World Cup 2023 Match 16: New Zealand vs. Afghanistan the form guide and head-to-head

After three World Cup games, only New Zealand and India are still undefeated. When New Zealand plays Afghanistan on Wednesday, they may even have a chance to momentarily overtake India for first place. The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host the game.

Going into the game, New Zealand will be aware of the danger that Afghanistan provide, particularly given that Chepauk’s surfaces have traditionally favored spinners. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, two of Afghanistan’s most powerful practitioners of that art, were instrumental in the team’s stunning victory against the reigning champions England in their most recent game.

The form of New Zealand, however, is different from that of their other World Cup finalists for 2019. They have won five straight one-day international matches, and Mitchell Santner, one of their spinners, is in excellent form. The Kiwis defeated England by nine wickets to win their tournament opener. After that, they defeated the Netherlands by 99 runs and Bangladesh by 8 wickets. On Wednesday, New Zealand will once again be without captain Kane Williamson, although their first two victories were achieved without him.

However, Afghanistan will be inspired by their triumph against England and may draw even more motivation from the Netherlands defeating a strong South Africa. They lost to Bangladesh by six wickets and India by eight wickets to begin this tournament, but they showed promise in both games until it all clicked against England. They were all out for 284 after their batting began to gel, with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz striking an aggressive 80 off 57 balls. Fazalhaq Farooqi, a fast bowler, then set the tone for them in terms of bowling before Mujeeb and Rashid took over, each getting three wickets.

ODI matches between Afghanistan and New Zealand

In ODI cricket, the two teams have only met twice, with New Zealand winning both games. Both of the games took place during World Cups, with the first one taking place in Napier, New Zealand, in 2015. Afghanistan battled valiantly in the match, which New Zealand won by six wickets. In the end, it took the Kiwis 36.1 overs to chase down 187 while also losing four wickets.

New Zealand won the second game in Taunton at the 2019 World Cup in a little more convincing manner. Williamson’s unbeaten 79 helped the Kiwis reach their goal of 173 in 32.1 overs with the loss of three wickets.