Talking Points: Williamson made for his anchor role; Malik proves age just a number
Match Highlights: New Zealand v Afghanistan
New Zealand’s rock
Kane Williamson isn’t everybody’s idea of the perfect T20 player. But in this team, with this strategy, there are few, if any, players in the world that you’d rather have coming in at number three.
In situations like the low chase in this game, Williamson is perfect at taking the wind out of a bowling attack’s sails. He neutered the threat of Afghanistan’s spin trio, which was always the likeliest way of their opponents pulling off the win with the ball, and made what could have been a nervous reply extremely comfortable.
And when New Zealand’s aims are higher with the bat Williamson can keep things ticking over as an anchor, giving his teammates more license to take risks.
He is of course capable at scoring at quite a lick himself, but adapts to the situation in a way that will always give his side a chance.
Kane Williamson: New Zealand's inspirational skipper | T20 World Cup
What might have been
Afghanistan will leave the T20 World Cup rueing what might have been. This is a sparkling side with some serious talent, and they showed that in flashes again against the Black Caps.
The spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi are as good as anything at the tournament, underlined by the decision to bowl out their 12 overs early in an attempt to stop New Zealand’s comfortable chase.
And there’s some serious power-hitting in the batting line-up, with Najibullah Zadran almost rescuing the innings with his brilliant 73 off just 48 balls.
But defeats to the three biggest qualification rivals was always going to result in an early exit, and Afghanistan just couldn’t put it all together when they needed to.
Clash of strategies ahead
New Zealand reacted to that overwhelming loss to Pakistan in their opening game by flipping the balance of their side to a bowling-heavy approach. And that is likely to be in contrast to their semi-final opponents, with both Group 1 qualifiers leaning to more of a bat-heavy strategy throughout the Super 12 stage.
The Black Caps replaced their keeper with an extra front-line bowler, with Devon Conway taking the gloves. And the result has been a side that can control opposition batting line-ups through the qualify of the bowling options available to Kane Williamson.
Having Jimmy Neesham as a sixth bowler means that Williamson always has options if one of his front-line seamers goes for a few early on, and that flexibility with the ball has been the cornerstone of the team’s progression from Group 2.
The risk is that having essentially five genuine batters with Neesham as an allrounder at six leaves the Kiwis light on batting if there is a flurry of early wickets. But if there’s a top-order you’d bank on batting long then it’s New Zealand’s with quality oozing through that top five.
No stopping Babar!
Babar Azam has been scoring for fun in this World Cup, bringing up his fourth half-century in the tournament and thus equalling the record for most fifties in a single edition of the Men's T20 World Cup.
Scotland managed to tie the openers down the openers early on and Azam too couldn't tee off early, scoring just two boundaries in the Powerplay before adding one more six before the 10th over.
Rejuvenated by the drinks break, Azam found the boundaries more frequently en route his fifty off 40 balls. Once he got to the milestone, he threw caution to the wind and smashed two more sixes before holing out in the deep.
'One for the road': Babar Azam clears the stadium
Babar's innings of 66 from 47 balls took him past Jos Buttler in the charts for the highest runs in this edition of the World Cup. With the semis just around the corner, Pakistan will be hoping that their skipper can bat them through to the finals and then the trophy.
Mayhem from Malik
Shoaib Malik was a last-minute injury replacement for Sohaib Maqsood in Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad and now has already played two very important knocks for Pakistan, including his sensational fifty against Scotland.
Walking in to bat at 112/3 after the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez in the 16th over, Malik got the ball rolling with a six off Mark Watt. He was 17 off 10 going into the last two overs and that's when Malik went berserk.
He punished Safyaan Sharif for bowling full with two sixes in the penultimate over. Scotland's decision to bowl the spinner in the final over backfired as Chris Greaves was taken apart by Malik, who smashed three sixes and a four.
With the six off the last ball, Malik got to his fifty in just 18 balls, which was the join-third fastest fifty in Men's T20 World Cup history.
Shoaib Malik belts Pakistan's fastest ever T20I fifty
Scotland's Super 12 run
Having qualified from Round 1 with three wins in three games, Scotland head back home without a single win in the Super 12 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.
What would be more disappointing for Kyle Coetzer's men is the fact that just once in five matches did they make a game out of it, which came against New Zealand where they fell short by just 16 runs.
In the other two matches on either side of that game, Scotland were outplayed by their opponents. After being bowled out for 60 against Afghanistan in their first Super 12, Scotland never really managed to recover. In the five games, they crossed the 120-run mark as a team just once.
Scotland will be a part of the Round 1 of the World Cup in Australia next year and will be hoping for a better showing if they manage to qualify for Super 12.