Twitter Reactions: Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan masterclass hands Pakistan spot in T20 World Cup 2022 finale

Pakistan will play their first final since 2009.

By Vaishnavi Thiagarajan Iyer

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6 Min Read

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
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Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Pakistan and New Zealand locked horns at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022. After making it to the semi-finals last year in the tournament but failing to grab the trophy, the two teams eyed getting their hands on the title this time. But it was Pakistan who dominated the entire show and crushed New Zealand’s dream, thereby becoming the first team to make it to the finals of the marquee tournament.

Although it wasn't Pakistan's finest performance in this event, the bowling team was still able to complete the task at hand efficiently. By removing New Zealand opener Finn Allen in the very first over, Shaheen Afridi effectively established Pakistan's strategy from the outset. Prior to his runout in the last over of the Powerplay, Devon Conway and Williamson struggled to score big, putting Pakistan in the lead.

New Zealand still had Glenn Phillips, the middle-order batter who has managed to save the side from collapse earlier too. But the moment Mohammad Nawaz sent him packing, it appeared as if the Blackcaps’ T20 World Cup final dream had come crashing down. Skipper Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell stitched a 68-run partnership in the middle, but the former could not save his wicket for much longer.

The majority of the scoring work was then left to Mitchell, who was already in the zone. Daryl Mitchell, the semi-final hero for New Zealand, rose to the occasion once more by registering a vital half-century to keep his team in the contest and provide his bowlers with some kind of score to defend on a two-paced pitch.

Pakistan was undoubtedly prepared for this match and looked confident both on the bowling and fielding fronts. The pacers did the majority of the work for Pakistan, limiting the Kiwis to a low total. Though the Pakistan pacers were unable to pick wickets after a point in time in the game, they kept the opposition bowlers in check. Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for his 2/24.

New Zealand bowlers struggle as Pakistan earn the finals spot

After dominating the first innings, Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, who had not been in the best of form in this tournament, rose to the occasion this time and put up a masterclass. They shut all their critics and shared a whopping 105-run opening stand, their ninth hundred-run stand in T20Is. Babar Azam finally managed to get his first half-century of the entire tournament before being dismissed off the 13th over by Trent Boult.

Babar’s exit brought Mohammad Haris into the game, but unlike the previous two contests, Haris wasn’t able to fire. But Rizwan kept going and showcased a brilliant performance which kept Pakistan in the driver’s seat throughout the contest. He was dismissed very late in the 17th over, but there wasn’t much left to do as Pakistan needed just a handful of runs.

A couple of boundaries coming off Mohammad Haris' bat took Pakistan closer to the finish line. New Zealand bowlers stretched the game till the final over, keeping the opposition batters on the edge but the Men in Green eventually finished off the chase with five balls to spare, and won the contest by seven wickets to make their way into the T20 World Cup 2022 finals.

Here's how the Twitter reacted:

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T20 World Cup 2024PakistanNew Zealand LegendsShaheen AfridiBabar AzamMohammad Rizwan