Pakistan beat NZ to reach third T20 World Cup final

A century stand by Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan propelled Pakistan to the final of the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup. The duo helped Pakistan chase 153 against New Zealand in a one-sided semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Pakistan have qualified for the T20 WC final after over a decade. They last reached this stage in the 2009 edition when they were crowned champions. The Men in Green also finished as the runners-up of the inaugural T20 World Cup.

Babar finally broke his string of low scores! The Pakistan skipper, who managed scores of 0, 4, 4, 6, and 25 before this match, finally shut his detractors. Playing his 98th T20I, Babar raced to his 30th half-century in T20I cricket. He now has 32 fifty-plus scores in the format (two tons).

Rizwan laid the foundation of Pakistan's win with a superb knock. Rizwan eventually completed his 23rd half-century in T20I cricket. It was his 10th T20I fifty of 2022, now the most by a batter this year.

Babar and Rizwan shared a 105-run stand before the former departed. It was their third 100+ partnership in the T20 World Cup, now the most by a pair in the tournament's history. Two others were recorded in the 2021 edition (against India and Namibia).

Daryl Mitchell added fire to NZ's innings. He raced to his third half-century in T20I cricket in the 18th over. He smashed 53* off 35 balls (3 fours, 1 six). Mitchell also completed 750 T20I runs in the format.

Rizwan and Babar helped Pakistan plunder 55/0 in the Powerplay, their highest in this phase in the ongoing tournament. Notably, only two out of the last seven matches played at the SCG have been won by the side batting second (2022 T20 WC).