Match Details
West Indies vs New Zealand
Venue: Tarouba, Start Time: 8:30 PM Local
Overview: West Indies Aim for Super Eight Qualification
The West Indies are eager to extend their winning streak in the inaugural T20 World Cup match ever held in Trinidad. They face New Zealand, a team renowned for its consistent World Cup performances since 2015. New Zealand has reached the semi-finals in all six World Cups they participated in during this period—three times each in ODI (2015, 2019, 2023) and T20 (2016, 2021, 2022)—although they have yet to secure a title.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, New Zealand faces a potential early exit after a heavy 84-run defeat to Afghanistan, making their clash with West Indies a crucial match. The loss highlighted their lack of match preparation, as they opted not to play any warm-up games.
Similarly, the West Indies had a shaky start, narrowly chasing 137 against Papua New Guinea in 19 overs. However, they bounced back with a commanding performance against Uganda, bowling them out for just 39 to claim a 134-run victory. A win over New Zealand would see them become the first team from Group C to advance to the Super Eight stage.
Captain Rovman Powell of the West Indies acknowledges the challenge posed by New Zealand but believes this is the best time to play them.
Hosting their first men's T20 World Cup game, Trinidad is expected to see a large turnout, likely filling the stands to capacity, a first for the region since missing out in 2010.
Recent Form
West Indies: WWWWW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
New Zealand: LLWWL
Key Players to Watch
Roston Chase, despite having only 15 T20I appearances, has proven crucial for the West Indies on the low-scoring pitches of this tournament. His steady batting and efficient off spin have been assets, with 178 runs at a strike rate of 154.78 and four wickets with an economy of 5.92 in his recent five T20Is.
Kane Williamson’s form was emblematic of New Zealand's struggle against Afghanistan, where his dismissal to Rashid Khan underscored their rustiness. Williamson, not known for power-hitting, has played only a handful of T20s since the last World Cup and was largely absent in the IPL 2024. Nevertheless, his ability to anchor the innings could be pivotal on these slower pitches.
Team Line-Ups - Possible Changes for New Zealand
West Indies are likely to stick with their winning combination for the third consecutive match.
West Indies (likely XI):
1. Brandon King
2. Johnson Charles
3. Nicholas Pooran (wk)
4. Roston Chase
5. Rovman Powell (capt)
6. Sherfane Rutherford
7. Andre Russell
8. Romario Shepherd
9. Akeal Hosein
10. Alzarri Joseph
11. Gudakesh Motie
New Zealand might tweak their line up, potentially bringing in James Neesham for Mark Chapman and Ish Sodhi for Matt Henry.
New Zealand (likely XI):
1. Finn Allen
2. Devon Conway (wk)
3. Kane Williamson (capt)
4. Daryl Mitchell
5. Glenn Phillips
6. James Neesham
7. Michael Bracewell
8. Mitchell Santner
9. Ish Sodhi
10. Lockie Ferguson
11. Trent Boult
Stats and Records - Pooran on the Brink of Milestone
Andre Russell has maintained a remarkable strike rate of over 200 in T20s this year, leading the pack among players with at least 500 runs in 2024. Mitchell Santner boasts an impressive T20 economy rate of 5.55 in the West Indies. Nicholas Pooran is just three runs away from surpassing Chris Gayle's record of 1899 runs to become the leading T20I scorer for the West Indies. Pooran also holds the record for the most sixes (82) in T20s this year.
Pitch and Weather - Potential for Another Low-Scoring Contest?
Rain interrupted practice sessions on Wednesday, with the West Indies having to cancel theirs and New Zealand cutting short due to poor practice conditions. Fortunately, no rain is forecasted for match day. Historically, Tarouba has seen an average first-innings score of 167 since 2021, suggesting another low-scoring encounter might be on the cards.