SYDNEY, Nov 9, 2022 (BSS)- Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan found their
form when it mattered most as Pakistan reached the final of the T20 World Cup
for the third time, crushing New Zealand by 7 wickets in the first semifinal
at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here today.

    Both of the openers who endured a patchy form in the group stage of the
event, scored half-century in the knock out stage after Pakistan bowlers
bowled in disciplined way to restrict New Zealand to 152-4.

    It was believed the Pakistan batters would also find it tough to rotate
scoreboard on slow pitch but the pitch looked better in the second innings.
That however didn't take the gloss off the beautiful batting display by Babar
and his opening partner Rizwan.

    Babar hit 42 ball-53 while Rizwan struck 57 off 43 as Pakistan reached
the winning target of 153, losing three wickets and with five balls to spare.
Earlier Pakistan reached final twice in 2007 and 2009. In the inaugural
edition in 2007, they lost the trophy to archrivals India but won the coveted
silverware in 2009.

    The victory however kept Pakistan's record of not losing to New Zealand
in the knock out match of ICC tournament intact.

    Babar and Rizwan took the game completely away from New Zealand sharing
105 in just 12.5 overs. It was the ninth century partnership by the two
openers, which was comfortably highest and four better than Rohit Sharma and
KL Rahul pair who has five to their name.

    Fast bowler Trent Boult got the better both of the batters for 33 runs in
four overs but when he found the way to remove them, Pakistan already made
their clear favourite to beat New Zealand.

    Boult firstly had Babar caught by Mitchell to break the partnership
before Rizwan holed out one to sweeper cover.

    Pakistan were just 21 runs away to the victory when Rizwan departed.
Mohammad Haris added 30 off 26 before being out in the penultimate as
Pakistan found them a shot away to the victory. Shaan Masood took the winning
single to send Pakistan fans, who turned up in abundance in historical SCG,
into delirium.

    Daryl Mitchell struck an unbeaten 53 off 35 to help New Zealand get past
150 runs mark earlier.

    Shaheen Shah Afridi was the best bowler for Pakistan with 2-24 and struck
in just first over when he trapped Finn Allen leg-before for 4.

    Allen started the day with boundary of the first ball of Afridi after New
Zealand skipper Kane Williamson opted to bat first.

    But the celebrated fast bowler took the revenge in the third ball and
stifled the Kiwis with a display fierce bowling.

    As New Zealand tried to recover with Devon Conway and Williamson,
Pakistan further slowed the pace, inflicting a run out that caused the
dismissal of the former for 21.

    Mohammad Nawaz further worsened New Zealand, removing Glenn Phillips for
6, as the Kiwis limped to 49-3 in eighth over.

    Williamson and Mitchell brought the side back in contention with 68-run
partnership for the fourth wicket even though their innings never got the
expected pace.

    Afridi then came back to his second spell to get rid of Williamson who
just looked set to go on berserk. Williamson made 46 off 42 with one four and
one six.

    Mithcell however took the side past 150, hitting three fours and one six
in his 35 ball-53 not out. James Neesham was not out on 16 alongside him.