According to cricbuzz report, The Kiwis are in good shape, having recently beaten Bangladesh by eight wickets. Their bowlers, led by Lockie Ferguson, did a fantastic job in limiting Bangladesh to 245 runs. Then, Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell guided New Zealand to victory, chasing down the target in 42.5 overs.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan achieved a historic victory over England in Delhi. They batted first and scored 284 runs, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil playing key roles. Later, their spin bowlers, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, troubled the English batsmen, and England was bowled out for 215 runs in 40.3 overs.
Recent Changes in New Zealand Cricket
Just a few days ago, Will Young was helping as a drinks-bearer, and Tom Latham was wicket-keeping without having to speak much to bowlers.
However, things change quickly in cricket. In the upcoming match against Afghanistan, Will Young is now a batsman and fielder, filling in for the injured Kane Williamson. Tom Latham, no longer the captain, has to communicate with bowlers and plan strategies on the field.
Both Young and Latham don’t mind these changes and consider it a privilege to represent their country.
Challenges for New Zealand
New Zealand has faced a series of crises, including injuries to key players like Kane Williamson. They’ve had to adapt quickly.
While they’ve handled these challenges well so far in the World Cup, the match against Afghanistan presents a new and unique test.
Afghanistan’s Strong Performance
Afghanistan is not an underdog; they recently outperformed England, a team that has been a dominant force in ODIs for many years.
The pitch in Chennai is expected to play a significant role, and Afghanistan needs more wins to succeed in this World Cup.
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has promised a more positive style of cricket, and this match against New Zealand in favorable conditions will be an exciting battle to watch.
Match Details
- When: New Zealand vs Afghanistan, October 18, 2023, at 2:00 PM IST
- Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Expect a strong crowd, as Afghanistan’s games have been well-attended.
- The pitch is new and is expected to be better than in previous matches. It will bring both short and long boundaries into play.
- The weather will be hot, with temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius, making it feel even hotter at 38 degrees.
- In recent World Cup games in Chennai, teams batting second have had an advantage, but it wasn’t an easy chase for New Zealand last time due to minimal dew.
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Interesting Facts
- New Zealand has won both of its World Cup matches against Afghanistan. In their last encounter in 2019, Ferguson took four wickets.
- Afghanistan broke a 14-match losing streak in World Cups by defeating England.
- New Zealand has remained unbeaten in its last six completed ODIs in Asia, with games played in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.