New Zealand will lock horns with Pakistan in the first semi-final of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Wednesday, November 9. Both teams have had a contrasting campaign so far in the tournament but will be fancying themselves to win this game and book a final berth.
Pakistan have sneaked into the semi-finals from the verge of getting eliminated. They lost their first two Super 12 matches against India and Zimbabwe, but three consecutive wins and South Africa’s loss at the hands of the Netherlands ensured the Men in Green a place in the semi-finals.
Babar Azam and Co. will play out of their skins and capitalize on the opportunity that has come from nowhere. The spotlight will be on their pace unit, comprising Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim. Babar and Mohammad Rizwan have struggled at the top order, but there is no more room for error for the duo and the team.
New Zealand and Pakistan meet at the SCG with a spot in the Final up for grabs 💪
Which team wins today?#T20WorldCup | #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/V9cHaS4Mk1
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) November 9, 2022
New Zealand, on the other hand, reached the semi-finals after topping Group 1. Their only defeat in the Super 12 stage came at the hands of England at the Gabba in Brisbane. The Kiwis started their campaign by thrashing the hosts and defending champions Australia by 89 runs. They also defeated Sri Lanka and Ireland, while their match against Afghanistan was washed out due to rain.
Kane Williamson and Co. have performed consistently throughout the competition and will hope to continue the momentum. While their bowling unit has done well, the batters will have to be at their best against a star-studded Pakistan pace attack.
Match Details
Details: NZ vs PAK, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, Super 12, Group 1, 1st Semi-Final
Date and Time: November 09, 2022, 1.30 pm IST
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground is a decent one to bat on, with the average first-innings score reading 179. Five out of the six matches at the venue have been won by the team batting first, enticing sides to prefer defending upon winning the toss.
Predicted Playing XIs
New Zealand (NZ): Devon Conway (wk), Finn Allen, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee and Ish Sodhi.
Pakistan (PAK): Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Match Prediction
A high-profile clash awaits as both teams vouch for a place in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. These two teams recently played against each other in a triangular series where Pakistan thrashed New Zealand in the final. However, the Kiwis are a different side in ICC events and expect them to come out on top at the end of this game. Betway has also placed its odds in favour of New Zealand at 2.10.
NZ vs BAN – Fantasy Team Suggestions
Fantasy Team 1: Devon Conway, Mohammad Rizwan, Finn Allen (c), Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Shadab Khan (vc), Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf
Fantasy Team 2: Devon Conway (c), Mohammad Haris, Kane Williamson, Babar Azam (vc), Glenn Phillips, Shadab Khan, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah
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