New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Semifinal Scoreboard
Pakistan:
Mohammad Rizwan c Phillips b Boult 57
Babar Azam c Mitchell b Boult 53
Mohammad Haris c Allen b Santner 30
Shan Masood not out 3
Iftikhar Ahmed not out 0
Extras: (B-4, LB-3, W-3) 10
Total: (For Three Wickets in 19.1 Overs) 153
Bowling: Trent Boult 4-0-33-2, Tim Southee 3.1-0-24-0, Lockie Ferguson 4-0-37-0, Mitchell Santner 4-0-26-1, Ish Sodhi 4-0-26-0.
New Zealand:
Finn Allen lbw Afridi 4
Devon Conway run out 21
Kane Williamson b Afridi 46
Glenn Phillips c&b Nawaz 6
Daryl Mitchell not out 53
James Neesham not out 16
Extras: (B-2, LB-4) 6
Total: (For Four Wickets in 20 Overs) 152
Fall of Wickets: 1-4, 2-38, 3-49, 4-117
Bowling: Shaheen Afridi 4-0-24-2, Naseem Shah 4-0-30-0, Haris Rauf 4-0-32-0, Mohammad Wasim 2-0-15-0, Shadab Khan 4-0-33-0, Mohammad Nawaz 2-0-12-1.
Here's innings report:
Rising to the occasion, Mohammad Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam smashed fantastic fifties and led Pakistan to the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 with a convincing seven-wicket win over last year's finalists New Zealand in the first semifinal at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), here on Wednesday.
With this win, Pakistan now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between India and England, for the summit clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on November 13. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, a fighting fifty from Daryl Mitchell along with a vital innings from Kane Williamson helped New Zealand recover from early jolts and post 152-4 in 20 overs. Apart from Mitchell (53 not out off 35) and Kane Williamson (46 off 42), the likes of Devon Conway (21 off 20) and James Neesham (16 not out off 12) were the other main contributors with the bat for New Zealand.
Chasing an under-par target, openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam put their hand up when it mattered the most and gave Pakistan a blistering start, scoring 55/0 in the first six overs -- their best powerplay of the tournament with the bat. Skipper Babar was dropped by Devon Conway and he made New Zealand pay. He along with Mohammad Rizwan negotiated the overs of Trent Boult and Tim Southee beautifully in the early parts of the innings.
Rizwan with his aggressive approach led the way and was dealing in boundaries while Babar took his own time before taking on New Zealand bowlers. Even after the powerplay, boundaries were flowing at will for Pakistan and they reached 87/0 after 10 overs.
Thereafter, Babar (53 off 42) upped the tempo and went on to outscore his opening partner to the fifty. But, he couldn't carry his innings longer after that as Boult returned to the attack and broke the century opening stand of 105 runs with the wicket of Babar.
Later, Rizwan (57 off 43) also reached to a 36-ball fifty but like Babar, he also couldn't last till the end, getting out to Boult in the 17 over. Youngster Mohammad Haris played a vital knock of 30 off 26 to take Pakistan closer to the victory before getting out in the second last over. Eventually, Shan Masood (3 not out) hit the winning runs as Pakistan chased down the total in 19.1 overs with seven wickets in hand. Trent Boult (2/33) and Mitchell Santner (1/26) were the wicket-takers for New Zealand.
Earlier, New Zealand lost the wicket of Finn Allen (4) in the very first over. Allen hit Shaheen Afridi for a boundary in the first ball of the over but the left-arm pacer trapped him in front of the wicket on the third delivery to give Pakistan an early breakthrough.
Skipper Kane Williamson then joined Devon Conway in the middle and they took the Black Caps innings forward by rotating strikes well and hitting boundaries at regular intervals. Conway (21 off 20) was more aggressive between the two and he looked set to take on the Pakistan bowlers after spending enough time in the middle before Shadab nailed the direct hit at the non-striker's end to get rid of the left-hander batter, leaving New Zealand to 38-2 at the end of six overs.
Glenn Phillips, who has been the man in form for New Zealand, showed his aggressive intent by hitting a boundary but he couldn't carry his innings longer as spinner Mohammad Nawaz dismissed him on the last ball of his opening over. At 49/3 after eight overs, New Zealand were in a spot of bother, needing a partnership to bail them out. Daryl Mitchell, who hadn't had a great performance so far in the tournament, joined hands with a well-set Williamson to rescue their team.
Both Mitchell and Williamson took their time to settle down and the scoring rate didn't look good for New Zealand at the end of 10 overs, but they regrouped during the drinks break and smacked 28 runs off the next 13 balls to lift themselves. The duo picked their areas to score, nudged the ball in the gaps and got twos at will to keep the score-board ticking for the Kiwis. Mitchell hit leg-spinner Shadab for a six to bring up their fifty stand.
Williamson and Mitchell stitched a crucial 68-run stand for the fourth wicket to lead the recovery and set the stage for a good finish for the Kiwis but Afridi had other plans. It was a slower delivery from Afridi and Williamson shuffled across to scoop but he got bowled during the process.
Thereafter, Mitchell continued his fighting knock and reached his fifty. He along with Neesham tried hard to hit big shots during the last few overs but Pakistan bowlers were disciplined enough to keep New Zealand to a chaseable target of 152-4 in 20 overs on a used track. Shaheen Afridi was the most successful bowler for Pakistan with his 2/24, and Mohammad Nawaz (1/12) was the other wicket-taker.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand: 152 for 4 in 20 overs (Kane Williamson 46, Daryl Mitchell 53 not out; Shaheen Afridi 2/24).
Pakistan: 153 for 3 in 19.1 overs (Babar Azam 53, Mohammad Rizwan 57; Trent Boult 2/33).
After 10 overs:
There is no stopping the opening duo. Both the batters are in imperious touch, playing gorgeous shots amidst quick run between the wickets. It would be a tall order for New Zealand to break the shackles hereon.
Babar Azam: 43(34)
Mohammad Rizwan: 41(26)
Partnership: 87(60)
NZ bowling:
Ish Sodhi: 2-0-17-0
After 5 overs:
Pakistan are onto a dream start with both the openers stitching a crucial partnership of 47 runs in 5 overs. They just need to stick and it won't be long before they make inroads to the final of the T20 World Cup. Both Rizwan and Azam have so far hit the right note in conditions most suitable for subcontinental teams.
Babar Azam: 19(16)
Mohammad Rizwan: 27(14)
NZ bowling:
Tim Southee
2-0-17-0
Here's innings report:
Mitchell, Williamson take New Zealand to 152/4 against Pakistan
Sydney: Daryl Mitchell hit a timely unbeaten fifty to help New Zealand post a decent 152 for four against Pakistan in the first semifinal on a slow SCG pitch here on Wednesday. Opting to bat, New Zealand batters found the going tough on a used SCG track as they struggled to connect the ball because of the slow nature of the surface.
Mitchell (53 not out off 35) and skipper Kane Williamson (46 off 42) resurrected New Zealand's innings after early jolts to take the last edition's runner-up past the 150-run mark. Finn Allen got his innings off to a confident start, hitting Shaheen Afridi's (2/24) full delivery down the ground past mid-on for a boundary.
Afridi, however, rapped Allen on the pads in the next delivery and onfield umpire Marius Erasmus took time before raising his finger. But the batter got a reprieve as TV replays showed it was an inside edge on to the pads. But Afridi got his man in the very next ball with another LBW shout and this time it was dead straight, even though Allen went for an unsuccessful review.
Other opener Devon Conway (21) tried to force the innings with three boundaries but was run out by a direct throw from Shadab Khan at mid-off. But new man Glenn Phillips lasted just eight balls, top-edging left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz straight back to him as New Zealand slumped to 49 for three in eight overs.
Thereafter, Williamson and Mitchell held the innings together and shared 68 runs off 50 balls for the fourth wicket. While Williamson played the role of anchor, mostly dealing in ones and twos with occasional boundaries in between, Mitchell was at his aggressive best.
The duo brought up their fifty-run stand in just 36 balls but failed to force the pace towards the end as boundaries and sixes were hard to come by. Williamson fell four short of a half-century, bowled by Afridi in the 17th over with a slower off-cutter as the batter went for a scoop over the keeper's head.
After Williamson's departure, Mitchell kept the Kiwis' innings going and reached his fifty off 32 balls. With James Neesham (16 not out), Mitchell stitched an unconquered 35 off 22 balls but failed to give the final flourish as Pakistan bowlers made a strong comeback.
After 15 Overs:
The New Zealand didn't lose any wicket to cross the hundred mark and while Williamson is playing the sheath achor role to perfection, Mitchell is the accelerator behind the Kiwis scoreboard.
Fall of Wickets:
4-1 (Finn Allen, 0.3), 38-2 (Devon Conway, 6), 49-3 (Glenn Phillips, 7.6)
NZ:
Kane Williamson: 43(39)
Daryl Mitchell: 31(20)
After 10 Overs:
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson is on the crease but Pakistan's true foray -- bowling -- has paid dividends as they made early inroads with three wickets of Finn Allen (4 runs from 3 balls), Devon Conway (21 runs from 20 balls) and Glenn Phillips (6 runs off 8 deliveries).
Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has made rapid progress after his injury, struck early as expected. He dismissed Allen for leg before, while Conway was ran out by Shadab Khan. Phillips was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand: 59-3 (10)
Fall of Wickets:
4-1 (Finn Allen, 0.3), 38-2 (Devon Conway, 6), 49-3 (Glenn Phillips, 7.6)
Yet to Bat
James Neesham , Mitchell Santner , Tim Southee , Ish Sodhi , Lockie Ferguson , Trent Boult
