New Zealand is part of an exclusive club with only four teams having achieved a perfect record by winning both of their matches so far in the ICC World Cup 2023. This remarkable feat has propelled the Kiwis to the second spot on the tournament’s leaderboard, trailing closely behind South Africa. New Zealand’s performance has earned them 4 points, accompanied by an impressive net run rate of +1.958.
As for their upcoming match, they are poised to clash with Bangladesh on Friday, a showdown that promises cricket fans a thrilling contest at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The rivalry between New Zealand and Bangladesh in One Day Internationals (ODIs) has seen them face off in 41 matches. New Zealand boasts a dominant record with 30 victories, while Bangladesh has managed 10 wins. Remarkably, one match concluded with no result. Their most recent encounter occurred on September 26 in Bangladesh. In that game, Bangladesh batted first but could only muster a total of 171 runs in under 35 overs. The New Zealand side efficiently chased down the target, winning by 7 wickets in fewer than 35 overs.
World Cup Head-to-Head Stats
In World Cup competitions, New Zealand and Bangladesh have crossed paths five times, and on each occasion, the Kiwis emerged victorious. Their most recent encounter transpired during the 2019 World Cup, where Bangladesh set a target of 244 runs. Despite losing 8 wickets, New Zealand successfully chased down the score in under 48 overs.
Probable XI
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson (Captain), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson/Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Mehidy Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
Pitch and Weather Report
The recent World Cup match between Australia and India shed light on the characteristics of the Chennai pitch. Indian spin bowlers claimed six Australian wickets, highlighting the pitch’s propensity to support spin bowling. It’s a challenge for batsmen to contend with the spinning deliveries, making shot selection a critical aspect of their innings.
Additionally, the pitch’s slower nature may pose difficulties in scoring boundaries, resulting in an average first innings score of 224 and an average second innings score of 205.
Looking ahead to the match day, the weather conditions in Chennai indicate a 15-17% chance of rain, with high humidity levels of up to 89%. According to Weather.com, the temperature is expected to rise to a maximum of 31 degrees Celsius. This will undoubtedly factor into the strategies and preparations of both teams as they step onto the field.