During the first semi-final of the ICCT20 World Cup, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by seven wickets.
Pakistan scored 153 runs in 20 overs, losing 3 wickets in the process. Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan played crucial roles in Pakistan's victory as a team. A total of 53 runs were scored and 57 were scored in both of their respective games. Trent Boult accounted for two wickets for New Zealand.
At the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, New Zealand batted first and scored 152 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs. Daryl Mitchell scored 53 runs while Kane Williamson hit 46, and both players remained undefeated. Two of Pakistan's wickets were taken by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
A Look at Pakistan's Efforts
At the 153-run mark, Pakistan sent in Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. In the first over, Rizwan declared that he would be taking an offensive stance rather than a defensive one. New Zealand lost a lot of ground because wicketkeeper David Conway dropped a catch by Babar Azam off Trent Boult's fourth delivery.
Constant fours from the two openers completely demolished the New Zealand bowling attack. Babar and Rizwan had the seventh 100-run partnership in Twenty20 Internationals. Babar Azam hit his fifty off of 38 balls, thanks to seven fours. After he had scored 53 runs off of 42 balls, Trent Boult bowled him out.
Near the stumps, Mohammad Rizwan caught Trent Boult's low full ball. In his 57-run, 43-ball outing, he belted five fours.
Unfortunately for New Zealand, their fielding was pretty poor in the most important game. Ash Sodhi drops the catch made by Mohammad Haris. When just two runs were needed to win, Harris tried to play a needless shot from Mitchell Santner and lost his wicket. Harris was also bowled within striking distance of the target in the preceding game.
As the game-winning shooter for Pakistan, Shan Masood deserves all the credit. He stayed in the game despite facing "three and Iftikhar Ahmed Safar."
How well New Zealand did
Finn Allen and Dion Conway were New Zealand's opening pair. Shaheen Shah Afridi really blew everyone away with his first over. He went for the in-swing with his first delivery, but it was an over-pitch, and Finn Allen smacked a superb boundary past mid-on. However, Shaheen began to exhibit symptoms of the illness on the subsequent balls. Finn Allen's bat was hit into the pads by his second delivery, drawing a loud protest from Pakistan. Because of New Zealand's Revo, the umpire's decision was reversed. After the second ball hit Finn Allen's pads again, he became frustrated and headed back to the pavilion.
After an early loss, the New Zealand batting lineup played it cautious by just hitting balls within their strike zone. However, David Conway was dismissed trying to steal a run in the sixth over. He scored 21 base hits.
This was the third out, and it was the dangerous batsman Gillen Phillips. After Mohammad Nawaz failed to dismiss him, he was given another chance, but he was dismissed for only six runs in the ninth over.
After losing three wickets, Daryl Mitchell came to the crease to add Kane Williamson to the score. Their combined 68-run output was a huge relief for their team. New Zealand's first six runs came from Mohammad Wasim Jr. in the thirteenth over, which was bowled by Williamson. He had scored 46 runs off of 42 balls when he was bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
After scoring 59 in the first 10 overs, New Zealand's Black Caps scored 93 in the following 10 overs. To reach 53 not out off 35 balls, Daryl Mitchell hit three fours and a six. James Neesham added 16 runs and remained undefeated to the scoreboard.
Will make an effort to exert force
According to Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, there is no grass on the field, so all eyes are on the game and the weather.
Even if we can't change the toss' outcome, the green team's captain, Babar Azam, promised to put the opposition under as much pressure as possible (New Zealand). The tri-series gave us a lot of confidence, even though New Zealand has strong players and we will play cricket according to the conditions.