HYDERABAD: In a highly-anticipated encounter at the ICC World Cup 2023, New Zealand and the Netherlands are gearing up to face off in their sixth match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India, on Monday.
New Zealand, buoyed by their impressive triumph over England in the tournament opener, is determined to sustain their outstanding performance against the Dutch team. Leading the ICC points table with an impressive net run rate (NRR) of 2.149, the Black Caps are eager to secure another decisive victory to strengthen their position and enhance their run rate, reminiscent of their successful run in the 2019 World Cup.
Tom Latham will continue to captain the Kiwis in the absence of regular skipper Kane Williamson, sidelined due to a knee injury. The availability of key bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee depends on the team’s medical assessment.
On the flip side, the Netherlands faced a challenging start to their World Cup campaign, experiencing an 81-run defeat to Pakistan at the same venue where they will now confront New Zealand. Despite a promising start that troubled the Pakistani top order, the Dutch team couldn’t maintain momentum, ultimately conceding 286 runs and managing only 205 runs in their chase.
The pitch conditions at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium present a mix of soil types, including red and black soil. Black soil pitches provide more bounce, favoring batsmen, while red soil aids spinners as the game progresses. The historically flat track in Hyderabad tends to lead to high-scoring matches, with pace bowlers resorting to bouncers and slower deliveries to control scoring. In the eight official ODI matches at this venue, the team batting first has held a slight edge.
In head-to-head ODI encounters, New Zealand has dominated the Netherlands, winning all four previous meetings between the two teams.
Probable Playing XIs for both teams are expected to remain unchanged from their first World Cup matches
New Zealand
Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (C), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult
Netherlands
Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Scott Edwards (C), Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Saqib Zulfiqar, Wesley Barresi, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul Van Meekeren
Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly anticipating the thrilling showdown between New Zealand and the Netherlands in the ICC World Cup 2023.
