Match Analysis In Brief
| Date | Wednesday 18th October, 2023 at 14:00 (IST) and at 09:30 (UK) |
| Venue | New Zealand vs Afghanistan will take place at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India |
| Weather | It is expected to remain consistently hot throughout the day in Chennai with temperatures around 30/31c during the daytime and little wind before clear night skies as the game goes on into the second innings, with temperatures dropping slightly to around 28c. |
| TV & Streaming | Viewers in India: you can watch this match live on Star Sports channels or stream it via the Disney+ Hotstar app. |
| Viewers in Pakistan: you can watch this match live on PTV Sports and A-Sports or stream it through the PTVFLIX App. | |
| Viewers in Sri Lanka: you can watch this match live on Maharaja TV or stream it on Sirasatv.lk. | |
| Viewers in Afghanistan: you can watch this match live on Ariana TV. | |
| Viewers in Bangladesh: you can watch it on Gazi TV or stream it through Rabbithole. | |
| Viewers in the UK: you can watch this match live on Sky Sports or stream it via the Sky Go App. | |
| Viewers in Australia: you can watch this match live on Fox Sports or stream it via the Foxtel or Kayo Sports app. | |
| Viewers in South Africa: you can watch this match on SuperSport channels or stream it via the SuperSport app. | |
| Viewers in the USA and Canada: you can watch this match live on Willow TV, while viewers from the USA can also stream it via the ESPN+ app. |
KEY BETTING STATS
- New Zealand has beaten Afghanistan in both of the previous ODI meetings between the two sides, which both came at World Cups – To Win the Match
- Devon Conway has hit the most fours in the World Cup so far, hitting 27 in three innings – Most Match Fours
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored over 45 runs in each of his three innings at the World Cup so far – Batter Total Match Runs
BETTING ANALYSIS for New Zealand
Kane Williamson returned to international cricket for the first time in 2023 as New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets with the Kiwi captain hitting an unbeaten 78. However, Williamson was forced to retire hurt due to an issue with his left thumb, which has now been confirmed as a fracture. Rachin Ravindra will therefore be expected to move back to number three and, given that he has scored 50+ runs in both of his innings at first drop in this tournament so far, backing him to do so again (2.75) would seem a good bet.
Devon Conway won the 2023 IPL with the Chennai Super Kings and, on his home ground, will want to leave a mark. He has also hit the most fours in the tournament so far, averaging nine per innings so backing him to hit the most fours in the match appears very good value (3.10). Backing him to be New Zealand’s top scorer (3.50) would also be advised with the Kiwis often reliant on the 32-year-old.
Chennai is expected to be one of the biggest turning pitches in the tournament. Mitch Santner to take 2+ wickets (2.20) offers very good value, considering Chennai’s reputation and how it has generally played so far. Santner, a left-arm off-spinner, is the joint leading wicket-taker in the competition with eight and Afghanistan has lost 42.86% of their wickets to spin in this tournament so far. Two players that both turn the ball the same way as Santner, Shakib Al Hasan and Adil Rashid, have picked up three-wicket hauls against the Afghans.
BETTING ANALYSIS for Afghanistan
Afghanistan came into this on the back of one of the biggest upsets in ICC World Cup history as they defeated defending champions England by 69 runs on Sunday. In both games at Delhi, against two of the strongest sides in the competition in India and England, Afghanistan have managed to post a total over 270 runs.
Both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have been a major success at the top of the Afghan order. They scored 71-0 in the first ten-over powerplay against England on Sunday and both strike at over 80 in ODI cricket. Given they take on the more measured and pragmatic approach of New Zealand, the Afghans to have scored more runs after 15 overs of the two innings’ (2.20) looks a good bet for this, especially as New Zealand will have to take on Mujeeb Ur Rahman; an expert of controlling the run rate early on.
Eight of England’s ten wickets fell to spin in Delhi with Mohammad Nabi’s two wickets supported by three-wicket hauls from Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Tactically, as shown against Bangladesh, New Zealand will be pragmatic and can be slow in a chase, as well as rapid as they were against England. Given that Mujeeb will seek to dry up the Kiwi’s at the start of either the first or second innings, especially in more suitable conditions, that does make Rashid Khan a danger through the middle of New Zealand’s innings. After taking 3-37, Rashid to take 2+ wickets in the match (2.20) is worth consideration.
CRICKET 8’S EXPERT PREDICTION
The cliché ahead of every tournament is that New Zealand could be ‘dark horses’ when in actual fact, throughout their side, they are stacked with world-class quality and depth. They have started with three wins from three but will have slight concerns that they faltered in the back end of their innings against the Netherlands in Hyderabad before stalling at the start of their chase against Bangladesh.
The Afghans have steadily built a genuinely competitive team for world events with all bases covered, from spinning and seaming all-rounders to steady middle-order bats, jet-setters at the top, quicks with franchise league experience across the world, and an array of some of the best spinners any team possesses. Their victory against England, just their second in World Cup history, should not be viewed as a one-off but more a statement of intent after poor performances, first with the bat against Bangladesh and then the ball against India. Afghanistan had reason to believe they can trouble the best and now, up against a team yet to be properly challenged over a full game, they know they can do damage.
TIP
AFGHANISTAN TO WIN (4.00)
