New Zealand will take on Pakistan in match 35 of the 2023 ODI World Cup at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, November 4. This game will be the first clash of the double-header. The match is significant, keeping the qualification for semi-finals in mind, particularly with Afghanistan sneaking into the top five points table with their fourth win on Friday.
New Zealand began the competition with four consecutive wins but have now lost three matches in a row. In their last game, they were hammered by South Africa by 190 runs. Another loss could put their semi-final qualification chances in jeopardy. Pakistan ended their four-match losing streak with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Bangladesh. However, their qualification hopes are still hanging by a thread.
New Zealand bowled first against the Proteas in Pune and conceded 357/4 in 50 overs. In the chase, they were hugely disappointing and folded up for 167 in 35.3 overs. Pakistan were highly impressive with the ball as they bundled out Bangladesh for 204, bowling first. They then chased down the target in a clinical fashion. Here are five player battles to watch out for in the New Zealand-Pakistan clash.
Rachin Ravindra vs Shaheen Afridi
Young Rachin Ravindra has been among the massive positives for New Zealand in their 2023 World Cup campaign. He began with a brilliant hundred in the thumping win over England in the opening match of the tournament and has not looked back since. The left-hander chipped in with fifties against Netherlands and India and smashed his second hundred in a losing cause against Australia. He is the third-leading run-getter with 415 runs in seven games at an average of 69.17 and a strike rate of 105.60, an achievement in itself.
Shaheen Afridi has excelled for Pakistan with the ball after a slow start. He climbed to the top of the bowling charts for the tournament and is currently in second place, with 16 scalps from seven innings at an average of 19.94. The tide turned for Afridi with his five-wicket haul against Australia, albeit in a losing cause. Building on the momentum, he has claimed three-fors against South Africa and Bangladesh in the last two matches. The left-arm pacer has struck key blows early in the game. The in-form Ravindra will definitely be on his hit list.
Fakhar Zaman vs Trent Boult
A forced move to bring Fakhar Zaman back into the playing XI after he had been dropped following his failure in the first match against the Netherlands worked wonders for Pakistan. Fakhar had been in horrible form heading into the World Cup and looked out of sorts in the game against the Dutch as well. However, a short break from the playing XI seems to have helped him as he came recharged against Bangladesh, hammering 81 off 74 and walking away with the Player of the Match award.
New Zealand’s experienced left-arm seamer Trent Boult has had a mixed World Cup campaign so far. In seven matches, he has claimed 10 wickets at an average of 33.10, which gives a fair reflection of his performances so far. In the last three games for New Zealand, he has registered figures of 1/60, 3/77 and 1/49. Boult has been among the wickets but has been expensive as well. Can he lift his game and stand up to the challenge that could be posed by Fakhar at the start of the innings?
Daryl Mitchell vs Haris Rauf
Apart from Ravindra, middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell has been the team’s most consistent performer with the willow. In six innings, he has scored 346 runs at an average of 69.20 and a strike rate of 105.17. He led the charge against Bangladesh with an unbeaten 89 and hit a fine hundred against India in a losing cause. Mitchell also scored 54 against Australia but perished for 24 against South Africa. With the Kiwis depending heavily on him to deliver in the middle overs, Mitchell will be expected to come up with another big knock.
Haris Rauf had a forgettable first few games in the 2023 World Cup. Even though he was among the wickets, he was going for plenty of runs. His performance in the match against Australia was particularly disappointing. However, the right-arm pacer seems to have found some rhythm in his bowling in recent games. The 29-year-old claimed 2/62 against South Africa and followed it up with 2/36 against Bangladesh. With the spinners struggling, Rauf might have to shoulder the responsibility of dealing with Mitchell. Can he deliver the desired result?
Babar Azam vs Mitchell Santner
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been having a bizarre time of sorts with the bat in the middle. Either he is faring miserably or scoring a half-century. However, even in games where he has crossed the 50-run mark, he has looked far from fluid. In his last five innings, he has crossed fifty thrice, registering a best of 74 against Afghanistan. In Pakistan’s last match against Bangladesh, he was out for 9. The team will look for a big score from their leader as they look to keep their slim hopes in the tournament alive.
Kiwi left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has been among the top wicket-takers in the World Cup so far. In seven matches, he has picked up 14 wickets at an average of 24.36. Santner’s recent form, though, has coincided with New Zealand’s slump. Can he lift his game and get the big scalp of the Pakistan captain?
Glenn Phillips vs Mohammad Wasim Jr
Glenn Phillips has done more with the ball than with the bat in the ongoing World Cup. But he found some rhythm with a fighting 60 in a losing cause against South Africa. When in form, Phillips can be extremely dangerous. Kiwis would hope for a significant effort from him against Pakistan.
Young Mohammad Wasim Jr has been called into the Pakistan playing XI for the last couple of games and has done a good job. He picked up two scalps against South Africa and three against Bangladesh. The talented pacer has some impressive skills at the death. Can he utilize it to outfox Phillips?