Former India batsman VVS Laxman considers that, due to the absence of Devon Conway, New Zealand is not a squad to be underestimated under Kane Williamson. Counter to the bulk of people’s assumptions for the England-Pakistan T20 World Cup final, Australia and New Zealand managed to knock off the respective table-toppers to advance to the big event’s title match, which will be contested on November 14.

Lax man noted that considering how closely interrelated teams’ performances have been, there is “little to choose between” both. Both Australia and New Zealand lost one game and won 4 before achieving the knockout stages, and both sides had to overcome a number of qualifying scenarios, with South Africa in Australia’s group as well as India in New Zealand’s.

The toss is only one component; it doesn’t guarantee success: VVS Laxman

Also in their semi-final matches, both New Zealand and Australia won the toss, seemed out of the game for a long time before fighting back to win by a tally of 5 wickets.

Although New Zealand beat England through to James Neesham’s quickfire contribution and Daryl Mitchell’s performance, Australia beat Pakistan in a tight chase due to Matthew Wade’s excellence and a strategic Marcus Stoinis knock.

“There was a touch of similarity to the way the two last-four clashes played out. First Kane Williamson and then Aaron Finch hit it lucky with the coin. Those were significant off-field developments, for this tournament has favoured teams chasing,” said Laxman.

“The toss, however, is only one component; it doesn’t guarantee success. In T20 cricket, it’s not even the team that plays better on the day that comes up trumps. It often boils down to a short, sharp passage of play“.

The stakes were higher this time and the task stiffer: VVS Laxman

“Nine times out of ten, they would have gone on to win, but on this occasion, they ran into tartar. The turning point came in the 17th over sent down by Chris Jordan, when Neesham flexed his muscles and smashed a couple of sixes. The momentum had swung the Kiwis’ way, and Mitchell stepped up to deliver the knockout blows,” he said.

“Despite David Warner’s fluency, they (Pakistan) had moved into the ascendancy after Shadab Khan’s four-wicket haul, leaving Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade holding the baby. The two had joined hands to steer the Aussies to a nervy win over South Africa in the opener, but the stakes were higher this time and the task stiffer. Again, they were equal to the task. There is no gain saying what might have happened had Hasan Ali not dropped Wade with 20 needed off 10.”

“That ‘life’ sparked something in the Aussie ‘keeper, who finished off the match with sixes off each of the next three deliveries. That they came against Shaheen Shah Afridi, easily the bowler of the tournament, merely reinforced the value of intent and belief in a game of extremely small margins,” he added.

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