CRICKET
Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st T20 Semi-final Highlights: NZ vs Pak World Cup 2022, follow ball-by-ball commentary, match scorecard.
Pakistan vs New Zealand (PAK vs NZ): Pakistan will lock horns with New Zealand in the first semifinal of T20 World Cup 2022. Babar Azam's men were on the verge of being knocked out of the tournament after losing to team India and Zimbabwe but three wins back-to-back got them back in contention for a semifinal berth, which Pakistan were able to clinch after beating Bangladesh.
They also got a helping hand from Netherlands who defeated South Africa by 13 runs to knock the Proteas out. New Zealand on the other hand have been dominant at the World Cup so far, winning all of their games, and losing just once. Kane Williamson's side has an incredible track record in ICC tournaments, but they will hope to go all the way and lift the World Cup this time around.
Babar's form has been a major talking point, as he has struggled for runs of late, the same can also be said for Williamson, who did smash a fifty against Ireland in the previous game.
Both skippers would hope to find their groove and hope to lead their side to the final of T20 World Cup 2022, which will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 13.
Fifty in T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal against England, fifty in the semifinal against Pakistan again in 2022. Darryl Mitchell chooses the big occasions. If not for him, New Zealand would've struggled.
Two runs from the final two balls and New Zealand crawl towards 150.
NZ 144/4 (19)
Shaheen Afridi continues to deliver in must-win games for Pakistan.
3 for 14 vs South Africa.
4 for 22 vs Bangladesh.
2 for 24 vs New Zealand.
3 for 14 vs South Africa.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 9, 2022
4 for 22 vs Bangladesh.
2 for 24 vs New Zealand.
Three terrific performances by Shaheen in must win games for Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2022. pic.twitter.com/cP2vCG5okG
Shaheen Afridi didn't start the tournament well, but he's finding his groove again. Picking up important wickets. Allen and Williamson today. Mitchell is still looking to help New Zealand cross the 150-mark. Neesham also joins him. Pakistan have them under the cosh, but all it takes is one BIG over.
NZ 123/4 (17)
Kane has to depart, his laboured inning comes to an end, Shaheen strikes and hits his trademark celebration. Kane tries to do something he's not known for and perishes. Afridi brings Pakistan back. Slower delivery, Kane did move late but he moved too far across to miss this ball.
NZ 117/4 (16.2)
Pakistan's women's team are playing against Ireland, but the ladies have eyes on the Men's side too! Wow, this sport gives you moments like these!
Supporting the boys from Lahore
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 9, 2022
on two matches in the women's team dressing room #WeHaveWeWill | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2ACJx50wFM
Last year Darryl Mitchell had played an unbeaten 72-run knock against England in the semifinal. Mitchell coming up top again? Meanwhile Williamson survives as the ball drops just before Rizwan can get his glove on it.
10 runs from the over. Only the death overs remain.
Just seven runs off the 15th over. Pakistan looking to finish strong, final 30 balls left. Can New Zealand get to a part total. Two runs from the first ball of Harris Raus's subsequent over, Harris Rauf misses a good chance. Fumbled and chance goes begging.
NZ 108/3 (15.1)
With a boundary, Williamson dispatches the ball in over the ropes, and New Zealand cross the 100-run mark. Shaheen started with two dots but then gave away a chance and Williamson made him pay. A single to follow it up. Mitchell should face the majority of these deliveries now, he's looked in good touch.
Mitchell dances down the track! Dispatches it down the field, and a boundary. He's known for this kind of hitting, brings the end of the over. 14 runs off this over, New Zealand will want to keep their foot on the pedal for a while.
NZ 73/3 (11)
The ball was in the air for a long time, they were calling for a catch but the ball was cut by Michell towards a boundary. Williamson has been at the strike for a while now and hasn't hit a single four. Pressure is building, he's faced 25 balls.
NZ 68/3 (10.4)
Not the start New Zealand or Kane Williamson would have expected when he chose to bat first. Pakistan's strength has been bowling and they have completely blown away the Kiwis. Something has got to give for NZ.
Seven runs off the 10th overs, NZ 59/3 (10)
New Zealand are finally over the 50-run mark, but it has come in nine overs, we're approaching the midway point in this inning. Can they get to a decent total? This track is proving to be a difficult track to bat on. Daryl Mitchell joins Williamson in the middle. The skipper has to take the onus.
KANE: We are gonna have a bat. Used surface. We've got the same team. It's important we assess to the changing conditions quickly. Our focus is on this game.
BABAR: Even we would have batted first. Same team. We are confident as a team and we'll look to carry the momentum. They have quality players, we'll try to be calm. We are trying to focus on this game.
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
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
Ravi Shastri spoke during pitch report and revealed that the track is batting-friendly. The ball will come to the bat nicely, and there's not too much bounce like Adelaide here in SCG.
Bat or bowl first?
— ICC (@ICC) November 9, 2022
The Pakistan skipper takes a close look at the SCG deck#T20WorldCup | #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/XZHeUmxw2P
The toss is about to happen soon. For all the fantasy lovers out there, check out our ultimate guide to make sure you don't miss out on any of the top picks.
Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar has wished Babar Azam and Co good luck ahead of New Zealand tie. He took to Twitter and wrote, "Go for it boys. Fight hard & dont let the opposition control. Laga do phainta."
Go for it boys. Fight hard & dont let the opposition control. Laga do phainta. pic.twitter.com/Wb0g72icyU
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 9, 2022
In a parallel world, what if all the finalists where in a single WhatsApp, and there's a twist, what if Elon Musk joins the discussion too? Take a look:
Big day of Cricket.
— Rario (@rariohq) November 9, 2022
Intense discussion ongoing#Cricket #Rario pic.twitter.com/YqNMPWl8Wg
Here are Pakistan players leaving for the SCG from their team hotel.
Off to the stadium for the semi-final against New Zealand #WeHaveWeWill | #T20WorldCup | #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/PnkDz2DviR
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 9, 2022
Here's how New Zealand and Pakistan could line up today for the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal 1 in Sydney on Wednesday.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Daryll Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Meanwhile, there is a fresh injury scare for Team India as Virat Kohli has also been hit by the ball. He left the nets session in some discomfort. Earlier, skipper Rohit Sharma had also been hit on Tuesday.
READ| After Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli hit by ball in nets ahead of T20 World Cup semi-final
The last time New Zealand and Pakistan squared off in the shortest format, it was during the final of a seven-match tri-series in New Zealand. Pakistan prevailed back then. Here's how the two sides have fare against each other in recent times.
Babar Azam and Kane Williamson have been scrutinised for their performances at the World Cup so far. Here's how each of the four captains, including Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler have fared in the tournament so far.
The 4 captains in #T20WC2022
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 8, 2022
Kane Williamson (NZ) 4 inns, 132 runs, av 33.00, SR 118.92, HS 61
Jos Buttler (Eng) 4 inns, 119 runs, av 29.75, SR 132.22, HS 73
Rohit Sharma (Ind) 5 inns, 89 runs, av 17.70, SR 109.88, HS 53
Babar Azam (Pak) 5 inns, 39 runs, av 7.80, SR 61.90, HS 25
BIG challenge for Mukesh Ambani as Noel Tata makes this move after Ratan Tata's death, it is...
Neelam Kothari finally reveals if she was in relationship with Govinda: ‘In those days we were…’
SEBI's first reaction on Gautam Adani bribery case, begins inquiry into...
Meet Hyderabad girl who began NEET preparation in class 7, scored 99.9 percentile, secured AIR...
Badshah breaks his silence on dating rumours with Pakistani star Hania Aamir: ‘We have a lot of…’
Delhi pollution: Air quality deteriorates to 'severe' category in Delhi-NCR; AQI at 419
'I think bro is her EX': Man performs risky bike stunt with burqa-clad woman in Bangladesh, watch
Viral video: Little girl's power-packed dance to 'beer song' melts hearts online, watch
Explained: Why India must win the 1st Test against Australia in Perth
Raima Sen mourns Bharat Dev Varma's demise, pens emotional note for 'great father, great husband'
DNA TV Show: Ahead of Maharashtra poll results, MVA, Mahayuti engage in resort politics
Maharashtra: Stage set for assembly poll results; Mahayuti, MVA confident of their victories
All set for vote counting in Jharkhand tomorrow; NDA, JMM-led alliances confident of winning
Watch: Australia star inquires Rishabh Pant about his next IPL team, gets 2-word reply
Shah Rukh Khan’s house Mannat was first offered to his industry rival…, but he refused because...
The Visionary Who Promises a Blue Sky for India: Holger Thorsten Schubart’s G20 Climate Speech
The Surge of High-End Living: Luxury Residential Market to Outpace Other Segments
FeFCon 2024 to be Held in Bangalore: A Premier Event on Fever Management
'That’s wild': Noida man turns cigarette butts into teddy bears in viral video, watch
London Airport evacuates passengers over security threat, thousands stranded
The World’s First Innovative Iron Supplement to Combat Iron Deficiency and Anaemia
Meet grandmother who became fashion icon after trying on her granddaughter’s clothes
IND vs AUS: Rishabh Pant joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in elite WTC list, becomes 3rd Indian to...
'All scripted drama...': Puneet Superstar allegedly assaulted by influencers in viral video, watch
Actress Ana de Armas caught kissing Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s son in viral photos
Oreshnik's Shadow: Will Russia's hypersonic missile force west to back down?
‘You’re So Beautiful’: World’s tallest woman meets world’s shortest woman over tea, pics go viral
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Consequences of GRAP-4 are drastic, may have adverse effects, says SC
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Schools likely to stay closed till..., check city-wise update
Maharashtra: 3 killed, 9 hospitalised after gas leak at fertiliser plant in Sangli
THIS farm is selling a cup of coffee for Rs 28000, but there's a twist, it is...
Chhattisgarh: 10 Maoists killed after encounter with security personnel in Sukma
Mukesh Ambani's SUPERHIT plan for Jio users, offers unlimited 5G access for 1 year for just Rs...
IND vs AUS 1st Test: KL Rahul's dismissal sparks DRS controversy in Perth Test
Dense fog, heavy rain predicted in these states till November 25; check here
Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile: Which nations are within its range?
Bihar teacher, principal reach school in drunken state; know what happened next
'I have faced a lot of...': Arjun Kapoor REVEALS his biggest fear amid break up with Malaika Arora
How millions of Indians may get affected due to US indictment of Gautam Adani in bribery case
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan says 'missing someone is okay but...'