Pakistan vs New Zealand Match Preview | World Cup 2023

Pakistan vs New Zealand Match Preview

The Kiwis and Pakistan Cricket Team will face-off against each other in perhaps the most important clash of World Cup 2023. The match is at Bengaluru on 4th November 2023. Following is the Pakistan vs New Zealand Preview of Match 35 in the World Cup 2023.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Today Match Preview

This Match holds critical importance for both the sides. They both are in the race of semi-finals. New Zealand have 4 wins so far in the event while Pakistan has 3 and both sides have played 7 matches each.

Pakistan need to win to keep their semi-finals hopes alive, while the Kiwis must beat them to enhance their chance of going forward and eliminate competition for the semi-final spot. New Zealand currently is on a 3 match losing streak while Pakistan were victorious in their last match.

If Pakistan loses, they will be out of the semi-final race so it is a must-win game for them. Meanwhile, the Kiwis can afford to lose but then their journey will get even tougher, so technically it is a must-win game for them as well.

Pakistan’s only game at Bengaluru previously in this World Cup was against Australia which they lost by 62 runs. In that game, 672 aggregate runs were scored which tells us that Bengaluru is a high scoring venue. New Zealand on the other hand, will play for the first time at Bengaluru in this event.

Pakistan have prior experience here, while New Zealand have the fire power in their batting for these small grounds. Pakistan also had a change of approach in the game against Bangladesh so they are also expected to do well in this game. Both sides have a 50-50 chance in this game.

Pakistan Playing 11 vs New Zealand

Pakistan will most likely go with the same winning combination. Usama Mir looked a little rusty, so if Shadab Khan is hundred percent, Usama will miss out and Shadab will play. This will also add depth to Pakistan’s batting.

Expected: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (C), M Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan/Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, M Wasim Jnr, Haris Rauf.

New Zealand Playing 11 vs Pakistan

New Zealand will have to make a forced change. Since Matt Henry is ruled out of the event, Kyle Jamieson is likely to play with Ferguson still dealing with injury. Southee, Boult and Jamieson will be the likely pace attack.

Expected XI: 1 Devon Conway, 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Kane Williamson (c), 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Mark Chapman, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Tim Southee

Head to Head Record

Pakistan have New Zealand’s number in the World Cup matches. Pakistan have defeated them 7 times in World Cup while the Kiwis have beaten Pakistan only twice in World Cup. Overall in ODI cricket, Pakistan have beaten the Kiwis 60 times, while they have beaten Pakistan 51 times.

Players to Watch-out For:

Pakistan’s star of the last game was Fakhar Zaman. Zaman earned a MOTM award on his return for his innings of 81(74) which included 7 maximums. Fakhar needs to bat with the same rhythm and utilize the shorter boundaries of Bengaluru.

With the ball, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been doing really well. Shaheen took 3 wickets in the last game against Bangladesh and became the fastest pacer to hundred ODI wicket. His confidence is sky-high and Pakistan needs him to bowl well in this crucial encounter.

For the Kiwis, they had a day to forget in their last game against South Africa as neither their bowling did well nor their batting. Glenn Phillips is a big positive for the Kiwis in this tournament. Phillips has bowled well and has shown good power hitting with the bat for New Zealand. Glenn Phillips has been the golden arm for New Zealand with 6 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 25. With the bat, he averages 37 with a strike rate of 99 in this event and has the capability to turn the game quickly.

Apart from Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Daryll Mithcell have been in tremendous rhythm with the bat. Both average 65+ in the World Cup and if they get going, then it will be curtains for Pakistan in the event.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Toss Prediction

The Toss is likely to go New Zealand’s way and they will opt to bat first here.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Win Prediction

Pakistan and New Zealand, both have an equal chance of winning this game.

About Ehsan Muhammad Khan

A cricket enthusiast who is keenly following cricket since years and now transforming his passion for the game by analyzing events taking place on the cricket field.

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