PAK vs NZ T20 World Cup Semi-finals: Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan lead Pakistan into final after 13 years

New Delhi: The first innings semi-final game between Pakistan and New Zealand saw some players stepping up and giving the fight to help their team to reach the finals. Pakistan was in a comfortable position in the first inning and only Daryl Mitchell could score a fifty with Kane Williamson putting in a decent run-a-ball score. It was the fifties from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan that paved the way for Pakistan into the finals.

 

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Pakistan started well with Shaheen Shah Afridi troubling Finn Allen with the swing and finally picking up his wicket in the first over. After that, a direct hit to run out Devon Conway and Mohammad Nawaz dismissing Glenn Phillips landed New Zealand to 49/3 with three star batters in gone. Captain Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell stepped up to the occasion. Williamson managed 46(42) while Daryl Mitchell found his form just at the right time. He scored a cracking 53* off 35 to keep the Kiwis in the game with a total of 152/4.

 

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In the second inning, it was a Babar-Rizwan show after a long time. Babar Azam scored 53 off 42 balls while Rizwan scored 57 off 43. In the end, Mohammad Harris also contributed 30 off 26. Though Trent Boult picked two wickets, it was too late as Pakistan entered their first T20 World Cup finals after 2007.

Live Updates:

# Pakistan becomes the first team to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 finals!

# A four and a six from Mohammad Harris and the equation goes to 9 off 13.

# Boult picks another as Rizwan departs this time. There is more drama to it as we come closer to the end of the innings.

# Pakistan now needs just 26 in the last four overs.

 

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# Carcking Fifty! Mohammad Rizwan reached half-century in 36 deliveries.

# Trent Boult strikes! The first wicket for the Kiwis as Boult dismisses Babar. But is it too late for New Zealand to jump back?

# Fifty for Babar Azam as Pakistan stands at 97 for no loss after 11 overs.

# Pakistan is in total control as the score stands at 87/0 after 10 overs.

# 50 comes up for Pakistan. Babar Azam: 24*(18), Mohammad Rizwan: 27*(16).

# Two consecutive boundaries to Tim Southee. Rizwan is in the mood to finish the game by himself.

# Babar and Rizwan are dealing in boundaries, the scoreboard ticks to 24/0 after 3 overs.

# Pakistan takes on Boult. Boult conceives a second boundary, this time against Babar Azam.