Dominant NZ looking to extend their lead at the top against Bangladesh
Following their clinical victories over England and the Netherlands in the opening games, New Zealand is now setting their sights on their upcoming match against Bangladesh in Chennai on October 13th. While the spin-friendly characteristics of the pitch might appear to favor Bangladesh, it's crucial to recognize that Chepauk, plays host to two key players for New Zealand in the IPL - Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner. The return of Kane Williamson will undoubtedly bolster this already formidable New Zealand squad, making them stronger than ever before.
Bangladesh holds an advantage due to their familiarity with the conditions in Chennai, given their origins. This sets the stage for an intriguing encounter, with the match poised to be a pivotal turning point for both teams. Bangladesh understands that this World Cup in India represents their best opportunity to secure that elusive spot in the semifinals, and the contest in Chennai could serve as a crucial stepping stone toward achieving that goal.
For New Zealand, this game carries the potential to be a tricky encounter, possibly turning into a "banana peel" match that they must navigate carefully.
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What to expect in terms of pitch and weather?
In the two ODIs held at Chepauk earlier this year, spin bowlers have been quite effective, taking a total of 17 wickets at an average of 24.88 and an economy rate of 4.50.
For this particular match, the groundskeepers have prepared Pitch No. 4, which features a combination of black and red soil. In the lead-up to the game, this pitch received thorough watering and multiple rounds of rolling. Consequently, it's unlikely to deteriorate as rapidly as it did during the India-Australia match. This preparation is expected to result in a harder and firmer playing surface, providing an opportunity for both batsmen to execute their shots effectively and spin bowlers to generate turn from the pitch.
The weather for the game will adhere to Chennai's usual pattern, starting off with the characteristic hot and humid conditions. However, as the evening progresses, there will be a slight relief from the heat, but the introduction of dew is expected to have its impact on the proceedings.
Probable Playing XI:
New Zealand - Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson/Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Bangladesh - Tanzid Hasan/Mahmudullah, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (w), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
Some interesting facts:
- Despite Shakib's impressive tally of over 600 runs in the 2019 World Cup, he has not managed to record a century in One Day Internationals (ODIs) since that tournament.
- Although Williamson was awarded the Player of the Tournament in 2019, he has only participated in 12 ODIs since that time.
- Among all the teams in the competition, Bangladesh is the only side that doesn't have a wrist spinner in their squad.
- Bangladesh has suffered ten losses in ODIs this year, and in each of those defeats, they were dismissed for a total under 240 runs.
Venue Details:
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Date: 13th October, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM IST on Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar
Dream 11 Team:
