Category: Games

Dubai, November 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):England captain Eoin Morgan revealed it would be a “hell of an achievement” for his injury-hit England to beat New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 semi-final.

The skipper is bidding to lead his side to their third successive ICC final with victory in Wednesday’s semi in Abu Dhabi but will have to do without opener Jason Roy after he pulled his calf against South Africa, adding to a star-studded injury list that already includes Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Tymal Mills and Sam Curran.

Morgan captained England to glory against New Zealand on home soil in the final of the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and also got the better of the Black Caps in the semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2016, before losing to the West Indies in the final.

When asked what it would mean to make the final without his injured stars, Morgan said: “That’s a good question. I think it would be a really strong representation of what the 50-over side have achieved since 2015.

“I think we had a glimpse of that during our summer when we had to replace 15 players against Pakistan and they ended up beating Pakistan’s strongest ODI team 3-0.

“I think that was a good instance of an English cricketer. But I think if we could achieve something like that it would be quite close. You might only get to the final and lose, but getting to the final would be a hell of an achievement.”

Chris Silverwood’s side qualified top of Group 1 and will face New Zealand who finished second behind unbeaten Pakistan in Group 2.

England lost their own undefeated record in their final encounter against South Africa but more importantly Surrey batter Roy was ruled out of the tournament, with Morgan suggesting his experience at the top of the order is irreplaceable.

He added: “I think like losing any of your experienced players, you can’t really replace that experience that Jason has.

“He’s played integral parts in our two previous World Cup campaigns, very similarly to other guys that have been injured or have missed the tournament through injury.

“Other guys have found something else within themselves to either try and fill that gap or contribute in a different way to the team.

“If you look right from the very beginning of our selection process leading into the World Cup, we’ve got a number of big name players missing from our squad and that’s continued both pre-tournament with Sam Curran and into the tournament with Jason Roy and Tymal Mills.

“I think [out] of all the things we’ve done well throughout this tournament, probably the strongest point has been the resilience within our squad to be able to find a way to move forward and forge on.”

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson thinks the match should be a terrific contest and due to the “fickle” nature of T20, one that can go either way.

He said: “I think one of the strengths of the England side is their depth that they’ve managed to produce over a period of time.

“Having spent some time at the Birmingham Phoenix and being a little bit involved in the Hundred, you can tell that there’s a huge amount of talent. They’re still very much a strong side who have been playing some really good cricket.

“This format is fickle in its nature and both teams will look to put their best foot forward and what will be will be at the end of it.

“We’ve been ticking over reasonably nicely and watching from afar England have been doing something very similar, so it should be a really good contest.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
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Phone: +97-143828800
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Dubai, November 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):When Pakistan batting consultant Matthew Hayden coaches his side in their semi-final against Australia tomorrow, he isn’t just vying to guide his side to a third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.

He will also be coming up against his home country, for whom he was the tournament’s top-scorer in the 2007 T20 World Cup, and Hayden will also face his former opening partner Justin Langer, now Australia’s head coach.

For Hayden, it will be a strange feeling for him to come up against his old team.

He said: “It is a very unusual feeling, I was a warrior for Australian cricket for over two decades, so that does give me the benefit of having wonderful insights not only into these players but also into the culture of cricket in Australia.

“I guess from my point of view there is the challenge of the heart, the challenge of the mind in terms of what’s going to happen over the next 24 hours, but I’ll also say very proudly that it’s been wonderful to be a part of Pakistan cricket.

“We have some incredible young players, a mix of wonderful, experienced players in our lineup, and they and the team are performing admirably.”

Pakistan have had lots of stars as they emerged from Group 2 of the Super 12s unbeaten and Hayden believes Fakhar Zaman could be the next to go stratospheric.

Hayden said: “Fakhar has I think been the standout outfielder for our team, as well. He saves literally five to 10 runs every game, and five to 10 runs within a T20 concept and batting lineup, include your own runs maybe 20s and 30s here and there, means that overall he’s just been such an important part of the side.

“Don’t be surprised if you see something incredibly special from him tomorrow, as well, because he is smashing the ball in the nets.

“In particular, if you look at a potential matchup against Adam Zampa, who’s been the leading wicket taker in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, I think that is a fantastic target, an opportunity for Fakhar to really dominate and position Pakistan in a strong competitive state.”

For Australian captain Aaron Finch, he is pleased to see another Australian great on the international stage.

He said: “We saw him around yesterday actually. I think it’s great to see the greats of Australian cricket crossing over into other countries and helping out as much as they can.

“I think we’ve got a rich history of great players helping our countries in terms of franchise cricket, so that’s brilliant.”

Finch identified a positive powerplay as the key to Australia’s success in tomorrow’s game in Dubai.

“I think what we’ve seen over the course of the tournament is how important the powerplay is for batting and bowling,” he said.

“The stats around the middle overs and the death overs are pretty similar throughout, but the powerplay definitely holds the key.

“Shaheen [Shah Afridi] has been in really good form for Pakistan, so that’s going to be a crucial battle no doubt.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, November 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):It seemed nigh-on impossible that England and New Zealand would be able to recreate the drama of their last World Cup meeting – but they gave it their best shot.

While this semi-final was not decided by the barest of margins – the Black Caps staggeringly getting home with an over to spare having needed 57 from the final four – it contained an abundance of twists and turns which left neither side feeling totally in control until the outcome was decided.

And just as at Lord’s in 2019, Jimmy Neesham was at the heart of a crucial period in the contest.

Whether at the crease or on social media, Neesham has long been one of cricket’s great entertainers.

Having been at the non-striker’s end for the run out which decided the most dramatic of Cricket World Cup finals 18 months ago, Neesham took to Twitter to declare: ‘Don’t take up sport, kids. Take up baking or something’.

And it was in the pressure cooker that Neesham found himself when he entered the fray in Abu Dhabi.

The 31-year-old had watched from the dugout as hard-hitting players on both sides had found the going tough, with batters having to play themselves in before going for the jugular.

Neesham had no time for that particular luxury, with the required rate above 14 and time running out when he joined Daryl Mitchell following the quickfire dismissals of Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips.

The Black Caps needed a big over and Neesham was the man who provided it as the tide turned in dramatic style.

Both his sixes off Chris Jordan carried Lord’s parallels. The first, from the opening delivery of the over, was smacked over mid-wicket in a dismissive manner not dissimilar to the way he cleared the ropes off Jofra Archer in the infamous super over.

And the second, which saw a diving Jonny Bairstow’s knee hit the rope just before he offloaded to Liam Livingstone, carried more than an echo of Trent Boult stepping on the boundary when the 2019 final reached crunch time.

But that was then and this is now. New Zealand have moved on from their Lord’s heartache, becoming ICC World Test champions in the meantime, and were determined to keep their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup dreams alive as they seek a remarkable double.

Neesham’s blitz made them favourites to do just that, with 23 coming from the pivotal 17th over before he launched Rashid over deep mid-wicket to continue the momentum.

That was his last meaningful act, as he picked out Eoin Morgan at cover off Rashid, but in Mitchell New Zealand had a set batter ready to pick up the mantle.

The 30-year-old has made up for lost time in his international career, having had to be patient for his opportunity, and did likewise here in a perfectly-paced knock.

Having lost the company of Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson early, he initially struggled to pierce the infield and sat on 38 from 33 deliveries.

The change of pace from then on was as effective as it was devastating, with his next 35 runs taking just 15 deliveries as he steered his side home in style.

Two sixes off Woakes settled any nerves in the penultimate over, which began with New Zealand needing 20 and ended with the job done.

Fittingly, it was Mitchell who hit the winning runs – with his father, former All Black John, watching on from the stands – and a comment in the aftermath summarised what has made this Black Caps team so popular as he looked ahead to the challenge that lies ahead in Sunday’s final.

“Whoever we’re taking on, we’ll have fun,” he said.

With New Zealand in this form, they won’t be the only ones.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, November 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):A beaming Daryl Mitchell hailed a ‘special feeling’ after steering his side into their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final.

Mitchell’s unbeaten 72 from 47 deliveries anchored the Black Caps’ successful chase of 167, with the opener hitting the winning runs from the final ball of the 19th over having stepped on the accelerator at the death.

New Zealand will now prepare for their third ICC final in as many years across three different formats, a record Mitchell was proud to have contributed towards with his memorable knock in Abu Dhabi.

“Any game you win for your country is pretty special, let alone a World Cup semi,” he said.

“It’s obviously a great honour to represent my country at a World Cup – if you said this five, six years ago I would have laughed at you, so to be here sitting right now is awesome.

“It’s nice to get us over the line but we’ve got another big one coming up in a few days we’re pretty excited about.

“It’s a bit of a blur but I imagine it was a hell of a game to watch. It’s a game of inches, that’s for sure. A couple of those sixes could have been a metre shorter and we might have been all out.

“But we knew if we kept it within certain numbers, we had a chance. It never felt like it was out of our grasp, especially with the smaller boundary on one side.

“We’re a bunch of Kiwis, there are only five million of us so we’re very proud to be representing our country.

“We’ll enjoy the win tonight but we’ll move on pretty quickly. Whoever we’re taking on, we’ll have fun.”

Mitchell also hailed the impact of Jimmy Neesham, whose 26 from ten balls changed the tide of a dramatic last four encounter.

The 17th over, which brought 23, proved particularly pivotal – New Zealand having required 57 from 24 balls prior to it – and Mitchell was swiftly clearing the ropes himself as he moved through the gears, hitting two sixes off a previously miserly Chris Woakes in the over which sealed the deal.

“The way Jimmy came out and struck the ball from ball one was pretty special and gave us the momentum for the final few overs,” he said.

“Once the rate gets up to that height, you try and make sure you get your match-ups that work for you and hit it as far as you can. It was nice to get a few out the middle, it was a struggle in the middle overs.”

England skipper Eoin Morgan confessed to a feeling of ‘devastation’ after seeing his side relinquish a position of relative control.

Morgan’s men made a dream start with the ball, Woakes dismissing Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson early, and Liam Livingstone’s two for 22 helped put the brakes on further until Neesham and Mitchell’s momentum shift.

“We’re devastated,” said Morgan, whose side were looking to become the first to hold both white-ball ICC World Cups at the same time.

“To be on the wrong side of a close game is not easy to take. We fought unbelievably well on a wicket that didn’t suit our batting.

“We were brilliant with the ball and we right in the game until Jimmy Neesham came to the wicket, if not ahead of the game.

“Everybody struggled to clear the ropes, that was just the nature of the pitch, but you have to take your hat off to him, he played really well.”

England’s preparations were disrupted by injuries to Tymal Mills and Jason Roy but Morgan refused to use that as an excuse for his side’s defeat.

“I don’t think you can put a measure on missing a player,” he added.

“The 11 guys that took the field today gave absolutely everything. I’m extremely proud of the performance that they put in.

“When you play really well, it doesn’t always guarantee that you win games. Unfortunately, we found ourselves on the wrong side of a really tight game today.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, November 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):Daryl Mitchell’s superb unbeaten half-century fired New Zealand into their first ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final at England’s expense following a thrilling last four clash in Abu Dhabi.

Chasing 167, the Black Caps were on the back foot when key duo Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson were dismissed by Chris Woakes inside the first three overs of the reply.

But the ship was steadied by Mitchell and Devon Conway, who added 82 for the third wicket, before Jimmy Neesham blasted 26 from 10 to turn the tide in his side’s favour.

And Mitchell was on hand to hit the winning runs from the final ball of the 19th over, finishing with 72 from 47 as Williamson’s men gained revenge for their dramatic 2019 Cricket World Cup final defeat against the same opponents.

Moeen Ali’s unbeaten 51 had earlier propelled England to 166 for four and though Liam Livingstone (2/22) impressed with the ball, their ambitions of becoming the first men’s team to hold both ICC World Cups at once are now over.

England were put in and new-look opening pair Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler were given a thorough test early on as New Zealand’s seamers probed with the new ball.

Buttler got into his stride with back-to-back boundaries off Trent Boult but lost his partner following the introduction of Adam Milne, whose first delivery was chipped by Bairstow to a diving Williamson at mid-off.

England had been flying starters with the bat in the Super 12s but reached the end of the powerplay here on 40 for one, at which point Williamson turned to spin to keep the squeeze on.

Buttler released some of the pressure with a reverse swept boundary off Mitchell Santner but the same shot brought his downfall as he was struck on the knee roll by Ish Sodhi and departed for 29.

That brought Moeen and Dawid Malan together and the latter benefited from a let-off on ten when Conway put down a tough low chance to his left off Neesham.

Malan responded by unfurling a glorious cover drive to take England to the halfway stage in style and went inside out through the same region twice in three balls against Glenn Phillips as the run rate ticked above seven.

Moeen was equally quick to punish anything loose, cutting Sodhi to the point boundary before working Boult through fine leg to leave the innings delicately poised on 110 for two after 15.

England’s momentum was checked when Malan feathered an edge behind the ball after pulling Tim Southee for the first six of the match but his departure saw Moeen step on the accelerator, with Sodhi and Milne deposited into the stands.

New man Liam Livingstone did not take long to find his range, launching Milne for an 88-metre straight six in an 18th over costing 16, though he couldn’t muster the same power off Neesham and picked out Santner at long-off.

Moeen brought up his 36-ball half-century later in the final over which ended with Morgan dropped by an off-balance Phillips in the deep as England set the Black Caps 167 to win.

The total appeared about par but any hopes New Zealand had of making quick inroads were quickly dashed as Morgan’s men – and specifically Woakes – made a dream start with the ball.

The reply was just three balls old when Guptill, who had struck his first delivery for four, saw a leading edge easily taken by Moeen at mid-on.

And Woakes’s work was not done there as he went on to claim the huge early scalp of Williamson, whose attempted scoop did not have the legs to clear Adil Rashid at short fine leg to leave New Zealand 13 for two.

Mitchell and Conway were tasked with repairing the damage and began to pick up valuable boundaries as they negotiated the remainder of a powerplay which was brought to a close by an excellent cover drive by Conway.

Just 14 runs came between the sixth and ninth overs, though Conway released the shackles by lofting Livingstone down the ground for a much-needed boundary as the required rate neared 11.

He followed up by flaying Mark Wood over backward point for a remarkable six and Mitchell soon cleared the ropes himself – despite a magnificent effort by Chris Jordan on the long-off boundary – as the pair continued to keep Black Caps dreams alive.

Enter Livingstone, who struck twice in quick succession as Conway was stumped for 46 and Phillips picked out Sam Billings on the long-off boundary to leave New Zealand needing 57 from the final four overs.

But the pendulum swung towards the Black Caps during a dramatic 17th over as Neesham ran riot.

Two sixes off Chris Jordan, the second of which saw Bairstow’s knee land on the rope just before he released the ball to Livingstone, contributed to 23 runs in all and there was no let-up when Rashid returned.

Neesham and Mitchell both slammed maximums, the latter bringing up his half century in the process, though the game took another twist when the former couldn’t clear Morgan at cover to leave 20 runs needed from the final two overs.

They needed just one to complete the job, however, as successive Mitchell sixes took the target into single figures before a boundary behind square leg allowed the celebrations to begin.

New Zealand will now take on either Australia and Pakistan in Sunday’s final as they look to add T20 glory to their ICC World Test Championship crown.

Scores in Brief

New Zealand beat England at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi by five wickets

England 166/4 in 20 overs (Moeen Ali 51 not out, Dawid Malan 41; Jimmy Neesham 1/18, Tim Southee 1/24)

New Zealand 167/5 in 19 overs (Daryl Mitchell 72 not out, Devon Conway 46; Liam Livingstone 2/22, Chris Woakes 2/36)

Player of the Match: Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com