Pakistan defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in the first semi-final to progress to the finals of the T20 World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Pakistan have advanced to their third final in the history of the tournament.
Pacer Mitchell McClenaghan shared his opinion on New Zealand’s performance yesterday. The former Mumbai Indians player said that the team lacks match-winners who can consistently win games for the team.
“It was a wide-open tournament, and it was one that I personally believe we should have won. I hope I’m wrong, but it could be a dark five to 10 years of New Zealand cricket. I just feel like we lack winners, we’re too nice,” said McClenaghan while speaking to SENZ Breakfast.
Pakistan was outstanding with the bat – Mitchell McClenaghan
New Zealand has played consistently throughout this tournament but couldn’t stand up against Pakistan in the semi-finals. Mitchell McClenaghan further said that they were favourites to lift the trophy but were outplayed by Pakistan.
“I honestly believe that we were favourites after that first game against Australia; we should have been favourites to win this tournament after the way the other teams around the world were playing form-wise. But Pakistan was outstanding with the bat and certainly chased that down,” he added.
Pakistan has defied all odds and has now made it to the finals. A week ago, no one would have given them a chance to qualify for the semi-finals, but a lifeline from the Netherlands just reignited the spark inside the team, and there’s no looking back for them.
They are no longer the team that played in this tournament’s initial stages. Now they are playing on all cylinders firing as their openers got runs, the middle order has found a rhythm, and most importantly, Shaheen Shah Afridi is back in form.
Now they will wait for whom they will face in the ultimate clash, England or arch-rivals India.
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