ENGLAND VS. NEW ZEALAND: T20 WORLD CUP 2021, SEMIFINAL 1 | PREDICTION, PLAYING 11 AND FANTASY CRICKET TIPS
England take on New Zealand in the 1st semi-final of the 2021 T20 World Cup at Abu Dhabi on Wednesday evening.
England qualified for the semi-finals, having won 4 of their 5 league matches and finishing at the top of the Group 1 standings with 8 points. They started their campaign with 4 consecutive victories over the West Indies, Bangladesh, Australia and Sri Lanka, but they lost by 10 runs to South Africa in their last match. Jason Roy and Tymal Mills' injuries will be a setback for the team.
New Zealand, on the other hand, are on a 4-match win streak, thanks to their all-round game. After losing out to Pakistan in their opening match, it has been an outstanding team performance as they won their next four matches. The Kiwis always tend to perform well in world events and can certainly beat the more fancied England team in this match.
Match Details
- Game: England vs. New Zealand, Semi-Final 1
- Venue: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
- Date & Time: Nov. 10, 2021, at 7:30 PM IST/6 PM Local
Probable Playing XI
England
Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (WK), Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (C), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan
New Zealand
Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (C), Devon Conway (WK), Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Weather Report
The weather in Abu Dhabi is predicted to be a little cooler, with the temperature expected to be around 29 degrees during the match.
Pitch Report
Out of the three venues, the Abu Dhabi wicket is perhaps the best batting surface. It is a well-balanced pitch with help for both pacers and spinners. However, batters need to be watchful of the early assistance for pacers. Spinners will also enjoy bowling in these conditions. The average first-innings score in the last five T20Is played here has been 174 runs.
Toss
The teams batting second have enjoyed more success, winning 9 of the 14 matches played in the tournament. The dew factor comes into the equation as the evening progresses, and hence, bowling first is a preferable option. A total of above 170 should be a competitive one on this surface.
Top Fantasy Picks
Wicketkeeper
- Jos Buttler has been in remarkable form in the tournament, scoring 240 runs at an average of 120 in five matches, at a brilliant strike rate of 155.84. He is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament. Expect him to add to that tally in this semi-final against the Blackcaps.
Batters
- Dawid Malan has not been required to do much in this World Cup, given the form of the English openers. He has made 75 runs in four innings at an average of 25. He had a good outing in the last match against South Africa, making 33 runs in 26 balls in a high run chase.
- Martin Guptill has been good for New Zealand in the limited-overs formats over the years. He has made 3115 runs in T20Is at an average of 32.44 and a strike rate of 136.5. Guptill has scored 176 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 131, including a high score of 93 off 56 balls against Scotland.
All-rounder
- Moeen Ali is a match-winner and trump card for England with both bat and ball. He has scored 41 runs and has taken 7 wickets in this World Cup. He was promoted to No.3 in the last match against South Africa and scored a free-flowing 37 runs from 27 balls. He has taken most of his wickets in the PowerPlay overs.
Bowlers
- Chris Jordan is England's leading T20I wicket taker and a specialist death bowler. He has picked up 6 wickets in five matches at an average of 16.5 and an economy rate of 6.18 during this World Cup. He registered his most expensive figures in the last match, conceding 36 runs for no wickets, but will be looking to bounce back here.
- Trent Boult is New Zealand's most successful bowler and the leading wicket taker among seamers in the tournament, with 11 wickets at an average of 10.45 and an economy rate of 5.84. He has already taken two 2-wicket hauls against India and Afghanistan. His best spell of 3/17 came at this venue in the last match.
Howzat Dream Team
- Wicketkeepers: J Buttler, D Conway
- Batters: D Malan, K Williamson, M Guptill
- All-rounders: C Woakes, M Ali, D Mitchell
- Bowlers: C Jordan, I Sodhi, T Boult
- Captain: T Boult/M Ali
- Vice Captain: J Buttler/K Williamson
NOTE: The Howzat dream team above is just a suggestion. You can select your own fantasy 11, and play all the fantasy cricket matches from the T20 World Cup. Also, don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your team once the actual playing 11 is announced by each team (30 minutes before the start of the match) as some players you have selected might not be part of the team suggested.
Get fantasy cricket tips on your favorite fantasy sports app and select your own team, Howzat!
