Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra feels Kane Williamson’s knock didn’t help New Zealand post a par score on the board after the Blackcaps lost the first semi-final by seven wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Williamson scored 46 runs off 42 balls with the help of one four and one six. The Kiwis’ captain failed to find regular boundaries, which didn’t help the team’s cause.
Williamson won the toss and decided to bat first but the team could only post an under-par score of 152 runs on the board. Daryl Mitchell was able to hit the ground running for the team but he could not find support from the other end.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Kane Williamson scored 46 off 42. But is that good enough? This was not a 150-run pitch, but a 170-run wicket. If you manage to score just 150 runs, it means that you aren’t helping the team’s cause.”
On the other hand, the renowned Hindi commentator lauded Pakistan’s bowling show against New Zealand. All the Pakistan bowlers were economical in their respective spells while Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets to put New Zealand on the back foot.
“Pakistan is a brilliant team, and they have risen like a phoenix. They clipped New Zealand’s wings. The good thing for them is that their main players have started firing at the right time.
“Usually, teams win the toss at the Sydney Cricket Ground and win by batting first. However, it didn’t happen this time as Pakistan have just found its rhythm. They have reached a stage where they are unstoppable.”
Meanwhile, there has been a lot of similarity between Pakistan’s successful run in the 1992 World Cup in Australia and the ongoing T20 World Cup Down Under. In both of these events, Pakistan lost their opening two matches, defeated New Zealand in the semi-final and just like the 1992 World Cup, they will play the final at the MCG.
Chopra explained: “It is uncanny how Pakistan’s journey has shaped up just like their 1992 campaign. The final was in Melbourne, and they had defeated New Zealand that time as well.
“They started on a losing note back in 1992, and the same is the case this time around. They won three successive matches in 1992, and did the same now too.”
Pakistan awaits the winner of the second semi-final between India and England in the final.
