The stage is set for the grand clash between the two T20I powerhouses New Zealand and Pakistan in the 1st Semi-Final. But, how does the two-side fair in the T20Is? A glance at the faceoff thus far.
The two sides have met in the shortest format of the game 28 times by far, where the Pakistani side boasts an impressive lead of 17 to 11 over the years.
Out of these 28, there have been 13 matches played at the neutral venue where Pakistan advances here as well by a margin of 10 to 3.
Pakistan is leading against the KIWI side in the T20 World Cup games by 4 to 2 in the 6 encounters all in total since 2007 to the latest in the 2021 edition of the game at the UAE.
Both the captains who will step up for their respective sides to seal the final berth are the top scorers against each other where Kane has smashed 538 runs for his side while Babar Azam has scored 359.
Veteran seamer Tim Southee leads the chart among bowlers from either side with 28 dismissals while Haris Rauf holds 14 wickets to his name, which maximum for Pakistan.
To date, the two sides have met 3 times in the semi-final stages in the history of ICC events, the 1992 and 1999 World Cup and the 2007 T20 WC in South Africa, where Pakistan won all three.
The pressure on both sides will be immense, where Pakistan has made a fumbling entry to the final four while NZ has cruised ahead as the table toppers, but is yet again lands up in the knock-out dilemma.
The Blackcaps will appear in the 12th knock-out match thus far in the limited-over ICC event losing all previous 11, including three finals. Will they be able to break the jinx by lifting the top prize this time?