Fight for first final berth

Captain Kane Williamson is banking on experience to power New Zealand into a second successive Twenty20 World Cup final as they chase glory at last.

The Black Caps, who face Pakistan in the semi-finals at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, have long been a force in white-ball cricket.

But they have failed to turn that into world titles despite coming agonisingly close in recent years, including falling at the final hurdle to Australia last year.

It was their best showing in a T20 World Cup and followed hard on the heels of final defeats in the 50-over World Cup in both 2015 and 2019.

Williamson is confident the silverware drought can end this year with Babar Azam’s unpredictable Pakistan their next challenge.

“The team’s played some good cricket. As long as the team keeps looking to improve and build on some of these performances, hopefully we see ourselves in the next phase,” he said.

New Zealand started their campaign with a massive 89-run win against defending champions Australia and followed it up with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, with a washed-out game against Afghanistan in between.

They crashed by 20 runs to England before hammering Ireland to book their last-four berth and top Group 1.

Williamson has long banked on experienced strike bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult, and the spin of Mitchell Santner, to get them over the line.

Glenn Phillips’ brutal strength has been crucial to New Zealand’s batting.

“Teams -- you need a bat, you need a ball and the guys have been operating well adjusting to the surfaces really well, which I think is always very important in tournament cricket,” said the skipper.

“They’ve been outstanding... that’s the experience that’s in the camp.

“Every team you come up against has different strengths and you play at different grounds, and you’re having to really think on your feet and adjust your plans.

“But they’ve all done it for a long time.”

The Sydney wicket has been favourable to batsmen so far and with fine weather forecast for Wednesday it should prove to be so again.

Pakistan pride

Last-ball losses to India and Zimbabwe seemed to have ended Pakistan’s tournament before it got going.

But Azam’s men bounced back to topple the Netherlands and South Africa. Then against the odds they went through when the Proteas were stunned by the Dutch and Pakistan eased past Bangladesh.

It put the 2009 champions unexpectedly into the last four for a second straight tournament.

“Losing two games was not easy, but after that I think the team has responded well in doing whatever they can control,” said Shan Masood, the standout performer among some fragile batting.

Spinner Shadab Khan (10 wickets) and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi (8) have also been vital to Pakistan’s resurgence.

“Just playing for your country, putting that shirt on, I think for every individual in this camp, it means a lot,” said Masood.

“You play for pride, you play for yourself, you play for your country. We don’t need to look at other things.

“We just need to look at ourselves. We need to produce our best performances and we’re going to try and make up for whatever we didn’t achieve before.”

Babar due ‘something special’: Hayden

Pakistan’s best is yet to come and struggling skipper Babar Azam is due “something very special”, team mentor Matthew Hayden warned.

Former Australia opener Hayden, who was batting coach for Pakistan at the last World Cup and appointed team mentor for this edition, said they planned to make the most of their second chance.

“When the Netherlands beat South Africa it was a significant moment for us, a very significant moment for the team in general around reaching its potential,” he said on the eve of the semi-final in Sydney.

While Pakistan’s bowling, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, has been improving, their batting has been fragile, a concern against a top-class New Zealand attack led by Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson.

Azam’s form in particular remains a worry with the opener managing just 39 runs in five matches.

Hayden, himself a destructive opener who played 103 Tests and 161 ODIs, said the skipper was due some “fireworks” -- and predicted they could come on Wednesday.

“There’s no question Babar has been under some adversity but that will only make him an even greater player,” he said.

“We know with the weather that when there’s a lull, there’s often a storm that follows, so look out rest of the world because I think we’re about to see something very special from Babar.”

New Zealand started their campaign this year with a massive 89-run win against the defending champions, also in Sydney, and Hayden said Pakistan were wary of the Black Caps.

“They got 200 on this particular wicket against Australia... New Zealand have some really destructive players and they can put you under pressure with the bat,” he said.

“They’ve also got a terrific, well-balanced bowling attack.

“Like New Zealand sport in general, they really punch above their weight, they believe they can win this tournament and they have the potential to do that.

“So lots of threats to our camp, no question.”