NZ vs PAK Match Prediction : New Zealand and Pakistan eye personal goals in today’s league stage match after the CWC is thrown wide open
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New Zealand Vs Pakistan Probable Winner
The ODI Cricket World Cup took time to sizzle but as we approach the end of the league stage matches, it’s fair to say the prestigious tournament has come well alive. With the run in for a spot in the last 4 heating up and seven teams in with a shout of making the semi-final spots, the tournament is set to serve up some real humdingers our way.
And beginning a week of enthralling and riveting matches is today’s New Zealand v Pakistan clash, a match which brings with it ramifications for both the countries. While New Zealand are looking to cement their berth at the top of the league standings, Pakistan are trying to keep themselves in with a chance of making the top 4, something which looked extremely unlikely a week back.
However with hosts England being beaten comprehensively by Australia yesterday and Pakistan managing to defeat South Africa in their previous match, the country have managed to hang onto the smallest of chances. The road towards a semi-final berth is still a long and tedious one for Pakistan but they’ll be looking to get it underway in the right manner today.
On the other side we have New Zealand, one of the only two teams to be yet beaten in the tournament. On the cusp of making it to the semi-finals, New Zealand would be eying a win today and assuring themselves of a spot in the semi-finals, one Australia assured themselves of after defeating Australia. The Kane Williamson lead unit have been one of the most immaculate units in the showpiece event and would be looking to reverberate the same standards of success come today.
NZ vs PAK Head to Head
The two sides have clashed heads in 106 matches in the international circuit with Pakistan defeating New Zealand 54 times as opposed to the 48 wins for Kane Williamson’s outfit. We have had the one drawn result while the three matches have been curtailed without a result emerging from the encounters. The most recent was a three match ODI series between the two countries which ended all square at 1-1 after both the teams won the one match apiece while the sole match was truncated due to rain.
At the Cricket World Cup, the record remains the same with New Zealand playing catch up. The 8 contests between the two see Pakistan hold a 6-2 lead.
Key Battles
Kane Williamson Vs Mohammad Amir
With two man of the match centuries on the bounce, it’s not just the runs which have poured from his bat but the way he’s gotten them that have made us appreciate his genius. Kane Williamson has grabbed control of his team, helping them get out of precarious situations with two innings that were imbued in composure, determination, diligence and sublime grace.
Now up against Pakistan and Mohammad Amir, New Zealand will be yet again banking on their captain to come good for them. With 898 runs in 17 matches against Pakistan, Kane Williamson is up against a team he always loves playing against. However given his current form and the fact that he’s yet to be hit for a six, Amir will be knowing that if he bowls a wicket to wicket trajectory, he can send Williamson packing. The gameplan needs to be simple against the batsman, getting the ball to pitch in the offstump channel in the good length region and get it to inswing back into Williamson, a ball that can lead to a LBW.
Trent Boult Vs Fakhar Zaman
The only thing missing from Trent Boult’s enterprising bowling was a bagful of wickets and his 4-30 performance against West Indies saw him piece together the last missing link as well. Having tasted success now, one of the finest bowlers at the World Cup is set to come hot out of the blocks against Pakistan and leave them obliterated with his bowling.
The reason for Pakistan’s win against South Africa was the ability of their top 3 to come good and a major reason for that was Fakhar Zaman. The opener has over the course of the last two matches looked in fine touch now, scoring runs at a brisk rate which has helped him give his side the much needed foundation at the top of the order. He knows though that on a bowling conducive wicket, Boult will make for a treacherous entity, a bowler who has a staggering 22 wickets in 4 matches against the country.
What serves Boult so will is not only his astonishing pace but the ability to keep pitching the ball consistently in the same areas and getting the ball to swing away from the right hander. The moving away ball leaves Zaman perturbed and Boult can easily get a edge to fly into the slip region here.
NZ vs PAK Match Prediction
On a surface which has played a little tricky for batting till now, New Zealand’s experience and acumen as a batting side should see them push through a win here. The side have seen Kane Williamson take the onus of seeing his side get past the finishing line in the previous two encounters, acting as the fulcrum of his side.
With two centuries on the bounce, Williamson has shown why he is spoken in the same breath as the top 5 batsmen in the world currently, be it across any format. Along with an impeccable bowling unit, the Black Caps have made for a delectable sight to behold, cantering their way to rousing wins.
On the other hand, after their debacle against India, Pakistan Cricket Team managed to put aside a dwindling South African side with ease. In batsmen Babar Azam and Fakhar Azam and pacer Amir, they have three players who can help keep the team afloat and will be crucial to the side’s performance today. It’s the experience and momentum that New Zealand carry with them though that should see them through and help them get a win today.
Match Details
ICC ODI Cricket World Cup
Match: New Zealand Vs Pakistan
Date And Time: 26th June, Thursday- 3:00pm IST, 10:30pm UK time
Television: Star Sports 1, 2, Select HD1, Hindi/HD
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
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