T20 World Cup final – NZ vs AUS LIVE: Semi-final heroes and long-time friends Marcus Stoinis, Daryl Mitchell to face off 12 years after school-time heroics – Australia will take on Trans Tasman rivals New Zealand in what promises to be a blockbuster T20 World Cup final on Sunday. The game marks the re-match of the 2015 World Cup final, in which Australia prevailed. The game will also see Daryl Mitchell and Marcus Stoinis, two school-time friends and semi-final heroes face off in Dubai.
T20 World Cup final: Semi-final heroes and long-time friends Marcus Stoinis, Daryl Mitchell to face off 12 years after school-time heroics
NZ vs AUS LIVE: As per ESPN Cricinfo, both Daryl Mitchell and Marcus Stoinis were part of the same team as head coach Justin Langer 12 years ago. Mitchell, who had moved along with his father who took over at Western Force in the Super 14 Rugby competition. The Kiwi all-rounder Hale School where he met Stoinis, two years his senior, and played in the school side alongside Stoinis and the two have been long-time friends since.
Australia vs New Zealand: Stoinis and Mitchell, who played stellar roles in helping their teams reach the final, played together for Scarborough, winning the Premiership title at the WACA. Stoinis made 189 in the semi-final. Then in the final, Mitchell, just two months shy of his 18th birthday, produced a match-winning spell taking 4 for 26 to help them seal the title.
Stoinis and Mitchell moulded themselves into all-rounders and big game players as they trained together for five years relentless. They played together at Scarborough under former Western Australia opener Clint Heron and Langer, trained privately with Langer’s long-time batting mentor Neil ‘Noddy’ Holder, or on their own together in the nets and gym at Revolution Sports indoor centre in Perth.
T20 World Cup final: Semi-final heroes and long-time friends Marcus Stoinis, Daryl Mitchell to face off 12 years after school-time heroics
Mitchell told ESPNcricinfo prior to the T20 World Cup that both Holder and Langer were major influences on his career. “To be able to first of all work with Neil ‘Noddy’ Holder not just with batting but as a mentor as well… to be able to spend time with him has helped me grow my game not only as a cricketer but as a person. Obviously, [I was] very lucky to play club cricket in Scarborough with Justin Langer in my first year out of school was really cool. I remember growing up watching him as a kid and to share a dressing room with him was awesome,” Mitchell said.
Australia vs New Zealand: Unfortunately, both Marcus Stoinis and Daryl Mitchell had to seek pastures anew to make the grade in red-ball cricket. While Stoinis moved to Melbourne without a contract to try his luck with Victoria following limited opportunities with Western Australia, Mitchell headed back to New Zealand in 2011 to play for Northern Districts. Among other alumni of the Scarbrough club are Andrew Tye and Marcus Harris.
“Growing up playing club cricket with Marcus Stoinis and Marcus Harris and it’s quite bizarre now they’re playing for Australia. But yeah to be able to grow up with those guys and practice with them definitely played a major role in my formative years as a cricketer,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell scored a stunning 72* off just 47 balls to take Ne Zealand to their maiden T20 World Cup final. Stoinis meanwhile, remained not out on 40 as he played anchor to Matthew Wade who went berserk and sealed the win for the Australians.
T20 World Cup final: Semi-final heroes and long-time friends Marcus Stoinis, Daryl Mitchell to face off 12 years after school-time heroics
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