New Zealand have once again upset the odds, proving themselves surely the best all-format side in cricket by powering past England by five wickets in their T20 World Cup semi-final and setting themselves up for a shot at a second global title of the year.
The World Test champions once again remained icy cool under pressure in the furnace of the short format chase in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday just as the chance to meet either Australia or Pakistan in Sunday’s final seemed to have slipped away with four overs left.
Yet with 57 needed off those 24 balls, the Black Caps found a new hero in unsung opener Daryl Mitchell, who delivered dazzlingly in the denouement, racing to an unbeaten 72 off 47 balls as the wheels came off for the favourites.
Watched by his emotional-looking father, former All Blacks rugby coach John Mitchell, the 30-year-old had earlier suffered some real struggles on a pitch that seemed a bit sluggish and two-paced as he tried to lead the pursuit of England’s challenging 4-166.
Yet the key came when he found an uninhibited partner in Jimmy Neesham, who launched a blistering attack in a nervy and ultimately calamitous 17th over from Chris Jordan. The England paceman got his length all wrong, dished up two wides and got plundered for 23.
Then by the time Neesham fell to Adil Rashid the next over, Mitchell had taken control, depositing a six off the legspinner before then taking 19 of the 20 runs off Chris Woakes’ next over to blitz New Zealand to their target, remarkably with an over still to spare.
It put Kane Williamson’s so often underrated side in line to add the T20 crown to the inaugural Test crown they seized in June while also laying the ghost of their agonising super-over defeat to England in the 50-over World Cup final in 2019.
“I knew it was going to be a great game of cricket and that proved to be the case,” said Williamson.
“It ebbed and flowed, as they often do when we go against each other, but I’m really chuffed with the heart shown through the performance.”
Now, Australia will take on Pakistan in Thursday’s second semi-final in Dubai, hoping for another World Cup final meeting with their trans-Tasman rivals following their 2015 triumph in Melbourne in the 50-over edition.
It was the first tournament clash between England and New Zealand since that Lord’s 2019 World Cup thriller, and it had all looked to be going the way of Eoin Morgan’s side until Neesham’s game-changing effort which featured him clubbing three sixes in his 27 off 11 balls.
Suitably inspired, Mitchell also found his timing to hammer four fours and four sixes in all in a knock which earned him the player of the match award.
It left him hugely proud, especially with his family watching from the stands. “I guess with what’s going on in the world at the moment, to be able to travel half way round and for them to be here is pretty cool,” he said.
Earlier, Moeen Ali had struck 51 not out and Dawid Malan 41 to earn former champions England a decent total at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Put in to bat, England’s rejigged opening combination, having lost Jason Roy to a calf injury, didn’t really ignite as Jonny Bairstow made 18 and Ish Sodhi struck a body blow by trapping Jos Buttler, England’s leading scorer in the tournament, lbw for 29.
Woakes wrecked New Zealand’s top order, removing key men Martin Guptill and Williamson in successive overs to put the Black Caps on the back foot.
But Mitchell and Devon Conway (46 off 38) rebuilt the innings with England still in charge until Neesham’s late attack and Mitchell’s fine finish.
Kane
Roar Guru
I guess looking at playing my England in England the Black Caps have a most recent series win and Australia have a series draw. Playing against India, Australia most recently have a series loss and lost the last test and NZ won theWTC against India. I could go on…
Kane
Roar Guru
Playing India in England was a reward for two years of solid results. Not a planned way to get more points. You might’ve forgotten the Black Caps just won a series in England, more than Australia can say on their last attempt. I’m glad NZ are ranked No1. It pushed back to Aus Eng and Ind that just playing five test series amongst yourselves might be best for money, but there are downsides.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So India beats Australia and NZ lose 3-0 to Australia in the same conditions. How does that make NZ look any better it makes them look worse.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yeah NZ were missing 6 key players....Maybe it was 7 key players.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
thats rubbish....NZ batted 1st in the 3 matches prior to the Semi and won all 3
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yep!!!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
BT India just gave Aus a hiding IN AUS. perhaps Aus needs to learn how to play at home!!!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Where else do they play them Sedz? Home is NZ and away is in India and like every other nation they win more home matches than away matches. They won the Test championship final on a neutral ground.. Thats about all you can expect isnt it? Where has Aus beaten India other than in Aus?
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I think in post-game interview he said the dew didn’t make much difference, and he had been tempted to bat first to set a target, with extra pressure of final.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'd be curious to hear from Finch after the WC, just how big an advantage batting second in this tournament was, especially in this semi and the final. The pressure to win obviously ramps up considerably, so good to hear what he thinks, assuming reporters are good enough to ask this sort of question
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Now 10 out of 11 winning toss. Though I don’t think there was much advantage from conditions batting second - just usual trade off, knowing the target vs pressure of trying to chase a good score. More a case of which team managed to outdo the other at the end with balls in the slot, yorkers that missed and dropped catches.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Where did I mention winning a test series in India they cant even win a test match. Thats the difference, they haven't even won a match in Australia for 10 years as well. The ICC rankings are a joke, what about when Steve Waugh Australia were no 2 because South Africa were thrashing minnows like Zimbabwe. Play minnows get points, play at home get more points , then play India in England and your the best.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
One day in England close to New Zealand condtions. Test match as well in English conditions, its not like you play neutral test matches regularly. What about in India have not won a test match for 30 years only won 2 ever. Beating India in the UAE , T20 is a lottery you can win anywhere in T20.
Paul
Roar Guru
Luck played a huge role is last nights win again, Dave. Completely ridiculous that a team winning the toss has such a huge advantage. Totally agree having world cups so often totally demeans the concept. I guess though these tournaments are the ICC's cash cow so they're going to milk them all they can, which is really stupid because people will get sick of having these so often and switch off, just as we did with all that one day cricket in the 80's & 90's.
Sedz
Guest
It’s Australia vs NZ in the final. Trans-Tasman final guys.
Sedz
Guest
NZ can’t win tests against India anywhere other than NZ or England. Do you really think they can even compete in India/SL/Aus/SA conditions? I would definitely agree that NZ is better team when it comes to all formats but one WTC final win doesn’t mean NZ is better test team. India definitely stands right up.
Sedz
Guest
Hopefully, they practice the toss. It’s the toss that matters. Whoever wins the toss wins the game.
Kane
Roar Guru
Didn’t NZ beat Aussie in the pool stage in 2015?
Lara
Guest
Five out of Eleven….holy crap, Nine out of Ten.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Batting isn’t as easy as it looks!