ICC T20 World Cup Semi Finals Tips and Previews, 7th November
New Zealand vs. Pakistan
November 9th
New Zealand has been a genuine force in the games, not ruined by poor weather. Glenn Phillips has been one of the World Cup’s biggest scorers, and Kane Williamson is hitting the ball sweetly.
Its most recent game was a relative walk in the park, easily putting away an Ireland team that has played above itself.
Pakistan has had a very even batting attack, with no outstanding performer in this series. Shan Masood has probably been the pick of the bunch, but any of Pakistan’s top seven can provide a winning score on their day.
It is a different landscape from Pakistan’s bowling attack, however. Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan have been almost unplayable throughout this tournament, and Mohammad Wasim’s right-arm pace has also netted him plenty of wickets cheaply.
That prospect might look difficult against a sharp New Zealand bowling attack, ably led by Trent Boult with some impactful cameos from Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee. There is some genuine belief in the Black Caps team, and there is no reason to think they cannot win through to the final.
Suggested Bet:
Kane Williamson top scorer at $7.50
England vs. India
November 10th
Apart from a surprising loss to Ireland and an abandoned match against Australia, it has been a smooth run for England at this World Cup. With strength all across the board, they are a formidable outfit that has shown they can outplay any opponent they face.
Jos Butler has led the way with the bat, his powerful hitting often setting the tone for a big innings, while fellow opener Alex Hales can also turn a game on its head.
Ben Stokes is playing as well as he has in white ball cricket and was crucial to guiding his team home in the win over Sri Lanka on Saturday, but there is some question on their middle order with five players scoring six runs or less in the win.
Mark Wood’s pace and Sam Curran’s nippiness have troubled opponents throughout the tournament, and both will be a factor here, while spinner Adil Rashid’s spin has been very effective in tying down teams trying to lift their run rate.
In some ways, India has the home-ground advantage, with thousands of fans filling stadiums around Australia to see some big performances against Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
That should be the case once again, with the Indian crowd playing a big part in the energy of this one. Virat Kohli is in scintillating form with the bat, and Suryakumar Yadev has also hit some more than handy knocks over the past few weeks. Throw in a bowling performance led by Ravi Ashwin, which has all the makings of a classic.
