T20 World Cup 2021 | Twitter reacts as Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham power New Zealand to final

11/10/2021

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Daryl Mitchell starred with a well-crafted 72* to power New Zealand to a five-wicket win against England in the first semi-final of T20 World Cup 2021 in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. New Zealand will play their third straight ICC tournament final, after 2019 World Cup and 2021 World Test Championship.

Daryl Mitchell stroked four fours and as many sixes during his 47-ball unbeaten blitz, helping New Zealand ace the chase with five wickets and an over to spare. The right-hander added 82 off 66 with Devon Conway (46) and 40 of 17 with Jimmy Neesham (27 off 11), after Chris Woakes had dismissed the experienced Martin Guptill (4) and Kane Williamson (5) to leave New Zealand 13/2 in the fourth over. It was Neesham who turned the tide in the final stages, striking a four and a six in a timely blitz.

Liam Livingstone was England’s unlikely star with the ball, finishing 2/22 from four overs, which included a crucial 16th in which he removed a well-set Conway and conceded just three.

Earlier, England rode on Moeen Ali’s unbeaten 51 and Dawid Malan’s 41 to finish 166/4 after Williamson opted to bowl. Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, and Jimmy Neesham bagged a wicket each.

The win ensured New Zealand's third straight ICC tournament final after they finished runners-up at the 2019 World Cup final and winners of the World Test Championship earlier this year.

The second semifinal will be played between Pakistan and Australia in Dubai on Thursday, November 11, and the winner will meet New Zealand in the tournament final at the same venue on Sunday.

What a stunner!

— jennifer (@jennife74834570)

That glorious dive

Kane Williamson took a brilliant catch to dismiss Jonny Bairstow 🔥

— Cricket Crazy! (@Kabirwrites_)

This was almost perfect

6 or Out ?

not out ? How about that Effort ?
— Ballay Baaz (@Ballaybaaz)

Wait for the end

— jennifer (@jennife74834570)

HAHA!

Tit for tat

— Vinod Maheshwari 🇵🇰 (@Viniii112)

Agree ???

are the best all-format team at the moment. They have made two white-ball finals in conditions as vastly different as England and UAE. And there is also a small matter of the World Test Championship victory. Tremendous.
— Poonam Chand Jain (@poonamchand_inc)

2019 flashbacks

New Zealand takes their revenge 🔥
— Iqrar Alee Ameer (@IqrarAlee112)

The irony!

So group B was real group of death..

India(favorite)

Newzealand(finalist)

Pakistan (probable finalist)
— Mani sch (@rofl_GAANDi)

Well played!

You beauty

Congratulations 🥳 New Zealand 🇳🇿

Good for Mighty Final
— Rajiv Haldar (@Epic_Rajiv)

Well deserved!

Finally Neesham you are the deserving champion of this match ,What an innings you played , And The revenge is taken successfully !, Congratulations
— Ayesha khan (@Ayeshakhan7943)

Brilliant!

The New Zealand Men’s team showing that you don’t have to prioritise a format at the detriment of other formats to win/reach a world final. You can be world class at all 3. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

— Olivia Rae (@ollierae14)

Football fans can relate right now