Match 32 of 48 in the 2023 Cricket World Cup will see New Zealand and South Africa look to take a step closer to semi-final qualification when they face off at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday.
The dust is still settling from the recent titanic battle between these two countries in the Rugby World Cup final last weekend, and the rivalry will be reignited this week in a match that could prove to be a decisive one in this competition as well.
Match preview
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New Zealand made the perfect start to their 2023 CWC campaign, as they secured four consecutive wins, overcoming England, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in their first four matches in the competition.
While that start saw them firmly set in the top two, back-to-back losses against India and Australia in their next two games have seen them drop to third place, still on eight points, and with a net run rate of +1.232.
In that match against the Aussies, the Kiwis suffered a heartbreaking loss, falling short by just five runs in a chase that would have marked a record-breaking effort in the history of World Cup cricket.
The major issue for the Blackcaps over the last couple of games has been their bowling attack, which has failed to fire, and the likes of Trent Boult and Matt Henry will be under pressure to deliver here against a free-scoring South African top order.
Still, the Black Caps have developed something of a tendency to thwart South Africa at major international cricket tournaments, and it is hard to write them off from doing likewise in this crucial match.
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Meanwhile, South Africa kicked their World Cup campaign off with a record-breaking win in their first match of the competition against Sri Lanka and followed up with another big win over Australia a few days later.
The Proteas were then involved in what has probably been the biggest upset of the competition so far when they were beaten by a plucky Netherlands side that also cost them qualification in the T20 World Cup.
However, they rebounded in the best way possible by defeating England and Bangladesh convincingly before securing a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Pakistan in Chennai last week.
South Africa currently have three of the top 10 run-scorers in the 2023 CWC, with Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and Heinrich Klaasen displaying aggressive batting, which has contributed heavily to recording three of the six highest team totals in the tournament thus far.
Next to the host nation, the Proteas look the next most settled side here in the subcontinent, and a win in this match will put them firmly in the driver's seat to secure a top-four spot before the group stages are over.
Team News
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Opener Rachin Ravindra has scored 406 runs in his six innings, while Daryl Mitchell has recorded 322 in five knocks, and the pair will need to be at their best to give their side a solid platform at the top of the order.
After playing an excellent innings of 57 from 39 balls in the previous game, James Neesham is set to continue down the order alongside Mitchell Santner and Henry.
South Africa will continue to be without the services of the injured Sisanda Magala and Anrich Nortje, with the pair unlikely to be risked with the excellent possibility of the Protea's reaching the knockout stages.
Kagiso Rabada was absent in the match against Pakistan due to injury, raising anticipation about his potential return, while captain Temba Bavuma, who missed two matches due to illness, has recovered and is available for the upcoming fixture.
New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams
Series so far
New Zealand
Match One: New Zealand won by 9 wickets
England - 282/9 (50)
New Zealand - 283/1 (36.2)
Match Two: New Zealand won by 99 runs
New Zealand - 322/7 (50)
Netherlands - 223 (46.3)
Match Three: New Zealand won by 8 wickets
Bangladesh - 245/9 (50)
New Zealand - 248/2 (42.5)
Match Four: New Zealand won by 149 runs
New Zealand - 288/6 (50)
Afghanistan - 139 (34.4)
Match Five: New Zealand lost by 4 wickets
New Zealand - 273 (50)
India - 274/6 (48)
Match Six: New Zealand lost by 5 runs
Australia - 388 (49.2)
New Zealand - 383/9 (50)
South Africa
Match One: South Africa won by 102 runs
South Africa - 428/5 (50)
Sri Lanka - 326 (44.5)
Match Two: South Africa won by 134 runs
South Africa - 321/6 (50)
Australia - 177 (40.5)
Match Three: South Africa lost by 38 runs
Netherlands - 245/8 (43)
South Africa - 201 (42.5/43)
Match Four: South Africa won by 229 runs
South Africa - 399/7 (50
England - 170 (22)
Match Five: South Africa won by 149 runs
South Africa - 382/5 (50)
Bangladesh - 233 (46.4)
Match Six: South Africa won by 1 wicket
Pakistan - 270 (46.4)
South Africa - 271/9 (47.2)
We say: South Africa to win
While New Zealand can never be counted out in World Cup competition, they may be a little fragile, having suffered back-to-back defeats in their last two games. South Africa, on the other hand, have all the momentum coming into this match and their batting unit is in fine form. We say the Proteas will secure the points in this one.
