NZ vs. AFG Cricket World Cup: Head to Head, First XI, Prediction

NZ vs. AFG match is set to lock horns in a blockbuster ICC Cricket World Cup match on Wednesday, October 18, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is well underway, and two of the most exciting teams in the tournament, New Zealand and Afghanistan, are set to clash in a match that has the potential to be a thriller.

New Zealand is one of the favorites to win the World Cup, and they have impressively started their campaign, winning all three of their matches so far. They have a well-balanced team with a strong batting lineup and a potent bowling attack.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, has been more inconsistent in the tournament so far. They lost their first two matches, but they bounced back with a stunning victory over the defending champions from England in their last match. Afghanistan has several talented players in their ranks, including Rashid Khan, one of the best bowlers in the world.

Match Details

NZ vs. AFG Match Key Players

New Zealand

• Devon Conway: Conway has been in red-hot form in this tournament. He already scored 229 runs in three games. He is a solid opener who can anchor the innings and provide a quick start.
• Daryl Mitchell: Mitchell is another New Zealand batsman who has been in good form in this tournament. He is a versatile batsman who can score runs quickly and also play the anchor role.
• Rachin Ravindra: Rachin Ravindra has been one of the breakout stars of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The 23-year-old all-rounder has been in sensational form with both bat and ball, and he has played a key role in New Zealand’s success in the tournament so far. He already scored 183 runs in three matches.
• Trent Boult: Boult is one of the best bowlers in the world, and he will be a big threat to the Afghan batters. He is a left-arm pacer who can swing the ball both ways. He is also very accurate and can bowl consistent wicket-taking deliveries. He already took 3 wickets in three matches.
• Mitchell Santner: Mitchell Santner has been one of the most impressive players for New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 so far. The all-rounder has chipped in with valuable contributions with both bat and ball. He has picked up wickets at regular intervals. He already took 8 wickets in three matches.
• Lockie Ferguson: Ferguson was effective in the middle overs, where he used his pace and bounce to great effect. He was also very good at bowling yorkers in the death overs. One of Ferguson’s most memorable performances of the tournament came in the match against Bangladesh. He picked up three wickets in ten overs, with all of his dismissals coming courtesy of short-pitched deliveries.

Afghanistan

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Gurbaz is a very attacking batsman who can score runs quickly. He is the leading scorer for Afghanistan in this tournament, with 148 runs to his name.
• Hashmatullah Shahidi: Shahidi is the captain of Afghanistan, and he is a solid batsman who can anchor the innings. He is also a good fielder.
• Mohammad Nabi: Nabi is a veteran all-rounder who is still going strong. He is a good batsman who can score runs at a quick pace, and he is also a very effective bowler.
• Rashid Khan: Rashid is one of the best spin bowlers in the world, and he will be the biggest threat to the New Zealand batters. He is a leg-spinner who can bowl a lot of variations.
• Mujeeb Ur Rahman: Mujeeb is another talented young spinner who will be a key part of the Afghan bowling attack. He is a right-arm spinner who can bowl very economically. Against England, he got the Man of the Match award.
• Azmatullah Omarzai: Azmatullah Omarzai had a mixed performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. He scored 103 runs and took 1 wicket in three matches. But he has the ability to deliver his best against New Zealand.

Head to Head ODI Records of NZ vs. AFG Match

Afghanistan and New Zealand have met twice in ICC One Day International World Cup competitions. Afghanistan has won none of these two games, while New Zealand has won both of them.

When these two sides met in the World Cup, Afghanistan’s highest total was 186 runs, while New Zealand’s highest score was 188. In the main event, New Zealand has the lowest total of 173, while Afghanistan has the lowest total of 172 so far.

Pitch Report & Weather Forecast

The MA Chidambaram Stadium stands out for several reasons. Batters who relax might expect to hit a lot of runs, but they must be wary of spin spinners. The unusually sluggish speed of the wicket may pose an additional obstacle to hard-hitting batsmen.

This venue’s average first-inning score is 232. Historically, the club that bats first has won 14 of the 25 games. Nonetheless, the current World Cup tendency has shifted. Teams that batted second won both matches played here, chasing down scores of 200 and 246 with ease.

The humidity in Chennai will reach 84%, with the peak temperature reaching 32 degrees. According to Weather.com, there is little possibility of rain.

NZ vs. AFG Match Prediction

New Zealand is a more experienced and well-balanced team than Afghanistan. They have a strong batting lineup, led by Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Rachin Ravindra. They also have a very good bowling attack, led by Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner.

Afghanistan has a few talented players, such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Rashid Khan. However, they are not as consistent as New Zealand, and they are more likely to collapse under pressure.

Overall, We believe that New Zealand is the better team, and they are more likely to win this match. However, Afghanistan is unpredictable so far, and they should not be underestimated.

New Zealand Probable First XI

Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (C/WK), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

Afghanistan Probable First XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Krishanu

My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.

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