Former Indian cricketer, VVS Laxman reckons that both Australia and New Zealand followed similar paths to victory in the T20 World Cup semi-finals and there is little to choose between the two teams. While Australia may have a slight edge due to the absence of Devon Conway in the Kiwi setup, the Blackcaps can never get out of consideration.
In his column for Times of India, VVS Laxman wrote, “There is little to choose between the two finalists, with Australia having the slight edge following the freak injury to Devon Conway. There was a touch of similarity to the way the two last-four clashes played out. First Kane Williamson and then Aaron Finch hit it lucky with the coin. Those were significant off-field developments, for this tournament has favoured teams chasing.”
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VVS Laxman said that both semi-finals showed that T20s are often won in “short, sharp passage of play” and winning the toss or even being the better team on the day doesn’t guarantee a win. He also pointed out how both New Zealand and Australia won their respective run chases despite being behind for long durations of their matches against England and Pakistan respectively.
Laxman elaborated, “Nine times out of ten, they would have gone on to win, but on this occasion, they ran into tartar. The turning point came in the 17th over sent down by Chris Jordan, when Neesham flexed his muscles and smashed a couple of sixes. The momentum had swung the Kiwis’ way, and Mitchell stepped up to deliver the knockout blows.”
For Australia, it was Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis who made a brilliant partnership to take Australia over the line in the last four overs against a Pakistan team who were unbeaten in 16 T20Is in the UAE before the game.
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Explaining the same, VVS Laxman said, “Despite David Warner’s fluency, they (Pakistan) had moved into the ascendancy after Shadab Khan’s four-wicket haul, leaving Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade holding the baby. Again, they were equal to the task. There is no gain saying what might have happened had Hasan Ali not dropped Wade with 20 needed off 10. That they came against Shaheen Shah Afridi, merely reinforced theQ value of intent and belief in a game of extremely small margins.”
Australia will face New Zealand in the final on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.
