England Vs New Zealand Semi Final Highlights; T20 World Cup 2021: NZ make final with 5-wkt win; Mitchell, Neesham shine

If we were to go by the last few games, captains would be inclined to bat first after winning the toss

4 out of the last 6 games here have been won by the side batting first. 
In the afternoon games: The chasing team has won 7 of the last 8 encounters

"I wouldn't say strong favourites. New Zealand have a full-strength squad. We've obviously been hampered with a lot of injuries throughout this tournament. We're playing really good cricket. The guys are extremely excited about the challenge against New Zealand and potentially the opportunity that might follow that. But we need to play really good cricket in order to beat them," Eoin Morgan

"It's been a long time coming, this T20 World Cup. It's been exciting to be involved in it. And obviously it's all coming to a quick end and we've got the semi-final. All going well, hopefully another game after that." Kane Williamson

New Zealand's predicted XI vs England: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (captain), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

England's predicted XI vs New Zealand: Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (captain), Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid

Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson(c), Devon Conway(w), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Todd Astle, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Seifert, Mark Chapman

Jos Buttler(w), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan(c), Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, David Willey, James Vince, Reece Topley, Tom Curran

30 minutes to go for the toss. Which captain will the coin favour?

New Zealand's Road to Semifinal - Match 5: New Zealand needed to win their final Super 12 game against Afghanistan to secure a final-four spot. And they did that in stunning fashion with an 8-wicket win.

NZ 125/2 (18.1) beat AFG 124/8 (20)

New Zealand's Road to Semifinal - Match 4: The Kiwis brushed aside Namibia in their fourth game, romping home to a 52-run victory.

NZ 163/4 (20) beat NAM 111/7 (20)

New Zealand's Road to Semifinal - Match 3: In their 3rd game in Dubai, the Black Caps faced stern resistance from Scotland before getting over the line
NZ 172/5 (20) beat SCO 156/5 (20)

New Zealand's Road to Semifinal - Match 2: New Zealand bounced back immediately and thrashed India by 8 wickets in Dubai. 
NZ (111-2 in 14.3 overs) beat IND (110/7 in 20 overs)

New Zealand's Road to Semifinal - Match 1: In the opening game of the tournament, they lost to Pakistan by 5 wickets in Sharjah. PAK 135/5 (18.4 overs) beat New Zealand 134/8 in 20 overs

We have had a look at England's road to the semifinal. Let's now look through that of New Zealand's

Dawid Malan has failed to make an impact in this year so far in the last 10 innings he has come out to bat, he has scored 195 runs at an average of 21.67 he has scored 3 scores of 30+ runs in an innings including a fifty (76 vs SL at Southampton)and four times he has been dismissed in single-digit scores. Malan who has a career strike rate of 137.22 in Asian conditions has struggled to make runs and has a strike rate of 117.36. But his drought of runs could end as they take on New Zealand in the semi-final clash. Malan looks to bat against New Zealand and has scored 320 runs in 6 innings with four fifty-plus scores in it. His scores against New Zealand are as follow (latest first): 103*,55, 39,11,53,59. Rohit Sharma and Dawid Malan are the only two batsmen to score 4 fifty-plus scores against New Zealand with is the most fifty-plus scores by a batsman vs New Zealand in T20Is.

Moeen Ali hasn’t put a foot wrong in this T20 World Cup, he has scored 41 runs in 3 innings at a strike rate of 124.24.With the ball, he has picked 7 wickets in just 4 innings at an economy rate of 5.50 which is the best among all the English bowlers and a bowling average of 11.00. Plus, he has taken 2 catches in the outfield. Ali has bowled a maiden over as well in this T20 World Cup. Against New Zealand Ali has played only two matches both of them were in T20 World Cup (2014 and 2016). He has batted only once in 2014 and scored 36 runs while batting at #3 at a strike rate of 156.52. 30 runs in this knock were in boundaries (6*fours and 1* six). In 2016 he bowled 2 overs giving away just 10 runs and picked a key wicket of Kane Williamson. Moeen Ali with his contribution in all the aspects of the game can be the X factor pick for England.

Mitchell Santner so far in the 5 matches has managed to pick just two wickets but he could be a key player who could define the game for the Kiwis in the semi-finals. In 9 matches Santner has picked 16 wickets against England in T20Is which is also the most wickets by a bowler vs England in T20Is. He has been only wicketless once in these 7 innings. Notably, Santner has been effectively against England’s top-order batsmen. He has dismissed Jonny Bairstow thrice in 5 innings, Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan twice so far. Additional Santner can contribute with the bat down the order if required plus can contribute to the field with catches and run out as well

1 hour to go for the all-important toss. Who will get an early W?

Trent Boult has been exceptional with the ball for New Zealand and has picked 11 wickets in 5 matches. He is the only pacer in this tournament to pick more than 10 wickets so far. If he picks one more wicket in this T20 World Cup, Boult will have the most wickets in a single edition of the T20 World Cup surpassing Daniel Vettori (11 wks in 2007). Boult has played in T20 World in two editions( 2014 & 2021) and has picked 15 wickets in these 7 matches with wickets in every match. Plus, he has been economical throughout and bowls with an economy rate of 5.78 In 2021 so far Boult has picked 18 wickets which is the most he has picked in a calendar year in T20Is, and in his last 8 T20I innings he has picked at least a wicket. Against England Boult has 9 wickets in 7 innings out of which three times he has wicketless.

Adil Rashid has been brilliant for England in T20Is this year with 22 wickets in 15 matches and has been wicketless only thrice. Along with wickets Rashid has been economically in 2021 and bowls at an economy rate of 6.80. In these 5 innings in this T20 World Cup thrice he had aneconomy rate under 5.00.Overall, in T20 World Cup Rashid has picked 16 wickets in 15 matches and is the joint third-highest wicket-taker for England. Rashid has picked 7 wickets in 7 matches against New Zealand, but he has dismissed Martin Guptill three times in 7 innings.

Martin Guptill has scored 176 runs in this T20 World Cup and has got starts in all of the innings. He is the only New Zealand batsman to score a fifty in this tournament. Guptill has scored 467 runs against England which is the most by a New Zealand and overall the 3rd highest run-getter in T20Is. The last time he batted against England, Guptill smashed 19 balls fifty in 2019.He has 4 fifties to his name against England in T20Is which is joint-most by a batsman along with Aaron Finch (1 century and 3 fifties) and Virat Kohli (4 fifties). With some runs to his name and good form against England Guptill would be in the limelight for New Zealand to deliver at the big stage.

Jos Buttler with 240 runs in the 2nd highest run-getter in T20 World Cup,2021. He is the only batsman to score a ton this tournament so far. Buttler has smashed 13 sixes so far which is also the most by a batsman in this World Cup. 62.5% of his runs have come in boundaries so far (150/240). With 1 more six Buttler will most sixes smashed by an English Batter in a single World Cup edition, Luke Wright also smashed 13 sixes in 2012. Also, with 10 more runs, he will have most runs in by an English Batter in a single World Cup edition Joe Root scored 249 runs in 2016.Overall in T20 World Cup Buttler with 545 runs is the 3rd highest run-getter among English batsmen, with 36 more runs he will have themost runs for England in T20 World cup surpassing Kevin Pietersen with 580 runs. Against New Zealand Buttler has never opened the innings but has scored 176 runs in 8 innings including a fifty while batting at #6.He has an average of 35.20 and Buttler’s strike rate of 155.75 which is the best among all the teams he has played in T20Is.

Lowest total defended: 164 On Sep 18, 2007
Highest total chased: 173 On Mar 22, 2014

Lowest total defended: 184 On Feb 05, 2008
Highest total chased:  154 On Mar 30, 2016