Star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan found form at the right moment, smashing key half-centuries to help Pakistan cruise into the final of the ICC T20 World Cup after defeating New Zealand by seven wickets in the first semifinal at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday
Opting to bat first, New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Finn Allen walked out to start the innings for their team. The inning got off to an action-packed first over with Allen smashing a boundary on the first ball, surviving a leg-before-wicket call on the second and finally getting dismis
All-round New Zealand powered by performances from skipper Kane Williamson and bowlers finished their group stage campaign on top of the Group 1 table after a 35-run win over Ireland in Adelaide on Friday.
Despite Joshua Little's maiden hat trick, the black caps managed to post a challenging total with the help of Williamson and Daryl Mitchell's superb knocks.
New Zealand have confirmed key batter Daryl Mitchell will travel to Australia this week with the rest of his teammates ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Cleaver, who made his international debut for New Zealand earlier this year, will join the squad assembled in Christchurch today ahead of the team's first Tri-Series match against Pakistan tonight at Hagley Oval.