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Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
India and New Zealand will face each other in the first semi-finals of the ODI World Cup 2023 on Wednesday, November 14, in Mumbai. The Kiwis qualified for the semis after finishing fourth on the points table at the end of the league phase.
New Zealand had quite a unique campaign in the tournament. They looked in sublime form in the first half of the tournament as they won four matches on the trot. From this point, they embarked on a four-match losing streak that began with a defeat against the ‘Men in Blue’. New Zealand were in danger of missing out on semi-final qualification but a thumping win against Sri Lanka helped them make the cut.
ODI World Cup 2023: New Zealand’s Top Performers
Batters:
Rachin Ravindra
The 23-year-old has come of age in the tournament. He finished the league phase as the third-highest run-getter with 565 runs from nine games at a staggering average of 70.62 and a strike rate of 108.45. Prior to the tournament, he did not have a century in any of the three formats. However, he has gone on to score three hundreds and two fifties to announce himself at the international stage. He scored a watchful 75 off 87 in the league game against India, where New Zealand lost by four wickets.
Daryl Mitchell
The Hamilton-born has been one of New Zealand’s most consistent performers in ODI cricket. He has done his reputation no harm in the World Cup as he has scored 418 runs in eight innings at an average of 59.71 and a strike rate of 110.58. Mitchell has scored two fifties and his only hundred came against India when he scored a fantastic 130 off 127 balls. He could play a key role once again in the middle overs for the Blackcaps.
Devon Conway
The southpaw started the tournament with a scintillating 152 not out off 121 balls against England. Since then, he has not gone past the 45-run mark. However, he has provided some quick starts. In nine games, he has scored 359 runs at an average of 44.88 and has a strike rate of 102.28. Conway has the ability to bat deep and if he manages to do so against India and set the platform, New Zealand have power-hitters like Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman, who could cash in.
Also Check: Most Runs in ODI World Cup 2023
Bowlers:
Mitchell Santner
All the teams that come to play in the sub-continent hope that their spinners fire. Mitchell Santner has done just that for the Kiwis. The left-arm orthodox bowler has picked up 16 wickets in nine matches at an average of 24.88 and a strike rate of 31. His miserly economy rate of 4.81 explains how difficult it has been for batters to put him away. Santner is a very cunning bowler, who varies his speeds and changes his angles to keep the batters guessing.
Trent Boult
The left-arm seamer came into the ODI World Cup 2023 on the back of some excellent form but the first few games did not turn out the way he would have hoped for. Boult is renowned for his ability to pick wickets with the new ball. However, he failed to do so on a consistent basis in the initial phase of the tournament. However, he got better as the tournament progressed and also won the Player of the Match award in New Zealand’s last game against Sri Lanka after picking up a three-for. Boult has picked up 13 wickets in nine matches at an average of 32.15 and a strike rate of 37.38. His spell with the new ball would be crucial against the in-form Indian top-order.
Lockie Ferguson
The 32-year-old is one of the X-factor players in the Kiwi lineup thanks to his ability to bowl consistently at high speeds and keep the batters on their toes. Ferguson has played just six games in the tournament and picked up 10 wickets at an average of 23.60 and a strike rate of 27.60. He has gone for runs in some of the matches but his overall economy rate of 5.13 is quite impressive.
