ABU DHABI : Super 12s – The crucial match to decide the second semi-finalist from Group 2 concluded with New Zealand winning in style against Afghanistan by 8 wickets and also ending all the permutations and combination that were widely discussed.
Pakistan and New Zealand moved to the semifinals from Group 2 with India one of the favorites missing out on the semifinal slot.
Earlier on Sunday, the Afghanistan skipper Nabi won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the Afghan batters could not fire the innings as they would have expected to since NZ displayed disciplined bowling and amazing fielding performance.
Afghan Najibullah Zadran was the only batsman who was able to dictate terms to the Kiwi bowlers and scored an inspiring 73 off 48 balls including three sixers. The other batsman failed to support him and only two other batsmen got in to double figures. Afghanistan crawled to a score of 124 for 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Needing 125 for the place in the T20I world cup Semifinals, New Zealand openers started positively reaching 26 runs in the 3rd over before the experienced Mujeeb Ur Rahman picked up Mitchell for 17 runs. Guptill who batted well for 28 runs was bowled out by the 23-year-old Rashid Khan to pick up his 400th wicket in T20 matches (from total of 289 matches played).
Kiwi captain Williamson kept the score board ticking with his calm and smart batting although the Afghan spinners were trying to break in. Kiwis reached the 100 mark in the 15th over for the loss of 2 wickets. A calm and cool partnership between Williamson (40) and Conway (36) guided New Zealand to a win by 8 wickets in the 18th over (125/2) and also to the semifinals shattering the semifinal dreams of Afghanistan and India.
Although, currently New Zealand tops the Group rankings on net run rate, on the premise Pakistan would win against Scotland later Sunday, New Zealand will meet England in their semis on Wednesday, November 10th. Although highly unlikely, in case Pakistan loses against Scotland, the Kiwis will top the table and then would meet Australia in the Semi-Finals.
Trent Boult was named the player of the match for his amazing bowling performance (RZ)
[Image credit icc-cricket.com]
