T20 World Cup semi-final: New Zealand win toss, opt to bat first against Pakistan

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T20 World Cup semi-final: New Zealand win toss, opt to bat first against Pakistan

Sydney (Web Desk): New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

This is the fourth time that Pakistan and New Zealand are seeing each other in a world cup semi-final.

The two sides have clashed six times in the T20 World Cup history, so far, and the Green Shirts triumphed in four matches, while Black Caps managed to win two.

Recently, the Men in Green beat Black Caps in New Zealand to win the T20 tri-series title. So, now, Pakistan would be eyeing a win riding on the momentum it has gathered over the last couple of matches in the Super 12 stage, especially South Africa and Bangladesh.

Both the teams have decided to stay with the playing XI they had in their last match.

Playing XI

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, 

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (capt), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.