The finalists of the ICC World Cup 2019 will be locking horns with each other again, and this time in the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. In 2019, even 102 overs fell short of deciding a winner, and the game was ultimately decided on the boundary count of England New Zealand. The 2019 final’s defeat would have haunted the Kiwis for a long time, and they would be desperate to avenge their loss here.
England and New Zealand will be squaring off in the 1st Semi-Final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 at Abu Dhabi on the 10th of November. England won 4 of their 5 games in the group stages and they secured 1st place in Group 1, while the Kiwis, too, won the same number of games and ended up getting the 2nd spot in Group 2.
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New Zealand is eyeing its maiden ICC T20I World Cup title. This will be their third Semi-Final (after 2007 & 2016) and they have never gone past this stage so far. England won their first ICC T20 World Cup title in the year 2010 and would be hoping to win it once again. Aiming for its maiden T20 WC title, the Kiwis will be gazing to hunt down the injury-affected English side. The Kiwis will be high on confidence after winning the ICC Test Championship title, earlier this year, by defeating India in the finals.
England
England has to find an apt replacement for Jason Roy. They could bring in Sam Billings or James Vince – moving Dawid Malan or Jonny Bairstow up to open if necessary – or could replace Roy with an all-rounder such as David Willey to give them an extra bowling option. Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone got some time in the middle in their last game against South Africa while Morgan played an important knock against Sri Lanka but it might be an area New Zealand can target.
Possible XI: Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid
New Zealand
Kane Williamson says that his elbow problem requires managing but he will not be missing such a high-intensity game. It is likely, indeed, that New Zealand select the same team as they did for their last four group matches. They are one of only two teams – the other is England – to concede less than a run a ball in the first six overs. Given England’s middle-order rustiness, early wickets will be paramount for New Zealand.
Possible XI: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Fantasy Suggestion #1:
Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Jonny Bairstow (vc), Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Mitchell Santner, Adil Rashid, Trent Boult, Chris Jordan, and Ish Sodhi
Fantasy Suggestion #2:
Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (c), Daryl Mitchell, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (vc), Moeen Ali, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, and Trent Boult
