t20-wc-nz-vs-pak-sportstiger

Picture Credit: Twitter

Pakistan defeated New Zealand in ICC Men's T20 WC 2022 semi-finals convincingly by 7 wickets to enter the final stage of the tournament. New Zealand winning the toss managed to post a total of 152/4, only with the help of stunning fifty from Daryl Mitchell and sensible 46 run-knock from the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson. Shaheen Afridi picked 2 key wickets of New Zealand opening batsman Finn Allen, skipper Kane Williamson and ended with bowling figures of 2/24 in his quota of 4 overs.

Pakistan chased down 153 runs comfortably with the help of a solid 105-run opening partnership between Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan. New Zealand bowlers looked clueless against this opening pair and also looked very sloppy on the field. Left-arm pacer Trent Boult picked the key wickets of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and his partner Mohammad Rizwan but unfortunately it was too late for Kiwi's as Pakistan sealed this chase with 5 balls to be spared.

Numbers and stats from NZ vs PAK game:

2 -
Babar Azam became second player after Aaron Finch to smash more than 2000 runs as captain in men's T20I. Babar Azam smashed 2000 runs from just 60 innings as captain in T20Is while Aaron Finch smashed 2000 runs from 67 innings as captain in T20Is.

3 - For 3rd time Pakistan have entered men's T20 WC finals after 2007 & 2009.

Pakistan in men's T20 WC final

2007: Lost to India by 5 runs
2009: Beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets

3 - Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have recorded hundred-plus run partnership for 3rd time in men's T20 WC.

Most hundred-plus run partnership by a batting pair in men's T20 WC:

Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan: 3

Adam Gilchrist-Matthew Hayden: 2
Alex Hales-Eoin Morgan: 2
Mahela Jayawardene-Kumar Sangakkara: 2
Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma: 2
David Warner-Shane Watson: 2 

4 - Pakistan have defeated New Zealand all four out of four times in both ODI & T20 World Cup semi-final game.

PAK vs NZ in ODI & T20 WC semi-final game:

1992: PAK win by 4 wickets (ODI)
1999: PAK win by 9 wickets (ODI)
2007: PAK win by 6 wickets (T20I)
2022: PAK win by 7 wickets (T20I)

11 - Mohammad Rizwan has won man of the match award for the 11th time in T20Is.

Most man of the match awards for Pakistan in men's T20I:

Shahid Afridi - 11
Mohammad Hafeez - 11
Mohammad Rizwan - 11  

18 -
Pakistan have defeated New Zealand for the 18th time in men's T20I.

Most wins against an opposition in men's T20I:

England - 18 vs Pakistan
Pakistan - 18 vs New Zealand

607 -
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan recorded 607-run partnership between them in men's T20 WC.

Most partnership runs by a batting pair in men's T20 WC:

Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan: 607 (12 inns)

Tillakaratne Dilshan-Mahela Jayawardene: 572 (20 inns)
Mahela Jayawardene-Kumar Sangakkara: 571 (17 inns)