New Zealand’s Mitch Santner leaves the ground after shedding his wicket in the course of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match between New Zealand and South Africa in Pune, India, on November 1, 2023
| Photo Credit: AP
New Zealand go away Pune sore and sorry after notching up their third World Cup defeat in succession towards South Africa and with a mounting harm toll weighing on their possibilities of reaching the semi-finals.
Pace bowler Matt Henry is unlikely to function in Saturday’s crunch match towards Pakistan after injuring his proper hamstring within the 190-run thumping by the Proteas on Wednesday.
Kyle Jamieson has been referred to as up from New Zealand as cowl for Henry and will arrive with the squad late on Thursday, the workforce mentioned.
Jimmy Neesham is nursing a bruised proper wrist after being struck by the ball whereas bowling within the first innings.
While an X-ray cleared him of damaged bones, selectors might have little selection however to play the all-rounder given harm queries over Mark Chapman (calf) and Kane Williamson (thumb), who had been dominated out of the South Africa recreation.
Paceman Lockie Ferguson, in the meantime, is nursing a proper Achilles harm, although he was cleared of serious injury by a scan and selectors hope he will probably be accessible for Pakistan.
“It’s sad to see guys get injured but at the same time it gives people other opportunities as well,” all-rounder Daryl Mitchell informed reporters.
“We’re a pretty close group and we back each other and we’ve done it for a long period of time now.”
After successful their first 4 video games in an ideal begin, the Black Caps have crumbled towards India, Australia and the Proteas. They now cling to fourth place within the standings, two factors forward of Pakistan.
The prime 4 attain the semi-finals.
The heavy defeat to South Africa has additionally seen their run-rate take a significant hit and one other huge loss towards Pakistan may see the south Asians leapfrog them into the highest 4.
Having received the toss towards South Africa, captain Tom Latham stunned by electing to area towards opponents that always battle to chase down totals.
Not that Glenn Phillips was questioning the captain’s name after South Africa put 357 for 4 on the board.
“Obviously South Africa are incredibly strong batting first, but we’ve got an incredibly good bowling line-up and there was no reason that we couldn’t have restricted them to a total that could have been a lot easier to chase on there,” mentioned the center order batsman.
New Zealand can ailing afford to slide up once more however are assured their World Cup destiny stays of their fingers.
Wins within the final two matches towards Pakistan and Sri Lanka ought to be sufficient for the semi-finals.
“We’ve got our own brand and if we stick to it, we know that we’re fighters, we keep coming back time and time again, and when it matters most, we really put the foot down,” mentioned Phillips.
