Disadvantage or an advantage, it’s sort of hard to know – Williamson talks about Australian conditions

The first Semi-final of the ongoing T20 World Cup will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand at SCG, New Zealand started their World Cup with panache at this very venue, where they whipped hosts, holders, and one of the overwhelming title favorites Australia by 89 runs.

The first Semi-final of the ongoing T20 World Cup will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

New Zealand started their World Cup with panache at this very venue, where they whipped hosts, holders, and one of the overwhelming title favorites Australia by 89 runs. 

That came on a day when New Zealand batters made merry early on, and ended up with a total of 200 for 3 before the bowlers bundled out Aaron Finch’s side for just 111.

After seven days, they got back to the venue for a game against Sri Lanka and were selected to bat first again to put on an impressive total, only for the top order to disintegrate inside the Power Play. Sri Lanka reduced New Zealand to 15 for 3 in 4 overs before Glenn Phillips hit a scintillating ton and rescued the side to a defendable total.

“I suppose it’s kind of interesting, the first game we played here, the wicket was a very good one,”

Williamson said.

“And then the second time we played here it had changed. And sometimes you can take perhaps what you were expecting the wicket to be like in the first game and think it would behave in the same way, which it didn’t.

“So whether that’s a disadvantage or an advantage, it’s sort of hard to know. Both teams have played here. So it will be about looking to focus on our cricket really and the plans we want to look to execute and make sure we do adjust to the conditions and try and play smart,”

he said.

Allen has scored only 91 runs in this mega event but has the third-best strike rate at 189.58. Williamson lauded the youngster’s ability to hit the ball hard and talked up the need to encourage his high-risk, high-reward style of play.

“Yes, that’s the strength of his game – his ability to go hit the ball hard and play with freedom – and encouraging that is important. Not just for him to play his natural game, but also for our team and the balance that he brings with his style of play. So, yeah, he’s enjoying cricket. And he’s young and he’s got heaps and heaps of talent as we’ve already seen,”

he said.

That fixture also saw Devon Conway expand on the beginning that Allen gave and proceed to make a brilliant 92 off 58 balls, catching the attention of Matthew Hayden, who is currently in the Pakistan camp as a mentor.

“This match, they played against Australia and they got 200 on this particular wicket. And Dev Conway was incredibly destructive during that particular match,”

Hayden said. 

“And Australia capitulated all out for 111. Clearly, when you have a big batting effort, and I think New Zealand had some destructive players, you can be put under pressure with the bat. And that almost was their perfect game, I felt, in the World Cup,”

Hayden opined.

“So, yes, [they have] huge balance. They’ve also got a terrific bowling attack, a well-balanced bowling attack. Good mixture of experience. I even played against Tim Southee, that goes to show you how much experience that team has got. But again he turns up; he can swing the ball. Lockie Ferguson has great pace and lots of experience in T20 cricket as well so poses good threats. And they’ve got good off-pace bowling as well,”

Hayden opined.

“I think like New Zealand sport, in general, they punch above their weight. They believe they can win this tournament and they’ve got the potential to do that. So lots of threats to our camp, no question,”

he added.

“They’re a strong side. A very well-balanced side,”

Williamson said.

“In this format, it can be fickle. You’re certainly trying to take the risks required to move your team forward. And as we know the quality they have, the Pakistan team from one to right down the order. They’ve [also] got an understanding pace attack. They’ve been playing really good cricket. [They have] very experienced players on their side, match winners. So real strength,”

Williamson added.