Mitchell played anchor and finisher in the same innings
The Hindu
Still a rookie, he showed he was level-headed as well as tactically sound
New Zealand required 34 runs off 18 balls. Adil Rashid started his last over, also the final over of spin during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semifinal in Abu Dhabi. James Neesham, having tonked Chris Jordan all over the park in the previous over, punched one into the ground, the ball trundled to long-off and Daryl Mitchell turned down the run on offer.
In real-time, it was thought that the mini-collision between the leggie and Mitchell resulted in him displaying spirit of cricket, which has in the 21st century become a hallmark of Black Caps’ cricket.
But replays displayed that Mitchell hadn’t really impeded the bowler but it may have been a tactical move, to let Neesham have a go at Rashid. The next ball was sent packing over midwicket boundary.