Australia and New Zealand are set to lock horns in the 27th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala, India, on Saturday.
Australia recorded a massive 309-run win — the biggest in the history of the World Cup — against the Netherlands on October 25 in Delhi and are in red-hot form as they have just won three successive matches after suffering defeats in the first two matches. On the other hand, New Zealand were handed their first loss of the tournament by India on October 22 at the same venue and Tom Latham, who is leading the Black Caps in Kane Williamson's absence, would do everything to ensure a win tomorrow.
David Warner and Glenn Maxwell are the two batters the New Zealand bowlers would need to watch out for as the left-handed opener scored his second consecutive hundred in their last match against the Dutch, scoring 104 runs while Maxwell just smashed the fastest hundred in the World Cup history as he completed his ton in just 40 balls. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell would be willing to replicate his latest heroics in Dharamshala.
A great encounter is expected between the bowlers and batters of both sides. Pat Cummins' men are in high spirits after bundling out the entire Dutch side for just 90 runs while Latham will rely on Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry, who are New Zealand's top wicket-takers in the World Cup with 12 and 10 wickets respectively.
Pitch conditions
The pitch at the HPCA stadium favours batters and bowlers equally but traditionally it has supported bowlers more. However, so far in the World Cup, the surface in Dharamshala has offered the pacers the most swing in the first 10 overs as compared to other venues. Four matches of this mega event are played on this venue and the toss-winning captain has preferred to chase the target.
Head-to-head
Both sides have faced one another in 11 World Cup matches with the Aussies emerging winners in eight times, including a win in the 2015 World Cup final, while the Black Caps could only win three matches.
Probable lineups:
Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult