Super 12 results changed the picture like 2007
On Sunday morning, India and Pakistan were awakened by the news that the Netherlands had weathered the excitement of the tournament, beating South Africa by 13 runs in a breezy afternoon in Adelaide. This was good news for both countries. The loss meant India qualified for the semi-finals hours before their final group match against Zimbabwe. It also meant that Pakistan’s fate was in its own hands, they just had to overthrow Bangladesh. rice field. But who would have thought that the teams would have to wait until the final day of the Super 12 to determine their semi-finalists? But it was such a tournament, unpredictable and uncertain, the most exciting T20 World Cup in recent memory, with shocking defeats, close-fought results, and some high-class play.
The match in Zimbabwe, though seen by a sold-out MCG crowd, was merely a formality. Relieving the pressure created by a match they had to win, they never endured a tense moment and delivered their best performance of the tournament, defeating Zimbabwe by 71 runs. Just before the match, Pakistan edged Bangladesh by five wickets. defeated and made it into his final four matches. The final day of Super 12 should be one of suspense and excitement for both India and Pakistan. It turned out to be anti-climactic.
Neither nation is considered a favorite to win the tournament, but both countries went from strength to strength. India’s fast bowling venture was not considered so dangerous without Jasprit Bumrah. But the quartet of Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, and Mohammed Shami showed not only bite, steel and skill but also barking. Virat Kohli has regained his commanding touch. KL Rahul was getting back in shape. Rohit Sharma shows signs of getting closer to his best.
But the heart of this batting team is Surya Kumar Yadav. With every game, he seems to redefine the boundaries of batting in this form, elevating T20 batting to a true art form, an indomitable pinnacle that can mostly only be enjoyed remotely. His string of shots at that World Cup was truly breathtaking, whether it was the cold counterattack of a fearsome hard-length South African bowler or the ruthless dismemberment of a Zimbabwean bowler.
If Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada couldn’t stop him, how could they have stopped Blessing Muzarbani and Richard Ngarava? He gave Ngaraba a masterclass in sweep shots. One of the shots he executed in the final over was outrageous: shuffling outside the stumps, bending low, front foot almost touching the wideline, his left arm, Ngaraba, landing on a deep square leg. Did. His blow mocks the geometry of the blow and undermines the best plans of rats and humans.
As usual, he fuelled the drive for a huge amount of money. His 61 could only score his 25 balls. At this World Championship, he was second only to Cori with a 193.96 batting average in 225 heats. What makes these shine, even more, is that they were blown up in death overs or when the team was in trouble. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri called his 68 against South Africa on a fast, bouncy surface the best T20 knock he’s ever seen. Suffice it to say that India’s semi-final opponents England had already started pulling his hair out and figuring out how to sack him. They bore the brunt of his counter-geometry Strokeplay last June.
In the semi-finals, India looks like it is one of the better teams to clinch the title. Aside from the wicketkeeper’s spot, they have nothing to worry about and are slowly peaking after stuttering and stumbling in the group stage. Three of the five games were decided in the last overs. However, they displayed remarkable character and composure to seize the decisive moment. In many cases, it is not the best team that wins tournaments, but rather keeps its cool in key moments and faces adversity. A team that never gives up. So, it was in India and to some extent also in Pakistan.
After being defeated by Zimbabwe, they went hungry again. The introduction of Mohammad Haris revitalized the middle class and, more importantly, Shaheen Afridi rediscovered the missing rhythm in the India game. In the last two matches, he took seven wickets for just 36 runs. Along with his colleagues Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Wasim Jr., Pakistan has a fast-paced bowling group. Don’t forget Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz’s spin all-around pair.
With a week to go before the final and semi-finals against two strong teams, fans of these subcontinental powerhouses are beginning to dream of a dream match. Is it going to have the 2007 World Cup drama again? Final between India vs Pakistan final at MCG. This week will clear the picture.
