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

Well, New Zealand are in another final. Whether they win it or not is a question for later as tomorrow, Pakistan and Australia square off in the second semifinal. We will be back with the live coverage, so do join us. 

Until tomorrow, this is Shivansh Gupta signing off. CIAO!

New Zealand were handed a painful defeat in the 2019 World Cup final by the same opposition. 2 years later, they avenge the defeat. Irrespective of how you look at it, this was a remarkable game of cricket. Two top sides fought tooth and nail and this time, the Black Caps ended on the right side of the result.

"Most players have played together in various tournaments. Knew it was going to be a great game of cricket. Thought they had a pretty competitive total. But just by staying in there, building the partnerships and cashing in on some moments, some matchups. Definitely, something that stood out today (Mitchell's character). Has batted beautifully in a high pressure situation. T20 cricket - it's a game of small margins. Depending on the surface, the short side - these things can be match-defining. He came out and hit the ball hard, that's what he does (Neesham). Changed the momentum really. Fantastic knock from Daryll, hit the big shots when it counted. We'll be following that match - going to be fantastic. We know we have another challenge coming up and we'll change our focus after tonight.
 

“Coming into the game we knew both sides were close in skill. Full credit to Kane and his team. They outplayed us today. Have represented ourselves in this tournament really well. Proud of the guys. They have given everything in this tournament. Thought we were right in the game until probably the 17th, 18th overs. We had them exactly where we wanted them up until that point. It was (sluggish). We're a six-hitting side but we struggled to hit sixes. But we hung in there and posted probably a par score. To come out and hit sixes from ball one like that - full credit to him (Neesham). Absolutely love playing cricket at the moment. At the forefront of change both on and off the field (the team).”

"It was a bit of a whirl at the end there. I couldn't remember what was going on, but I'm happy I got the job done. It was a challenging surface, with the new ball, and it was two-paced. The way Conway set the platform and Neesh hit a few out of the ground was amazing. We knew one or two good overs would do it, and we got the momentum back thanks to Neesham's hitting. With what's going on around the world right now, it's amazing that my old man travelled half way around the world to watch me play, so this is a proud moment," says Mitchell after receiving his award.

4 overs ago, not many people would have placed their bets on a New Zealand win. They lost two quick wickets and Mitchell was set but wasn't timing the ball. However, it was Jimmy Neesham's 11-ball cameo, during which he scored 27 runs, that changed the face of the game. It allowed Mitchell to find his range and once Neesham fell, Mitchell finished the job by hitting an unbeaten 72. 

FOUR FROM MITCHELL AND NZ WIN AND ARE INTO THE FINAL

NZ are just a hit away now. Need 6 runs from 9 balls

1 run- Mitchell miscues pull, batters run 1

1 run- Mitchell pulls to the sweeper at deep mid-wicket

SIX! Woakes misses the yorker and Mitchell smacks the ball over long on for 6. what a shot!

SIX! Short from Woakes and Mitchell pulls the ball over deep mid-wicket for 6. 

NZ NEED 20 FROM 12 BALLS

SIX! A leg spinner into the slot from Rashid. Neesham goes down on one knee and smacks the ball over deep mid-wicket for a 6! What a game!

SIX! FIFTY FOR MITCHELL! Drag down from Rashid and Mitchell goes onto the backfoot and smacks the ball over long on for 6. This is incredible stuff

OUT! Neesham fails to club the ball over cover and is caught by Morgan. he makes 27 off 11 balls.

NZ need 34 runs to win from 18 balls

23 runs from the 17th over, England's most expensive over yet.

SIX! They need a cameo from Neesham and they need more of these. A length ball from Jordan. Neesham flat bats it over deep mid-wicket for 6.

WIDE!

FOUR! Neesham is turning it around here. Full and straight from Jordan and Neesham goes down the ground for 4.

WIDE! Pressure!

SLOWER BALL, SLOGGED OFF ONE LEG TO COW CORNER AND IS THAT CAUGHT? Is there a run-out. What is happening'?

SIX! So it was Bairstow who dives and throws the ball back to Livingstone and England feel it's out. The replay shows his knee had hit the cushions before he could release the ball

DRAMA OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

4 overs, 2/22. Liam Livingstone had a great time with the ball

OUT! After Conway, he removes Glenn Phillips.

NZ are 110/4 in 16 overs, need 57 from 24 balls. What an over. Just 3 off it

New Zealand need 60 runs from 30 balls.

Morgan has decided to bowl Mark Wood out. 

100 up for NZ in 14.3 overs as Mitchell and Phillips run a double

FOUR! Doesn't matter how they come as long as they come. Short and straight from Wood. Mitchell pulls but the ball flies off the top-edge and over the keeper for 4. He'll take that and so will the Black Caps.
NZ are 107/3 after 15 overs.

OUT! Conway is stumped off Liam Livingstone on 46. The 82-run stand has been snapped. A slider from Liam. Conway had advanced down the track and looked to heave the ball through long off but he missed the ball and was stumped a long way out.

NEW ZEALAND are 95/3 after 13.4 overs, need 72 runs from 38 balls

Glenn Phillips is the new man in

SIX! Tossed up from Rashid and Mitchell clears the front leg and goes over long off. Jordan dives and shows great athleticism to try and pull the ball back. However, the ball slipped off his hands and clipped the cushions on the full. A great effort nonetheless.

12 off the over. NZ 92/2 after 13 overs, need 75 from 42 balls

FOUR! Livingstone is played a great innings here, finding the regular boundary. Goes down on one knee and muscles the ball through extra cover for 4.

NZ are 80/2 after 12 overs, need 87 from 48 balls

50-RUN STAND! it is up in 48 balls. A slow one but an important one

SIX! What a shot. Short from Wood. Conway charges down, makes room and swats it over backward point for 6.

NZ are 73/2 after 11 overs, need 94 from 5 balls.

NEW ZEALAND are 58/2, need 109 runs from 60 balls. Can they do it? 

Liam Livingstone is introduced into the attack

FOUR! A welcome boundary. Conway has shown intent throughout this over and he is finally rewarder as he dances down the pitch and smacks the ball through long off for 4.

Conway is looking comfortable but Mitchell is just unable to get going.
NZ are 50/2 after 9 overs.