In 2019, the Black Caps had misplaced to all of the eventual semifinalists, and Pakistan which completed fifth under New Zealand on internet run price.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR Ok
Peaking on the proper second is a cliche, however might be the speaking level within the New Zealand dugout because the facet is on a four-match shedding streak after starting the 2023 World Cup with 4 consecutive victories.
With eight factors, the Kiwis are in fourth place and a semifinal qualification hinges on different outcomes going of their favour.
The dip in type, after beginning so nicely, could fear the facet since one thing comparable had transpired within the 2019 World Cup.
In this 12 months’s version, the Black Caps beat defending champion England convincingly within the opening match.
The facet then eased previous the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in its subsequent three outings. But they misplaced steam after happening to host India, Australia and South Africa — groups which are within the prime 4 — on the trot.
However, the match that basically wounded the Kiwis was the one in opposition to Pakistan as they misplaced by 21 runs in a rain-curtailed contest. Kane Williamson and Co. would’ve thought it had finished sufficient after amassing 401 runs in 50 overs.
Fakhar Zaman had different concepts and took the Men in Green to 200 for one in 25.3 overs, a complete nicely previous the DLS par. With eight factors in its kitty, Pakistan stored its hopes of constructing the semifinals and compounded New Zealand’s mid-tournament woes.
With all 4 of their wins coming in opposition to sides which are presently languishing on the backside of the desk, the Kiwis have didn’t spark in opposition to the stronger outfits.
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In the earlier version, too, the Kiwis had a memorable begin, garnering 11 factors from six video games. They beat Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, South Africa and the West Indies, and shared factors after a washout in opposition to India.
A top-two end was on the horizon, however that dream light fairly shortly because the facet was on the improper facet of the end result within the closing three league matches in opposition to Pakistan, Australia, and England.
The Black Caps had misplaced to all of the eventual semifinalists, and Pakistan which completed fifth under New Zealand on internet run price.
New Zealand won’t have been among the many prime 4 had the Proteas determined to take a evaluate — when Williamson had truly edged an Imran Tahir supply — for the sixth wicket of the innings when the Kiwis nonetheless had 69 runs to chase.
Close name
The workforce additionally survived a shut name in opposition to the West Indies when Carlos Brathwaite muscled the ball straight to Trent Boult on the boundary line with simply six runs wanted off seven balls. However, no different workforce understands extra clearly why pondering over what would’ve or may’ve occurred doesn’t do anybody any good, as evidenced by the 2019 World Cup closing.
With a do-or-die match in opposition to Sri Lanka forward, the injury-hit New Zealand wouldn’t wish to lose the impetus and stumble into the semifinals prefer it did in 2019, and even worse, miss out on a top-four spot.
