NZ v PAK: T20 WC SEMI FINAL PREVIEW

The chances of NZ qualifying for the semis in a group containing the defending champions Australia and England were slim before the World Cup started

The Kiwis just received a drubbing in the Bangladesh tri-series final against Pakistan. They have been beaten twice in the last 4 weeks, but as with every ICC event, they have fought off the odds and reached the final four. It would be a fourth successive final for them, following 2015, 19 ODI WC final and 2021, 2022 t20 WC final.

Prior to the wc, they had not won even a single white ball game in Australia since Feb 2009. Their campaign started with a bang by crushing Australia by 89 runs. Defeated SL from a position of 15-3 and secured their place in top 4 by beating Ireland in the last match. Their only defeat was against England where they fell short by 20 runs.

When PAK where 48-4 against SA at Sydney, they had a 3% chance to qualify for the semis. They clung onto that 3% hope and now are in the semi finals thanks to SA losing to Netherlands and an all round show from Shadab Khan against the Proteas. Mohammad Haris has been a surprise element in the 2 games played so far. PAK also became the 1st team to qualify for the semis by losing 2 games.

Probable XIs

New Zealand

Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi

VENUE

Sydney Cricket Ground

Total matches 18

Matches won batting first 11

Matches won bowling first 6

Average 1st Inns scores 166

Average 2nd Inns scores 132

Highest total recorded 221/5 by AUS vs ENG

Lowest total recorded 101/10 by BAN vs RSA

Highest score chased 200/3 by IND vs AUS

HEAD to HEAD

Both teams have faced each other 28 times in t20is

Overall: PAK leads by 17-11

Batting 1st: PAK leads by 9-5

Batting 2nd: PAK leads by 8 -6

In T20 WCs: PAK leads by 3-2

Last 5 matches: PAK leads by 4-1

Most runs: Mohammad Hafeez (563)

Most wkts: Tim Southee (28)

Recent Form

(Last five matches)

PAKISTAN: W W W L L

NEW ZEALAND: W L W NR W

Match Ups

Conway v Rauf: 29(27), 4 outs

Williamson v Rauf: 44(25), 0 out

Williamson v Shadab: 75(75), 3 outs

Phillips v Shadab: 63(37), 1 out

Phillips v Rauf: 26(21), 2 outs

Phillips v Shaheen: 5(6), 2 outs

Babar v Southee: 48(55), 2 outs

Babar v Boult: 39(23), 0 out

Rizwan v Southee: 45(45), 2 outs

Rizwan v Boult: 60(50), 0 out

Shadab v Sodhi: 72(39), 0 outs

Shadab v Santner: 3(9), 2 outs

Form Update
(last 5 innings)

Key Players & Fantasy Picks

Shadab Khan

He is Pakistan’s best fielder and vice-captain of the side. He is often promoted in the batting order and has won Pakistan 3-4 games with the bat in the last couple of months. He scored 50 in just 20 deliveries against SA in last match. Add to that his 4- over economical spells in every game. ( 10 wkts in 5 games at an eco of 6). He is a complete package in t20s who’ll fetch you plenty of points in fantasy XI

Glenn Phillips

His 100 against SL has been the highlight of the WC so far and became the only batter after Miller and Maxwell to score 2 100s in t20is batting at 4 or below. He has single-handedly carried NZ’s batting in the last 2–3 games and is an excellent athlete on the field. A must pick in your fantasy XI

Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner

Spin to win could be NZ’s mantra against Pakistan on that slow SCG surface.. Sodhi has occasionally traveled but has given them breakthroughs more often. Santner has been bowling economic spells game after game and has picked up 10 wickets in his last 5 games at 6.5 eco. Even against good sides like Australia and England, he didn’t allow the batters to go after him. Either one of them on their day can help you win big in fantasy XI

Iftikhar and Shan Masood have each played a couple of good innings so far. One more batter we can bank on is Devon Conway. He has been quite after his 90 odd against Australia but he is a big game player and its always wise to pick an opener in any fantasy XI

Wild Card

Both Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam had a tournament to forget so far. This hasn’t come as a total surprise since their issues with scoring rate has been widely acknowledged. It would be risky banking on either of these openers considering their form but you never know when someone like Babar Azam may step up in a crucial knockout game.

Similarly a possibility of a Kane Williamson masterclass also can’t be ruled out. He has always stepped up in knockouts. Be it 2019 wc semis, wtc final, 2021 t20 wc final or against RCB and DD in 2020 IPL knockouts.

Fantasy XI