🏏ICC Men'sT20I WC 2022- Pak vs New Zealand: First Semi-Final🏏 - Page 2

Pakistan is in the semi-finals for not the best performances, but for good luck. The bags of the Pakistan team were packed and they were ready to fly back to Pakistan right before the match between South Africa and the Netherlands.

Netherlands cleared the road for Pakistan to the semi-finals and they cemented their place by winning the match against Bangladesh and now have a good chance to win the title of ICC T20 World Cup 2022. The main problem of Pakistan had been its batting order.

The key batters of Pakistan like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam had been struggling in this tournament. Both batters are openers but their strike rate also had been very poor which results in a lot of pressure on the rest of the batting order. The addition of Mohammad Haris added extra power to the batting lineup of Pakistan.

He plays aggressively right from the first ball he faces and his strike rate had been outstanding. The middle batting order of Pakistan had been good and the matches that win Pakistan was due to the best performances by the middle batting order.

It's been one helluva tournament. All the 16 teams got off the mark and barring Afghanistan, every team registered at least one win. Rain did play spoilsport in a few games but despite that, this has been one of the most competitive T20 World Cups. Is this perhaps the best World Cup?

After a two-day break, we're back. It's time for the knockouts.

What to expect: Runs. Four of the top 10 totals in the tournament have been scored at the SCG, more than at any other venue. Even so, pitches here have offered bowlers of all styles some help.

No clouds, it is a hot sunny day in Sydney.

Glenn Phillips scored his 64-ball 104 against Sri Lanka at the SCG, which was also where Devon Conway made an unbeaten 92 off 58 against Australia.

Tim Southee's economy rate of 2.76 off 2.1 overs in the Australia game is the best in the tournament at this ground. Southee also kept the damage down to 3.00 bowling his full quota against Sri Lanka in Sydney.

The 82 that Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan shared off 36 balls against South Africa at this ground was a clear statement of Pakistan's intent to go a long way in the competition, regardless of their earlier results. Shadab's 2/16 in the same match was also vital to Pakistan's success.

Both teams are unbeaten at the SCG in the tournament. New Zealand downed Australia and Sri Lanka there, and Pakistan dealt with South Africa.

New Zealand have won three and lost eight of the semis they have reached in either World Cup. Pakistan have won 10 and lost 10.

New Zealand have lost all three of their World Cup finals. Pakistan have won two and lost two.

Thanks for tagging Viswasruti 🤗

I don't think I will be able to watch match today but I will drop in on and off to read comments 😊

Thanks for the tag Mandhu!🤗

May the best team win.

Cheers..

Making it to the knockouts has become a habit for New Zealand in ICC events. The runners-up of the previous edition have made it to the T20 WC semis four times (thrice in a row) but are yet to win a World Cup. Can they break the jinx this time?

They kickstarted their campaign with a thumping win over their Trans-Tasmanian rivals. The only loss for the Kiwis in the Super 12s was against England and the form of their skipper was a cause for concern.

But Kane Williamson silenced his critics with a Player of the Match award-winning performance against Ireland.

The first team to qualify for the last-four, the BlackCaps possess a balanced unit and they are back in Sydney where they won both their matches comprehensively.

Pakistan's campaign, meanwhile, has been anything but smooth. They lost their first two games - against India and Zimbabwe. And they were in doldrums when they were reduced to 43/4 against South Africa.

But here they are. The 2009 champions may be peaking at the right time.

Yes, they needed Netherlands to beat the Proteas. But they are coming into this semifinal encounter on the back of three successive wins.

There are a lot of similarities with the 1992 Cricket World Cup and Pakistan would hope for that continue.

Thanks for the tag 😊

Best of luck to both the teams ⭐️

NZ won the toss and elected to bat.