ICC World T20 2016 Results: Tables, Schedule After Tuesday's Super 10 Score
A 22-run win over Pakistan in Mohali on Tuesday saw New Zealand preserve their perfect record at the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 and book their spot in the tournament semi-finals.
Opener Martin Guptill bludgeoned his way to 80 in just 48 balls for the Black Caps, as they posted 180 for five from their 20 overs. In response, Sharjeel Khan—with 47 from 25 balls—got Pakistan off to a fine start, although he was let down by some ponderous play from his team-mates.
In the aftermath of this vital win for New Zealand, here is a look at how the Super 10 standings shape up, the remaining tournament fixtures and a more detailed recap of the clash.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
| West Indies | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.893 |
| South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.816 |
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.171 |
| England | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.408 |
| Afghanistan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.248 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +1.283 |
| Pakistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.254 |
| Australia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.108 |
| India | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.895 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.749 |
| Match 24 | 1 | Wednesday, Mar. 23 | 9:30 a.m. | England vs. Afghanistan |
| Match 25 | 2 | Wednesday, Mar. 23 | 2 p.m. | India vs. Bangladesh |
| Match 26 | 2 | Friday, Mar. 25 | 9:30 a.m. | Pakistan vs. Australia |
| Match 27 | 1 | Friday, Mar. 25 | 2 p.m. | South Africa vs. West Indies |
| Match 28 | 2 | Saturday, Mar. 26 | 9:30 a.m. | Bangladesh vs. New Zealand |
| Match 29 | 1 | Saturday, Mar. 26 | 2 p.m. | Sri Lanka vs. England |
| Match 30 | 1 | Sunday, Mar. 27 | 9:30 a.m. | Afghanistan vs. West Indies |
| Match 31 | 2 | Sunday, Mar. 27 | 2 p.m. | India vs. Australia |
| Match 32 | 1 | Monday, Mar. 28 | 2 p.m. | South Africa vs. Sri Lanka |
| Semi-final 1 | Knockout | Wednesday, Mar. 30 | 1:30 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
| Semi-final 2 | Knockout | Thursday, Mar. 31 | 1:30 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
| Final | Knockout | Sunday, Apr. 3 | 1:30 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
New Zealand vs. Pakistan
New Zealand, 180 for five (Guptill 80, Sami two for 23) beat Pakistan, 158 for five (Khan 47, Milne two for 26) by 22 runs
Click here for the full match scorecard.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, the onus is so often on the openers to get the team off to a fast start. And Guptill, so well versed in these situations, did exactly that for New Zealand.
From the off, there was an intent about the batsman, as he and Kane Williamson—who was measured to notch 17 from 21—plundered 62 for the first wicket. Yet even after his opening partner departed in the eighth over and Colin Munro (seven) in the next, Guptill continued to play his shots.
As Mohandas Menon noted here, as the boundaries continued to flow, the New Zealand star is enjoying a superb year in the 20-over format:
His 80, which came to an end after he was bowled out by the excellent Mohammad Sami, set the Black Caps up for a big score, with 127 on the board for the loss of three wickets in the 15th over. So as the team closed on 180 for five, New Zealand may have been a bit disappointed with their overall total.
Corey Anderson—21 from 14 balls—and Luke Ronchi—11 from seven balls—will have been frustrated to have not kicked on, losing their wickets cheaply. It was Ross Taylor who eventually hauled the run rate up with a classy unbeaten cameo of 36 from 23 deliveries.
Former India international Aakash Chopra was impressed with the ball-striking on show and also had praise for other facets of New Zealand’s play:
With a target of 181 for Pakistan, it was evident early in their chase they were keen to get the run rate down, with Khan coming out swinging at the top of the order.
While Ahmed Shehzad kept the scoreboard ticking over, his partner at the crease was in a bullish mood, hammering 10 boundaries in a brutish 47 from 25 balls. When he was eventually snaffled by New Zealand, Pakistan were off to a flyer with 65 runs scored in just 5.3 overs.
From there, some savvy bowling and poor batting dragged New Zealand back into the contest. Shehzad seemed to be struggling for timing, and as Saj Sadiq from PakPassion.net noted, he wasted a lot of scoring opportunities during his time at the crease, finishing on 30 from 32 balls:
So as Khalid Latif (three) and Shehzad departed, the early surge from Khan looked as though it was going to go to waste. That was truer when the dangerous Shahid Afridi fell for a quick-fire 19; his team would have been looking to his experience to steer them closer to the winning target.
New Zealand bowled superbly, in fairness. While wickets didn’t tumble, they suffocated the scoring opportunities for dangerous players, prompting a steep escalation in the run rate required as the match moved towards its climax.
So as the last three overs approached, with 44 runs needed, the Black Caps were big favourites to triumph. And triumph they did, with more astute work with the ball in hand, restricting Pakistan to 158 for five, leaving them 22 runs short.
"Wanted to be aggressive and it paid off for us," Guptill said afterward, per ESPNcricinfo. "Got to keep playing the same way, we got enough power in our batting line-up to keep going. The new ball came on a bit more, hopefully we can keep it going."
New Zealand have been the standout team in this tournament, and it seems fitting they are the first side to secure their place in the last four. Pakistan will now face a massive battle to ensure they also progress, with Australia and India also in pursuit of a coveted spot in the knockout stage.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
