third out was dangerous batsman Gillen Phillips. He got a chance when Mohammad Nawaz failed to run him out but Nawaz dismissed him for just six runs in his eighth over.
After the fall of three wickets, Daryl Mitchell came to the wicket and took the score with Kane Williamson. The two put on a partnership of 68 runs and successfully took their team out of the pressure. New Zealand’s first wicket came from Williamson to Mohammad Wasim Jr in the 13th over. He scored 46 runs off 42 balls and was bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
New Zealand’s score was 59 in the first 10 overs but the Black Caps scored 93 runs in the next 10 overs. Daryl Mitchell scored 53 not out off 35 balls with the help of three fours and a six. James Neesham also remained not out with 16 runs.
