In their current squad, only three players are under 30 years old, and that raises questions about their prospects in this format category. Looking at their senior players, they have not come through to bite in the tournament while on the issue of the bowlers, Boult remains a splendid performer. Still, Boult has already stated that this will be his final T20 World Cup.
Even Kane Williamson, who understands that time is not on the side of many senior players, stays hopeful that this may not be the last step. But a premature elimination indeed could make them rethink their strategies and goals for the future. This team was, however, able to show how powerful they were against Uganda and reduce the opposition to a total of 40/10. Though bowlers gave a decent performance, their pathetic batting lineup could not spend much time on the crease. The victory came too late to alter their fate: for the first time since 2014, New Zealand will not proceed to the knockout round Of The men’s World Cup.
On the other hand, Papua New Guinea (PNG) departs from the T20 World Cup with different feelings. They came very close to causing an upset against the co-hosts West Indies in their first match due to their spinners’ commendable bowling. Their fast bowlers have also risen to the occasion in the tournament. This encounter marks the first time these teams face each other, raising the question: can PNG’s bowlers make it to the Kiwi’s demoralized batsmen?
None of the T20 World Cup Kiwi players is in the top 40 run-getters in this year’s competition. Glenn Phillips is at the top of the list with 58 runs, and at the 43rd position, he has played only 2 innings. They came out again to disturb the powerful Afghanistan bowling line-up, where Phillips performed a sensational run-a-ball 18 and then added a 40 against the West Indies. On the last ball of the sixth over, he arrived at No.6; he did come back strongly with the bat and three fours and two sixes in his 33-ball blitz, ensuring some consolation after another dreadful show by the top-order.
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