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A formidable New Zealand team that seem strong on paper will have to defy history when they take on an unpredictable Pakistan in the first 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal in Sydney on Wednesday, November 8. The Kiwis had a straight path to the semis after finishing atop Group 1 with wins over reigning champions Australia, Sri Lanka and Ireland. But Pakistan should count themselves lucky after qualifying despite losing their first two group-stage matches.
They were eventually handed a lifeline by the Netherlands, who defeated South Africa in what is considered the biggest upset of the campaign. They then beat Bangladesh in their final Group 2 match, to join India, England, and their foes in the semis, New Zealand.
The match is reminiscent of Pakistan's clash against New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup semifinal, as the side beat the favourites New Zealand, eventually also winning the trophy.
Pakistan also have a great record against New Zealand in the World Cups, with the Kiwis having lost all their previous World Cup semifinals to them in ODI (1992, 1999) and T20I (2007) formats.
New Zealand's propensity to falter at the big stage of a white-ball tournament is also a no secret. They have consistently reached the semis in the last four World Cups but never managed to last the distance. The Black Caps have lost three World Cup finals in seven years (2015, 2019 in ODI and 2021 in T20I).
Under conditions better suited to them, Williamson will look to strike early against the Pakistani batting lineup which has not been in its elements.
Skipper Babar is still struggling while Mohammad Rizwan is also far from his ominous best. They were in panic mode even while chasing a modest 128 against Bangladesh. Kiwi pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee will be back at the same venue where they rattled Australia and Sri Lanka top-order en route to easy wins as they would look for a strong start.
Incidentally, Pakistan too have a strong point in their bowling and the key would be to seize the battle with the bat.
Daryl Mitchell looked in full flow on his return from a finger injury. He along with skipper their man-in-form Glenn Phillips would look to shoulder the responsibility in the middle.
Phillips has been a revelation for the Black Caps having scored a century and a half-century both coming in the last three matches. After a quiet start, skipper Williamson has got some runs under his belt in the last two matches as he would look to steer his side to yet another final.
Pakistan on the other hand would be desperate to prove that their journey to the semis is not a fluke.
Luck apart, it's Pakistan's bowling, superbly spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, that has been instrumental in their success. Making a return from an injury layoff, Shaheen has hit the straps, especially in the last outing when he returned with a career-best four-wicket haul to stall Bangladesh's progress.
With a fair knowledge of the conditions, Rauf has been their 'silent assassin', going about his job meticulously.
Squads
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (Captain), Martin Guptill, Finn Allen (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Trent Boult.
Pakistan
Babar Azam (Captain), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Shan Masood, Mohammad Haris, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.
(With PTI Inputs)
