Which side will win the 1st Semi-Final between Pakistan and New Zealand on 9 November?

[MenInG]

Pakistan made it by the skin of their teeth - in fact some argue that they don't deserve to be in the knockout stage whilst New Zealand have reached the Semi-Finals stage based upon their own powerful performances.

Regardless of how they got there, the contest will be an interesting one where Pakistan's win in the Tri-series against the same opponents will give them some hope.

So, a Pakistan side riding high on confidence versus New Zealand with excellent batting and bowling firepower - who will win the Semi-Final on Wednesday and earn a right to play in the final?

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Have to go with New Zealand.

 

[MenInG]

Have to go with New Zealand.

Use the vote button please.

 

[RexRex]

I don't know who'll win but New Zealand are more deserving of a victory here. They have been toiling hard for a decade now with no trophy to show, whilst having the best ICC record since 2009. I am sure Pak fans will agree with me.

 

[Sarwar89]

Pakistan

 

[pakistani pride]

60/40 for NZ

Will be a very close game, I just hope Pak bowling fires again and we have 140 to max 150 type of match.
Pak will not change the openers, we all know that. So all comes down to the bowlers (again).

 

[Rana]

100-0 pakistan

No doubt in this

 

[sweep_shot]

I have voted for Pakistan. However, truth be told, this is really 50-50.

Expected to be a cracking game.

 

[jiduguravindra]

Whoever bats first win the game.

 

[Rana]

Whoever bats first win the game.

We have been preparing 2 years as a chasing side

We will know that we can chase 180 even

 

[ZafarKhan2022]

Rizzy, Bobby, Nawaz, and Ifti had one of the worst batting displays I've ever seen in a T20.

 

[pakistani pride]

We have been preparing 2 years as a chasing side

We will know that we can chase 180 even

Hell no.
180?!

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Use the vote button please.

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[Rana]

Hell no.
180?!

We will do it

Believe. It’s going to happen

 

[Rana]

If there is one ground in this World Cup where 180 can be chased

It’s Sydney

 

[IMMY69]

Always back Pakistan.
Backed them in the Poll to win the tournament and will always back them no matter what.

Stay positive

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan has history behind them. But NZ is hands-down the best fielding unit. But NZ lower order can fold like a pack of cards despite having the ability to bat. Williamson's captaincy will be under the microscope. Of late he has been very poor.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Whoever bats first.

If we win toss and bowl game over. We cannot chase in a knockout vs decent bowlers.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Whoever bats first.

If we win toss and bowl game over. We cannot chase in a knockout vs decent bowlers.

In crunch games even against ordindary bowlers it will be hard. Stokes was tuk tuking Srilakan part timers

 

[Rana]

Whoever bats first.

If we win toss and bowl game over. We cannot chase in a knockout vs decent bowlers.

Someone from the middle-lower order will play an inspired once in a lifetime knock

 

[Kianig89]

55 45 to NZ
However if Pak bats first and scores 165+ then we can win in sleep otherwise

 

[Champ_Pal]

Whichever team gets hot for a couple of games from now on will win the Cup.

Pakistan has a history of getting red hot or go stone cold from time to time. They have every chance to lift the cup like England or NZ. To be honest, England and NZ should be in the finals with England lifting the cup. England has all the bases covered. The best team at the moment.

 

[Mirpur express]

Have a soft spot for the kiwis but Can’t see Pakistan loosing the next 2 games

 

[Suleiman]

I would’ve been very optimistic with Pak lifting the cup, but after the way we played Vs BD I don’t really know if this team believes in itself.

After what we did to SA we should’ve come guns blazing Vs BD but looked nervous the whole game except for M Haris, Shan, Shaheen. Everyone else looked in their feelings.

Babar and Rizwan have looked the most stressed and frustrated. I don’t think I’ve seen Rizwan yelling with anger in the field as much as in the BD game. Babar at least tried to keep a lid on it.

I know they’re struggling for form, but bringing that negativity everywhere is not helping anyone and in the field will only lead to more fumbles.

Team only looked confident and full of life Vs SA but I think the pressure was off by then as they didn’t really believe that much in the idea of NL or Zim upsetting SA or India.

Hope Hayden as mentor is doing his part in uplifting the players’ mindset or more confidence in the openers’ batting, otherwise this was just a symbolic hiring.

Changing the opening pair is the best thing not only for the team but also FOR RizBab. It takes the pressure OFF both of them. If we pair them with M Harris or whoever, they just have to worry about rotating the strike and playing themselves in and unleash later on.

But yeah, the body language looks uncharacteristic. That 09 team was the last one that carried itself like champions even before becoming champions.

 

[Civil]

My prediction is that we beat NZ and then England in the final!

 

[Ab Fan]

Deserving winners are New Zealand but actual winners will be Pakistan.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Deserving winners are New Zealand but actual winners will be Pakistan.

NZ doesn't have that never say die attitude. They give up earlier than they should have. They have an express bowler Lockie Ferguson. But he will be totally useless at the SCG. He can still put some doubts in the batsman's mind. Pakistan's strength is a collective intensity they can bring forth for a 30 to 40-minute period where they can keep the opposition on their backfoot and push further. Nobody is aware of that better than New zealand.

 

[MenInG]

Deserving winners are New Zealand but actual winners will be Pakistan.

That whole deserving thing went out of the window once Pakistan qualified.

From now on, each side is deserving of a win.

 

[SalimBhai]

pakistan zindabad

 

[Saj]

It's going to be a tough match.

But Pakistan would have preferred NZ over England I'm pretty sure of that.

 

[Spitfire]

NZ doesn't have that never say die attitude. They give up earlier than they should have. They have an express bowler Lockie Ferguson. But he will be totally useless at the SCG. He can still put some doubts in the batsman's mind. Pakistan's strength is a collective intensity they can bring forth for a 30 to 40-minute period where they can keep the opposition on their backfoot and push further. Nobody is aware of that better than New zealand.

Let's not forget that on the flip side of the coin, Pakistani players aren't really that mentally, when things are not going their way their shoulders tend to drop and they start making unforced errors.

I have found NZ team to be mentally very tough and they have this never give up attitude. There is lots of collective big match experience in their team too and they are very hungry for their very first ICC title.

Aside from one defeat to England on this tournament, they have won all their games quite convincingly.

Write them off at your own peril.

 

[Energy]

Allen, Conway will come hard but that's also an opportunity for ua to catch them early. If the fast bowlers deliver the early punches then we're set.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan will beat New Zealand

 

[charlie007]

Better team will win which is New Zealand

 

[hitthestump]

I wonder what this current NZ side feels about the past semi final losses to Pakistan.

On paper i think NZ are the better side. But historically everything suggests that this is their final game, and that can be a crucial factor when we get to this level of sport.

 

[wrongun]

Exciting game.

Both teams know each other pretty well, thanks to that recent preparation tour.

Pakistan should throw a curveball and change up the opening combo- but I doubt they will do this.

Historically, NZ sides do their homework really well so if they know what is coming, they usually have smart strategies to put in place. This is my concern for Pakistan- that they will actually be predictable in & allow NZ to control the match by not putting pressure on them that way.

Best bet for Pakistan is to bowl first. Lead with your strength & see what Shaheen & co can do. Batting first Rizwan/Babar have been in the habit of not pushing hard enough for a batters total which will win a game on it;s own- happy to coast for middling totals or leave it all to lower order + the bowlers to come through every time.

 

[moghul]

Can we say Pakistan is peaking at the right time, with some psychological advantage after beating Kiwi in their own backyard just recently.

 

[Asif321]

At Sydney Pakistan have a good chance and kiwis are known chokers in knockouts

 

[MenInG]

Is Pakistan batting capable of getting this score?

 

[Geil]

Pakistan should chase this total easily because that is what their game is, bowl first restrict team to a score of 150-160 and chase the total.

They did it perfectly since 2021, they should be able to do it now as well

 

[adzzy786]

Pakistan should chase this total easily because that is what their game is, bowl first restrict team to a score of 150-160 and chase the total.

They did it perfectly since 2021, they should be able to do it now as well

Zimbabwe walk through the door. I hope we do it but our batting hasn’t been good. Even against Bangladesh we almost made a mess of it if it wasn’t for Harris , we could and would have been in trouble