The Pakistan cricket team has stormed into the finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup by defeating New Zealand in the semi-finals on Wednesday, November 9 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. They put up a clinical show against the Kiwis to secure a seven wickets win. Mohammad Rizwan won the Player of the Match, for his brilliant fifty in an important game.
Bowling first, Pakistan restricted New Zealand to 152 runs in 20 overs. New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson scored 42 runs, but couldn’t the innings, scoring at just a 109.52 strike rate. Meanwhile, Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham played fine knocks to take New Zealand beyond 150 runs. Mitchell scored an unbeaten 53, while Neesham slammed 16 runs off just 12 deliveries.
In response, Pakistan openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan got them off to a great start. They put on over 100 runs in around 12 overs, before losing their first wicket. Babar Azam was dismissed for 53 runs off 42 deliveries, while Rizwan scored 57 runs off 43 balls. Pakistan won the match in the last over, with five balls to spare. They will be playing finals on Sunday, November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
WHAT A WIN, PAKISTAN! 🤯
Pakistan have reached their third Men's #T20WorldCup final 👏#NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/dumaIcWVeZ
— ICC (@ICC) November 9, 2022
Pakistan began the 2022 T20 World Cup with two consecutive losses against India and Zimbabwe. They were almost on the verge of getting knocked out of the tournament. However, the Babar Azam-led team pulled off a brilliant turnaround, winning their next three matches to secure a berth in the semis. Their win against New Zealand has left the fans delighted.
Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to Pakistan’s win against New Zealand in the semi-finals:
30 years on, Pakistan will play another World Cup final at the MCG! 🇵🇰#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/eFRz1I1kFc
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 9, 2022
Admirable journey in this World Cup for team Pakistan coming from behind. #PakvsNz
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 9, 2022
Another upset in this world cup.. well played Pakistan. Better luck next time New Zealand. #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/YOgpODSff4
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) November 9, 2022
1992 memories coming back .. Brilliant performance from Pakistan .. #ICCWorldCup2022
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 9, 2022
Simply put, Pakistan just played a near perfect game of cricket. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 9, 2022
If you had asked Pakistan to script this return, I don't think they could have written this themselves!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 9, 2022
Amazing, phenomenal and a supremely next level performance from Pakistan. WOW. On to the final of #ICCT20WorldCup2022 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) November 9, 2022
Congratulations to the Pakistan team on their brilliant and high-energy performance in the semi-finals. Huge congratulations to the great coach and mentor behind the team, the one who never failed to set an example himself @HaydosTweets #PakvsNz #T20WorldCup2022
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) November 9, 2022
Dil dil pakistan…. @TheRealPCB #PakvsNz #T20Iworldcup2022 Good luck in the final🏏🏏✌️✌️
— Vernon Philander (@VDP_24) November 9, 2022
T20 World Cup final for Pakistan!
Amazing scenes at SCG. Boys have their ticket to Melbourne.— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 9, 2022
Pakistan should at least trend #ThankYouNetherland 😂 pic.twitter.com/QBSxr4hyl7
— Rajabets India🇮🇳👑 (@smileandraja) November 9, 2022
Goosebumps … #Pakistan #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/axje2jrVAr
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoorze) November 9, 2022
SHAHEEN LIFTING PAKISTAN'S FAVORITES AFLOAT!#T20WorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/eQ5eUNwelb
— Change of Pace (@ChangeofPace414) November 9, 2022
Our start wasn’t good, but the guys kept believing: Mohammad Rizwan
Pakistan’s star player of the semi-finals, Mohammad Rizwan expressed that the team kept believing in themselves despite the two early losses in the tournament. Speaking about his and Babar Azam’s performance, Rizwan stated that the two worked hard, and kept fighting their form. He said at the post-match presentation,
“Luckily, the fifty was in the semifinal. Babar and I were struggling but we worked hard and believed. We kept fighting. When we crossed the boundary line, we decided to take the attack to the new ball bowlers. When we finished the powerplay, we knew one of us had to bat deep as it was a tricky pitch. Our start (to the tournament) wasn’t good, but the guys kept believing.”
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