Match Preview: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 41st Match

Embarking on the 41st match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, New Zealand and Sri Lanka prepare for a critical face-off in Bengaluru. With recent forms reading LLLLW and LLLWW respectively, both sides stand at a crossroads: New Zealand, eyeing a semi-final berth post-high-scoring thrillers, and Sri Lanka, clutching at the threads of inspiration after a turbulent run. As the weather looms unpredictably, so does the fate of their World Cup dreams and the coveted Champions Trophy qualification.

Venue Insights

Chinnaswamy Stadium is renowned for its batter-friendly pitch, setting the stage for high scores and thrilling chases. Bowlers, whether pacers or spinners, may find some assistance from the surface but will face the daunting task of preventing boundaries due to the short boundaries. This dynamic often influences the captain's decision at the toss, with a preference for chasing, as the pitch conditions and boundary dimensions tend to favour teams batting second in the pursuit of a target.

Form Guide - New Zealand

New Zealand's recent One Day International (ODI) form reads LLLLW, with the single win punctuating a series of losses. The team's journey began with promise, securing four consecutive victories. However, the tide turned with two high-scoring encounters that they couldn't convert into wins. Despite posting formidable totals of 383 and 401, they faced an agonizingly narrow defeat to Australia and a surprising upset by Pakistan, sparked by a standout performance from Fakhar Zaman.

Now, New Zealand finds itself in a precarious position where a victory against Sri Lanka is imperative to clinch the semi-final spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. With Pakistan and Afghanistan's games still in the mix, New Zealand's advancement could hinge on net run rate calculations. The upcoming match is not just about the semi-final berth but also has implications for the Champions Trophy 2025 qualification.

Form Guide - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's form in the recent ODIs shows a pattern of LLLWW. The team has had a lacklustre tournament, with only intermittent successes overshadowed by a significant loss to Bangladesh. This defeat not only impacted their morale but also their standing, placing them at the brink of the Champions Trophy qualification cut-off, only ahead of the Netherlands on net run rate. Sri Lanka’s situation is fraught with ifs and buts; they need to win their upcoming matches and rely on the outcomes of Bangladesh, England, and the Netherlands' games.

The team has not managed to secure an ODI victory over New Zealand since 2015, indicating a challenging path ahead in this World Cup. In a tournament where the weather in Bengaluru could play a crucial role, Sri Lanka might find a silver lining in rain disruptions, but their fate largely depends on securing wins and favourable results from other matches to avoid elimination and secure a place in the Champions Trophy.

Players to Watch

Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra has been a standout performer this World Cup with an impressive tally of 523 runs, marking him as the tournament's third-highest run-scorer. Remarkably, Ravindra's ODI career began just this year, with no matches under his belt at its start. Initially batting in the lower middle order, his fortunes changed dramatically when he scored a century early in the tournament.

Since then, Ravindra has solidified his position at the top of the order, boasting an average of 74.71, only second to Virat Kohli's extraordinary 108.60 among batters with a similar number of games. Notably, in his debut ODI innings against Sri Lanka, Ravindra made a promising 49 off 52 balls.