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New Zealand take on mighty Windies in a do or die game
New Zealand face an uphill task of reaching the next stage of the tournament due to their two defeats in the super eight stage. They need to win and win big against the mighty Windies. West Indies made a great start to the super eights by winning a tough match against England, where they just managed to see off the late order heroics of Eoin Morgan. They were made to look ordinary against an experienced Sri Lankan side who restricted their strong batting line up to just 129 and then knocked off the runs with 28 balls to spare. Jayawardene and Sangakkara showed the entire world that it’s not just about power hitting but more about finesse and class.
West Indies would hope that the loss to Sri Lanka was just a minor blip in their quest to win their first T20 World cup. They need Gayle to fire at the top of the order because if he does, then everything just falls into place for them. Narine hasn’t quite lived up to his reputation, leaking runs as well as failing to add to his wicket tally. New Zealand, on the other hand, have problems with their bowling department as well. Southee, their premier fast bowler, has just not found his mark.
A lot depends on this game, New Zealand need to win this in order to have any chance of making it to the next stage. They would need some help from the other games as well. A lot permutations are still possible and all four teams in the group have a chance of going through. This game promises to be a high scoring one with both teams having some of the biggest hitters in the game.
Players to watch out for
West Indies
Chris Gayle
The big day is here and the big man has a big job at hand. A lot depends on how Chris Gayle approaches the game. If he stays in the middle for about 10 overs then I guess New Zealand would have surely been knocked out of the tournament, that is the kind of impact Gayle has on a game. He failed to get going against Sri Lanka and that led to the poor score that West Indies put up on the board. He has been playing very intelligently too, playing out the first few overs, because he knows that if he stays for a bit more then he can change the game on its head. Vettori vs Gayle would be a fierce contest.
Sunil Narine
Has the mystery finally be resolved? Or is the man with the golden arm waiting for a big day to deliver his mystery balls? Kiwis are extremely susceptible to quality spin, Sammy would be hoping that Narine could puzzle them with his variations. The Kiwis would have discussed about him a lot in their team meetings. I think they would try and take the attack to him and let him dictate terms. This could put Narine under some pressure but would also provide him more opportunities to dismiss the batsman.
Keiron Pollard
It’s been a while since he set the stadium on fire. He needs to give himself some time on the crease before he goes bang bang. He will come back to form eventually, it just takes that one good inning or a good hand with the ball. His fielding and catching has been outstanding. Throwing yourself and saving a boundary or two not only enhances your confidence but lifts up the entire team.
New Zealand
Ross Taylor
He has played a few cameos down the order for New Zealand but hasn’t really taken it to the next level. In the last match he finally decided to bat up the order but just couldn’t get going. New Zealand’s fate to a large extent rides on the shoulders of their captain. He can consolidate as well as hit those lusty slog sweeps. Narine could be in for a fight when he bowls to this man.
James Franklin
A highly underrated player, he played a fine knock against the English when others were finding it tough to time their shots. His batting has drastically improved and he will want to show his mettle in a crunch game. New Zealand haven’t given him enough overs with the ball, his subtle changes of pace could get fetch him wickets when the batsman are looking to target him.
Daniel Vettori
The most experienced Kiwi and arguably the best left arm spinner in the limited overs format. His experience could come in handy to stop the likes of Gayle, Samuels, Bravo and Pollard. It is a big game and Vettori would love to make a contribution. I wouldn’t be surprised if he opens the bowling and dismisses Gayle with the arm ball – signature ball for Vettori.
Head to Head
These two teams have met 5 times. West Indies lead the head to head 2-1 with two games tied between these two sides.
Prediction
West Indies seem to have a more balanced outfit and should be able to raise their game and defeat the Kiwis.