The 40th match of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup between New Zealand and Afghanistan has become the most anticipated match of this tournament, and mind you, we are already done with India versus Pakistan fixture. This game will see every cricket fan’s two ‘second favorite’ teams out there fighting for their semi-final spot.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s campaign started on a sour note against Pakistan, but they have just upped their game from thereon. Their bowlers have made sure to keep them in the competition, as evident in the match against India. Their ace Trent Boult is as economical as ever and has provided essential breakthroughs in every game. Tim Southee, too, is having the form of his life with maintaining a bowling average of 18.0, bagging five wickets in the process.
Also, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner’s clinical spells have kept the opponents under pressure. While Ish Sodhi has grabbed his first wicket right in his first over of every match, Santner has kept the other end quiet for batters.
The only department which might be of concern for this side is their batting. Yes, the return of the form of Martin Guptill is a positive for the team, but the frequent collapses and slow strike rate may bite them hard if not given immediate attention.
An unofficial quarter-final for New Zealand, NRR is least likely to affect them as their real hope is on the result and not how it comes. A win means they are in the semi-final and a loss, an instant exit from the tournament. So they will most likely be under pressure even though they have a better chance of winning on paper. The conditions and their batting will decide whether they will see the semi-finals or not.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan will take on the field with most fans backing them in their living memory of playing this sport (Hint: A nation with a billion population expecting a result in their favour). Not only do they have a task of winning against New Zealand, but they have to win it big, as the ghost of Net Run rate has decided to sit on their neck now.
Their performance in this tournament is a testament to their white-ball emergence. The sheer fact that Afghanistan is the only team able to put the table-toppers of Group 2 (Pakistan) to edge this tournament should be enough to show how competitive they have been. Their spin duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman is probably the most fearsome spin combo in this competition. New Zealand supporters will be praying hard for Mujeeb to take more time to recover, as they too are well aware of how much havoc he can create on this pitch.
Afghanistan’s batting has also seen frequent collapses, but their bold intent is what separates them from their Kiwi opponents. Led by Nabi and Zazai (not so much this tournament), they have never shied away from hitting the ball in the air. Admittedly, this aspect has been a double-edged sword for them, but for the cricket lovers, it has never failed to entertain them, as evident in their India game.
One cannot deny that Afghanistan have their plate full, with the requirements it must fulfill to make it to semis, but the way they have played fearlessly throughout the tournament, one shouldn’t be surprised if the result shows their name as the winner. This brave nation will make sure to put on a show nonetheless.
Probable Playing XI
New Zealand
Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Afghanistan
Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan