West Indies vs New Zealand Match Prediction: Who Will Win Today Cricket World Cup Match | CWC 2019

West Indies vs New Zealand Match Prediction: The Sportsrush present before you Match Prediction of 2019 World Cup Match 29 between WI and NZ.

What began as the dream start for West Indies has not taken time in floundering. With just the one win in five matches, the side are on a three match losing spree, something which sees them all but edged out of the reckoning for a top 4 spot.

On the other hand, their counterparts on the day New Zealand have had a pinch perfect tournament. They’ve dominated their fair share of matches while showing the necessary semblance needed in tricky positions to grind out favourable results. Sitting in second place, the Black Caps haven’t lost a single match in the showpiece tournament and are sitting on the cusp of consolidating their semi-final berth.

Against a West Indian unit extremely low on confidence, New Zealand will be looking to make it their fifth straight win. It promises to be a match where the runs will pour down on the stadium given the conditions at hand and New Zealand’s more astute pace battery should serve them fruitfully on the day.

West Indies vs New Zealand – What numbers suggest?

Till day, 64 matches have been scheduled between the two sides with West Indies coming out on top 30 times as opposed to the 27 wins for New Zealand. We have one of the most abandoned matches in this fixtures with a mammoth seven matches failing to give us a result.

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The last time these two met in the cricketing arena was in 2017 when New Zealand had gone onto defeat West Indies 3-0.

West Indies vs New Zealand – Key Battles

Oshane Thomas vs Martin Guptill

12 matches, a colossal 588 runs against West Indies, numbers which show how much opener Martin Guptill has enjoyed played against this opposition. And he’s had a fruitful World Cup as well, snaring a good bagful of runs to provide the perfect platform for his side.

Facing off against Oshane Thomas in the early period on the match today, Guptill is bound to be peppered by their shorter deliverers. They have been Thomas’ stock delivery and will serve him well against the opener who hates facing a growing delivery.

The one thing Thomas has been guilty of though is bowling too many deliverers in the widish line, allowing batsmen to free their arms given his pace and he knows he will need to address it against an inform Guptill.

Nicholas Pooran vs Lockie Ferguson

In an irresponsible and indiscipline batting performance by West Indies of late, Nicholas Pooran is the one person who has managed to keep his sensibilities intact. He now has two solid and well crafted innings in his kitty, something which have managed to hold fort for his side.

Playing on a surface which will fully reward clean stroke making and see the boundaries flow at will, Pooran will face a stern test in the form of Lockie Ferguson, He’s up against a bowler who has being the perfect partner to Trent Boult and Matt Henry, making full use of the pressure the two have piled from the other end.

This is a crucial encounter in the match, one which could eventually decide the winner and for West Indies sake, they need Pooran to play cautiously and wait for Ferguson to err in his line and length.

West Indies vs New Zealand – Match Prediction

Still alive in the tournament, hanging on by the barest of straws, West Indies need to revert to their original game plan. They put in one of the most emphatic bowling performances against Pakistan in their tournament opener and if they can bounce out New Zealand in the first 10 overs, they have a real chance of getting back to winning ways.

For New Zealand on the other hand, the strategy doesn’t need to vary. One of the two sides with a 100% winning record, the Black Caps will be looking to seal qualification for the semi-finals by sticking to what has worked for them. The pace trio of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry know that a wicket to wicket line and length will see them get rid of a flailing and faltering West Indian batting order quickly.

On a surface which promises to be a heaven for batsmen, the better bowling side is going to come out of this with a win and that’s where the scales tip in New Zealand’s favour based on current form. They should win this and move back to first place.