New Delhi: After a whirlwind first round and Super 12 stage, both of which featured a wealth of surprises, upsets and last over finishes, we’ve finally come down to the final four of this Men’s T20 World Cup. First up, the Group 1 winners and the last tournament’s runners-up New Zealand taking on Group 2 runners-up and 2009 winners Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
While Kane Williamson’s New Zealand Blackcaps have largely bossed this tournament barring a loss to England, Babar Azam’s Pakistan looked dead and buried after narrowly losing their first two matches. It took three emphatic wins, other results going their way and a little bit of help from the Netherlands to secure the Pakistanis’ place in the semifinals.
The two sides have faced each other fairly regularly in T20I bilateral series lately, with the most recent meetings coming in a Tri-Nation Series held at Christchurch which Pakistan won. However, it is the first time since the inaugural 2007 edition that the two will be facing each other in a Men’s T20 World Cup semifinal. In that 2007 semifinal at Cape Town, Pakistan had comfortably chased down New Zealand’s score of 143 with 7 balls to spare, and Umar Gul picked up the player of the match award. Pakistan will obviously look to continue their strong historical record against New Zealand in this format while New Zealand would want to continue dominating this tournament, especially at an SCG ground where they’ve already had two smashing victories against Australia and Sri Lanka
New Zealand have won the toss and captain Kane Williamson has opted to bat first, citing the used nature of the SCG pitch. Both New Zealand and Pakistan have named unchanged sides from their last respective Super 12 games.
New Zealand Squad
Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, Daryll Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Catch all the live action from PAK vs NZ match here:
4.18PM Over 12 Pakistan 102-0 (Babar 52*, Rizwan 46*)
Sodhi back on and extracts more turn but it all feels too little too late, as another punch from Rizwan sees Pakistan cross a hundred without loss. Rizwan continues his sweeping for singles to see out the over
4.13PM Over 11 Pakistan 97-0 (Babar 50*, Rizwan 43*) – Babar returns to form with half-century as Pakistan outplay New Zealand
Ferguson starts the second half of the innings with a wide and some singles, as the Blackcaps appear to be simply going through the motions, having been well outplayed. And the onslaught continues, as Babar exquisitely times a short ball from Ferguson over deep midwicket for four! The final ball of the eleventh then sees Babar target the same area and pick up a couple for a brilliant half-century!
4.07PM Over 10 Pakistan 87-0 (Rizwan 41*, Babar 43*) – Pakistan need 66 off 60 to reach the final
Sodhi continues and Pakistan nearly gift New Zealand a run out but the fielder misses the direct hit! Rizwan then beautifully glances a full delivery behind the keeper for a three. The innings so far looks near identical to this pair’s 10-wicket win over India in the last tournament. Babar again finds a gap in response to a Sodhi drag-down, this time on the off side, as both the openers look to get half-centuries quickly.
4.03PM Over 9 Pakistan 75-0 (Rizwan 37*, Babar 35*)
Santner for his second and the openers continue to look comfortable in a situation that wouldn’t look out of place in Lahore or Dubai. A few more singles and the odd two follow, with one of New Zealand’s boundary riders, Boult, fumbling the last ball.
4.00PM Over 8 Pakistan 68-0 (Rizwan 32*, Babar 32*)
Sodhi comes on as New Zealand look to contain the onslaught, and finds some early purchase off the pitch. But it’s not enough to trouble the openers as they simply need to knock the ball around for the rest of the innings, so they play out the over without incident.
3.56PM Over 7 Pakistan 63-0 (Rizwan 30*, Babar 30*)
Santner is on now with the field spread out but the scoring isn’t slowing significantly enough, as Rizwan and Babar find gaps in the infield easily for singles. And the penultimate ball is a freebie down the leg side which Rizwan dispatches behind square for another boundary! New Zealand look listless and bereft of ideas, but Santner’s final delivery is much straighter. Rizwan misses, New Zealand’s appeal is turned down and Williamson reviews. But it’s missing the stumps, so Rizwan survives.
3.51PM Over 6 Pakistan 55-0 (Rizwan 28*, Babar 25*) – Pakistan complete dream powerplay as New Zealand under immense pressure
Ferguson on to close out the powerplay with Pakistan needing just over 7 runs an over from here. His execution is far better than what came before but this duo are well set now and showing the kind of intent that was absent all tournament. A top-edged boundary over short third man and more singles take Pakistan to a near unassailable total of 55 in the powerplay.
3.47PM Over 5 Pakistan 47-0 (Rizwan 27*, Babar 19*) – Babar and Rizwan make light work of chase in powerplay
Signature deep midwicket whips from Rizwan! Southee offers a bid of width in his first two deliveries and Rizwan, with a stable base, accelerates by picking them up for a pair of fours to the deep midwicket boundary. Southee errs again on line and given Babar’s leg side strengths, he collects an easy boundary over fine leg.
3.42PM Over 4 Pakistan 32-0 (Rizwan 18*, Babar 14*)
Babar and Rizwan have found their form at the perfect time! This time it’s Ferguson who delivers a half volley and is driven down the ground for four! Pakistan then go for a risky second by running the ball down to Sodhi at third man and the throw is poor. The rest of the over is better executed but Pakistan are well ahead of the required run rate.
3.38PM Over 3 Pakistan 24-0 (Rizwan 17*, Babar 7*) – Rizwan puts Boult to the sword as Pakistan get off to a flyer
Babar is struggling to time the ball, a consistent theme throughout the tournament for him. But Boult offers too much width and the captain finally smashes him past point for four! Boult attempts a slower ball yorker but it’s on the pads, so Rizwan easily tucks it past short fine leg for another boundary. Terrible start from New Zealand’s main new ball bowler, and he continues to overpitch in search of swing, conceding another two to Rizwan. Boult goes around the wicket now but it’s his worst ball yet, short and wide as Rizwan cuts him for another boundary!
3.34PM Over 2 Pakistan 9-0 (Rizwan 7*, Babar 2*)
Southee shares new ball duties and tries to get the ball to shape away, conceding just a single off the first three deliveries. He bowls a fuller one and too leg-side but Babar misses out as it’s another dot. Southee resumes bowling a good length and keeps Babar rooted to his crease, before the Pakistan captain whips a fuller ball towards mid-off to keep strike for the next over.
3.29PM Over 1 Pakistan 7-0 (Rizwan 6*, Babar 1*) – Rizwan hits boundary to start chase while Conway drops chance to dismiss Babar
Pakistan’s under-fire senior opening pair, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, walk to the crease while Trent Boult opens the proceedings for New Zealand. But his first ball is too short and Rizwan perfectly cuts him past the infield for four! The second ball is much improved, wicket to wicket and angling in, forcing a dot. After Rizwan turns the strike over, Boult beautifully draws an outside edge from Babar Azam but Conway can’t complete the diving catch! What a let-off for the captain.
3.19PM Sydney Cricket Ground largely favours teams batting first, but pitch got slower
The Sydney Cricket Ground largely favours teams batting first, so it was a no-brainer for Kane Williamson when he won the toss. But the pitch itself got slower and slower, almost resembling a UAE wicket tailor-made to the Pakistani attack. And they had New Zealand on the ropes in the first half of the innings, removing dangermen Allen, Conway and Phillips cheaply. Williamson and Mitchell rebuilt, with the latter especially putting in a potential match-saving performance, reminiscent of his Abu Dhabi innings last year, but this time coming in to bat at 5. But New Zealand will feel they’re at least 15 runs short as they failed to hit any sixes at the death against slower balls that gripped on the surface. Pakistan will back themselves to chase this down but the New Zealand pace attack may be decently matched against the Pakistani top order
3.15PM Over 20 New Zealand 152-4 (Mitchell 53*, Neesham 16*) – Naseem closes out innings well as Pakistan need to chase 153
Naseem to close out the innings and attempts a yorker, which Neesham plays well for another couple before collecting a bye off a slower ball bouncer. Mitchell mistimes the next length ball to the point that it doesn’t even carry to Shan Masood at deep midwicket. Naseem follows it up with another excellent yorker which Neesham can only dig out for a leg bye. Mitchell mistimes the penultimate ball high in the air as well and it falls in no man’s land, but the double means New Zealand reach 150. Mitchell now attempts a ramp shot but misses and collects a bye.
3.10PM Over 19 New Zealand 144-4 (Mitchell 50*, Neesham 14*) – Mitchell reaches 50 as New Zealand aim for a competitive total
Rauf on for his last with Neesham on strike, and the off-pace theme continues with Neesham playing it leg side to bring Mitchell back on strike. New Zealand need to throw the kitchen sink at it to get a more competitive score of 155-160 from here, and Mitchell tries to drive Rauf down the ground, but Shaheen is there to stop the boundary. Rauf misses his length but Mitchell misses out, simply getting a single off a leg bye. But Neesham finally finds a gap at fine leg with a flick for four! Rauf ups his pace this time, and Neesham can only push at it and give Mitchell the strike. Rauf ends his spell with an awful full toss and Mitchell hits it towards midwicket for two, picking up a well-made half century under pressure.
3.04PM Over 18 New Zealand 133-4 (Mitchell 46*, Neesham 8*)
Naseem starts his third over with a back-of-the-hand slower ball but Mitchell is given enough width to hit over the top of the diving short cover fielder for four! With Neesham on strike, Naseem continues off-pace deliveries into the pitch so Neesham simply pulls the ball for a single. This duo’s communication is far better than what came earlier as they pick up another couple with a driven shot to long on. With the repeated slower paced deliveries, there appears to be a concerted effort by Pakistan to force this duo to use all their power game to hit towards the longer boundaries.
2.59PM Over 17 New Zealand 123-4 (Mitchell 38*, Neesham 6*) – Shaheen finishes super spell of 2-24
Shaheen greets Neesham with a full toss but the batsman cannot time it away for a boundary. His next slower ball full toss, however, is driven towards deep extra cover for a couple. Shaheen misses yet another yorker, allowing Neesham to flick it to midwicket for another couple. The final ball is a two as well, but all in all concludes an excellent spell for Pakistan’s premier pacer.
2.56PM Over 16.2 New Zealand 117-4 (Mitchell 38*) – OUT! Shaheen deceives Williamson with slower ball
Shaheen on to finish his spell and goes for another yorker, and Mitchell gets a leg bye. The second ball is a slower one and deceives Kane Williamson, who attempts a ramp shot of his own and sees his stumps dislodged! Big breakthrough for Pakistan, but New Zealand may not mind this much as it brings the finisher Neesham to the crease.
2.53PM Over 16 New Zealand 116-3 (Williamson 46*, Mitchell 38*) – Mitchell leads recovery to competitive total with series of twos
New Zealand attempt yet another ill-judged two, this time off the bowling of Rauf but he cannot collect the throw cleanly at the non-striker’s end. Mitchell was not even in the frame had the run-out been carried out properly. Mitchell mistimes an attempted boundary over mid-off but just about evades Babar Azam running back as New Zealand pick up a couple. Mitchell then perfectly digs out a well-directed yorker towards long on for another two, before finding the gap at backward point for the third two of the over. He then attempts a very uncharacteristic ramp shot to a slower length ball and Rizwan dives to stop the boundary.
2.48PM Over 15 New Zealand 106-3 (Williamson 43*, Mitchell 31*)
Shaheen comes on slightly earlier than expected, due to the hint of reverse swing apparent in Wasim Jr.’s previous over, according to commentator Adam Gilchrist. He delivers two excellent yorkers which Williamson can only defend for dots, and follows Williamson when he gives himself some room but the round-the-wicket leg side angle allows Williamson to simply tuck it away to fine leg for four. His final attempted yorker doesn’t come off but Williamson simply mishits it towards long on for another single.
2.43PM Over 14 New Zealand 99-3 (Williamson 37*, Mitchell 30*)
Shadab on for his final over and his length balls are knocked around for singles yet again by the Blackcaps. Shadab’s fourth ball is an ugly leg side full toss but Williamson cannot find the gap with his sweep shot. Rather it’s Mitchell who launches himself, smashing Shadab straight down the ground for the second six of the innings, and bringing up the 50-run partnership.
2.39PM Over 13 New Zealand 90-3 (Williamson 36*, Mitchell 22*) – Williamson hits long-overdue six but Wasim Jr. puts him under pressure
Williamson finally unleashes against Wasim Jr., whacking him over the midwicket boundary for six! So Wasim Jr. reduces his pace massively and Williamson cannot read it, as it appears to hit his pad before looping behind him to Rizwan. Pakistan’s appeal is turned down so Azam calls for DRS, but it looks like a poor review as Williamson didn’t hit it and was hit high on the thigh, with the ball sailing well over the stumps. Wasim Jr’s third ball is his best so far, a pinpoint yorker that Williamson struggles to dig out as Pakistan appeal for LBW. Azam doesn’t opt for the review this time, it looked very tight but replays show an inside edge. Williamson finally gets himself off strike the next ball, while Mitchell retains strike with a single off the final delivery.
2.33PM Over 12 New Zealand 81-3 (Williamson 28*, Mitchell 21*)
Naseem returns for his second and attempts a slower ball bouncer with Mitchell plays to short fine leg for a single. Williamson gives the strike back to the now more aggressive Mitchell, who misses out on a wayward length ball down leg side and can only pick up a leg bye. Williamson times it well for a two towards the deep midwicket gap followed by a tap-and-run single. Mitchell whips the final length ball towards the same area in the deep for another well-run two.
2.28PM Over 11 New Zealand 73-3 (Williamson 24*, Mitchell 18*) – New Zealand release scoreboard pressure with 14-run over
Shadab on for his third and the knocking around continues, before Mitchell’s outside-edged cut evades the off side fielders inside the circle and races away for a much needed boundary. Shadab drags it down again and a fumble by Shaheen in the deep allows Mitchell to pick up a two. A third drag down from Shadab sees a much more confident shot from Mitchell that finds the gap between deep midwicket and long on but Haris Rauf does brilliantly again to keep it to two. Mitchell is trying to counter-attack now, showing great footwork to hold his shape and swing the bat down the ground for another four! A much needed pressure release for the Blackcaps
2.22PM Over 10 New Zealand 59-3 (Williamson 23*, Mitchell 5*) – New Zealand target strike rotation as Pakistan’s spin squeeze drys up boundaries
This pitch is really assisting the spinners now, slowing down, skidding and providing some purchase every now and again. But New Zealand show decent footwork to turn Nawaz’s deliveries into full tosses and knock the ball around for more singles. Pakistan won’t mind that as long as there’s no serious counter-attack with boundaries. Mitchell dances down the pitch again to pick up a couple as New Zealand reach the drinks break three down and going at less than a run-a-ball.
2.18PM Over 9 New Zealand 52-3 (Williamson 20*, Mitchell 1*)
Pakistan’s spin squeeze is working so far as New Zealand haven’t yet found the boundary since the end of the powerplay. The Blackcaps’ semifinal hero from last year, Daryll Mitchell, is at the crease now, looking for his first big score this tournament on his return from injury, and even he pinches a misjudged single as Masood misses a direct hit! For much of the Super 12s, Williamson was under the most scrutiny due to his poor form but today, it’s down to him to rescue New Zealand from this hole by building a partnership with Mitchell.
2.14PM Over 8 New Zealand 49-3 (Williamson 18*) OUT! Blackcaps reeling as Nawaz removes in-form Glenn Phillips
The left-arm finger spinner Nawaz is on now, with Pakistan looking to put the squeeze on. Conceding just two runs off the first three balls, Nawaz delivers a full toss allowing Williamson to finally pick up the two runs he’d been trying for all over. Nawaz’s penultimate ball is also too full but the final ball is on the money, as Phillips just mistimes it right back to him! Calamity for the Blackcaps as Pakistan are all over them at the SCG tonight, with shades of 2007 as well as the Christchurch tri-series.
2.10PM Over 7 New Zealand 44-2 (Williamson 14*, Phillips 5*)
The man who threw the direct hit, Shadab, comes on now to deliver some wrist spin on a pitch that should suit him. But the Blackcaps continue to try to pinch as many singles as possible. In-form Phillips is at the crease and he plays a perfectly timed cut past the point fielder for four! But he cannot find that off-side gap again, playing out three dots to end the seventh.
2.05PM Over 6 New Zealand 38-2 (Williamson 13*) – OUT! Shadab punishes Conway for risky single with direct hit
Conway finally gets aggressive again, punishing Rauf for giving too much width and smashing him over cover for four, before pinching another single. Williamson just turns the strike back over with a wristy whip towards mid-off. Rauf tries to bounce Conway who responds with a well-timed hook shot behind square for two. The last ball is played very unconvincingly by Conway, who goes for another risky single but Shadab gets a direct hit at the bowler’s end! It’s referred upstairs and Conway is found short of his ground! Massive breakthrough for Pakistan, and they are bossing this game!
2.00PM Over 5 New Zealand 30-1 (Conway 14*, Williamson 12*) – NZ rebuild with singles but struggling to find boundaries
Mohammad Wasim Jr. comes on now and Conway pinches a single off a short leg side delivery even though fine leg was inside the 30-yard circle. Williamson attempts a similar shot but Rauf brilliantly dives to save another three runs. The knocking around continues as Wasim Jr. lines become a bit more controlled, but this duo needs to ensure that they don’t get stuck at the crease without boundaries, as that’s what plagued them during the Tri-Nation Series at Christchurch
1.55PM Over 4 New Zealand 23-1 (Conway 11*, Williamson 8*)
Haris Rauf is brought on as Pakistan’s first change and immediately his half volley is driven down the ground but Shadab Khan at mid-off does brilliantly to deflect the ball and prevent the boundary. There’s a bit of a delay due to an issue with the sightscreen, and the resumption sees Haris Rauf deliver it straighter to which Williamson defends for a dot, before he tucks away the third ball for a single. But Williamson is furious, as spectators and stadium staff members are repeatedly and obliviously walking past the sightscreen. And the distraction happens yet again as Rauf is about to run in for the final ball. Highly unprofessional by crowd members amid a semifinal, but the last ball is finally played out for a dot.
1.48PM Over 3 New Zealand 19-1 (Conway 10*, Williamson 5*)
Shaheen resumes his spell and delivers it too full and wide, so Williamson nicely chips him over the top for a three. The left-arm quick is much more accurate towards Conway, preventing from finding easy scoring options, causing Conway to dance down the track again and whack the ball to fine leg for a single. Williamson immediately turns the strike over with a dab to third man before Conway plays out another dot.
1.43PM Over 2 New Zealand 14-1 (Conway 9*, Williamson 1*) – Conway leads gradual rebuild for New Zealand after early wicket
Naseem is on to share the new ball, comes over the wicket and draws a play-and-miss from Conway with an accurate delivery angling away from the left-hander, followed by two more dots through back of a length deliveries. Commentator Ian Smith points out that there’s some bounce and carry through to the keeper so far, perhaps due to the long gap between the last time this SCG pitch was used. Naseem drops it a tad shorter and it keeps a little lower but Conway anticipates it well, pulling the ball behind square leg for four! And wow, what a let-off for Conway in the penultimate ball as he simply looks to defend the ball and run but the ball nearly trickles to dislodge the stumps behind him. Bare margins at play here. Conway dances down the pitch to Naseem’s final delivery and hoicks him over cow corner for another four to end the second over.
1.39PM Over 1 New Zealand 6-1 (Conway 1*, Williamson 1*)
Williamson gets off the mark and sends Conway into the firing line, but the left-hander just calmly pushes at Shaheen’s delivery and sends the strike right back over. The final delivery is another beauty from Shaheen, this time outside off stump so Williamson just lets it go through to Rizwan. Pakistan in the ascendancy early so far.
1.36PM Over 0.3 New Zealand 4-1 (Conway 0*) – OUT! Shaheen traps Allen in front after conceding boundary
With the conclusion of the anthem renditions, Blackcaps openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway walk to the crease just as they have done so for all of their team’s matches this tournament. Star speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi has the new ball for Pakistan with Allen on strike, and immediately he overpitches with a half volley searching for swing and Allen drives him past mid off for four! But his second ball is brilliant, much fuller, swinging in and given out LBW by umpire, which Allen reviews instantaneously! And for good reason, there’s a very clear inside edge, so Allen survives. But the third ball is exactly the same full inswinger, Allen is rapped on the pads again, adjudged out again and it’s another review. This time, however, there’s no bat involved and three reds, so Erasmus has eventually got it right and Allen has to depart. What a rollercoaster start to this semifinal!
Also read: ‘We respect each other’s game,’ Suryakumar enjoys growing partnership with Kohli