T20WC Final Preview: AUS vs NZ

The final match of the ICC World T20 2021 is here. Australia and New Zealand will fight for the title at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai and the cricketing world will get a new world t20 champion after this game.

Both teams are coming off a nail-biting victory in the semi-finals. New Zealand needed 57 in the last 4 overs while Australia needed 50 in the last overs and both teams won the game with an over left. Both the sides will be high on confidence and it’s going to be a cracker of a final today.
 

New Zealand  has been very disciplined with its approach. They have played as a complete unit throughout the tournament and they’ll look to continue the same in the final as well. Daryl Mitchell scored a brilliant 72 in the last game and is looking in good form. Senior batters like Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson will have to be at their best in this game. Jimmy Neesham played a match-winning cameo against England.

Tim Southee and the spinners, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner were brilliant with the ball. Trent Boult and Adam Milne went for runs but they’ll be eyeing a good performance in this most important game of the tournament. Neesham too did a good job with the ball.

Australia batted very aggressively in the second semi-final against Pakistan. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh played freely despite losing Finch early and laid a solid foundation. Both Warner and Finch looked in excellent touch and Aussies will expect them to do the same in the final as well.

The poor form of Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell is a concern but they are big match players and expect them to come back stronger in this big match. Marcus Stoinis is looking good with the bat lower down the order and we all saw how Matthew Wade snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the last game.

The Aussie bowlers got a bit of a beating in the semi-final against Pakistan but they’ll give their all in the finals. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa will be the key bowlers for the Aussies. Pat Cummins has had a poor campaign so far. Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis will bowl the quota of the 5th bowler.

Probable Playing 11

Australia

There shouldn’t be any changes in the Aussie line-up and they are expected to go with the same team.

Probable 11: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
 

New Zealand

Devon Conway fractured his hand in the last game and is out of this game. Tim Seifert will replace him in the eleven.

Probable 11: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult.

Pitch Report

The pitch at the Dubai International Stadium will be excellent for batting. Scores of 170+ are expected in this game. Chasing teams will get some help as dew comes into play in the second innings. The Pacers will get some swing with the new ball and spinners too will get some assistance off the wicket. Teams will look to chase as 11 out of 12 night games have been won by the teams chasing in the Super 12 round.

Head to Head

Overall: Australia lead 9-5
In T20WC: New Zealand lead 1-0
 

Match-Ups

Warner vs Southee: 86 off 47 balls, 1 dismissal
Warner vs Sodhi: 9 runs for 2 dismissals
Finch vs Boult-Southee: Average 75, SR 138
Finch vs Sodhi: 45 runs for 3 dismissals
Maxwell vs Boult: 24 off 24 balls, 2 dismissals
Maxwell vs Southee: Average 22, SR 184
Maxwell vs Milne: 46 off 22 balls, no dismissals
Wade vs Boult: 37 runs for 3 dismissals
Stoinis vs Sodhi: 42 runs for 3 dismissals
Guptill vs Zampa: 63 runs at SR 185, 1 dismissal
Guptill vs Right Arm Pace: Average 37, SR 146
Kane vs Zampa: 37 off 38 balls, 2 dismissals
Kane vs Maxwell: 6 runs off 10 balls, 2 dismissals
Neesham vs Right Arm Pace: Average 39, SR 173

Key Players

Australia

• David Warner: David Warner has found his form and is looking in sublime touch. He has scored 236 runs in 6 games at an average of 47.30 and a strike-rate of 148.42. Warner is one of the most dangerous batters when on song and will look to take his team over the line with his batting.
   
• Adam Zampa: Adam Zampa has picked 12 wickets in 6 games and his economy rate is just 5.69. He has picked wickets and has stopped the flow of runs as well. With Devon Conway out of this game James Neesham is the only left-hand batter in the Kiwi making Zampa very crucial for the Aussies.
   
• Mitchell Starc: Starc went for a few runs in the semi-final against Pakistan but he has bowled till now and will be a key bowler for the Aussies with the new ball and in the death overs as well. He has 9 wickets in 6 games at an economy of 8.17.

New Zealand

• Kane Williamson: Kane Williamson is yet to play a big knock in this tournament and there won’t be a better day than the World T20 final to do that. He has scored 131 runs in 6 games at an average of 32.75 but his strike rate of just 94.24 has been below average and he’ll look to improve that in this game. Kane is the best batter for his side and will look to lead his team to their first ICC title in this game.
   
• Martin Guptill: Guptill has scored 180 runs in 6 games at an average of 30 and strike-rate of 131.38, Guptill is an attacking batter and will look to take the attack to the Aussies in the power play. He has played some vital knocks in this tournament and there will be a lot of expectations from him in this all-important game.
   
• Daryl Mitchell: Daryl Mitchell has grabbed the opportunity of opening the innings with both hands. He has done pretty well for the Kiwis at the top. He scored a brilliant 72 in the first semi-final against England and took his team over the line. Mitchell has scored 197 runs at an average of 39.40 at a strike rate of 140.71. Mitchell, like Guptill, will look to exploit the field restrictions in the first power play.

Dream11 Prediction

Top Captaincy Picks

• David Warner
• Adam Zampa
• Mitchell Marsh (risky)
• Aaron Finch
• Kane Williamson

If Australia bats first

If New Zealand bats first