T20 World Cup 2022: Top 10 funny memes as fans predict Pakistan will face India in the final after their clinical victory against New Zealand in the 1st semi-final

Pakistan notched up a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Sydney on Wednesday, November 9. The Asian giants have reached the final of the T20 event for the third time after 2007 and 2009.

New Zealand batted first in the contest and could only reach 152/4 following a wonderful overall performance from Men in Green. Bowling was as effective as ever, but Pakistan stole the show in the fielding department by improving multiple folds from previous games.

Babar Azam (53) and Mohammad Rizwan (57) then rose to the occasion. The duo played magnificent knocks in the crunch contest to help their side storm into the final. Youngster Mohammad Haris (30) also chipped in with a blazing cameo to complement the efforts of the senior pair.

India, meanwhile, will take on England in the second semi-final at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, November 10, of the tournament.

Following Pakistan's victory over New Zealand, fans donned their creative hats and went on to predict an Indo-Pak final. A few also opined that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is making sure that the summit clash between the arch-rivals comes to fruition.

"I would like to play India in the final" - Pakistan's mentor Mathew Hayden after win over New Zealand

Pakistan mentor Mathew Hayden expressed his desire to see an Indo-Pak final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday, November 13. He wants to see the two neighboring nations clash due to the intense rivalry between them.

Speaking after the conclusion of the first semi-final, Hayden hailed the Pakistani pacers for their sensational performances in the tournament, saying:

India beat the Men in Green by four wickets at the MCG in a closely-fought contest in their first match of the tournament on October 23.

Do you think India can beat England in the second semi-final? Sound off in the comments section.

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Balakrishna has been a cricket writer at Sportskeeda for almost seven years. A sport that he has been following and playing since he was eight, Balakrishna enjoys the intensity of the sport, skills and strategies applied to get a result out of nowhere, and the thrill that it gives. He also played as a medium pace bowling all-rounder in four inter-college tournaments, winning twice.

Balakrishna’s all-time favorite cricketers are Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma. He admires Sachin’s stellar performances against legendary bowlers, along with his discipline and humility. Meanwhile, he is a big fan of how Rohit turned around his initial struggles to build a successful career.

He avidly supports Team India and 2016 IPL winners SunRisers Hyderabad. The first World Cup that Balakrishna ever saw was the 2003 World Cup, when Australia comprehensively triumphed over India in the final.

While working, he ensures he only uses reliable sources and provides relevant, ethical, and accurate information. When not working, Balakrishna enjoys playing table tennis and reading non-fiction books.

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