NO GROUNDING THESE KIWIS!

Mitchell The New Hero As Perennial Underdogs Shock Eng To Make Final

- Nitin.Naik

Daryl Mitchell, Remember the name.”

The 30-year-old from Hamilton, the accidental opener, who was searched on YouTube and googled three days ago for his spectacular catch on the long-on boundary at the Zayed Stadium to save a six from Rashid Khan in New Zealand’s must-win T20 World Cup game against Afghanistan, has now given another reason to go viral big time and even start a hashtag on Twitter in his name.

The muscular right-hander smashed 73 (48 balls, 4x4, 4x6) for a ballsy display of brutal power-hitting to help the Black Caps chase 167 in 19 overs and knock the favourites England out in the first semifinal at the Zayed Stadium on Wednesday. He got a decent helping hand from James Neesham too.

The Mumbai Indians all-rounder came to the wicket with the Kiwis struggling to find the boundary in their chase of 167 as they needed 59 runs from 29 balls. A tight 16th over from the brilliant Liam Livingstone (4-0-22-2) meant they needed 57 from 24. Mitchell, who was struggling with his timing all night, had limped to 46 off 40.