Pakistan beats New Zealand to reach T20 World Cup final: Babar, Rizwan and talking points from game

NZ vs PAK 1st Semi Final, Talking Points: Pakistan beats New Zealand by seven wickets to enter the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

Mohammad Rizwan pings one on the up, through the covers, to give Pakistan a flying start in chase of 153 against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal in Sydney. | Photo Credit: AFP

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s Live coverage of the T20 World Cup 2022 first semifinal between New Zealand and Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.

Babar Azam on Pakistan qualifying for the World Cup: “Thanks to the crowd. We feel like we’re playing at home. Got a good start with the first 6 overs with the ball. Later on the ball didn’t come on well. Fast bowlers finished well. We planned before going that we’ll utilise the powerplay. Haris is young guy and showing his aggression. He is playing very well. We’re going to enjoy this moment. But at the same time have focus on the final.”

Kane Williamson explains New Zealand’s loss: “We were put under pressure early. Pakistan bowled very nicely. We managed to wrestle back some momentum with an unbelievable knock from Mitchell. At the halfway stage we were feeling it was a competitive total. Wicket was a bit tough - used surface. Very disappointing to not make Pakistan work a lot harder. They were outstanding. We were outplayed. It’s a tough pill for us to swallow. Babar and Rizwan put us under pressure. If we’re honest, we wanted to be more disciplined in our areas. At the end of the day, Pakistan certainly deserve to be winners. There’s been a lot of good cricket. Throughout the round-robin, we’ve played nicely. Today we weren’t at our best. Having said that, we know the fickle nature of T20 cricket.”

Matthew Hayden wants Pakistan vs India Final: “Fantastic. Tonight was very special and a few things came out for us. Everyone will talk about Babar and Rizwan, but that bowling attack did an unbelievable job. Sky is the limit and both of these guys have done it for Pakistan for a number of years and I also want to mention Haris as well. He faces every fast bowler in the nets and smashes them. On this surface, the bowlers had to adapt and we got Shaheen back up and running. Once it starts to reverse-swing, boy! he’s hard to handle. Haris can bowl 150kph. I’d like to face India, pretty much because of the spectacle. It’s unthinkable.”

Mohammad Rizwan Player of the Match: “Luckily, the fifty was in the semifinal. Babar and I were struggling but we worked hard and believed. We kept fighting. When we crossed the line, we decided to take the attack to the new ball bowlers. When we finished the powerplay, one of us had to bat deep as it was a tricky pitch. Our start wasn’t good, but the guys kept believing.”

Pakistan tames New Zealand, fly to Melbourne: Pakistan enters the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 and what a story this has been for the Babar Azam-led side. Who would have thought they would make it to the final after losing against India and Zimbabwe, staring at the exit door. But the Netherlands and South Africa played their part in helping Pakistan stay alive and with a win against Bangladesh the men in green set up a semifinal clash against New Zealand and they have outgunned Kane Williamson and his side. The bowlers did well to silence the New Zealand batsmen despite losing the toss and chasing 153, Babar and Mohammad hammered half-centuries and bossed the run chase. New Zealand didn’t look threatening with the ball and were sloppy on the field and although they managed to break the 105-run record opening stand, Muhammad Harris provided the finishing kick to help his side knockout New Zealand and board the flight to Melbourne where they wait for the winner of the second semifinal between India vs England. Phew! What a roller-coaster World Cup this has been. Celebrations will continue till dawn in Karachi.

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Harris tees off: Muhammad Harris has taken the task to finish the job as he smokes Ferguson for a boundary and a six - first a gorgeous shot through the extra cover for a boundary and then hammers the fast bowler’s back of length delivery over long-leg for a massive six. Pakistan is in touching distance of entering the final.

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Pakistan set for massive win: Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris have kept Pakistan on track in the run chase and it’s almost all over for New Zealand as they need a miracle to win from here. The partnership is growing steadily and the pair should see off the chase without any hiccups. New Zealand has no reviews left and Pakistan bossing the run chase. 

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Redemption for Babar - Babar Azam rises from the ashes as the Pakistan skipper blasts a half-century and Mohammad Rizwan follows his skipper as the wicket-keeper hits a brilliant half-century to put Pakistan in a commanding position. The game is slipping away from New Zealand despite Southee getting Rizwan to break the 105-run opening stand. The pair scripted a new cord as they registered their third 100-plus partnership in T20 World Cups - the most by any pair in the history of the tournament. Mohammad Haris is the new batsman and all that he needs to do is to knock the ball around and rotate the strike as Pakistan is under no pressure as far as the required runrate is concerned.

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Babar, Rizwan near half-centuries: Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam have put on a batting show in Sydney with the green army backing the Pakistan openers, who have almost taken the game away from New Zealand. The Kane Williamson-led side is playing catch-up at the moment as both Babar and Rizwan are batting with great control and authority with half-centuries on the horizon. Babar has cashed in on the life he received early in the innings and has slowly and steadily climbed back into form. Rizwan is striking the ball beautifully and Pakistan’s dig out firmly believes they will travel to Melbourne for the final. Who would have thought five days back that Pakistan would stage such a turnaround. New Zealand dug out looks pensive with Williamson trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat.  

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Babar, Rizwan leave New Zealand clueless - Mitchell Santner created an opportunity and almost had Babar Azam leg before but height was the issue there as New Zealand lose their review. The runs and boundaries are coming thick and fast with Williamson running out of ideas to stop the onslaught. The drop catch has proved costly to New Zealand as Babat is striking the ball well and is batting on 30 off 23 balls and the pair has stitched an unbeaten 68-run partnership. Pakistan has ticked all the boxes till now and only a collapse can halt their march into the final. New Zealand in desperate need for wickets. 

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Babar, Rizwan race away: Lockie Ferguson is the first change bowler inside the PowerPlay and it’s a bit surprising move from Williamson. Babar has got some rhythm as he welcomes Ferguson with a lovely drive down the ground and Rizwan is in a hurry as Pakistan is dealing in boundaries. It doesn’t matter how the runs are coming as Rizwan and Babar have taken the attacking approach, pushing New Zealand on the backfoot. The onslaught has certainly rattled the Kiwis and Williamson needs to do something to pick wickets and get the game back in controil.  

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Babar gets life - Conway has handed Babar Azam a golden life in the very first over of Trent Boult as the wicketkeeper failed to latch on to a catch, as the ball flew low to the right of the keeper, whose inital trigger movement was to the left and then went diving to his right but failed to grab it. Babar has scored 39 runs in this tournament before this match and will the Pakistan skipper make use of the life remains to be seen. He is a bit tentative at the moment as Rizwan is off the blocks, busy rotating the strike and both Boult and Time Southee will be eyeing a couple of breakthroughs inside the PowerPlay.

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Mitchell half-century takes New Zealand to 152/4 - New Zealand would feel they are about 20 runs short as Pakistan does extremely well with the ball to restrict New Zealand to 152/4. Daryl Mitchell worked hard and hit a crucial unbeaten half-century and the 68-run partnership off 50 balls with Kane Williamson gave New Zealand bowlers a target to defend. Mind you, it’s not seaming and swinging and Ian Bishop did mention that the pitch is more or less like that is laid in the subcontinent. Credit to the Pakistan bowlers for hitting the right lengths and mixing the deliveries on a dry picture and digging the slower ones to surprise the batsmen. New Zealand has the bowling to defend 152 but needs wickets upfront. The focus will once again be on Babar Azam and the Pakistan skipper will look to lead from the front by letting his bat do the talking. 

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Williamson misses fifty - Shaheen Afridi has broken the partnership between Williamson and Mitchell as he sends the bails flying with Williamson committing to play a cheeky lap by moving far across the crease only to miss the ball. What a time to get a wicket and it’s the well-set Williamson who departs for a well-made 42-ball 46. Mitchell holds the key as James Neesham walks out to the middle and New Zealand needs some big hits going their way to post at least 150. Pakistan, meanwhile, will look to finish well at the death. 

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal Updates: Williamson attacks - Kane Williamson has decided to break free and the New Zealand skipper dispatches Mohammad Wasim over the mid-wicket for the first six of the innings and then goes to survive a LBW review by Pakistan. Height was always an issue as Wasim bowls a slower one, Williamson lined up for a pull but missed the ball and the impact was very high on this occasion. Another big appeal from Pakistan in the very next delivery was turned down as an inside edge saved Williamson. The fifty-run partnership is up between Williamson and Williamson and it has come off 35 balls. Pressure back on Pakistan.

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup semifinal Updates: New Zealand awaits Mitchell magic - Daryl Mitchell would like to play an innings of substance and quality like he did against England in last year’s semifinal as Pakistan is bossing the game at the moment. New Zealand is not able to break away from the schakles as the run-rate is just above six and either of the batsmen have to kick on at some stage and get the boundaries. Shadab Khan is rolling through his overs with Mohammad Nawaz at the other end. Nawaz got a wicket in his very first over as he dismissed Glenn Phillips, New Zealand’s best batsman against spin and Pakistan has kept a lid on the scoring and making the breakthroughs at the right time.  

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup semifinal Updates: Conway falls, Williamson holds fort - Simon Doull is certainly not happy and he lambasts Devon Conway for his casual running between the wickets and not putting a price on his wicket as New Zealand loses Conway in the PowerPlay. The batsman droves Haris Rauf to mid-off, calls for a tight single as Shadab Khan charges towards the ball and doesn’t put in the dive as a direct hit packs off Conway. Pakistan takes the lead in the PowerPlay giving just 38 runs and packing off both the New Zealand openers. New Zealand has played 15 dot balls and scored just four boundaries inside the PowerPlay losing Allen and Conway. Glenn Phillips joins skipper Williamson and the duo has job in their hands.  

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup semifinal Updates: Williamson, Conway rebuild - Kane Williamson and Devon Conway are in the rebuilding process and the partnership is 30 off 28 balls. Williamson is playing the ball as late as possible and both batsmen have successfully kept the Pakistan attack at bay. Conway has two boundaries to his credit while Williamson is yet to open his boundary count. From New Zealand’s point of view, they will be happy to end the PowerPlay without any further damage although the boundaries have dried up. The Pakistan fast bowlers are bowling good lines, extracting bounce and movement from the surface and the lengths have been good as the likes of Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Jr have not allowed Williamson and Conway to open up their arms. 

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup semifinal Updates: Afridi draws first blood - What a dramatic start this has been and it’s Shaheen Shah Afridi who draws first blood as the swing bowler traps Finn Allen to give Pakistan an early breakthrough. Allen began with a lovely boundary and was trapped leg-before but the batsman took a successful review as an inside edge saved him. However, Afridi strikes the very next ball, bringing the ball into the batsman as Allen flicks only to miss the ball. He burnt a review as there was no bat involved and the HawkEye had three reds as the Pakistan supporters let out a roar. Great start to the semifinal and in walks Kane Williamson. 

PAK vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup semifinal Updates: The national anthems are done and dusted and both teams have gone with an unchanged XI. The New Zealand openers make their way into the stadium - Finn Allen and Devon Conway and it will be Shaheen Shah Afridi who will start proceedings with the new ball. The first semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022 gets underway in Sydney. 

Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi 

New Zealand Playing XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Kane Williamson(c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

Kane Williamson after winning the Toss: We are gonna have a bat. Used surface. We’ve got the same team. It’s important we assess to the changing conditions quickly. Our focus is on this game.

Babar Azam on bowling first: Even we would have batted first. Same team. We are confident as a team and we’ll look to carry the momentum. They have quality players, we’ll try to be calm. We are trying to focus on this game.