I expect a 190+ total in today’s T20 World Cup final

By Sadiq Mohammad
The Ahmedabad venue will be ready for what could be a great showpiece as both top teams India and New Zealand are set to collide in the ICC T20 World Cup final tonight.
It should be a very good match to watch. In my view, the team batting first should look to score around 190 to 195 runs which is a competitive total in modern T20 cricket.
With positive intent and good stroke play, 10 runs per over can easily be maintained, especially if the batsmen play proper cricketing shots and keep the scoreboard ticking.
In this format, it is very important that one set batsman stays at the crease till the last ball of the innings, guiding the batting side and ensuring the momentum does not break.
India’s wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson has shown this in the last two matches by staying at the crease and building the innings. His role could again be important if he gets set.
For New Zealand, players like Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips will need to play positive cricket. After hitting the occasional six, they must focus on good accumulating shots along the ground and keep the runs flowing.
The New Zealand national cricket team have reached the last four in many ICC events, but they have often been unlucky in winning the title. Both teams will have to play good cricketing shots and maintain composure in such a big final.
If the team batting first manages to reach around 195, the side batting second will naturally plan their innings according to the required run rate and it would add to the flavour of the game for which the entire world is waiting desperately.
Note: Sadiq Mohammad is a former Pakistan Test opener and he wrote for thecricketplus.com regularly during the T20 World Cup which will be folded tonight.