World Cup 2023, Match 32 | South Africa Predicted XI vs New Zealand

image-loelca9vSouth Africa is due to face New Zealand in the 32nd match of the World Cup 2023 (Source: AP Photos)

New Zealand will face South Africa in the 32nd match of the ongoing 2023 World Cup. The heavyweight contest will be held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune and is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM IST.

New Zealand is placed just below their forthcoming opponent. They have played six matches and won four of them, earning them eight points. The Kiwis started the competition with four straight victories, but have since suffered defeats against India and Australia. They were very close in chasing down 389 runs against the Aussies but fell shy by mere five runs.

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South Africa has been outstanding in the bonanza event thus far, winning five of six matches and currently placed second with ten points. Their only defeat came at the hands of the Netherlands, who defeated the Proteas for the second time in 365 days. South Africa have defeated teams including as Sri Lanka, Australia, England, Bangladesh, and Pakistan in the World event.

Now, let us have a look at South Africa's predicted XI against New Zealand.


Openers: Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma

South Africa constitutes a set opening pair that includes the presence of Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma. It adds the left and right hand combination that does not let the bowlers settle with a particular field position.

De Kock has been in scintillating form with the bat. This is his last ODI World Cup and the southpaw is the leading run-getter in the competition with 431 runs from six innings. He has a batting average of over 70 and has smacked three tons in the mega-event.

Bavuma has been a bit off the radar in the tourney thus far. He was spectacular with the bat just ahead of the World Cup, scored a century in tricky conditions against Australia. But the captain is yet to lit the tournament with some spark.


Middle Order: Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller

The Proteas middle order consists of important batters such as Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller.

Rassie had a batting average of over 60 in the last World Cup and continued with the same spark against Sri Lanka. He has contributed with vital knocks every now and then in the championship event. But a duo who could take the world by a storm are Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller. The former has been productive for the team, scored a brilliant ton against England and has 300 runs to show from six matches.

Miller has scored some odd thirties and forties in the tournament. The Green and gold top order batters are playing so well that it actually did not require a Miller special.


All-rounders: Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj

Aiden Markram is one of the MVPs of the South African cricket team. He piled up runs, he can be the aggressor, he can play a steady knock, he can pick wickets with some finger spin and can also lead the team. Having stocked 356 runs from six innings, the all-rounder is the second highest run-scorer for South Africa in WC 2023 and th fourth-highest in the tournament. Out of six innings on five occasions, Markram has fetched forty or more runs.

Marco Jansen is another such indispensable member of the Proteas men. The tall lanky pacer has fetched 13 wickets from six innings and has come out of the blues amidst the mix of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and others. He also made a quick fifty against England recently.

Keshav Maharaj has been one of the primary spinners for South Africa when Tabraiz Shamsi did not make the XI. He has done his primary job brilliantly but to add some light, Maharaj was the reason behind Pakistan's narrow loss in their latest clash. With just a solitary wicket left Maharaj eked out the winning runs at the cue end of the match against Pakistan.


Bowlers: Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi

In the absence of Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee has done a stupendous job with the ball. He is the driving force behind the wickets snapped in the middle overs for South Africa. Coetzee has pocketed ten wickets in the middle over phase which is the most after Adam Zampa and Mitchell Santner.

Since Kagiso Rabada missed out the last game due to lower back spasms, Lungi Ngidi could retain his spot in the XI. But if Rabada is fit to play, he should be backed.

Tabraiz Shamsi may have retained his position in the playing XI after a mesmerizing performance with the ball. The left-arm wrist spinners have fared relatively well in the tournament. The likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Noor Ahmad and Shamsi fall in the particular list.


South Africa predicted XI against New Zealand

Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, and Tabraiz Shamsi.