The 26th fixture of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sees West Indies host New Zealand aiming to secure their spot in the Super 8 stage. Kicking off at 6 am IST on Wednesday, the crucial fixture will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
West Indies currently stand second on the table with two wins while New Zealand languish at the bottom with a significant negative run rate.
What has happened so far?
After a tense victory against Papua New Guinea in their first game of the campaign, West Indies faced Uganda at Providence Stadium in Guyana. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, West Indies encountered early struggles as Brandon King failed to settle on the pitch. However, a solid first-wicket partnership of 41 runs in 27 deliveries set the tone.
Jonathan Charles top-scored with 44 runs. He was supported by Andre Russell’s quickfire 30 runs, guiding the team to a challenging total of 173 runs. In pursuit of the target, Uganda never found their footing as the West Indies bowlers unleashed an onslaught.
Akeal Hosein was particularly impressive, claiming five wickets on a pitch that offered assistance to every bowler. Each bowler contributed with at least one wicket, leaving Uganda struggling throughout the chase.
Conversely, New Zealand faced a collapse in their opening match against Afghanistan. Chasing a target of 160 runs at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, the Kiwis were dismissed for just 75 runs, suffering an 84-run defeat.
Their batting innings was plagued by early setbacks, with Finn Allen departing on the very first delivery. Struggling to find their footing, New Zealand lost three wickets within the powerplay and failed to recover.
Farooqi and Rashid Khan wreaked havoc, with both bowlers claiming four wickets each. The Kiwis were eventually bowled out for a paltry 75 runs, with Phillips being the highest scorer with just 18 runs to his name.
Head to Head Record
In their T20 cricket history, both teams have clashed 19 times, with the two-time World Champions, West Indies, trailing in their head-to-head record. Out of these encounters, five games ended without a result. In the remaining 14 matches, New Zealand emerged victorious 10 times, leaving the West Indies with just four wins.
Their last encounter in 2022 saw West Indies clinch a commanding eight-wicket victory after restricting New Zealand to a total of 145 runs. Prior to that match, the Kiwis had already sealed the series win with victories in the first two matches of the series by 13 runs and 90 runs respectively.
Key Players
Akeal Hosein picked a five-wicket haul to skittle out Uganda for just 39 runs
Akeal Hosein (West Indies): Akeal Hosein has already made a significant impact in the ongoing World Cup, claiming six wickets while conceding just 20 runs at an economy rate of less than three runs per over.
His remarkable strike rate of seven reflects his ability to take wickets consistently. Given New Zealand’s struggles against spinners in their previous game, Hosein poses a serious threat to the visitors.
Glenn Phillips (New Zealand): Despite spending the majority of the IPL season on the bench, Glenn Phillips earned a spot in the side due to his all-round capabilities. In the first match against Afghanistan, he showcased his batting prowess by scoring 18 runs from 18 deliveries, emerging as the highest scorer in the innings with two boundaries to his name.
Phillips has a notable record against West Indies, being the highest run-scorer for New Zealand against them. He has amassed 337 runs from nine games, including a century and two half-centuries.
Predicted XIs
West Indies: Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Roston Chase, Rovman Powell ©, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson ©, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson
Prediction
The West Indies team is on fire, securing consecutive victories and nearing qualification for the Super 8 stage. Meanwhile, New Zealand suffered a heavy defeat in their opening match, putting them in a tough spot and the Kiwis are determined to redeem themselves.
However, with home advantage on their side, the West Indies are favorites to win in what promises to be a closely contested battle.