New Zealand
Bangladesh secures historic Test victory over New Zealand at home
Spotlight was on the host Bangladesh as they required just three wickets to secure their inaugural home triumph over New Zealand.
Adding to the four wickets claimed on day four, Taijul Islam snared two more on the fifth morning, culminating in a six-wicket haul for 75 runs. With this stellar performance, Bangladesh closed the match with a commanding 150-run victory, as in pursuit of 332, New Zealand stumbled at 181.
Taijul's ten-wicket haul, conceding 184 runs, marked his second instance of achieving ten or more wickets in a single Test. His first decimation of this magnitude came in 2018 against Zimbabwe at the same venue.
Taijul takes 4 wickets as Bangladesh closes in on win in first test against New Zealand
This triumph propels Bangladesh into the new World Test Championship cycle on a high note, a noteworthy feat given the absence of several senior players in this match. The designated Test captain, Shakib Al Hasan, remained sidelined due to a finger injury, joined by Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das for various reasons.
The mantle fell upon the rejuvenated Bangladesh Test team under the leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto, who, having led Bangladesh in the World Cup in Shakib's absence, made a spectacular debut as Test captain by scoring a century—the first for a Bangladeshi in debut as captain.
This century laid the foundation for the Tigers to set a challenging target for New Zealand, a team that had never successfully chased more than 324 runs in the fourth innings to win a Test. Notably, the last instance was in 1994 when they defeated Pakistan chasing 324 runs, making this pursuit a significant challenge.
Sylhet Test: Quick wickets daunt New Zealand’s chase for 332
Chasing a target of 332 runs in the fourth innings, New Zealand faltered early, losing wickets at regular intervals and failing to recover from the initial setback of losing three for 30 runs.
Daryl Mitchell displayed resilience with a score of 58, while Tim Southee contributed 34 in the face of a formidable bowling attack from Bangladesh. However, apart from them, none of the other New Zealand batters could mount significant resistance.
Taijul's exceptional performance in this match marked his 13th five or more-wicket haul in Tests, making him the second-best for Bangladesh after Shakib, who boasts 19 such hauls.
In the first innings, Bangladesh posted 310, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy notching up 86 after winning the toss. No player from Bangladesh managed to cross the fifty-run mark. Glenn Phillips shone for New Zealand, taking four wickets.
In response, New Zealand secured a narrow 7-run lead, scoring 317 in their first innings, with Kane Williamson being the standout performer with a century. Taijul contributed with four wickets in the first innings.
Sylhet Test: Bangladesh set 332-run target for New Zealand
In their final innings, Bangladesh scored 338, anchored by Shanto's century and fifties from Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Ajaz Patel took four wickets for the visitors.
With this win, overall second against New Zealand, Bangladesh took the lead in the two-match series. The second and final match of this series is scheduled to take place in Dhaka on December 6.
Taijul takes 4 wickets as Bangladesh closes in on win in first test against New Zealand
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 4-40 to rip through New Zealand's batting lineup as Bangladesh closed in on a victory in the series-opening test on Friday.
New Zealand was reduced to 113-7 at stumps on day 4, chasing a victory target of 332.
Daryl Mitchell batted patiently to end the day on 44, with Ish Sodhi on 7. Opener Devon Conway was the only other batter to put up resistance with 22.
"We need this victory badly because when you will beat a big team like New Zealand, it will give you the confidence," Taijul said. "We won't say we've won the game until we grab the last wicket."
Sylhet Test: Quick wickets daunt New Zealand’s chase for 332
Pacer Shoriful Islam extended Tom Latham's lean patch with a six-ball duck in the first over, and Kane Williamson failed to build on his first-innings century on an increasingly deteriorating wicket. Williamson started with a brace of boundaries against Mehidy Hasan but Taijul troubled him by varying the pace and finally trapped him lbw for 11. Williamson reviewed in vain.
Henry Nicholls was the next to go, top-edging a slog-sweep off Mehidy to Nayeem Hasan at short fine leg for 2.
Conway was playing with positive intent with wickets falling around him and perfectly swept the spinners to keep the scoreboard moving before Taijul had him caught by Shahadat Hossain at short leg.
With New Zealand at 46-4, the onus was on Mitchell but he found little support from the other end.
Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell (6) was stifled by Taijul before edging a turning delivery behind, and Nayeem pegged back the visitors further with a successful review to remove Glenn Phillips.
Sylhet Test: Bangladesh set 332-run target for New Zealand
When Taijul got the better of Kyle Jamieson for 7, Bangladesh looked like they could wrap up the win on day four.
But Mitchell and Sodhi survived a tricky 30 minutes before the bad light forced stumps.
"It's not a bad wicket. I suppose their bowlers have bowled very disciplined and put the ball in good areas and asked us good questions for long periods of time," New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel said. "A lot of batting to do tomorrow. We've got Dazzler (Mitchell) there who's batted quite nicely today. And we know how capable Ish (Sodhi) is with the bat as well. I think we pride ourselves to fight all the way through. So, it'll be an interesting day tomorrow."
Earlier, Bangladesh was bowled out for 338 in its second innings. Najmul Hossain Shanto added just one run to his overnight score and was out for 105 as Bangladesh lost a succession of wickets.
Mehidy Hasan scored 50 not out to help the side take the lead past 300.
The hosts started Day 4 on 212-3 but lost Shanto in the second over when Tim Southee had him caught down the leg side, ending a 98-run fourth-wicket stand.
Bangladesh's ODI, T20 Squads for tour of New Zealand announced
Mushfiqur Rahim continued and raised his 27th test half-century off 79 balls, with an outside-edge two against Southee. But he failed to convert it to a hundred when left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel trapped him in front for 67.
Legspinner Ish Sodhi got the better of Shahadat Hossain (18) to expose Bangladesh's lower order, which failed to play around Mehidy.
Bangladesh lost the last three wickets for 27 runs but that was enough to set a tough target for New Zealand.
The home side was dismissed for 310 in its first innings and conceded 7-run lead when New Zealand put up 317 all out.
New Test cycle starts for Tigers against New Zealand in Sylhet
The inaugural Test of the two-match series between hosts Bangladesh and the touring New Zealand is set to kick off on Tuesday at Sylhet International Stadium.
This series marks the commencement of the new cycle of the World Test Championship, serving as both Bangladesh's first match and first home encounter in this event.
Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh in this series in the absence of the regular captain Shakib Al Hasan, who was sidelined due to a finger injury sustained during the World Cup. This marks Shanto's debut as the Test captain, having previously led the team in ODIs in Shakib's absence during the World Cup.
Papon offers only vague details of meeting with Tamim
“I feel that I’m ready to lead Bangladesh in all formats,” Shanto expressed in Sylhet during the pre-match press conference. “It would be beneficial if the next captain is appointed for a longer period so that he can plan accordingly.”
In his inaugural Test as captain, Shanto aims for a victory and asserts that Bangladesh should plan to win all home matches in the new World Test Championship cycle.
“We will have to win the home matches of the WTC and try our best to fight harder in the away matches,” he emphasized.
In the previous WTC cycle (2021-2023), Bangladesh secured only one victory in 12 matches. Their last international event was the World Cup in India, where they fell short of expectations, winning only two out of nine matches. However, Shanto expresses hope for a comeback as they enter a new format.
Preview of 2023 BAN vs NZ 1st Test Match in Sylhet
New Zealand, having played their last Test earlier this year, is eager to make a comeback to Test cricket. Tim Southee, the New Zealand captain, acknowledges the challenge of playing against Bangladesh in Bangladesh.
“The start of the new cycle is exciting. It is a tough place to play Tests. Bangladesh is strong in these conditions. The last cycle didn’t go as well as we planned,” Southee remarked.
Despite one historic Test win against New Zealand last year at Mount Maunganui by eight wickets, Bangladesh's overall Test record against New Zealand remains largely insignificant, with just one win in 17 Tests.
Southee hints that New Zealand aims to maintain its dominance in this series, relying on their spin arsenal.
“Pace plays a big role in New Zealand. Spin historically plays a big role in this part of the world. Our spinners have done some great things in Tests. We are looking forward to them showcasing their skills,” Southee said.
Ticket prices unveiled for Bangladesh vs New Zealand test match in Sylhet
Bangladesh will miss the services of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib in this series. Tamim has been out of cricket for an extended period, while Shakib is sidelined due to a finger injury. Bangladesh's captain acknowledges the absence of Shakib and also notes the absence of Litton Das, who is unavailable due to family reasons.
Southee, the New Zealand captain, acknowledges the significance of the absence of these key players for Bangladesh, stating, “Shakib has been a great player for Bangladesh for a long time. Litton is a class player. He has done well against us in the past. I guess it is a miss for them not having those guys.”
Ticket prices unveiled for Bangladesh vs New Zealand test match in Sylhet
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has disclosed the ticket prices for the upcoming two-match test series featuring Bangladesh and New Zealand, set to commence on November 28 in Sylhet.
For the first test match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS), the prices are as follows: Grand Stand at Tk 1,000; Club House at Tk 300; Eastern Gallery at TK 200; Western Gallery at Tk 100; and Green Hill Area at Tk 100.
Bangladesh Women's Cricket team due to fly South Africa Saturday
Ticket counters, situated at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS) Main Gate Lakkatura and Sylhet District Stadium (Main Gate) Rikabibazar, will operate from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm on match days and the day preceding.
This series marks the commencement of the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, representing the first home series for the Tigers in this event.
BCB has officially announced a 15-member squad for this series, with Najmul Hossain Shanto leading the team. Shanto, a left-handed top-order batter, assumed test captaincy for the first time, stepping in for the regular captain, Shakib Al Hasan, who is sidelined due to a finger injury.
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Notably, three players are set to make their test debut for Bangladesh in this series: Hasan Mahmud, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, and Hasan Morad. While Mahmud has prior experience in ODIs and T20Is, this marks his Test debut. Shahadat and Morad, on the other hand, have yet to make their international cricket debuts.
While the first test of the two-match series will be played in Sylhet, the second and final match will be played in Dhaka on December 6.
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Bangladesh squad for the New Zealand Test series: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Naeem Hasan, Khaled Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, and Hasan Morad.
Shanto to Lead Bangladesh in Test Series Against New Zealand
Top-order batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the Bangladesh team in the upcoming two-match series against New Zealand starting later this month.
Jalal Younus, chairman of the cricket operation department of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), confirmed the development to media on Saturday (November 18, 2023).
“Shanto will lead the team in the two Tests against New Zealand,” Jalal said at a press briefing at the BCB media lounge.
In the ICC World Cup 2023, deemed “the worst” for Bangladesh by Shakib Al Hasan, Shanto led the team in two matches when the regular captain Shakib was out of the playing XI due to injury concerns.
Read: New Zealand to visit Bangladesh in November for 2-Test series
Shakib, who was ruled out of the World Cup before the last match for Bangladesh, is set to miss the upcoming Test series as he continues to recover from a finger injury.
Opener Litton Das has also been granted leave for a month. He recently became father of a baby girl.
“Litton asked for leave for two months; we have accepted one month,” Jalal confirmed. “He became a father, so he needs leave, and we understand it.”
Meanwhile, Allan Donald resigned from his post as the pace bowling coach of Bangladesh. In his absence, coaches from the high-performance unit may join the national team to fulfill his role. The BCB will soon appoint a new pace-bowling coach.
Read more: New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
ICC World Cup 2023 Semifinal: Preview of India vs New Zealand ODI
India and New Zealand are set to face off in the first semifinal of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15 at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. Led by Rohit Sharma, India secured the top spot by winning eight consecutive games. On the other hand, New Zealand earned a spot in the top four with five wins in nine matches. Ahead of the big match, let's review the condition of each team.
Preview of IND vs NZ ODI in the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup
India headed to the semifinal with great confidence as they won three consecutive matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands this month. In all three matches, they batted first and emerged victorious. In their previous encounter with New Zealand, India won the match while batting second.
India
In the midst of all the surprises and upsets that the 2023 ODI World Cup has delivered, one consistent factor stands out—India's unquestionable dominance throughout the tournament.
India has three of the top eight run-scorers in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The former captain, Virat Kohli, leads the charts with 594 runs in nine innings, followed by current captain Rohit Sharma with 503 runs and batter Shreyas Iyer with 421 runs, both in nine innings each. This collective dominance is quite significant.
Furthermore, India has three bowlers among the top eight wicket-takers in the tournament. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah leads with 17 wickets in nine innings, followed by fellow fast bowler Mohammed Shami with 16 wickets in five innings, and spinner Ravindra Jadeja with 16 wickets in nine innings. Mohammed Siraj is a bit further down the list with 12 wickets in nine innings.
Having won the Cricket World Cup twice, with the last victory in 2011, India is currently unbeaten at home and has several star players in excellent form. However, Hardik Pandya's absence from the squad could prove to be a significant factor for India, given that he was not only one of their key players but also served as the team's vice-captain. With Suryakumar Yadav taking his place at number 5 in the batting lineup, India has been playing with just five bowlers ever since Pandya was sidelined.
Shubman Gill's comeback after recovering from dengue has led to him consistently opening the batting alongside Sharma since the match against Pakistan on October 14. And getting Shubman regularly in the team is a plus point for India.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis
New Zealand
New Zealand should be thankful for securing four wins relatively early in their World Cup campaign, as they later experienced four consecutive defeats. However, a late victory over Sri Lanka pushed them into the semifinal stage of the tournament against the clear favorites for the title.
Opener Rachin Ravindra and all-rounder Daryl Mitchell stand out as the top run-scorers for the Black Caps at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Ravindra has accumulated 565 runs in nine innings, whereas Mitchell has notched up 418 runs in eight innings, registering three centuries in this tournament. The return to fitness of captain Kane Williamson is also a significant boost for the team.
New Zealand's standout wicket-takers in this tournament are spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Trent Boult, who have collectively taken 29 wickets. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has contributed with 10 wickets. The absence of fiery Matt Henry, who took 11 wickets before leaving the tournament due to injury, is a potential concern.
Despite being finalists in 2019 and 2015, New Zealand has never won the Cricket World Cup. As they aim for a third successive final, their recent bilateral ODI series record against India is not impressive. However, in a major tournament, a single win can correct past shortcomings.
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Probable Starting XI for India
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
Probable Starting XI for New Zealand
Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult.
IND vs NZ Head-to-head Records So Far
In the 117 ODI matches played between India and New Zealand, India has the lead with 59 victories. However, New Zealand is a notable challenge for India. In the ODI World Cups, the two teams have faced each other ten times. New Zealand has won five of those matches, while India has emerged victorious in four, with one match ending without a result.
Stats
Matches
India Won
New Zealand Won
No Result
Tied
Overall
117
59
50
7
1
ODI World Cups
10
4
5
1
0
World Cup 2023
1
1
0
0
0
Indian Players to Watch
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has been the standout batsman for India in this tournament, consistently providing explosive starts that have often put the team in a favorable position. However, when considering his suitability for the upcoming game, it's important to note that his current form is the primary factor in his favor. However, Rohit doesn't have a good record against New Zealand, and he has a 37.40 average from 26 innings against New Zealand.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been in excellent form during the tournament, scoring 594 runs in nine innings and currently ranking as the highest run-scorer. His impressive track record against New Zealand, with an average of 56.59 across 30 innings, and his fondness for batting at the Wankhede Stadium, where he has an average of 59.50, make him a crucial and essential choice for the upcoming game.
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami has been in sensational form since entering the tournament. With an impressive 16 wickets in just four matches, Shami is proving to be unstoppable. His outstanding performance makes it impossible to overlook him for the upcoming game.
Read more: Bangladesh’s matches in the 2nd Round Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
New Zealand Players to Watch
Rachin Ravindra
The most significant topic of conversation in this tournament has revolved around Rachin Ravindra and his impressive batting performance. With a total of 565 runs in nine innings, he currently holds the title of the third-highest run-scorer in the World Cup 2023. Considering his incredible form, Ravindra is undoubtedly a key player in the next match against the Kiwis.
Trent Boult
The Kiwi speedster hasn't been in top form during the tournament, making him appear as a somewhat risky choice. However, if New Zealand ends up bowling second, Trent Boult could become a crucial player for them. He grabbed 13 wickets from 9 games.
Final Words
India is unbeaten in this ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023. Although New Zealand has a better record in the knockout stage, India has the home ground advantage. So, India is likely to win this IND vs NZ match.
Read more: Bangladesh's Overall Performance Analysis in the ICC World Cup 2023
New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
In September 2023, the New Zealand men's cricket team visited Bangladesh and played three ODI matches. Both teams used these matches to prepare for the 2023 Cricket World Cup. After the World Cup, the New Zealand team will return to Bangladesh in November 2023 to play two Test matches. These Test matches are part of the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship.
New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
Bangladesh and New Zealand are set to play a two-match Test series in the latter part of November and early December 2023. The series will kick off with a two-day practice match scheduled for the 23rd and 24th of November at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, Bangladesh. This practice match will serve as a crucial warm-up for both teams before they enter into the Test matches.
The first Test of the series will begin on November 28 and continue until December 2, also taking place at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Finally, the series will conclude with the second Test, which is scheduled from the 6th to the 10th of December at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladeshi fans are eagerly waiting for this face-off, as Bangladesh will play a test match after more than five months.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Maxwell's epic 201 brings Australia back from the dead, breaking Afghan hearts
Table: New Zealand tour of Bangladesh 2023 Fixtures
Date
Time (BD Time)
Match Type
Venue
23–24 November
9:30 AM
2 Day Practice Match
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
28 November – 2 December 2023
9:30 AM
1st Test
Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
6–10 December 2023
9:30 AM
2nd Test
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
Probable Bangladesh Squad for the Test Series Against New Zealand
Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Hossain, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Shariful Islam and Ebadat Hossain.
New Zealand Squad for the Test Series
Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kane Williamson and Will Young.
New Zealand Cricket has announced a 15-man squad on November 7 for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. This Test series will be a fascinating contest as the New Zealand team prepares to face the challenges of the longer format after their limited-overs battles in the subcontinent. There are several spinners in the team. Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner are joined by Rachin Ravindra and Ish Sodhi.
Mitchell Santner has made a comeback to the New Zealand Test squad, marking his return to the format after his last appearance in 2021 against England at Lord's. Santner's inclusion adds variety to the team's bowling and all-round capabilities. However, it's worth noting that Trent Boult, a key figure in the New Zealand fast bowling attack, will be absent from the upcoming Test series as he has made himself unavailable for selection.
Read more: Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Showing Light of Hope
Bangladesh vs New Zealand ODI Series Recap
This upcoming Test series is a part of the New Zealand tour of Bangladesh that started with the ODI series on September 21, 2023, and paused with the third ODI match on September 26, 2023.
Bangladesh lost the series by 2-0 as the first match was abandoned due to rain. In the first ODI held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on September 21, rain played spoilsport, and the match ended without a result, with New Zealand posting a total of 136/5 in 33.4 overs. Will Young's steady 58 off 91 deliveries and Mustafizur Rahman's 3/27 with the ball were notable highlights.
The second ODI, also in Dhaka, was a different story as New Zealand batted first and set a target of 255. For New Zealand, Tom Blundell scored 68, and Ish Sodhi took a historic 6 wickets for 39 runs. Bangladesh's response fell short, with Mahedi Hasan taking 3/45, and New Zealand emerged victorious by 86 runs, marking their first ODI win in Bangladesh since 2008.
The third ODI, again in Dhaka, saw Bangladesh posting a target of 171 runs. New Zealand bowler Adam Milne's 4/34 performance stopped Bangladesh from scoring big. However, New Zealand chased down the target with ease, powered by Will Young's 70 off 80 balls, and they won by seven wickets, securing the series. The series had its share of debutants and prominent records, including Khaled Ahmed and Zakir Hasan's ODI debuts and Ish Sodhi's exceptional bowling feat. Additionally, Najmul Hossain Shanto led the Bangladeshi side for the first time in ODIs, adding a layer of significance to the series. Overall, the series showcased the competitive spirit and talent on display from both teams, leaving fans eagerly waiting for their future encounters.
Final Words
While Bangladesh has yet to announce the squad, New Zealand, on the other hand, has announced a balanced 15-man squad featuring a mix of experience and promising talent. With the background of the ICC World Test Championship, this New Zealand tour of Bangladesh holds significant importance for both teams' aspirations in the tournament.
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World Cup 2023: Rachin and Williamson Propel NZ to 401 against Pakistan
Rachin Ravindra showcased his form with another century in the ongoing ICC World Cup, while Kane Williamson narrowly missed a century by five runs, steering New Zealand to an imposing total of 401 in their crucial face-off against Pakistan on Saturday.
Read : India's Hardik Pandya ruled out of Cricket World Cup
Despite winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Pakistan struggled to contain New Zealand's onslaught, allowing them to amass a formidable score.
During the first 20 overs, Pakistan conceded 125 runs, managing to secure only one wicket.
Read : World Cup 2023: New Zealand off to a Solid Start in Crucial Match against Pakistan
In the second-wicket partnership, Rachin and Williamson combined for an impressive 180 runs, with the latter scoring 95 off 79 balls.
Read : India dismantles Sri Lanka to book semifinal spot at Cricket World Cup with 302-run win
Both teams entered this match with their sights set on the semifinals. A victory would greatly enhance New Zealand's chances, while a defeat would effectively close the door for Pakistan.
World Cup 2023: New Zealand off to a Solid Start in Crucial Match against Pakistan
New Zealand got off to a strong start against Pakistan in their crucial encounter in the ICC World Cup 2023 in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first. However, they managed to take only one wicket in 20 overs, conceding 125 runs in the process.
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Rachin Ravindra hit a fifty, his third in this World Cup.
Kane Williamson is leading New Zealand in this match. The regular Kiwi captain had been sidelined for most of the World Cup matches due to injury concerns.
In the opening partnership, New Zealand amassed 68 runs. Devon Conway was the first to fall, scoring 35 runs. He was dismissed by Hasan Ali.
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Heading into this match, New Zealand had secured 8 points, while Pakistan had managed six. A victory for New Zealand in this match would eliminate Pakistan from contention for the semifinals.
As of November 4, India is the only team to have qualified for the semifinals of this World Cup.
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ICC World Cup 2023: Preview of BAN vs. NZ ODI
Bangladesh and New Zealand will meet in M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday for the 11th match of the ICC World Cup 2023. The match will begin at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time on October 13, 2023. The Kiwis are in a good mood after winning two consecutive matches without the regular captain Williamson. They blew away the reigning world champions, England, in the opening match of the season. On the other hand, Bangladesh won in their first game of the season but faced a downturn in the second match against the reigning champions, England.
Preview of BAN vs. NZ ODI in ICC World Cup 2023
New Zealand has had a great start in World Cup 2023. In the first match, they defeated the world champion England by 9 wickets, and in the second match, they defeated the Netherlands by 99 runs. On the other hand, after defeating Afghanistan by 6 wickets in the first match, Bangladesh lost to England by 137 runs.
The match will be played on a spin-friendly pitch. And so, despite being in great form, New Zealand's tough batting lineup will have to be worried about this match against Bangladesh. On top of that, the Kiwis will also play against Afghanistan in this stadium. Nevertheless, 9 of the top 10 wicket-takers in the history of the Chidambaram Stadium are spinners. Legendary spinner Anil Kumble is at the top of that list with 48 wickets, and Harbhajan Singh on two with 42 wickets. So, New Zealand sees not only the Tigers but the Afghans as a challenge.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List
However, New Zealand has good news for their team. Kane Williamson might return to the field with the match against Bangladesh. The New Zealand captain is making great improvements towards that goal. Alongside him, veteran pacer Tim Southee is set to return against the Tigers. Williamson suffered a ligament injury during the last IPL game. And last month, Southee suffered an ankle injury during the tour of England. Like Williamson, he was also left out of the XI for the first two matches of the World Cup. New Zealand coach Gary Stead gave the news about the two stars on Wednesday. Both are fully ready to return to action after recovering from injuries.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, is likely to start with the regular team. Before the start of the World Cup, it was known that Bangladesh’s batting could suffer. But who thought that the spinners, the main weapon of Bangladesh bowling, would get stuck, which we saw in the last match against England? As Bangladesh's top and middle order suffered a disaster against England in Dharamsala on Tuesday, England also took advantage of their bowling weakness to score runs at a rate of more than 7.25 per over.
The only big news in Bangladesh's batting line-up in the last match is opener Litton Das' return to form. So, fans will keep an eye on him against the Kiwis. However, the loss against England surely reduces Bangladesh's confidence. But the spin-friendly stadium may raise some hope for the Tigers.
The New Zealand team visited Bangladesh on September 21-26 before the World Cup. New Zealand won the three-match series by 2-0. However, just as the Kiwis were not a full-strength team in this series, neither was Bangladesh. So, both teams have a bit of an idea about the opponent.
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BAN vs New Zealand Head to Head in ODI
New Zealand and Bangladesh have encountered each other in 41 matches. Among these, New Zealand secured victory in 30 games, while Bangladesh won 10 games. Additionally, one match concluded without a definitive result.
Table: BAN vs. NZ Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far
Matches
Bangladesh Won
New Zealand Won
No Result
41
10
30
1
Predicted Playing XI for Bangladesh
Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
Read more: Analysis of Bangladesh Squad for ICC World Cup 2023
Predicted Playing XI for New Zealand
Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.
Bangladeshi Players to Watch in BAN vs NZ Match
Litton Das
Litton played a decently fair inning in the last match against England. He scored 76 runs from 66 balls, which contained 7 fours and 2 sixes. So, Bangladeshi fans might keep some hope on him in the next match. However, Litton played 18 innings this year and scored 427 runs in total, while he played the best innings of the year in the last match.
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfique was the second-highest scorer in the last match. He scored 51 runs from 64 balls. This year, Mushfique played 17 innings so far and scored 648 runs in total. However, he could not get a chance to show his skill in the first match against the Afghans as Bangladesh reached the victory before that.
Mahedi Hasan
Mahedi grabbed four wickets in the last match, and he will surely be included in the next match, as it will be played in the spin-friendly stadium. So far, he played 9 matches for Bangladesh in ODI and took 12 wickets. However, he can also contribute with the bat, as he scored 103 runs in total from 8 innings.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Venues: Cities and Stadiums in India
New Zealand Players to Watch in the BAN vs NZ Match
Mitchell Santner
The all-rounder has effectively established his position as a key player in the New Zealand squad. At 32 years old, he has consistently been the preferred bowler for his captain, Kane Williamson, especially in challenging situations. Notably, he delivered a pivotal spell during their semi final triumph over India in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He also proved himself in this World Cup, as he grabbed 5 wickets against the Netherlands and two wickets against England.
Devon Conway
As Kane Williamson was unavailable for the first two matches, Devon Conway had a significant responsibility in the top order. And he did it pretty well with 152 runs against England and 32 runs against Netherlands. Considering his current form, the Kiwi opener will surely have an impact against Bangladesh.
Rachin Ravindra
By scoring 174 runs from two World Cup matches, Ravindra earned a great World Cup debut for Kiwis. This young batter played 10 innings and scored 363 runs, while his performance at the World Cup is a significant one.
Final Words
Considering the recent performance, New Zealand is a stronger team compared to Bangladesh. Furthermore, upon analyzing the performances of both teams in the ICC World Cup 2023, the Black Caps demonstrated an outstanding performance in two matches. So, Bangladesh will have less of a chance in the BAN vs. NZ ODI match on October 13, 2023.
Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Live Streaming: How and Where to Watch all matches Online