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New Zealand wait on injured gamers forward of high-stakes contest in opposition to Pakistan

Big image – Place within the semi-finals at stake

New Zealand vs Pakistan is among the video games with extraordinarily excessive stakes left within the league stage of the World Cup. Till some days in the past, it seemed just like the 4 semi-finalists had been locked in, with New Zealand in there and Pakistan simply out. Things have modified since.

The flip for the more serious for New Zealand has been dramatic. After 4 wins on the trot at the beginning of the league stage, type has fallen by the wayside, and defeats (three in a row) and participant accidents have mounted. As variety of their gamers are nursing accidents for the time being – although they educated in Bengaluru on the eve of this recreation – a pair extra outcomes not going their approach may imply New Zealand dropping out of the highest 4.

At the beginning, they thrashed England – who did not? – earlier than occurring to beat Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan with performances that had been strong quite than spectacular. New Zealand’s lack of real star energy, notably within the absence of Kane Williamson, was proven up in defeats in opposition to India and Australia, neither of them by a giant margin. The solely actually poor displaying got here in opposition to South Africa, a 190-run drubbing denting their web run-rate and preserving Pakistan .

But whereas worries of New Zealand’s droop might need a kernel of logic to them, studies of Pakistan’s ascent are virtually definitely exaggerated. A few outcomes falling their approach might need made them dream of the semi-finals as soon as extra, however the one contribution Babar Azam’s personal facet has made in the direction of that got here within the type of a cushty win in opposition to Bangladesh, one of many poorest sides within the event. It was preceded by 4 successive defeats that put them within the pickle they discover themselves in now. And considerations round Pakistan’s incapability to transform begins, the brittleness of the center order, and the inconsistency of the bowlers stays.

Being a flawed facet, nevertheless, hasn’t stopped Pakistan at ICC tournaments earlier than, and as soon as extra, there are hints of simply sufficient items starting to fall into place within the jigsaw.

Shaheen Shah Afridi is now the event’s joint-second-highest wicket-taker, and whereas he was primarily taking his wickets on the dying, some new-ball scalps did come his approach in opposition to Bangladesh. Fakhar Zaman, dropped for his personal good after he had misplaced type and confidence, got here again and seemed like his classic self in opposition to Bangladesh, hitting seven sixes as he punished each tempo and spin with the sort of reckless abandon that made him stand out in Pakistan’s high order. And Mohammad Wasim discovered prodigious reverse swing on the dying.

On Saturday, New Zealand will attempt to cling on to what they’ve, whereas Pakistan will try to snatch it away from them. This World Cup has not had sufficient shut video games, however a tense scrap for fourth place may nicely carry it on.

Form information

New Zealand LLLWW (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)
Pakistan WLLLL

In the highlight – Trent Boult and Pakistan’s spinners

Trent Boult was the joint highest wicket-taker on the 2015 World Cup, and eighth in 2019 with among the best financial system charges (4.83) for a frontline fast. In 2023, whereas he is been reliable, the spark hasn’t fairly been there. He has a considerably poorer common (33.10) and financial system fee (5.09) than at prior World Cups, and is pretty low within the wickets chart with ten in seven matches. While a drop-off was predicted for a World Cup in India, it is notable that 13 of the 17 bowlers to have taken greater than ten wickets on the time of writing are fast bowlers. What Boult, and Afridi, do with the brand new ball is one to keep watch over.

What can Pakistan do about their misfiring legspinners? Shadab Khan and Usama Mir have every had turns this event, with neither trying an improve on the opposite. Pakistan tried having each within the facet in opposition to Afghanistan, just for that to finish up being their limpest bowling efficiency all event. They may take a look at New Zealand, whose selections round legspin have been clear – Ish Sodhi has not performed all event. With Pakistan more and more turning to Iftikhar Ahmed over the legspinners – and even Mohammad Nawaz in a crunch state of affairs like the ultimate over in opposition to South Africa – they might look to easily choose one other quick bowler. Either approach, whoever fills that troublesome slot will discover the highlight on him.

Team news – Will Jamieson play?

New Zealand have flown Kyle Jamieson again to India after Matt Henry was dominated out, however there are different harm considerations too. In a optimistic improvement, nevertheless, the injured gamers Williamson (thumb), Mark Chapman (calf), Lockie Ferguson (achilles) and Jimmy Neesham (wrist) all educated in Bengaluru on Friday with New Zealand Cricket saying, “a decision on their availability will be left until game-day and likely confirmed at the toss”. But it is possible that they’ll carry Jamieson into the XI straightaway.

New Zealand (attainable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (capt & wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 James Neesham, 9 Kyle Jamieson, 10 Tim Southee/Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent Boult

Fakhar’s return to type means he’ll maintain his spot on the high of the order, and whereas Agha Salman was not required with both bat or ball in opposition to Bangladesh, he’s anticipated to maintain his place forward of Nawaz.

Pakistan (possible): 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Agha Salman, 8 Shadab Khan/Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Mohammad Wasim, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf

Pitch and circumstances

The climate for the primary half of this morning recreation appears clear, however gloomier skies lie in wait later. There’s a excessive probability that the second half of this recreation will impacted by rain, which may make the toss very important.

Stats and trivia

  • Boult is one wicket away from turning into the primary New Zealander to take 50 ODI World Cup wickets. Tim Southee is the joint second-highest, tied on 36 with Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori.

  • Pakistan have misplaced their final six tosses in opposition to New Zealand at ODI World Cups, however gone on to win 5 of these video games. Overall, they’ve received seven of 9 video games in opposition to New Zealand at ODI World Cups, dropping in 1983 and 2011

  • Earlier this event, Babar overtook Imran Khan’s runs tally at ODI World Cups. He wants 11 extra to surpass Ramiz Raja, and 28 to overhaul Inzamam-ul-Haq, which is able to place him behind solely Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar

    • Quotes

    “No excuse, but it [not playing the IPL] has been [a disadvantage]. And the interesting thing has been that every ground we’ve been to has been a new venue for our players, which is exciting. The players have really embraced that and they’ve enjoyed that fact because they’ve watched IPL on TV and they’ve seen Test matches at iconic grounds like Eden Gardens, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai.”
    Pakistan crew director Mickey Arthur

    “They’re a world-class team and they have been for a long time. We’ve played a lot of cricket against them, which is awesome for us. We loved touring Pakistan a few months ago and to be able to take them on here now in the World Cup’s cool.”
    New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell

    Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000

    Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com

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    2023/24 articles icc cricket world cup new zealand news NZ pak pakistan preview
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