Former New Zealand pacer and current commentator Simon Doull heaped praise on opener Daryl Mitchell after he guided the Black Caps to their first-ever T20 World Cup final.
He made 72* to help Kiwis beat England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2021 on Wednesday (November 10) in Abu Dhabi.
Chasing 167 in the first semi-final of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, New Zealand were in trouble at 107/4, but Mitchell (72*) stayed till the end, adding crucial 82 runs with Devon Conway (46) and then finished off the game in a style with James Neesham (27 off 11 balls) against England.
As Mitchell powered New Zealand to a 5-wicket win over England to take revenge for a runner-up finish in the 2019 World Cup and reach the final of the T20 World Cup 2021, Doull said the opener's innings reminded him of Indian legend MS Dhoni.
Doull said on air during the commentary: “The great MS Dhoni, the great finisher once said to me that the longer you bat the deeper you take the game, the more worried is the opposition and its bowlers.”
He concluded, “That is what Daryl has done here tonight. He saw the first two New Zealand wickets go down cheaply but ensured he batted through, and here is taking his team closer to a place in the final.”
Noteworthy, New Zealand will face the winner of the second semifinal between Australia and Pakistan on Thursday, November 11, in Dubai in the final of the T20 World Cup 2021.
(With India Today Inputs)
