Chennai wicket will suit Afghanistan spinners
The cricketing world's attention will be on M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Wednesday, October 18, as an in-form New Zealand clashes with a revitalized Afghanistan in Match 18 of World Cup 2023.
NZ vs AFG: Will Kiwi dominance continue or Afghan spirits soar in Chennai?
New Zealand has been nothing short of sensational so far in the tournament, registering three dominating victories on the trot. The Kiwis announced their intentions right from the start by trouncing defending champions England with a nine-wicket win.
The subsequent wins over the Netherlands by 99 runs and an 8-wicket victory against Bangladesh further bolstered their position. A win in the upcoming match will propel them to the top of the points table.
On the other hand, Afghanistan, despite initial hiccups against Bangladesh and India, showcased their mettle by defeating defending champions England in a commanding 69-run win. They'll be riding on this morale-boosting performance and keen to upset the Kiwi applecart.
Ahead of the NZ vs AFG contest, here's a look at the ground stats of the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
M.A Chidambaram Stadium Ground Stats
The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is traditionally a haven for spinners, with its slow pitches typically favouring the spinners. However, the pacers found unexpected allies in the conditions during the recent clash between New Zealand and Bangladesh.
| Total Matches | 25 |
|---|---|
| Matches Won Batting First | 14 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 10 |
| Highest Team Total | 337/7 by Asian XI vs Africa XI (2007) |
| Lowest Team Total | 69/10 by Kenya vs New Zealand (2011) |
| Average Runs Per Over | 5.16 |
| Average Runs Per Wicket | 29.98 |
| Average Total Batting 1st | 232 |
Tournament trends at this venue have shown a propensity for the chasing team, with two of the matches being won by teams batting second. As a result, the captains, equipped with this insight, might opt to bowl first if they win the toss, banking on the conditions later to ease their batting challenge.
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