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New Zealand stunned England in the semi-final on Wednesday to become the first finalist of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.
Chasing 167, New Zealand had a terrible start as they lost opener Martin Guptill in the very first over bowled by pacer Chris Woakes. Soon, captain Kane Williamson was als🍬o sent back by Woakes to reduce New Zealand to 13/2 in 2.4 ov✤ers.
Then, Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway cal🍸med things down and added a crucial 82-run stand for the third wicket. Conway lost his wicket for 46, but Mitchell stayed on his crease and kept New Zealand alive in the contest.
James Neesham played a scintillat꧅ing impactful knock of 27 runs off 11 balls with the help of one four and three sixes to shift the momentum towards Black Caps. Mitchell scored a vital fifty and remained unbeaten on 72 off 47 balls, including four sixes to take his team to their first-ever final in T20 World Cup history.
Earlier, England posted 166/4 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a crucial half-century from all-rounder Moeen Ali. The left-handed batter scored an unbeaten 51 off 37 deliveries withꦇ the help of three fours and a couple o𝕴f sixes.
Apart from Ali, Jos Buttler (29) and Dawid Malan (41) made valuable contributions to help England in the middle-overs. For New Zealand, fast bowler Tim Southee picked up one wicket ꦐwhile con♊ceding 24 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
🌜What a knock this has been from Daryl Mitchell👏👏👏
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99)
🌳Wowwww…what a win. Of course, Mitchell was there till the end to seal it but the game-changer tonight was Jimmy Neesham. The Jordan over. The momentum shifter. Well done,
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Well played to New Zealand,,,,,,,,,,,again.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
Brilliant stuff from . They have qualified for the final in all 3 events: 2019 WC, 2021 WTC, & now .
And please don't call this as NZ punching above their weight etc, it would be a disservice to this team that is as good if not better than most.— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
//twi🎀tter.com/amolmuzumdar11/status/14584ꦏ87832587030529
This is such an unforgiving format. You miss a bit and you vanish. New Zealand's extra bowler approach, at least today, trumped England's extra batsman approach.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Jimmy Neesham , was thinking of quitting the game in 2017 and today playing a match defining innings to help New Zealand qualify for the finals. Nev൲er give up is the lesson, Sport is a great teacher
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
World Cup campaign fell apart there in four brutal overs. Knock-out cricket is brutal & defined by the barest of margins, missed their l𝓡engths at the death—particularly to Neesham (too full) & capitalised emphatically to win a brilliant ma🍸tch.
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket)
Superb win for New Zealand against England. Totally ⭕deserved. Incredibly talented side♐ with great sportsmanship.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty)
46 (40)➡️72* (47) for Daryl Mitchell. When you searched his name on Cricinfo about two years ago, it returned someone else's profile
— Matt Roller (@mroller98)
The little wink from Mitchell Santner to Daryl Mitchell after hi🐭s second si𒁏x in the Chris Woakes over sealed it in so many ways
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
👏👏👏
— ICC (@ICC)
Truly magnif💞icent from New Zealand. Pretty much dead aꦚnd buried after Livingstone’s last over, then win it with six balls to spare. Spectacular. Chapeau.
— daniel norcross (@norcrosscricket)
KIWIstle Podu – Into the finale 🥳
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)
Mumbai 2016: WI chased 109 i✱n last 10 overs in theꦗ semi final vs India
Abu Dhabi 2021: NZ chase 109 in last 10 overs in the semi finaཧl vs Eng
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
Daryl Mitchell, you beauty!
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)