England’s otherwise formidable lineup did not really fire but Root, Jos Buttler (43) and Jonny Bairstow (33) ensured their side at least have a competitive total to defend.
NOV 7: The triple-header on Sunday began with a shock loss for South Africa, who exited the tournament to open the gates for Pakistan or Bangladesh to qualify. At the same venue, Pakistan beat Bangladesh to seal their semi-final spot.
With New Zealand and England having already sealed their qualification after Saturday's round of matches, Group 2 witnessed some drama with the Proteas going down to Netherlands in a stunning loss for the Temba Bavuma-led side, who were once on top of the table before back-to-back losses against Pakistan and Netherlands.
Pakistan's win over Bangladesh ensured that they would be the fourth semi-finalists in the tournament with India joining England and New Zealand earlier in the day following South Africa's exit.
India beat Zimbabwe by 71 runs in the final Super 12 clash and as Group 2 toppers set up a semi-final meeting with England. Meanwhile, Pakistan will face Group 1 toppers New Zealand in the first semi-final.
Semi-final fixtures
1st semi-final: New Zealand v Pakistan - November 9 - SCG, Sydney
2nd semi-final: India v England - November 10 - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Three teams (New Zealand, England and Australia) are now tied on five points, each with one match to play and only separated on Net RR in that order.
No one team is yet confirmed as through to the semi-finals. We take a look at the state of play as things stand.
Who’s in the driving seat to reach the semi-finals?
New Zealand have the edge over their qualification rivals at the top of the group thanks to their excellent net run rate of +2.233, which was set up by that 89-run hammering of Australia in their opening game.
That Net RR is almost as good as a point for the Black Caps, meaning it is very much advantage New Zealand in the qualification race.
The Kiwis would need to lose to Ireland in their final match and by a significant margin to give Australia and England the opportunity to deny them a top-two spot.
The Net Run Rate equation
If all three of New Zealand, England and Australia win their final matches then it will come down to Net RR.
Australia’s -0.304 puts them on the back foot in that column, but Aaron Finch’s side play a day before England, so can lay down a marker and put the pressure on if they manage a large margin of victory over Afghanistan on Friday.
Playing the following day means England will know exactly what they require to qualify when they face Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Should Australia fail to catch England (+0.547) and New Zealand (+2.233) on run rate then both of those sides will know that victory by any margin in their respective final matches will send them into the semi-finals.
The rest of the group
Ireland are mathematically still in with a chance, but it is the slimmest of opportunities, with the Irish needing a huge margin of win and then two other results to go their way to finish in the top two. The big aim for Andrew Balbirnie’s side will be to finish in the top four and seal an automatic qualification spot for the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka could yet qualify. A win over England in the last game of the group would see them into the semi-finals should one of New Zealand or Australia have lost the day before.
Afghanistan are the first team to be mathematically denied a semi-final spot, with their loss to Sri Lanka leaving them on just two points from four games.
The Remaining Fixtures
Ireland v New Zealand – Friday 04 November, Adelaide Oval
New Zealand can effectively seal a semi-final spot with a win over Ireland in the first of the final round of matches.
A sizeable margin of victory would make things absolutely safe, leaving Australia needing a miracle to overhaul the Black Caps on Net Run Rate.
Another shock result for the Irish would give Australia, England and Sri Lanka a chance to snatch the qualification spots.
Australia v Afghanistan – Friday 04 November, Adelaide Oval
The second match on Friday in Adelaide will see Australia look to make a huge splash against Afghanistan.
If they’ve just watched New Zealand beat Ireland then the tournament hosts will come out all guns blazing to try and gain a big raise in Net RR.
Sri Lanka v England – Saturday 05 November, SCG, Sydney
England will go into the final game of Group 1 knowing exactly what they require to qualify for the semi-finals. That could be solely a win, or it could be a win by a certain margin depending on Net RR.
Sri Lanka’s qualification hopes will still be alive if either Australia or New Zealand have dropped points in their matches.
The Men's T20 World Cup match between Ireland and Afghanistan was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Afghanistan's previous game against New Zealand was also abandoned on Wednesday because of rain at the same venue.
Delivering on the biggest stage is where it really matters. And New Zealand and Australia have done just that to set up an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final that few predicted.
It all started when Oman won the toss and elected to bowl against Papua New Guinea four weeks ago. And forty-four matches, 11153 runs and 485 wickets later, the 16 nations that began this thrilling tournament have been whittled down to just two.
Sunday’s showpiece at the Dubai International Stadium will see the world’s fourth-ranked side New Zealand take on the country ranked sixth, Australia. And it’s a fitting finale to decide who will lift the T20 World Cup trophy after a tournament of twists and turns, highs and lows, upsets and hammerings.
Yet just because few predicted this would be the final line-up, doesn’t mean the players didn’t believe. And Aussie skipper Aaron Finch was in boisterous form on precisely that topic in his media conference on Saturday.
“I'm not surprised one bit,” he said. “I think we came here with a really clear plan to win the tournament, and we still feel as though we've got the squad to do that."
A glance down the likely team sheet for Sunday’s final supports the captain’s claim. Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Finch – there’s an abundance of talent and experience in the Australian line-up.
Add to that the qualities of Adam Zampa, who has taken 12 wickets in the tournament so far – more than any other bowler to enter at the Super 12 stage – and it’s little surprise that this is a squad who have been able to beat higher-ranked and higher-fancied outfits.
The term ‘higher-fancied outfit’ has rarely, if ever, been used to describe Kane Williamson’s New Zealand… even if it should be.
The cliches flow thick and fast in conversation about the Black Caps. They’ve “flown under the radar” and come up on the rails as “dark horses”, but naturally you can “never write off” New Zealand. It’s language that almost goes hand-in-hand with this extraordinary era of Kiwi cricket. But it does so for a reason.
2019 World Cup finalists, World Test Champions, and now 2021 T20 World Cup finalists, this group of players have proven time and again that they are among the world’s best across all three formats.
And Sunday’s all-Antipodean clash in Dubai represents a chance for Kane Williamson and his boys to cap off a stunning calendar year by finally adding a white-ball trophy to the cabinet, where it will sit alongside the World Test Championship mace.
Fixture details
The match: New Zealand v Australia, Match 45
Time: 18:00 local time, Sunday 14 November 2021
Venue: Dubai International Stadium
Key players
Adam Zampa, Australia: The leg-spinner has been a key part of his side’s run to the final and will play a key role against a New Zealand side who aren’t averse to going after slower bowling. If he can continue his terrific record throughout the tournament it will put pressure on the Black Caps to take on the high-quality seamers.
Martin Guptill, New Zealand: The Kiwi opener didn’t fire against England, but his side will be looking for him to get them off to a flier at the top of the order against Australia, particularly given the safety blanket of Conway in the middle-order has been removed. Guptill has the game to take down Australia’s attack, can he do it on the biggest stage?
The Teams
The injury to Conway means New Zealand will be forced into making a change. Tim Seifert is likely to come in as wicketkeeper, with the bowling-heavy balance unchanged, although the loss of the reliable presence of Conway in the middle-order could potentially see an additional batter brought in for stability.
Probable New Zealand XI: Martin Guptill, Daryll Mitchell, Kane Williamson (captain), Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi
Australia are highly likely to stick with the side that saw off Pakistan in the semi-finals
Probable Australia XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch (captain), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
What they said
Kane Williamson, New Zealand captain: “I think ultimately the side has been operating well as a collective and certainly playing for each other. You know, obviously we saw a pretty exciting semi-final. Both semi-finals actually were somewhat similar, where you do see moments in games that are match-defining, and you see games that can take quite a sharp turn when you have some key performances.”
Aaron Finch: “We came here with a clear plan to try to win this tournament. We always felt as though we've got the depth of the squad and the quality in our squad to put ourselves in a position to do that. And New Zealand, they have been in every final for a long time now in ICC events. They are a great team over all three formats of the game.”
Who holds the edge?
Ahead of the New Zealand v Australia ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 final, a look at the teams' record against each other in T20I cricket and ICC tournaments and their top players.
New Zealand and Australia knocked out the two top-ranked teams in the semi-finals, in England and Pakistan respectively, to seal their places in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 final on 14 November in Dubai.
Neither team has won the men's T20 World Cup so far – Australia came closest in 2010, finishing runners-up – so the tournament will have a first-time winner.
Looking at their head-to-head record, Australia hold a slight edge in T20Is: Since winning the first T20 international ever played, Australia have won eight more against their neighbours, while New Zealand have won five, including in a Super Over.
At the men's T20 World Cup however, New Zealand took the honours in the only meeting between the sides. In the 2016 edition in India, New Zealand posted 142/8, before using pace off to keep Australia to 134/9. Mitchell McClenaghan was Player of the Match for his 3/17, while Corey Anderson and Mitchell Santner took two wickets each.
The last time these two teams met at a World Cup final was in 2015, when the trans-Tasman neighbours co-hosted the 50-over World Cup. Although Brendon McCullum's men had edged Michael Clarke's side in the group stage, the final at the MCG went comprehensively in Australia's way.
New Zealand lost their captain early that day, and could make only 183, which Australia chased down with seven wickets to spare for their fifth World Cup title. Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner took three wickets each, while Mitchell Starc had two to take down the Black Caps explosive line-up.
Among the key performers in this match-up will be Aaron Finch, the Australia captain. Finch has 251 runs against New Zealand in T20Is, the most by any Australian man, at an average of 62.75 and a strike-rate of 144.25. His figures include two fifties, 22 fours and 11 sixes in just seven innings between the sides.
Glenn Maxwell (206 runs in nine innings at 157.25 strike-rate) and David Warner (158 runs in seven innings at a strike-rate of 156.43) are two others in green and gold who have done well against the Kiwis.
Among the Black Caps, Martin Guptill has enjoyed the challenge of Australia, and played in all but two of the 14 matches between the teams. In 12 innings, he has 435 runs at an average of 36.25 and strike-rate of 152.09. He has two fifties and a hundred against them. However, the 105 in 54 balls came in a losing cause, with Australia chasing down a target of 244 with five wickets and seven balls to spare.
They will miss Devon Conway, who has been ruled out of the final with a hand injury. Conway was in great touch in five matches against Australia earlier in the year, making 192 runs at an average of 48, including a top score of 99*.
Among the bowlers, Ashton Agar’s numbers provide a case for his selection, as the leading wicket-taker for Australia in this match-up: 13 wickets at 16, with a best of 6/30.
Interestingly, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are yet to play against the Black Caps in T20Is.
For New Zealand, Ish Sodhi has made the most trouble in this contest, taking 16 wickets in nine matches at an average of 15.68 and going at 7.38 runs an over.
Trent Boult has 10 wickets against them (average 22.70, economy 7.87), while Santner and Tim Southee have nine each. Jimmy Neesham has been expensive against Australia, picking up just two wickets at 39.50, with an economy of 13.16.
Ahead of the New Zealand v Australia ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 final, let’s have a look at the teams' record against each other in T20I cricket and ICC tournaments and their top players.
New Zealand and Australia knocked out the two top-ranked teams in the semi-finals, in England and Pakistan respectively, to seal their places in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 final on 14 November in Dubai.
Neither team has won the men's T20 World Cup so far – Australia came closest in 2010, finishing runners-up – so the tournament will have a first-time winner.
Looking at their head-to-head record, Australia hold a slight edge in T20Is: Since winning the first T20 international ever played, Australia have won eight more against their neighbours, while New Zealand have won five, including in a Super Over.
At the men's T20 World Cup however, New Zealand took the honours in the only meeting between the sides. In the 2016 edition in India, New Zealand posted 142/8, before using pace off to keep Australia to 134/9. Mitchell McClenaghan was Player of the Match for his 3/17, while Corey Anderson and Mitchell Santner took two wickets each.
The last time these two teams met at a World Cup final was in 2015, when the trans-Tasman neighbours co-hosted the 50-over World Cup. Although Brendon McCullum's men had edged Michael Clarke's side in the group stage, the final at the MCG went comprehensively Australia's way.
New Zealand lost their captain early that day, and could make only 183, which Australia chased down with seven wickets to spare for their fifth World Cup title. Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner took three wickets each, while Mitchell Starc had two to take down the Black Caps explosive line-up.
Among the key performers in this match-up will be Aaron Finch, the Australia captain. Finch has 251 runs against New Zealand in T20Is, the most by any Australian man, at an average of 62.75 and a strike-rate of 144.25. His figures include two fifties, 22 fours and 11 sixes in just seven innings between the sides.
Glenn Maxwell (206 runs in nine innings at 157.25 strike-rate) and David Warner (158 runs in seven innings at a strike-rate of 156.43) are two others in green and gold who have done well against the Kiwis.
Among the Black Caps, Martin Guptill has enjoyed the challenge of Australia, and played in all but two of the 14 matches between the teams. In 12 innings, he has 435 runs at an average of 36.25 and strike-rate of 152.09. He has two fifties and a hundred against them. However, the 105 in 54 balls came in a losing cause, with Australia chasing down a target of 244 with five wickets and seven balls to spare.
They will miss Devon Conway, who has been ruled out of the final with a hand injury. Conway was in great touch in five matches against Australia earlier in the year, making 192 runs at an average of 48, including a top score of 99*.
Among the bowlers, Ashton Agar’s numbers provide a case for his selection, as the leading wicket-taker for Australia in this match-up: 13 wickets at 16, with a best of 6/30.
Interestingly, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are yet to play against the Black Caps in T20Is.
For New Zealand, Ish Sodhi has made the most trouble in this contest, taking 16 wickets in nine matches at an average of 15.68 and going at 7.38 runs an over.
Trent Boult has 10 wickets against them (average 22.70, economy 7.87), while Santner and Tim Southee have nine each. Jimmy Neesham has been expensive against Australia, picking up just two wickets at 39.50, with an economy of 13.16.
And then there were two. Forty-four matches and 25 days on from the opening delivery in Oman, the finalists for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 have been decided.
KATHMANDU, November 12: New Zealand were the first team to secure their spot in the decider, winning a thrilling semi-final against 2016 runners-up England, triumphing in a match that was billed as a rematch of their 2019 Cricket World Cup final.
It is the third straight ICC final they have made across three formats, having taken out the inaugural World Test championship earlier this year and finished runners-up in the aforementioned Cricket World Cup. They were also runners-up in 2015, giving them a run of three World Cup finals across four limited-overs competitions, with the 2016 T20 World Cup the outlier.
Australia qualified for the decider after beating Pakistan in Thursday's second semi-final.
Chasing 177 to win, the Australians looked in trouble at 157 in the 19th over only for the match to swing in the space of three balls as Matthew Wade followed up a dropped catch in the deep with three consecutive sixes to seal the game.
The Final
New Zealand v Australia, 6pm local, Sunday, 14 November
NEW ZEALAND
Road to the final
New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign got off to a rocky start when they were defeated by five wickets by Pakistan in their opening match. Just as when Pakistan beat India, the nature of the loss raised question marks over New Zealand's credentials as contenders.
They quickly put those questions to bed by trouncing India by eight wickets as their all-star attack dismantled a highly vaunted batting order. It was Trent Boult who did the majority of the damage as India were restricted to just 110, and the Kiwis chased it down with five and a half overs remaining.
Scotland pushed them in their third match, coming within 16 runs of chasing down a target of 172 and there was a scare against Namibia too, but by the time the Black Caps reached their final group match, they had their fate in their own hands.
And they made no mistake against Afghanistan to once again seal their spot in the finals of an ICC event. It was Boult and Tim Southee who did much of the damage to restrict Afghanistan to 124/8, and the chase was conservative but comfortable.
In the semi-final, they were pitted against England, with it quickly becoming impossible to ignore the elephant in the room that was the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, when New Zealand lost by what Ian Smith called "the barest of margins" at the time. In the lead-up to their rematch in Abu Dhabi, ICC commentator Mike Atherton backed England to win "by the barest of margins again". For much of the game that looked set to be the case, with New Zealand struggling to get going chasing a target of 167.
With New Zealand needing 57 from 24, Jimmy Neesham turned the tide of the game in a 23-run over in which he contributed 19. In scenes reminiscent of Trent Boult stepping on the ropes off as he caught Ben Stokes in the 2019 final, Jonny Bairstow's knee kissed the advertising cushions to grant Neesham a reprieve in the fourth ball of an expensive over. Daryl Mitchell saw the Kiwis home, finishing unbeaten on 72 off 47 to win with an over to spare.
Star performers
Daryl Mitchell - Surprisingly moved to the top of the order this tournament, Mitchell has brought impetus to the Black Caps to the Powerplay and allowed them the assuredness of Devon Conway in the middle-order. The signs were promising in New Zealand's opening loss against Pakistan where he made 27 off 20, and he impressed in their crucial win over India with 49 off 35, but he was starting to look an ill-fit for the role going into the semi-finals.
It was here that he produced one of the tournament's finest innings to date, anchoring a chase of 167, before finishing with a bang to end not out on 72* off 47. It was an expert chase by the Kiwis and he was at the heart of it.
He is now their highest run-scorer for the tournament and will go into the final full of confidence.
Trent Boult - New Zealand's star fast bowler has been humming at the showpiece event, proving both dangerous and economical.
His 3/20 against India set New Zealand on a path that would see them win four matches on the bounce to reach the semi-finals, and he delivered a consistent quality throughout the Super 12 stage.
He had his first quiet match of the tournament in the semi-final, taking 0/40, and New Zealand will need him to rediscover his groove given the calibre of the top-order they find themselves again.
Australia
Road to the final
The final-over victory over South Africa at the start of the Super 12 stage felt like an important result at the time, and so it proved, with the five-wicket win meaning ultimately proving pivotal.
It was a match that always felt like it was in control for Australia, yet one that was consistently threatening to get away. With their all-star attack back together again, they had reduced South Africa to 23/3 inside the Powerplay and held them to 118/9.
That proved a far more difficult chase than they would have liked as they slipped to 38/3 and 81/5, only getting home with two balls to spare.
The campaign picked up steam from there as they dispatched Sri Lanka with ease, with openers Aaron Finch and David Warner both finding their groove.
That momentum they had built dissipated quickly as they were crushed by England by eight wickets with 50 balls to spare. Just as the narrow victory over South Africa had felt vital, so too did this one feel potentially a tournament ending as it had decimated their net-run rate.
Thankfully, from an Australian perspective, that NRR damage was short-lived, as they bowled Bangladesh out for 73 next up. The fact that Finch, Warner and Mitchell Marsh chased it down in just 38 balls more than made up for the run rate losses to England.
And another eight-wicket win over West Indies on the final day proved enough, though there was a nervous wait.
Qualification wasn’t confirmed even after that fourth win, with South Africa needing a victory and a significant but gettable run-rate swing against England to leapfrog the Australians. But while the Proteas got the win, they didn’t overturn the NRR difference, with Australia going through in second place to line up a semi-final against Pakistan.
Like New Zealand, Australia timed their chase perfectly, getting home with an over to spare in the tensest of matches.
Going into the 19th over they still needed 22 runs to win and the man bowling was the red-hot Shaheen Afridi. His first two balls were perfect, leaking just a leg bye.
His third was a wide down the legside and the repeat should have seen Matthew Wade perish as Hasan Ali failed to hold onto a catch at deep midwicket.
Not one to waste a second chance, Wade proceeded to scoop Shaheen's next delivery - a yorker on middle - over fine leg for six. He cleared his front leg to send the next delivery over midwicket, and then hit a third consecutive six to end the game.
STAR PERFORMERS
David Warner – 236 runs at an average of 47.20 and David Warner has gone from Australia’s worry at the top of the order to their most in-form batter. He has a penchant for making runs at big tournaments, so his success here should not surprise anyone.
Warner has two half-centuries to his name this T20 World Cup but his most important performance where his 49 set the chase up for Australia.
With the southpaw in form, Australia have every reason to be confident going into the final.
Adam Zampa – Only Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga has taken more wickets than Australia’s x-factor spinner, and Zampa’s threat is a real boost to the attack. His ability through the middle overs has been particularly important for Australia, and it was he and Glenn Maxwell who put the brakes on Pakistan’s fast start before the leggie dismissed Babar Azam.
In an attack that featured Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, it speaks volumes that Zampa is undisputedly the star of the bowling pack.
If Australia goes all the way, he will be firmly in the running to be crowned Player of the Tournament status.
ICC Men's T20 World Cup
KATHMANDU, November 10: England is facing New Zealand on Wednesday in the semi-final match of ICC T20 World Cup to be played in Abu Dhabi.
When England last met New Zealand in an ICC white-ball tournament, there was little to separate the two teams after 50+1 overs each. England claimed the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 title only by the barest of margins in that match at Lord's.
Since then, New Zealand have insisted that that heartbreak is behind them. They have gone on to lift the ICC World Test Championship trophy, and come into this encounter with personnel who weren't in the middle for that Lord's match and don't carry those scars. For the team, this tournament is simply another chance to be rewarded with some silverware for the quality and consistency they have maintained across formats in the past few years.
Here are things to know about these two teams:
Fixture details
The match: England v New Zealand, Semi-final 1
Time: 6:00pm local time, Wednesday 10 November
Venue: Zayad Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
ENGLAND
Position: First
Their road to the semi-final
England got their campaign off in spectacular fashion, bowling West Indies out for 55 and chasing it down in just 8.2 overs for a crushing first win that ultimately made the difference in net run rate as they went through at the top of their group. Moeen Ali set up the win with two early wickets, but it was his fellow spinner Adil Rashid who returned the pick of the figures – four wickets for two runs in 2.2 overs.
Bangladesh were the next to fall foul of the England juggernaut, with Ali again in the wickets before Jason Roy hit a quickfire 61 in an easy chase. And Jos Buttler’s blistering 71 made astonishingly short work of a chase of 126 against Australia, with England reaching it in just 11.4 overs.
The huge NRR advantage set up by that trio of crushing wins gave England a huge chance of progressing as they went into the final two matches of their Super 12 campaign. But they were made to work hard in Sharjah, with Sri Lanka pushing them close despite Buttler’s brilliant century.
Defeat to South Africa in the final group game ultimately didn’t cost England top spot, despite both teams and Australia all finishing tied on eight points, with that positive NRR doing its job in the end.
Star performers
Jos Buttler – The tournament’s second-highest run-scorer has been the obvious star for England through the Super 12 stage. His century against Sri Lanka was the highlight of course, but over five matches Buttler has scored 240 runs at an average of 120.00 and a strike-rate of 155.84. Those are astonishing numbers.
Chris Jordan – The form of England’s experienced death-over specialist was a big concern coming into the tournament. Jordan had been extremely expensive in an England shirt for some time and would have been at severe risk of being dropped had injuries not begun to mount up. But Jordan’s returns have been excellent, especially in those overs at the end of the innings. If the 33-year-old can deliver at the business end it makes England’s attack a far more stable unit.
NEW ZEALAND
Position: Second
Road to semi-finals
New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign got off to a rocky start when they were defeated by five wickets by Pakistan in their opening match. Just as when Pakistan beat India, the nature of the loss raised question marks over New Zealand's credentials as contenders.
They quickly put those questions to bed by trouncing India by eight wickets as their all-star attack dismantled a highly vaunted batting order. It was Trent Boult who did the majority of the damage as India were restricted to just 110, and the Kiwis chased it down with five and a half overs remaining.
Scotland pushed them in their third match, coming within 16 runs of chasing down a target of 172 and there was a scare against Namibia too, but by the time the Black Caps reached their final group match, they had their fate in their own hands.
And they made no mistake against Afghanistan to once again seal their spot in the finals of an ICC event. It was Boult and Tim Southee who did much of the damage to restrict Afghanistan to 124/8, and the chase was conservative but comfortable.
Star performers
Martin Guptill - The veteran opener has once again been New Zealand's Mr Reliable in the format, with his brutal 93 off 56 against Scotland proving a crucial performance given how tight that match looked at times.
His 28 against Afghanistan set up New Zealand’s chase in exactly the manner required, and all opponents will eye the opening batter as one of the big threats in this Black Caps team.
Unsurprisingly he finishes the Super 12 stage as the team's highest run-scorer.
Trent Boult - New Zealand's star fast bowler has been humming at the showpiece event, proving both dangerous and economical.
His 3/20 against India set New Zealand on a path that would see them win four matches on the bounce to reach the semi-finals, and he delivered a consistent quality throughout the Super 12 stage.
Matches will be played in Abu Dhabi, Dubai & Sharjah (UAE), and Al Amarat (Oman) after the tournament was moved from India because of Covid-19 concerns.
Super 12
Group 1: Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
Group 2: Afghanistan, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, Namibia
Top two teams in each group qualify for semi-finals
Oct 23: Australia v South Africa, Abu Dhabi (11:00 BST)
Oct 23: England v West Indies, Dubai (15:00 BST)
Oct 24: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Sharjah (11:00 BST)
Oct 24: India v Pakistan, Dubai (15:00 BST)
Oct 25: Afghanistan v Scotland, Sharjah (15:00 BST)
Oct 26: South Africa v West Indies, Dubai (11:00 BST)
Oct 26: Pakistan v New Zealand, Sharjah (15:00 BST)
Oct 27: England v Bangladesh, Abu Dhabi (11:00 BST)
Oct 27: Scotland v Namibia, Abu Dhabi (15:00 BST)
Oct 28: Australia v Sri Lanka, Dubai (15:00 BST)
Oct 29: West Indies v Bangladesh, Sharjah (11:00 BST)
Oct 29: Pakistan v Afghanistan, Dubai (15:00 BST)
Oct 30: South Africa v Sri Lanka, Sharjah (11:00 BST)
Oct 30: Australia v England, Dubai (15:00 BST)
Oct 31: Afghanistan v Namibia, Abu Dhabi (10:00 GMT)
Oct 31: India v New Zealand, Dubai (14:00 GMT)
Nov 1: England v Sri Lanka, Sharjah (14:00 GMT)
Nov 2: South Africa v Bangladesh, Abu Dhabi (10:00 GMT)
Nov 2: Pakistan v Namibia, Abu Dhabi (14:00 GMT)
Nov 3: New Zealand v Scotland, Dubai (10:00 GMT)
Nov 3: India v Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi (14:00 GMT)
Nov 4: Australia v Bangladesh, Dubai (10:00 GMT)
Nov 4: West Indies v Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi (14:00 GMT)
Nov 5: New Zealand v Namibia, Sharjah (10:00 GMT)
Nov 5: India v Scotland, Dubai (14:00 GMT)
Nov 6: Australia v West Indies, Abu Dhabi (10:00 GMT)
Nov 6: England v South Africa, Sharjah (14:00 GMT)
Nov 7: New Zealand v Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi (10:00 GMT)
Nov 7: Pakistan v Scotland, Sharjah (14:00 GMT)
Nov 8: India v Namibia, Abu Dhabi (14:00 GMT)
Knockout stage
Nov 10: Semi-final 1, Abu Dhabi* (14:00 GMT)
Nov 11: Semi-final 2, Dubai* (14:00 GMT)
Nov 14: Final, Dubai* (14:00 GMT)
India named the squad on Friday for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand in June and the five-match test series against England beginning in August.
