And then there were TWO. 28 days, 44 matches and 20 teams later it all comes down two teams- Australia and New Zealand. While both teams have performed exceptionally well in longer formats of the game, glory in the T20 World Cup has eluded both teams. One of them will now end their wait for a trophy in the shortest format of the game.
Australia are serial winners, winning four out of the last six 50-over World Cups and are regularly seen competing at the business end of the tournaments. T20 however hasn’t been the kindest format to them.
They always seem to come up short somewhere when they are just about to grab glory. In 2009 they were famously beaten by Ashes rivals England in the final when the Aussies seemed the more established side.
They also fell to West Indies’ storm in 2012, but there ability to bounce back is stronger than ever. ‘Australianism‘, a quality and a desire to win at all costs within the rules of the game or even pushing the rules if necessary as evident by David Warner’s six off Mohammad Hafeez’s double bounce ball, means they will leave it all out there.
Aaron Finch aims to complete the treble for Australia of World Cup, Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup something only 3 teams have done.
It has to be New Zealand’s time isn’t it? The last time these two teams met was in the final of 2015 World Cup, which Australia won, Kiwis led by their enigmatic and attacking captain Brendon McCullum felt short on that day.
They were the bridesmaid agonizingly again in 2019, losing to a World Cup final to England on boundary count. Kane Williamson held his head high that day, as Kiwis promised to come back. Since then they have won the World Test Championship, beating India in the one-off Test.
But this is the World title that will erase some pain of that 2019 loss, having already beaten England in the semis. Although New Zealand never reached the final of T20 World Cup before, this first appearance will hold little jitters to a side that has seen the cruel side of the game.
Kane Williamson maybe the most likeable cricketer out there, but he knows that will count for nothing if his side doesn’t end their wait for white ball glory. Having won the Test Championship, Williamson knows how to win and another calm and collected effort could see them stamp their authority as the best white ball team of recent years.
WHERE TO WATCH:
The match will be aired live on Star Sports channels – Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD, and DD Sports. The game will also be available on Hotstar app for streaming.
TIMING:
The game begins at 7:30 PM (IST) on Sunday (November 14).