Afghanistan’s surprise victory over reigning champs England has added a twist to the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Now, New Zealand, who’s been performing strongly, will take them on at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai next week.
So far, New Zealand has clinched three wins, beating England, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh. They’re keen on claiming a fourth by overcoming Afghanistan.
On the other hand, Afghanistan has had a mixed journey. Initial defeats to Bangladesh and India were followed by an unexpected triumph over England.
Looking Back:
In 2019, New Zealand narrowly missed the title. Now, they’re back in form, with wins over England, a 99-run victory against the Netherlands, and a comfortable win over Bangladesh.
Afghanistan’s journey has been up and down. Despite early losses, their win against England has caught attention.
Previous Clashes:
New Zealand seems to dominate. They’ve won both their ODI clashes against Afghanistan, the most recent in 2019, with Williamson’s 79 runs sealing the win for them.
Players in Focus:
Devon Conway (New Zealand): With Williamson injured, Conway is the man to watch. He’s scored 229 runs in the tournament so far, including a remarkable 152 against England.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): Rashid is a vital player for Afghanistan. His five wickets so far and the spinner-friendly Chennai pitch make him a key player.
Probable Lineups:
New Zealand: Conway, Ravindra, Young, Mitchell, Latham (captain & wk), Phillips, Chapman, Santner, Henry, Sodhi/Ferguson, Boult.
Afghanistan: Gurbaz, Zadran, Shah, Shahidi (captain), Nabi, Alikhil (wk), Omarzai, Khan, Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Farooqi.
Match Prediction:
While Afghanistan’s win against England and the Chennai pitch may boost their confidence, New Zealand’s consistent form probably gives them the edge in the upcoming match.
