New Zealand Is The Strongest Team Across Formats: Michael Atherton

Nov 11, 2021 at 2:23 PM

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New Zealand Is The Strongest Team Across Formats: Michael Atherton

New Zealand has shown they are the strongest team across all formats of the game after reaching the final of the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup, former England captain Michael Atherton said.

Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 72 and Jimmy Neesham’s blistering cameo in Abu Dhabi led New Zealand to a dramatic five-wicket win over England as they entered their first T20 World Cup final on Wednesday.

New Zealand Cricket Team
New Zealand Cricket Team-AFP

New Zealand Is An Outstanding Team In All 3 Formats: Michael Atherton

The ‘Black Caps’ reached the final of the 50-overs World Cup in 2019 where they lost to England decided by boundary count after scores were the same after Super Over and beat India this year to win the inaugural World Test Championship title.

“They are an outstanding team, in all formats of the game really,” Atherton told Sky Sports.

Michael Atherton Image Source : GETTY IMAGES
Michael Atherton Image Source: GETTY IMAGES

“Across formats, you would have to say they are the strongest team at the moment so congratulations to them, a fantastic achievement with limited resources in terms of personnel and money and things that we’ve often talked about.”

New Zealand will face either Australia or Pakistan in Sunday’s final in Dubai. The 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy win (now referred to as ICC Champions Trophy) stands as one of two ICC tournaments won by the team in their cricketing history.

New Zealand also won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship tournament in 2021, beating India by 8 wickets. New Zealand had also reached the finals of the last two World Cups in 2015 and 2019 but lost both times.

Daryl Mitchell’s Unbeaten 72 And Jimmy Neesham’s Cameo Helps New Zealand To Win Semis

Chasing 167, New Zealand was on the back foot when key duo Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson were dismissed by Chris Woakes inside the first three overs of the reply. But the ship was steadied by Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway, who added 82 for the third wicket before James Neesham whacked 27 from 11 balls to turn the tide in his side’s favour.

Daryl Mitchell heaves the ball away during his matchwinning 72 not out as Jos Buttler watches on. Photograph: François Nel/Getty Images
Daryl Mitchell heaves the ball away during his match-winning 72, not out as Jos Buttler watches on. Photograph: François Nel/Getty Images

It was not until the 16th over of the second innings that either side seemed to grab the game, and at that point, it was England who briefly took control. At that point, their opponents needed an apparently far-fetched 57 from 24, and Jimmy Neesham was fresh to the crease.

In the following over, Chris Jordan, England’s one genuine death-overs specialist, was completely marmalized by James Neesham. It turned into England’s most expensive of the tournament, 23 runs coming off it.

Jimmy Neesham fell to the last ball of the 18th over, but it hardly mattered, given what Daryl Mitchell was about to do to Chris Woakes. He had never scored an international T20 half-century but ended the most important game of his life unbeaten on 72 off 47 balls. It was New Zealand opener Daryl Mitchell who finished the job, hitting 25 off his last seven deliveries to win the semis with an over to spare.

New Zealand 167 for 5 (Mitchell 72*, Conway 46, Neesham 27; Livingstone 2-22) beat England 166 for 4 (Malan 41, Moeen 51*; Southee 1-24) by 5 wickets

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