Jimmy Neesham smashed 27 off 11 balls to help set up the New Zealand victory. Photo / Getty
Jimmy Neesham smashed 27 off 11 balls to help set up the New Zealand victory. Photo / Getty
The key moments of the Twenty20 World Cup semifinal between the Black Caps and England that saw New Zealand book a spot in their third straight ICC tournament final.
The Buttler didn't do it
England opener Jos Buttler came into the semifinal as the only man to score acentury in the competition and was no doubt eyed as the key wicket for the Black Caps. He quietly built his innings after England were sent in and started to find his rhythm with back-to-back boundaries off Trent Boult in the fourth over. He worked his way to 29 off 23 balls before attempting a reverse sweep off Ish Sodhi and was caught trapped in front. He even wasted a review for good measure. England recovered with Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali setting them up to reach 166-4 but it could have been a lot worse for New Zealand had Buttler got away.
Mitchell-Conway partnership
At 13-2 with Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson back sitting on the sideline, it didn't exactly look great for the Black Caps. Especially when Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell began their partnership without a run off the bat in their first eight balls. By the midway point of the innings, Mitchell had just one boundary, but the two relative newcomers to the T20 international scene kept their composure while the required run rate turned all the way up towards 11. They kept the runs ticking and New Zealand in the hunt at least and for Mitchell the time at the crease finally paid dividends with his smashing late flurry which secured the semifinal victory.
Daryl Mitchell reacts after hitting the winning runs. Photosport
The 17th over
With 16 overs gone, New Zealand needed 57 runs from the final 24 balls. It was a big ask. Obviously a huge over was needed and England bowler Chris Jordan provided it. Jimmy Neesham had only arrived at the crease but sent the first ball over the midwicket boundary for six before scrambling for two leg byes on the next delivery. Wary of bowling in the slot again, Jordan produced a leg-side wide and appeared rattled when his next ball on off-stump was smashed down the ground for four.
Three balls down, 13 runs conceded. It only got worse when the paceman bowled another wide following by a second Neesham six (more on that one soon). The next ball Neesham skied one but it dropped between two England fielders who just looked at each other. Eventually a frustrated Jordan, who moments earlier was giving Neesham a premature send-off, took his cap from his captain with 23 runs taken from the over, 19 off the bat of Neesham. New Zealand had suddenly gone from 'not a chance' to 'they're in this'.
The Bairstow 'catch'
New Zealand fans have probably put it in the back of their memory banks along with many moments from the 2019 final at Lord's but a refresher...Trent Boult took a catch to dismiss Ben Stokes before standing on the boundary rope. Sorry. I said it. Well it was England's time to return the favour when in Jordan's shocking over, Jonny Bairstow took a diving catch of Neesham before flicking the ball back into play and into the hands of fellow fielder Liam Livingstone to complete the wicket. However, Bairstow's knee touched the boundary rope before he offloaded the ball towards Livingstone. Instead of a wicket, it was a six and Neesham made them pay with another in the next over.
Jonny Bairstow of England dives in vain for the catch of Jimmy Neesham. Photo / Getty
Jimmy Neesham
He deserves a second mention. After being centre stage of the heartbreak at Lord's in 2019 it looked like Neesham felt he'd possibly let the side down when he hit a wide Adil Rashid delivery straight to Eoin Morgan to end his innings in the 18th over. But he had already down the damage in 18 minutes at the crease with 27 off 11 balls. New Zealand needed someone to step up and save the game and Neesham did exactly that.
Like Martin Guptill, Neesham wasn't part of the test squad that won the World Test Championship earlier this year to have the chance to expunge any lingering ODI final demons. It seems right that both players get another chance to lead New Zealand to a World Cup title. Would be even more fitting if they get them across the line.
