‘New Zealand an outstanding team in all formats’

New Zealand have shown they are the strongest team across all formats of the game after reaching the final of the Twenty20 World Cup, former England captain Michael Atherton said.

Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 72 and Jimmy Neesham's blistering cameo in Abu Dhabi led New Zealand to a dramatic five-wicket win over England as they entered their first T20 World Cup final on Wednesday.

The 'Black Caps' reached the final of the 50-overs World Cup in 2019 and beat India this year to win the inaugural World Test Championship title.

"They are an outstanding team, in all formats of the game really," Atherton told Sky Sports.

"Across formats, you would have to say they are the strongest team at the moment so congratulations to them, a fantastic achievement with limited resources in terms of personnel and money and things that we've often talked about."

Social media was abuzz with reactions after the sensational win by the Black Caps.

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: "What a brilliant game of cricket. #NewZealand once again winning hearts along with winning the game. Great knock by Mitchell who was well supported by Conway & Neesham. Bairstow's incident at the ropes reminded me of what happened with Boult in the 2019 finals. Kudos to New Zealand!"

"The fighting spirit of the @BLACKCAPS is Kane Williamson's 12th Man! They are never out of a match until the final ball. Bad luck @englandcricket but on the night @BLACKCAPS had their Spartan spirit in @JimmyNeesh and @dazmitchell47," twitted cricket commentator and former English county cricketer Alan Wilkins.

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and former India batsman VVS Laxman hailed Daryl Mitchell's spectacular batting.

"What a knock this has been from Daryl Mitchell," said Ashwin.

"Spectacular finish by Mitchell! Got to his fifty, almost unnoticed let Neesham tee off and then finished off the chase in style! New Zealand again make an ICC tournament final, nothing but admiration for them. Hard on England, but the Kiwis were just a little better on the night," wrote VVS Laxman on Twitter.