World Cup 2023 Match 16, AFG vs NZ | Who Will Win?
New Zealand team are unbeaten so far in WC 2023 | Source: X.com
The 16th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 will see Afghanistan locking horns with New Zealand on Wednesday, October 18 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
NZ vs AFG: New Zealand Looks to Maintain Victory Parade in Captain's Absence
The Black Caps are on a roll in the 2023 World Cup, having won all three of their matches so far, and with convincing margins at that. They kicked off their campaign with a resounding nine-wicket win against the reigning champions, England, and have continued their dominance by defeating the Netherlands by a huge 99-run margin. Their most recent match in Chennai saw them clinch their third win, beating Bangladesh by eight wickets.
However, they have suffered a big blow as their regular captain, Kane Williamson, who just made a comeback in the last game against Bangladesh, has gone and done it again. After getting back on his feet, he managed to get himself a thumb injury in that same match. To make matters worse, the scans revealed a serious fracture, and he is likely to be out for the group stage of the World Cup.
Tom Latham, who had taken charge of New Zealand in the first two matches against England and the Netherlands, is back in the captain's seat. The challenge for every player is to maintain the same level of performance they showed in the first two matches, even without Kane Williamson.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, had a rather disheartening beginning to their World Cup campaign, having suffered consecutive losses to Bangladesh and India. Surprisingly, their bowling appeared promising, but it was their batting that proved to be the weak link. They couldn't build on the strong start provided by their openers, and the middle order failed to make significant contributions.
However, the tables turned in their most recent match against England, where the batters finally showed some fight. Once more, it was their opener, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who led the way with an impressive start, and the middle order chipped in. Their combined efforts managed to post a respectable total on the scoreboard before being bowled out for 284 runs on the batting-friendly track at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
In their reply, the dynamic spin duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman wreaked havoc, taking three wickets each to dismantle England's batting lineup, restricting them to a total of 215 runs. Mohammad Nabi, the former captain, also made his mark with two wickets, while the pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naveen-ul-Haq contributed with a wicket apiece.
NZ vs AFG: Who Will Win Today?
Judging by the performances of these two teams in the tournament so far, it's a straightforward prediction to declare New Zealand as the clear favourites for this game. Their top order has been consistently in sublime form, the middle order has made significant contributions with the bat, and their bowlers have been wreaking havoc. This could spell trouble for Afghanistan, especially considering their weaker middle order, in countering New Zealand's strong bowling attack.
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