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Editor's Pick (T20): Australia - New Zealand

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“England needs to not only win but win significantly to get a better run rate.” If you read my previous blog you would remember this line I had posted. England won the match against New Zealand on 18th Feb 2018. But only by 2 runs. That was clearly not enough. The net run rate did not get better. Hence, New Zealand got through and is meeting Australia in the finals tomorrow.

England would be disappointed. They had a beautiful chance. But having said that, it was NZ’s home advantage that got them through to the finals as well. England did play really well. It was their best day yet at the tournament. NZ enters the finals with a loss but they will feel good about the fact that they do get to walk into the finals, which England does not. Despite winning. The key was to play the spinners and the change of pace in the middle overs. Eoin Morgan, who won the man of the match, is not a happy man either.
Let’s talk about the finals.

Probable New Zealand Squad: Playing XI: Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Tim Seifert (wk), Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner
Bench:Anaru Kitchen, Ben Wheeler, Henry Nicholls

Probable Australia Squad: Playing XI: Aaron Finch, David Warner (c), Kane Richardson, Glenn Maxwell, Chris Lynn, Ashton Agar, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Billy Stanlake, Andrew Tye, D Arcy Short
Bench:Travis Head, Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis

Avg 1st inn score:
173
Avg 2nd inn score:
151
Highest Total:
245/5 (18.5 Ov) by Aus vs NZ
Lowest Total:
107/10 (14.5 Ov) by NZ vs RSA
Highest Chased:
245/5 (18.5 Ov) by Aus vs NZ
Lowest Defended:
165/7 (20 Ov) by RSA vs NZ

The other finalist could not have been either team. This was a race that had excitement until the last minute. Will the finals also have the thrill or will it be a one-sided match? Time will tell. Australia is in a fantastic winning streak. A victory in the finals will be their sixth straight win taking them higher up the ICC T20 ranking order.
If Zampa gets the nod, one of the Aussie key players will lose their place. Will they change their winning combination?
NZ must bowl first if they win the toss. Point to be noted - NZ has lost their last four matches at Eden Park. Will being the home team matter now?

There is a chance that it might rain. So D&L might be invited. So best if both teams hit hard from the word go. You can never tell when the run rate would matter. Except for Zampa, I do not see any change in the playing eleven for both the teams.

Key players

New Zealand
Colin Munro
Martin Guptill
Trent Boult
Tim Southee

Australia
David Warner
D’Arcy Short
Glenn Maxwell
Kane Richardson
Andrew Tye

Australia won all four of their games and are favourites for Wednesday's final at Eden Park in Auckland.

Indu


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