T20 World Cup 2022, first semi-final: New Zealand VS Pakistan - Match predictions and tips

    Pakistan and New Zealand will face off in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with the winner playing in the finals

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    Semi-Final: New Zealand VS Pakistan Semi-Final: New Zealand VS Pakistan

    New Zealand topped group one with three wins in five matches. While Pakistan finished second in group two with six points.

    New Zealand has only lost one match in this tournament, but they have a poor recent record against Pakistan. They will need to play their best to win and qualify for Sunday's final, but it is achievable for the Black Caps.

    Pakistan appeared in the T20 World Cup 2022 when they lost their opening matches to India and Zimbabwe. However, they have gained momentum, and their bowling attack is performing well.

    New Zealand's players to watch

    1. Kane Williamson- The skipper scored his highest tournament score with 61 runs from 35 balls against Ireland. He will look forward to continuing the momentum and is our pick of the Batter for New Zealand.

    2. Lockie Ferguson: He has bagged a total of seven wickets from four matches and is brilliant bowling line length.

    Pakistan's players to watch

    1. Mohammad Nawaz: He can sustain the middle order if openers fail to perform. He was looking good against SA, but he is yet to deliver a big score.

    2. Shaheen Shah Afridi, the left-arm pace bowler, had been out with an injury but returned to the game last week in Sydney with figures of 3-14 and followed up with 4-22 in Adelaide on Sunday.

    Match Prediction

    Pakistan is predicted to win the match as Pakistan leads 17-11 in Head to head T20s. New Zealand never defeated Pakistan in Semi-finals.

    Top Picks

    Kane Williamson

    Lockie Ferguson

    Mohammad Nawaz

    Michael Bracewell 

    Pitch Report

    The pitch at Sydney Cricket Ground has been good for both batting and bowling; however, batting first is usually the better option, as teams have had more success doing so. An average score on this pitch is likely to be 168. Seventeen matches have been played at the ground, and the side batting first won 10 times.

    Team Squad

    New Zealand- Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham. Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, and Trent Boult.

    Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

     

    Editor's Picks