A blockbuster World Cup clash awaits as New Zealand lock horns with Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. This will be the 35th match of the tournament.
New Zealand were flying high two weeks ago having won their first four games. But three straight losses to India, Australia and South Africa have suddenly derailed their campaign. Their confidence must be low after the brutal 190-run thrashing by the Proteas.
Meanwhile, Pakistan finally got off the mark again after four successive losses by beating Bangladesh comprehensively in their last match. That win has kept their slim semi-final hopes alive. They have two games left, against the Kiwis and England, which are must-win now.
Historically, Pakistan have dominated New Zealand in World Cup clashes, winning seven out of the nine ODI meetings. After the demoralizing defeat to South Africa, New Zealand seem ripe for the taking. But write off the Kiwis at your peril.
This is shaping up to be a thrilling contest between two talented teams desperate for a win. Pakistan will back themselves on current form. But the wounded Kiwis can never be taken lightly.
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New Zealand Overview
New Zealand’s abrupt slide after four emphatic wins has stunned everyone. Their batting crumbled under pressure chasing 358 against South Africa. Opener Devon Conway’s prolonged lean patch is worrying.
The bowling looks toothless too since Lockie Ferguson’s injury. Matt Henry also got injured during the SA match, leaving the attack depleted. Captain Kane Williamson’s fitness is still uncertain.
Among the few positives is Rachin Ravindra emerging as the leading run-getter with a series of fine knocks. His opening partnership with Devon Conway had been productive earlier in the tournament. James Neesham’s return against the Proteas boosted the middle order.
The bowling possesses quality in Trent Boult and Tim Southee but needs better support. Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin has been economical but not penetrative. The Kiwis miss the x-factor of an Adam Milne or Ferguson to run through batting lineups.
Overall, the downturn in fortunes is a combination of injuries, loss of form and falling short at crunch moments. For their sake, New Zealand must find a way to turn things around against Pakistan. Their experienced names like Williamson, Boult and Southee need to stand up and pull the team together.
Pakistan Overview
After the agonizing seven-wicket loss to arch-rivals India, Pakistan’s World Cup hopes quickly faded with three more defeats. But the seven-wicket pounding of Bangladesh has rejuvenated them.
Opening batsman Fakhar Zaman made a welcome return to form with a belligerent half-century. His free-flowing strokes reduced the chase to a cakewalk. Skipper Babar Azam looked in good touch during his 30-ball 31 after a prolonged dry patch. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has been the most consistent batsman with 218 runs.
Pakistan’s bowling seems to finally be clicking with the fast bowling unit taking eight Bangladesh wickets. Shaheen Afridi tops the wickets chart with 16 scalps and will relish bowling to New Zealand’s shaky top order. Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim and Hasan Ali lend able support. Spin remains a concern with neither Shadab Khan nor Mohammad Nawaz making an impact.
Fielding is another area needing improvement. Pakistan have dropped several costly catches, missing chances to seize key moments.
The win over Bangladesh was just the spark they needed. Pakistan will now go after inconsistent New Zealand with vigor. If Babar and Rizwan can build platforms, their bowling has enough firepower to defend any total. This is Pakistan’s best chance to revive their World Cup.
New Zealand vs. Pakistan Starting XI
Expected Starting XI for New Zealand:
- Devon Conway,
- Will Young,
- Rachin Ravindra,
- Daryl Mitchell,
- Tom Latham (c)/(wk),
- Glenn Phillips,
- Mark Chapman,
- Mitchell Santner,
- James Neesham,
- Tim Southee,
- Trent Boult
Expected Starting XI for Pakistan:
- Abdullah Shafique,
- Fakhar Zaman,
- Babar Azam (c),
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk),
- Saud Shakeel,
- Iftikhar Ahmed,
- Salman Ali Agha,
- Shaheen Afridi,
- Usama Mir,
- Mohammad Wasim Jr,
- Haris Rauf
With Matt Henry injured, New Zealand could gamble on Kyle Jamieson’s height or persist with Matt Henry. Skipper Kane Williamson is likely to return, probably at Glenn Phillips’ expense. For Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman should retain his spot after a superb fifty against Bangladesh. Vice-captain Shadab Khan is expected to replace the off-color Khushdil Shah to bolster the middle order.
New Zealand will hope Lockie Ferguson has recovered from his injury to boost the pace attack alongside Trent Boult. For Pakistan,Shaheen Afridi’s threat with the new ball will be vital. The experience of Tim Southee and Haris Rauf will be crucial in the death overs for each side. Overall, both teams match up well for an enticing battle.
See the confirmed starting lineups below an hour before the match starts.
New Zealand vs. Pakistan Head-to-Head
Pakistan have historically had the wood over New Zealand in ODI clashes. In 115 completed matches between them, Pakistan edge the win count 60-51 over the Kiwis.
However, New Zealand have turned the tables in recent major ICC tournaments. They memorably defeated Pakistan in the 2011 World Cup and also won the 1983 World Cup league match between the sides. Most recently at the 2021 T20 World Cup, New Zealand edged Pakistan in a thriller before going on to reach the final.
In their last bilateral ODI series in Pakistan this year, the hosts whitewashed New Zealand 4-1. Pakistan also lead the head-to-head 7-2 in World Cup contests overall.
But the Kiwis have made a habit of peaking at global tournaments compared to Pakistan’s inconsistency. New Zealand also possess a well-balanced squad that performs as a cohesive unit.
Pakistan undoubtedly have the talent to beat any side on their day if Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi fire. But New Zealand will fancy their chances of sealing their fifth win to revive their campaign towards the semi final.
Weather & Pitch Report
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will host this exciting New Zealand vs Pakistan World Cup clash. The weather forecast predicts ideal conditions for cricket. Skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures hovering around 25-27 degrees Celcius.
Humidity levels will be moderate around 60-65% with minimal chances of rain interruption. Overall an excellent day is on the cards for an enthralling day-night match.
The pitch in Bengaluru is usually an excellent one for batting with true bounce and even pace allowing strokeplay. Teams often post 300+ totals at the venue with its short boundaries. Spinners can extract some turn later on to keep things balanced.
In five ODIs at the ground in 2022, the average first innings score was 244. However, given the batting firepower in both these lineups, a higher score is likely this time.
Dew could play a factor in the evening, making gripping and turning the ball difficult for bowlers. Chasing teams have won three of the last five ODIs here.
Considering the true pitch, a first innings total around 270-280 seems par. The toss winner may choose to chase by cashing in on the dew. With sunny skies, fans can expect an entertaining high-scoring batting feast.
New Zealand vs. Pakistan Prediction
This match is a tough one to call with both teams possessing quality but struggling for consistency lately. Pakistan’s emphatic win over Bangladesh has restored some confidence to their dressing room. The return to form of Fakhar Zaman and the continued threat of Shaheen Afridi with the new ball strengthens Pakistan. Their batting possesses more firepower compared to the Kiwis.
However, New Zealand’s bowlers – Boult, Southee and Santner – are adept at choking runs on good batting tracks. The likes of Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell offer power in the middle order. Much depends on whether skipper Kane Williamson returns to bolster New Zealand’s batting. Pakistan remain vulnerable against quality spin and the Kiwis could exploit that weakness.
But New Zealand’s abrupt World Cup slide remains a big concern. On current form, Pakistan appear the more settled unit. This promises to be a thrillingly close contest between talented sides. Pakistan should prevail if Babar Azam finds form. But write off New Zealand at your peril – they have a knack of rising to the occasion in big games.
Considering their recent win and superior head-to-head record, Pakistan have the edge. But don’t be surprised if it goes down to the wire.
New Zealand vs. Pakistan Betting Tips
With the batting-friendly conditions, consider betting on the first innings total over 285 runs. New Zealand and Pakistan both have power-packed batting lineups to post big totals. For top batsman pick, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman are good options from Pakistan. For New Zealand, Kane Williamson if he plays, along with Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.
For top bowler picks, Shaheen Afridi and Trent Boult should be prime candidates to take wickets with the new ball. For a differential, Tim Southee could be a smart choice.
Betting on individual 50+ scores for Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan or Devon Conway could yield good returns. The match result is hard to predict. New Zealand start underdogs so betting on them at higher odds could be profitable.
Consider betting on New Zealand or Pakistan to hit the most sixes. Their powerful strikers like Glenn Phillips and Fakhar Zaman can clear the short boundaries frequently. With dew likely in the evening, the chasing team will have an advantage. So consider betting on whichever team bats second to win the match.
Pakistan’s recent win over Bangladesh makes them marginal favorites. So betting on them to successfully chase 270+ or 280+ is recommended. Overall, with the pitch and conditions favoring batting, this promises to be a high-scoring thriller. Betting on individual batsmen and sixes could return good dividends for punters.
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If you want to check out our other Cricket World Cup match predictions, you can find them on our site. In the meantime, you can check out how to bet on the Cricket World Cup.
