“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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