 "New Zealand cricket team. Photo: @T20Worldcup")
The finalists for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 were decided after two exciting semifinals. New Zealand cricket team won a thrilling semifinal against 2016 runners-up England, triumphing in a match that was billed as a rematch of their ICC ODI World Cup 2021 final. Meanwhile, Australia in the second semifinal thrashed Pakistan, who came into the knockout game without losing a single match in the tournament.
Chasing 177 to win, the Australians looked in trouble at 157 in the 19th over only for the match to swing in the space of three balls as Matthew Wade enchased on a dropped catch, slamming three consecutive maximums to seal the game.
New Zealand’s road to T20 final
It is the third straight ICC final they have made across three formats, having clinched the inaugural World Test Championship title earlier this year and finished runners-up in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. They were also runners up in 2015, giving them a run of three World Cup finals across four limited-overs competitions, with the 2016 T20 World Cup the outlier.
New Zealand vs Pakistan
The Black Caps' T20 World Cup campaign got off to a shaky start when they were defeated by Pakistan in their opening game and the nature of their loss raised questions over the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand's credentials as contenders.
New Zealand vs India
They put those questions to rest crushing India by eight wickets, with Trent Boult doing the majority of the damage as India were restricted to 110. The Kiwis chased it down with five and a half overs to spare.
New Zealand against Scotland, Namibia and Afghanistan
Scotland then came within 16 runs of chasing down a target of 172 and there was a scare against Namibia too, but by the time the Kiwis reached their final group match, they made no mistake crushing Afghanistan to again seal their spot in the final. It was Boult and Tim Southee who did much of the damage to restrict Afghanistan to 124/8, and the chase was comfortable.
New Zealand vs England semifinal
In the semifinal, they were pitted against England and New Zealand seemed to struggling to get going chasing 167. With the Kiwis needing 57 off 24 deliveries, Jimmy Neesham turned the tide with a 23-run over in which he contributed 19. Daryl Mitchell saw the Kiwis home, finishing unbeaten on 72 off 47 to win with an over to spare.
Chasing 177 to win, the Australians looked in trouble at 157 in the 19th over only for the match to swing in the space of three balls as Matthew Wade enchased on a dropped catch, slamming three consecutive maximums to seal the game.
New Zealand’s road to T20 final
It is the third straight ICC final they have made across three formats, having clinched the inaugural World Test Championship title earlier this year and finished runners-up in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. They were also runners up in 2015, giving them a run of three World Cup finals across four limited-overs competitions, with the 2016 T20 World Cup the outlier.
New Zealand vs Pakistan
The Black Caps' T20 World Cup campaign got off to a shaky start when they were defeated by Pakistan in their opening game and the nature of their loss raised questions over the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand's credentials as contenders.
New Zealand vs India
They put those questions to rest crushing India by eight wickets, with Trent Boult doing the majority of the damage as India were restricted to 110. The Kiwis chased it down with five and a half overs to spare.
New Zealand against Scotland, Namibia and Afghanistan
Scotland then came within 16 runs of chasing down a target of 172 and there was a scare against Namibia too, but by the time the Kiwis reached their final group match, they made no mistake crushing Afghanistan to again seal their spot in the final. It was Boult and Tim Southee who did much of the damage to restrict Afghanistan to 124/8, and the chase was comfortable.
New Zealand vs England semifinal
In the semifinal, they were pitted against England and New Zealand seemed to struggling to get going chasing 167. With the Kiwis needing 57 off 24 deliveries, Jimmy Neesham turned the tide with a 23-run over in which he contributed 19. Daryl Mitchell saw the Kiwis home, finishing unbeaten on 72 off 47 to win with an over to spare.
