New Delhi: New Zealand and Pakistan will face each other in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup today. This picture will be very much like the semi-finals of the 1992 World Cup. Even then, Pakistan’s team had reached the last-4 faltering, while New Zealand had made it to the semi-finals while on top. In that match, Pakistan had won an unexpected victory, surprising everyone. Will Pakistan repeat history today or will Kiwi team reverse history?
Kiwi team is better in batting-bowling (T-20 rank 5)
Strength: The pace attack of Southee and Bold is very strong, but the depth in the batting is the real strength. It is difficult to say when which batsman will play a strong innings, that is, the opposition bowlers cannot be sure until all out.
Weakness: The team is handled by captain Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell in the middle overs, but both of them have been seen struggling against leg spin in this tournament. In such a situation, his performance against the in-form Pakistani leg-spinner Shadab can affect the result.
Pakistan is the champion of luck (T-20 rank 4)
Strength: The middle order, which was being said to be weak before the tournament, has taken the team to the semi-finals by showing a great game. Team’s young batsman Mohammad Haris has breathed new life into the batting with his attacking shots.
Weakness: The opening pair of Pakistan team captain Babar Azam and his fellow opener Mohammad Rizwan have won many matches, but both of them struggled to score runs in this World Cup. It will not be easy for this under pressure pair to score runs against Kiwi fast bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult.
Pakistan vs New Zealand
- The two faced each other in 28 T20 matches
- 11 New Zealand won, 17 Pakistan
- Pakistan won 7 out of 10 last matches