T20 WC Semifinals LIVE: NZ vs PAK: Pakistan captain Babar Azam made the most of team mentor Matthew Hayden’s lessons to break his run-scoring drought in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-finals on Wednesday. The struggling Pakistan opener registered his first half-century in the T20 World Cup 2022 off 38 deliveries to put his side on top in the chase of 153 runs. Watch NZ vs PAK LIVE Streaming on Disney+Hotstar & NZ vs PAK LIVE Score Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Interestingly, Azam had spent nearly five hours at nets to better his strokeplay ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022. His intent looked questionable before the match but some batting lessons from former Australia opener Matthew Hayden helped him find rhythm ahead of the final.
It was no cricket activity day for Team Pakistan but kaptaan @babarazam258 came for practice. He is working hard support him in his hard times…. He will not disappoint you… pic.twitter.com/nSEH9ecHXD
— Mariya Rajput (@mariya_raj10) November 8, 2022
T20 WC Semifinals LIVE: Matthew Hayden’s batting lesson works WONDERS for struggling Babar Azam, Pak skipper returns to form with brilliant FIFTY in semis, Watch Highlights
Azam looked in hold of the chase from the onset as he put pressure on the Kiwi bowlers with his consistent boundaries and rotation of strike. His fellow opener Mohammad Rizwan (57), too, supported him to the fore with his half-century as the duo forged a partnership of 105 runs for the first-wicket.
Azam, however, was sent packing by New Zealand veteran fast bowler for 53 runs soon after he got to his half-century. His innings was laced with seven boundaries and came after his poor runs of scores — 25, 6, 4, 4, 0 — in the T20 World Cup 2022.
How did NewZealand innings fare out in the semi-finals?
Kane Williamson (46) and Daryl Mitchell (53 not out) played resilient knocks as premier Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi scaled two wickets to restrict New Zealand to 152/4 in the first semi-final.
The 2021 runners-up looked in a spot of bother in the powerplay as they lost their opener Finn Allen (4) and Devon Conway (21). Later, incoming batter, Glenn Phillips (6) could not add much to their tally as he was sent packing after a soft dismissal off spinner Shadab Khan.
However, Williamson and Mitchell forged a 68-run stand for the fourth wicket, to keep New Zealand in hunt for a big total. Following the dismissal of the Kiwi skipper, incoming batter James Neesham, added 16 runs off 12 deliveries with Mitchell playing his natural game to take New Zealand to a decent total.
