PAK vs NZ: T20 World Cup Semi-final🏏

PAK VS NZ: T20 World Cup, Semi-final– A Rejuvenated Pakistan lifted their game when it mattered the most and stormed into the T20 World Cup final with a convincing seven-wicket win over New Zealand here on Wednesday. Pakistan first restricted New Zealand to 152 for four on a slow SCG track and then chased down the target with consummate ease, riding on skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s attacking fifties to book their place in the final after 13 years.

Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam slammed half-centuries as Pakistan powered past New Zealand by seven wickets and into the Twenty20 World Cup final Wednesday, moving within one win of a second title. They will meet either England or India -– who play on Thursday in Adelaide — in the November 13 decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pakistan set the tone at the Sydney Cricket Ground with some razor sharp fielding and disciplined bowling that restricted New Zealand to just 152-4.

Rizwan: We always believed

Player of the Match, Rizwan said: “Our start (in the tournament) was not good, but we worked hard and kept our belief.

“Obviously me and Barbar decided to go after the new ball and the pitch was difficult.

“When we finished the powerplay the discussion was one of the guys to go deep.

“The guys worked hard and we always believed.”

This will be Pakistan’s third appearance in the T20 World Cup final. They had finished runners-up to India in the inaugural edition in 2007 before claiming the title two years later. Pakistan last claimed the title in 2009 at Lord’s in England when they beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets, and it has been a rollercoaster ride in Australia to make another final. After agonising last-ball losses to India and Zimbabwe in the group phase, they bounced back to topple the Netherlands and South Africa. PAK VS NZ matches are very special.

Then against the odds they went through when the Proteas were stunned by the Dutch and Pakistan eased past Bangladesh. New Zealand, who topped Group 1, were aiming to make the final for the second consecutive time, but their hunt for a maiden T20 title again fell short.Teams batting first had won five from six games played in Sydney this tournament and when Kane Williamson won the toss he had no hesitation in asking Pakistan to bowl, but it proved to be tough going.

PAK VS NZ– ‘Tough pill to swallow’

In an eventful opening over, Finn Allen hit Shaheen Afridi for four off the first delivery then was given out the next ball lbw. It was overturned on review because of an inside edge only for Afridi to promptly do the same again and this time it was plumb. Conway was run out for 21 by Shadab Khan, who scored a direct hit from mid-off and they suffered a big blow when Glenn Phillips was caught and bowled by Mohammad Nawaz for six.

At the halfway mark we thought we had a competitive total but it was disappointing not to make Pakistan work harder,” said Williamson who saw his side shell a series of catchable chances in a sloppy fielding display. “It’s a tough pill to swallow,” he said. “I think if we want to be honest, we wanted to be more disciplined with our areas. Like I said, Pakistan deserved to win.”

Pakistan skipper Azam, who was desperate for runs after making just 39 in five matches before the semi-final, was dropped first ball by wicketkeeper Conway off Trent Boult in the reply. But after his nervy start he hammered a four off Boult and partner Rizwan also helped himself to two boundaries in a costly 15-run over for New Zealand. They plundered more boundaries off Tim Southee in another 15-run over, racing to 55-0 from the powerplay and bringing up their century stand in the 12th over.

Azam brought up his half-century before New Zealand got a glimmer of hope when he was caught in the deep off Boult and the same bowler then removed Rizwan. Pakistan have a turnaround for themselves in this T20 World Cup 2022. In the PAK VS NZ match, the openers played a fantastic knock for Pakistan in the first Semi-finals. They have improved a lot, their fielding skills are looking sharp and their batting has also improved. They had a tough time while playing the T20 World Cup 2022. Pakistan had lost their two group matches, but a Netherlands win saw them enter into the Semi-finals.

All the fans are hoping for a India vs Pakistan: Final in T20 World Cup 2022. This would be one of the Blockbusters, as when the last time these two teams met it had became a Match-of the Century. PAK VS NZ match was also very special for both the team. I feel New Zealand should have made 15-20 runs more. Shaheen Afridi is having a great time in this T20 World Cup 2022, he is taking early wickets for his team.

Pakistan vs New Zealand : No Change For Black Caps!

New Zealand (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Kane Williamson(c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Pakistan vs New Zealand : Same XI For Pakistan Too!

Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi.

 On a pitch where the Pakistan bowlers adapted beautifully, the New Zealand fast bowlers struggled, and Pakistan virtually sealed the match within the powerplay and completed the chase without taking risks. There was the odd hiccup – both Babar and Rizwan got out – but Haris, unperturbed by all that, saw Pakistan home. I am a happy lad right now, as I was hoping for a India-Pakistan Final at the MCG. New Zealand had a great T20 World Cup 2022, they had finished at the top of the Points Table in Group 1. In PAK VS NZ match, they were completely overshadowed and couldn’t perform.