T20 World Cup 2021 Highlights, NZ vs AFG: New Zealand booked their spot in the semifinals after registering an 8-wicket win over Afghanistan in their last group match of the tournament
New Zealand beat Afghanistan by eight wickets in their last Super 12 stage match of the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Chasing a total of 125 runs, New Zealand lost both the openers in the first 10 overs but an unbeaten 68-run partnership between skipper Kane Williamson (40*) and Devon Conway (36*) guided New Zealand to victory and semi-final qualification. With this result, India and Afghanistan are both out of the race for the final four. However, the Virat Kohli-led side has one more game left in the tournament against Namibia on Monday. The result of the India-Namibia game will make no change in India's fate in the ongoing tournament. This is also the first time since 2012 that India failed to make it to the semi-finals of any ICC event-- 2013 (Champions Trophy- winners), 2014 (T20 World Cup- runners-up), 2015 (ODI World Cup- semi-finalists), 2016 (T20 World Cup- semi-finalists), 2017 (Champions Trophy- runners-up), 2019 (ODI World Cup- semifinalists), 2021 (World Test Championship- runners-up)
New Zealand inflict dignified hurt, they like to upset the applecart. They did it in the 2019 World Cup semifinal as underdogs. They repeated it at the World Test Championship final this year. Now they are a win away from knocking India out of the T20 World Cup.
On Sunday, they face Afghanistan, with 1.4 billion Indians watching and praying for their defeat. Add Indian expats in the UAE to the list. Some messages on WhatsApp called for divine intervention. From the tournament’s perspective, the T20 World Cup would lose glamour if India’s campaign ends on Sunday. But why should the Kiwis care? The most consistent team in ICC events over the last half a decade sniffs the semifinals by dint of their performance. They are the unassuming winners, who revel in not being the favourites in any tournament. They are a bunch of brilliantly-skilled cricketers who don’t mind self-deprecation. Somewhere between zero and one per cent,” said Jimmy Neesham, when he was asked about 1.4 billion Indians cheering on (for New Zealand’s opponents) and the corresponding support for the Kiwis. Neesham’s wit is something to fall for, also his dry humour. After the Namibia game, he spoke about the art of keeping outside noise at arm’s length.
“We are pretty good as a unit at sort of keeping what’s necessary to concentrate on in the front of our minds. There’s been a few occasions I know the last couple of months where there’s been a lot of people talking a lot about us off the field, so it doesn’t bother us too much.”Much to play for
An Indian perspective to their game on Sunday is for the fans to harp on. New Zealand see this as a must-win fixture to reach the last four. Sodhi expectedly addressed the India part with indifference. “I guess looking forward to tomorrow, we see it as another game. I think if we keep it as simple as trying to adapt to the conditions best as we can, and being aware of the threats that Afghanistan pose and also taking into consideration the things we have done really well, if we can do them really well, I think then we can put on a good performance and all that other stuff takes care of itself.”
The leg-spinner is good to go after a narrow escape from a major head injury while fielding against Namibia on Friday. After some concussion tests and a bit of rest, he was rather complaining about not getting rasmalai on Diwali, having to make do with gulab jamun and gajar ka halwa instead.
The underdogs question made him serious. “I don’t think we have ever even spoken about that. We just try to play as good cricket as we possibly can. A big part of it has been the leadership group have harped on a lot about adapting to conditions as quickly as we can,” Sodhi said at the pre-match presser.
“I think that’s been tailored into our training. If you come, watch a training, especially when you see some of the guys that have been playing for the last 10-12 years, they are very specific in their training when it comes to preparing for certain conditions, certain match-ups,” Sodhi added.
Afghanistan can take heart from the fact that Scotland ran the Kiwis close. Also, their own performance against Pakistan was one to speak of despite the defeat. But spin-heavy Afghanistan are a very conditions-specific side. Also, the equation for them to advance is not all that simple.
India’s massive win over Scotland has made it imperative for Mohammad Nabi’s troops to go all out on Sunday, for they have to take care of their net run rate as well. Abu Dhabi pitches so far have aided batsmen, which makes things more complicated for a side that has punched above its weight in this tournament, brushing aside the match
India losses the chance of winning 2021 T20 world cup
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