Williamson’s 85 leads New Zealand to 172-4 in World Cup final

 

DUBAI, NOV 14: Kane Williamson played a captain’s knock of 85 to guide New Zealand to a challenging 172 for four against Australia in the Twenty20 World Cup final on Sunday.

Williamson, who was dropped on 21, started cautiously but once settled took on the opposition bowling to reach his first half-century of the tournament.

He finished with 10 fours and three sixes in his 48-ball blitz to lift New Zealand from 57-1 in 10 overs after being invited to bat first.

The Kiwis initially struggled and lost Daryl Mitchell caught behind for 11 off pace bowler Josh Hazlewood who returned impressive figures of 3-16 from his four overs.

Australia’s bowlers kept a tight leash after skipper Aaron Finch won a crucial toss at Dubai which has witnessed 11 wins out 12 matches in the tournament for the team batting second.

Opening batsman Martin Guptill failed to get quick runs despite his three boundaries and a 48-run second-wicket stand with Williamson.

Williamson survived a spill by Hazlewood in the deep with the ball popping out of the fielder’s hand to find the boundary. Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc was the bowler.

The captain hit back with two more fours off left-arm quick Starc who was taken for 60 runs from his four overs, to get some momentum into the innings.

Adam Zampa sent Guptill trudging back to the dugout after the opener’s 35-ball 28 but Williamson kept up the charge with two sixes off Glenn Maxwell.

Williamson again picked out Starc to smash four fours and one six in a 22-run 16th over and put on 68 with Glenn Phillips, who made 18.

Hazlewood returned in his final over to break the stand with Phillips’ wicket and then got Williamson out with a leg-cutter.

Williamson’s score was the joint highest in a T20 World Cup final with Marlon Samuels’ 85 not out in the West Indies’ title victory in the 2016 edition.

Both Australia and New Zealand are bidding for their maiden T20 World Cup crown.

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Courtesy Dawn News

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Australia, New Zealand seek history in T20 World Cup final

 

DUBAI, NOV 14: Kane Williamson’s New Zealand eye a second global crown in a single year when they take on Australia at the Twenty20 World Cup final that will witness a new winner on Sunday.

New Zealand and Australia renew their trans-Tasman rivalry in Dubai as both teams look to clinch their maiden world title in the shortest format.

It’s a hat-trick of ICC finals for the once perennial underdogs of world cricket after they outplayed India to win the inaugural Test championship in June.

They beat favourites England in the semi-final to avenge their 2019 defeat in a dramatic 50-over World Cup final at Lord’s when they went down on boundary count after a super over.

Head coach Gary Stead said the Black Caps are excited to take on the Australian challenge in what will be their first ever T20 World Cup final appearance.

“That’s probably a final that I’m not sure too many people would have predicted a month or so ago, Australia and New Zealand,” said Stead.

The Kiwis though have suffered an injury blow after wicketkeeper Devon Conway was ruled out following a broken hand when he punched his bat on his dismissal in the semi-final.

Tim Seifert is set to take over the wicketkeeping duties from Conway who made 129 runs at the event with an average of just over 32.

“Obviously the loss of Devon is a big one. He’s been a big part of all formats for us. It’s a disappointing and really freak thing to happen,” admitted Williamson.

Aaron Finch’s Australians, who have won the 50-over World Cup five times, beat title favourites Pakistan by five wickets in the second semi-final.

Australia were in trouble at 96-5 while chasing 177 on Thursday when Marcus Stoinis (40) and Matthew Wade (41) put on an unbeaten partnership of 82 and win by an over to spare.

Wade smashed Pakistan pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi for three straight sixes including two audacious scoop shots — the final one sailing over fine leg to silence the Pakistan crowd.

‘Piece to the puzzle’

Stoinis said a T20 World Cup title will “mean a bloody lot to us”.

“Obviously Test cricket and the Ashes, that’s what we grew up when we played. Then the transformation of T20 cricket. It’s not a hit and a giggle anymore in terms of the pressure,” said Stoinis.

“I don’t think many people gave us a chance leading into this tournament apart from the players and coaching staff. So it’s definitely going to mean a bloody lot to us and we will be super proud when we bring that home to Australia.”

Key will be the form of opener David Warner who has plundered 236 runs at the tournament.

“Everyone had written us off, but we had a lot of confidence within. I think we came here with a really clear plan to win the tournament,” Finch.

“We always felt as though we’ve got the depth of the squad and the quality in our squad to put ourselves in a position to do that.”

Finch acknowledged the importance of pressing home the advantage in the first six overs of powerplay, especially against a potent New Zealand pace attack including Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

“I think we’ve seen throughout the tournament the importance of the powerplay,” said Finch.

“A lot of games have been dictated by who has won the initial contest in the power play in both innings. No doubt it will be a real challenge. It won’t define who wins the match but it does help set up your innings if you perform.”

But the skipper said he does not “fuss” about the toss and bowling first despite 11 out of 12 matches being won by the team batting second at the Dubai International Stadium.

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Courtesy Dawn News

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Hasan Ali thanks fans for support, vows to come back stronger

 

DHAKA, NOV 13: Fast bowler Hasan Ali, whose costly mistake in the field allowed Matthew Wade to secure Australia’s thrilling victory in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final, spoke on Saturday about his failure to meet his fans’ expectations and vowed to come back stronger.

Having conceded 44 runs in four wicketless overs, Hasan had more disappointment to face in the dramatic closing stages of the see-saw match at the Dubai International Stadium.

With Australia needing 22 runs off the last two overs, Wade took a wild swing at Shaheen Shah Afridi’s third ball and sent a skier towards Hasan who spilled the catch on the leg-side.

Read Also: EXCLUSIVE: Plz Don't be sad Pakistan; we already won T20 World Cup 2021 by defeating India

Wade responded by hitting three sixes in a row to complete an excellent chase against the tournament’s form side.

Many on Twitter had blamed Hasan’s spilled chance for their World Cup miss after coming into the semi-final unbeaten and favourites.

Regretting the dropped catch, Ali tweeted on Saturday: “I know you all are upset because my performance didn’t meet your expectations … but [you] are not more disappointed than me.”

“Don’t change your expectations from me. I want to serve [the] Pakistan cricket at the highest level possible, so back to hard work,” he added. This patch will make stronger.”

He ended the tweet by thanking his supporters and fans for their messages and prayers.

Babar Azam backs Hasan Ali

Earlier, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam had supported Hasan Ali, describing him as “a fighter” who would bounce back from dropping the catch off Matthew Wade in a key moment of the semi-final.

Read Also: ‘It was just not his day’: Babar Azam backs Hasan Ali after costly blunder in semi-final

“If the catch was taken then the scenario would have been different but it is part of the game,” Babar has told reporters.

“He (Ali) is one of my main bowlers and he has won many matches for Pakistan. Players drop catches but he is a fighter and I will back him,” Azam had added.

“Everybody doesn’t perform every day. There is a day when one performs. It was just not his day. He is down and we will lift his mood.”

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Courtesy Dawn News

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‘It was just not his day’: Babar Azam backs Hasan Ali after costly blunder in semi-final

 

ISLAMABAD, NOV 12: Pakistan captain Babar Azam offered consolation to teammate Hasan Ali whose costly mistake in the field allowed Matthew Wade to secure Australia’s thrilling victory in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday.

Having conceded 44 runs in four wicketless overs, Hasan had more disappointment to face in the dramatic closing stages of the see-saw match at the Dubai International Stadium.

With Australia needing 22 runs off the last two overs, Wade took a wild swing at Shaheen Shah Afridi’s third ball and sent a skier towards Hasan who spilled the catch on the leg-side.

Wade responded by hitting three sixes in a row to complete an excellent chase against the tournament’s form side.

“If the catch was taken then the scenario would have been different but it is part of the game,” Babar told reporters.

“He is one of my main bowlers and he has won many matches for Pakistan. Players drop catches but he is a fighter and I will back him.

“Everybody doesn’t perform every day. There is a day when one performs. It was just not his day. He is down and we will lift his mood.”

Babar felt 176-4 after being put into bat was a decent score by the 2009 champions.

“We started off well with a good total but unfortunately the finish wasn’t good,” Babar said.

“The way we played the tournament and boys fought, I keep the belief that we will continue with this.”

A team doctor revealed opening batter Mohammad Rizwan, who top-scored for Pakistan with 67, had spent two days in hospital following a chest infection before being declared fit for the semi-final.

“The way he (Rizwan) played today he showed that he’s a team man,” Babar said. “I am very confident about his attitude and his performance.”

Vice-captain Shadab Khan also voiced support for Hasan, calling him a champion and urging fans not to resort to “personal attacks” against him in an Instagram post hashtagged #WeStandWithHasanAli.

“To all the fans, everyone goes through tough times, we are all human beings capable of errors. Remember the joy Hasan has given you, don’t do personal attacks please. He is Pakistan’s match-winner,” Khan wrote.

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Courtesy Dawn News

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EXCLUSIVE: Plz Don't be sad Pakistan; we already won T20 World Cup 2021 by defeating India

 

• Many many congratulations to Green Shirts especially Babar Azam who led the team all the way through to the semi-final with excellent performance

Exclusive by Farukh Shehzad / Editor-In-Chief

ISLAMABAD, NOV 11: Pakistan have put his best in today's semi final match against Australia. firstly, our players batted really well and put a big total on the board.

In the second innings, Pakistan players bowled superbly and took quick early wickets. Pakistan's players performed in the fielding department in a fabulous way from the start of the tournament till today's semi-final.

Unfortunately, we (Pakistan) could not be able to qualify for the final of T20 World Cup 2021 but still we love our players and skipper Babar Azam and all the coaching staff.

This is the time where we as whole Muslims need to back our green shirts, our lovely players at this time. We have to show them that the whole Muslims are standing next to all of you guys (Green Shirts). 

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