Twitter Reactions: New Zealand kill two birds with one stone to dent Afghanistan and India's further chances
Pakistan and the Black Caps qualify for the semis from Group 2.
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New Zealand have managed to become the second team from Group 2 after Pakistan to qualify for the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2021. On Sunday, November 7, Kane Williamson and Co. defeated Afghanistan by eight wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Their victory means that Virat Kohli’s India won’t be able to progress beyond the Super 12 of the tournament.
Najibullah Zadran takes charge
Afghanistan’s decision to bat first backfired to some extent to begin with. They scored 23 runs in the first six overs and lost wickets of their openers – Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai – and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Gulbadin Naib scored 15 and seemed to get the measure of the conditions before Ish Sodhi castled him. From 56 for four in 10 overs, the Afghans staged a decent comeback.
Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi put on 59 for the fifth wicket off 48 balls. Nabi strained during the stand as he scored 14 at a strike rate of 70 before Tim Southee got him. Najibullah, on the other end, looked at his fluent best and notched a fifty off 33 balls. The southpaw went on to score a 48-ball 73, laced with six fours and three sixes. On the back of his knock, the Afghans got 124.
Williamson, Conway take New Zealand home
The Black Caps got off to a steady start in their run-chase as they made 45 runs in the powerplay and didn’t allow the required rate to go up. Daryl Mitchell smashed three fours before Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who returned after an injury layoff, got rid of him. Martin Guptill, Mitchell’s opening partner, also looked good, having scored 28 off 23. Rashid Khan castled him to cut short his stay.
From there on, Kane Williamson and Devon Conway took charge and didn’t allow the Afghans to get a foothold back into the contest. The duo stitched together an unbeaten partnership of 68 runs for the third wicket off 9.2 overs. Williamson brought forth all his experience as he stayed not out on 40 off 42 with three fours. Conway also looked in decent touch as made an unbeaten 32-ball 36.
Here’s how the netizens reacted to New Zealand’s win
Everytime Bollywood writers are about to finalize the climax of Virat Kohli's biopic
Kane Williamson: pic.twitter.com/ymOeOfOSTn
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 31, 2021
Looking forward to India playing fearless cricket against Namibia.
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) November 7, 2021
Fair result. 2 best teams from the group make it. Pakistan And NZ def the top two from the group. Now to the Rohit Rahul era in white ball cricket. Not the best end for Virat in world cups but that’s how sport is.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) November 7, 2021
Two bad days, Indian team has been fantastic in T20 from 2017 England series, rare series loss – a new journey from November 17th to 2022 T20 World Cup.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 7, 2021
So, it seems New Zealand will shatter the Indian hopes of winning an ICC trophy on three consecutive occasions in three formats…#AfgvsNZ
— Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) November 7, 2021
Most wickets in T20 cricket:
553 – Bravo
425 – Narine
420 – Tahir
400 – RASHID KHAN
398 – ShakibRashid is just 23 years old.
How many wickets will he have at the end of his career?
Surely 1000+? #AFGvNZ #T20WorldCup
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 7, 2021
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is the real T20 cricket anyways.
— Manya (@CSKian716) November 7, 2021
Today Rashid probably must be feeling a little bit of the pressure that SRT felt his entire career. 1.3 billion Indians have their hopes pinned on Rashid’s arm. #AFGvNZ #T20WorldCup
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) November 7, 2021
Another first class performance from @BLACKCAPS today. Bowlers hit the right lengths early, they were aggressive and made @ACBofficials work for every run!125 was never going to be enough, professional chase to ease any nerves. NZ’s 3rd T20WC Semi-Final awaits!
.#T20WorldCup— Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) November 7, 2021
#NZvsAfg
Indian team pic.twitter.com/A4GzNETkHs— Savage 2.0 (@Meme_Canteen) November 7, 2021
Simon Doull on commentary"we've got the 4 best teams heading to the semi-finals" #T20WorldCup #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) November 7, 2021
Can't wait for India 🇮🇳 to thrash Namibia 🇳🇦 pic.twitter.com/LJ38p9YpCm
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) November 7, 2021
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 7, 2021
New Zealand continue to give heartbreak for India in ICC events.#NZvAFG #NewZealand #Afghanistan #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/lqkMLokHv8
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 7, 2021
India’s campaign at the #ICCT20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/VhsdiQld8I
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 7, 2021
Virat Kohli will be captaining India in T20is for the last time tomorrow.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 7, 2021
If Pakistan do not lose to Scotland tonight, Semi Finals will be:
Nov 10: Eng vs NZ in Abu Dhabi
Nov 11: Pak vs Aus in Dubai— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 7, 2021
👀🇮🇳#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/MMnWl2YZk1
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) November 7, 2021
Next time with better planning!
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 7, 2021
This World Cup campaign wasn’t about one bad half hour. There were many. Time to reboot T20 and look at it from a different perspective #India
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 7, 2021
Well done New Zealand. Clinical effort. Obviously feel a bit sad that India couldn’t make it, but four fantastic and deserving teams will light up the semis. #Newzealand #NZvAFG
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) November 7, 2021
England’s T20 World Cup semi-final confirmed for Wednesday night in Abu Dhabi. Against New Zealand, barring the mother of all upsets in Pakistan vs Scotland in Sharjah tonight
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) November 7, 2021
Classy job from New Zealand to beat Afghanistan. They play England in the semi-finals.
India are out, even before their final game against Namibia tomorrow.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) November 7, 2021
Indian men's team in the last three ICC multi-team events:
ODI World Cup 2019: Lost in semifinal against NZ
Test World C'ships final: Lost in final against NZ
T20I World Cup 2021: Lost against NZ in must-win match, eventually pipped to semis.
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) November 7, 2021
Sigh.. #NZvAFG #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Nm6LqIjZxU
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) November 7, 2021
First time #India have not made it to the knockouts of an ICC event since WT20 2012 in Sri Lanka.
Last time they featured in a dead rubber after elimination was in WT20 2009 against SA.#NZvAFG #T20WorldCup
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 7, 2021
Well played New Zealand 🇳🇿 congratulations for reaching the semi finals 👏
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) November 7, 2021
Qismat ki baat hai. Insan jo bhi karna chahy lakhin hotha wahi hai jo Allah chahy. Congratulations team @BLACKCAPS #NZvAFG
— Junaid khan 83 (@JunaidkhanREAL) November 7, 2021
💔💔
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) November 7, 2021
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