ICC World Cup: New Zealand look to regain winning form against South Africa | Cricket News

The current World Cup edition has mostly featured one-sided games, but two matches stood out. One was South Africa‘s dramatic one-wicket victory against Pakistan in Chennai, and the other was New Zealand‘s near-miraculous chase of 388 against Australia, falling just five runs short.
With both teams firmly in contention for semi-final berths, an exciting game is in the offing in Pune, where the batsmen from both sides would look to set the tone.
For New Zealand (8 points from 6 games), the Dharamsala leg didn’t go as planned after four consecutive victories, and another loss could open the door for Afghanistan (6 points) and Pakistan (4 points) to make a run for semi-final qualification.

On the other hand, if South Africa (10 points from 6 games) win, it will almost secure their place in the last-four bracket alongside India.
Therefore, this match becomes one of the most high-stakes encounters in the league stage, and a team like Pakistan wouldn’t mind if New Zealand suffer a third consecutive defeat.
Both teams have showcased impressive batting performances in most of their games, but the pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association ground in Gahunje hasn’t been a batting paradise, with spinners getting substantial assistance, as was evident when Afghanistan spinners secured a seven-wicket victory against Sri Lanka.
The most intriguing aspect of this contest is the form of the batsmen from both sides, which has been a key to their success.

Quinton de Kock (431), with three centuries so far, is having a stellar tournament and aims to leave the ODI platform on a high note.
As explosive as anyone on his day, De Kock has demonstrated his power and timing, harking back to his prime years.
On the other hand, young Rachin Ravindra (406) plays with the flair of Sachin Tendulkar and the grit of Rahul Dravid, making a name for himself on the world stage. His audacious aerial shots are a visual delight, and his steady but unspectacular slow left-arm orthodox bowling adds to his versatility.
What makes it challenging to pick between the sides is the balanced performance of their batsmen. If Heinrich Klaasen (300 runs) provides power-hitting and finishing prowess for South Africa, New Zealand have their match in Jimmy Neesham, who almost engineered an improbable victory in fading light at Dharamsala.
David Miller’s raw power adds an x-factor to the Proteas, while Daryl Mitchell’s (322 runs) ability to guide the game to its conclusion is an advantage for the Black Caps.
Aiden Markram’s skills might be countered by Glenn Phillips’ talent, as both bring another dimension to their game – spin bowling.
Moreover, the batting similarities extend to the rival captains. Both Temba Bavuma and Tom Latham, leading in place of an injured Kane Williamson, are resolute accumulators who, once set, can be a thorn in the opposition’s side.
South Africa hope that pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada is fit and ready to go after missing the Pakistan game in Chennai. Rabada can unsettle the opposition, which, in turn, helps young talents like Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen to elevate their game.
One area where South Africa hold a distinct advantage is having both Keshav Maharaj’s orthodox left-arm spin and Tabraiz Shamsi’s left-arm wrist spin.
While Shamsi claimed the ‘Player of the Match’ award against Pakistan, New Zealanders may not be overly concerned, given their ability to handle Kuldeep Yadav in the opening game.
New Zealand have Mitchell Santner in their squad, but after Phillips’ impressive performance with figures of under four runs in a 10-over spell, he has emerged as the second spinner, with Ish Sodhi now on the reserve bench.