Two years since going toe-to-toe in a thrilling 50-overs World Cup final, England and New Zealand will again seek to deliver a knockout blow when they face each other in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 global showpiece in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
The clash pits contemporary cricket’s most dominant white-ball team England against arguably the most consistent cross-format side New Zealand, who have reached the final of three of the last four major global tournaments.
The most dramatic of those finals was at Lord’s in 2019 when Eoin Morgan’s England were crowned 50-overs world champions via a now-scrapped boundary countback rule after the match ended in a tie.
Kane Williamson’s team finally shed their bridesmaid’s tag by winning the inaugural World Test Championship earlier this year and, like England, are now bidding to become reigning champions in two formats.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said their heartbreak at Lord’s would have no bearing on their Twenty20 World Cup encounter.
“I’m not sure they’re will be anything from the 2019 game that will really come into it,” Stead told reporters ahead of the clash at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
“They are a quality side and I guess we just look forward to the challenge of playing the best side.”
New Zealand were stunned by Pakistan in their Group II opener but went on to win four straight, with Trent Boult leading a sublime bowling unit backed up by twinkle-toed fielders delivering terrific catches.
With bat in hand, Martin Guptill has been the aggressor and Williamson the anchor, though their ability to chase down big totals remains untested.
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