Mitchell jets NZ into T20 World Cup final
Daryl Mitchell has proved New Zealand's big-hitting hero, smashing an unbeaten 72 off 47 balls to send favourites England spinning out of the T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi and power his side into the final against either Australia or Pakistan.
Watched by his delighted father, former All Blacks rugby coach John Mitchell, the unsung opener, chasing down England's challenging 4-166, overcame a tough early patch to get the run rate moving but accelerated dazzlingly over the last four overs to push the Black Caps to a remarkable five-wicket win on Wednesday.
It put New Zealand in line for a second global title of the year after winning the inaugural World Test Championship in June and made amends for their agonising super-over defeat to England in the 50-over World Cup final in 2019.
Australia will take on Pakistan in Thursday's second semi-final, hoping for another World Cup final meeting with their trans-Tasman rivals following their 2015 triumph in Melbourne in the 50-over edition.
Mitchell combined with Jimmy Neesham to provide the crucial late fireworks as New Zealand chased down their 167-run victory target with an over to spare after the total had looked as if it could be beyond reach with 57 needed off the last four.
But Mitchell found his timing and crashed four fours and four sixes in his match-winning knock.
Earlier, Moeen Ali had struck 51 not out and Dawid Malan 41 to earn former champions England a decent total at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Put into bat, they had been 2-67 at halfway stage and reached the 100-mark in 14 overs, kept in check by New Zealand's tight bowling and sharp fielding.
