T20 World Cup 2024 Semifinals: New Finalist Awaits to Create History!
This year, the ICC T20 World Cup has come with a plethora of drama and surprises one after another! From the group stage to Super 8, almost every match could hold its weight for the next stage possibility. In a World Cup where teams ranking in the lower part performed so convincingly, it was expected that at least one from this category would make it to the Semifinal with a rigid toe-to-toe fig. Cricket fans across the globe have got the thrills they anticipated before the tournament begins.
So, the curtain is about to be drawn, and the show waits for an end with the best possible thriller. The Semifinals are hours away! Let’s see the potential of the teams to appear in the final battle on June 29, 2024.
The Big Question: Which Two Will Make It to The Finals?
Well, it’s too difficult to predict when the teams are so close, not in strength but in performance! No team has been in this knockout stage without facing challenges. The rain, the Net Run Rate (NRR), the DLS method, the mystery behavior of pitch, the wind direction, and many other factors played significant roles in selecting these semifinalists.
However, before going for an in-depth analysis of the potential of the teams to appear in the final battle, let’s see the teams, opponents as well as the venue and time to kick off:
1st Semifinal
Afghanistan vs South Africa
Date: 26th June, 2024
Time: 8:30 PM (Local Time)
Venue: Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago
2nd Semifinal
India vs England Date: 27th June, 2024
Time: 10:30 AM (Local Time)
Venue: Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
All Eyes of Afghanistan vs South Africa Match!
When South Africa is a familiar name in the Semifinal stage of any format of the World Cup, Afghanistan has made it for the first time in history! The journey of both teams is impressive so far. South Africa has been criticized for choking in the mega stage since the beginning of its journey in 1992. But this time, they have won in every close contest.
The start was impressive, with a massive win against Sri Lanka. Then, three consecutive last-ball wins against the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Even in Super 8, they managed to win a close margin against England. Their last match against West Indies was also a close one, which they dealt with smartly and made it to the semifinal.
However, if South Africa can win, this will be their first-ever win in any World Cup semifinal and, subsequently, their first appearance in the World Cup final! Unfortunately, they have a record of so many heartbreaks in the semifinals, which they will surely try to forget this time. One thing to get inspired is that Aiden Markram, their skipper, is the only person on the team to have the experience of winning a World Cup, be it the under-19. Now, can he do it in the international arena as well?
On the other hand, Afghanistan has gifted the best possible excitement to the cricket fans so far in this World Cup. Like South Africa, they also had a dream start with a massive win against New Zealand, one of the strongest cricketing nations and appeared in the Super 8 as a group champion.
Though they couldn’t perform well against India in the second phase, beating mighty Australia is the biggest wonder in this World Cup. Holding their nerve till the end and winning against Bangladesh with a complete team effort is also a sign that they did not reach the semifinal by fluke; instead, they deserved it. The whole cricket world is praising their success now!
Though South Africa is the favorite one, considering its ranking, historically, they have been the chokers in knockout games and have lost 100% of their semifinal matches! Afghanistan, on the other hand, is highly motivated at this moment and has experienced campaigners like Rashid Khan, Nabi, Gurbaz, Farooqui, and Naveen. Thus, we can surely expect a tough fight at Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Besides, this will be a unique clash where the winner will make it to the final for the first time in their cricket history!
India vs England: Who will win the battle of the champions?
England, the current champion, and India, the first T20 World Cup champion, will be in the war of stars. While England wants to retain the cup, India desperately wants to restore their 2007 memory. It is also worth noting that India lost against England, the same opponent, in the T20 World Cup 2022 in the same semifinal stage!
However, India’s current form is much better this time, while England faced a challenging time in the Group Stage. In the Super 8 Stage, they also conceded a 7-run loss against South Africa. Even Scotland, the less competitive side based on the T20 ranking, challenged them in the Group stage, where England had to wait for a loss of Scotland against Australia to ensure their promotion to Super 8!
On the other hand, India is performing convincingly so far and maintaining a 100%-win record! It is worth remembering that though they performed impressively in the last ODI World Cup, they lost momentum in the final. In the previous 11 years, they have failed to win any significant ICC tournament like ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Test Championship, or Champions’ Trophy! The biggest problem they are facing is that they cannot hold the consistency till the end.
So, will it be another win for India and a repetition of history by England?
Some Key Areas to Keep in Mind for the Semis
Rain is playing a significant role this year. While NRR is no longer necessary, the question remains about the finalists to be selected if rain abandons the matches. However, the rule says South Africa and India will be preferred for the final in such cases. This is also to mention that the 1st Semifinal has a reserve day, but the 2nd one doesn’t, considering the travel time to the final match venue in Barbados.
Final Thoughts
Social media is flooded with predictions, player analyses, and even astrological experiments! Cricket fans are happy to witness competitive cricket throughout the tournament, where only a few matches were one-sided. The pitch is crucial and will play a vital role this time, along with the weather issues. As all the teams have enough potential, the teams that handle the pressure and keep calm will finish the game in style!
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