Pakistan vs New Zealand. (Source -Getty Images)_
New Zealand (NZ) will be taking on Uganda (UGA) in Match 32 of the T20 World Cup 2024, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad, on (Saturday) June 15. New Zealand have left everyone amused with their premature exit from the tournament with two matches to spare. Their losses against Afghanistan and West Indies have cost them big time and they will be playing for their reputation against Uganda in the upcoming.
New Zealand have been let down by their batters as the whole lot looked out of touch against Bangladesh. The woes continued in the subsequent game as they failed to chase the target of 150 against West Indies. The top-order collapse created a domino effect that no batter had the courage to dismantle in the middle. The lower order was left with too much on the plate every time and they were hoping for a miracle from the likes of Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson.
Here is the Predicted NZ XI for Match 32 against UGA:
Openers: Devon Conway and Finn Allen
Devon Conway- 152* (121) vs ENG, 2023 World Cup. (Photo Source: ICC)
Devon Conway has been underwhelming in both the games after coming off from an injury. The southpaw has amassed just 13 runs in two games. He was picked by a left-arm pacer and a left-arm spinner on two different occasions. He lacks his usual style of play where he attacks the bowler in the first over, rather he is giving away his wicket.
Finn Allen was dismissed for a golden duck against Afghanistan in the first game. But the batter showed promise against West Indies in a tough run chase in the thrilling T20 World Cup 2024 encounter. He scored 26 off 23 before succumbing to the pace of Alzarri Joseph. With the middle order failing big time, the onus fell on him to keep the scoreboard and run rate in check.
Middle order: Kane Williamson (C), Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra
Kane Williamson. (Source -Getty Images)
Kane Williamson has been out of touch ever since he made his arrival to competitive cricket after an injury layoff. The batter has looked jittery and the credit goes to the lack of game time ahead of the marquee event. He has amassed just 10 runs in two games and his strength of rotating the strike was nowhere to be found during crunch situations.
Check Here: T20 World Cup 2024 Most Runs
Daryl Mitchell played some slow knocks for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2024. He was expected to show his prowess on sluggish tracks of USA and West Indies, particularly against the spinners. The batter has procured 17 runs in two games and was cleaned up by the spinner Gudakesh Motie in the recent game.
Rachin Ravindra was not part of the playing XI in the first game but Kiwis tried utilising his prowess against West Indies. The southpaw continued his rough patch with the bat from IPL 2024 to the shores of West Indies. He scored 10 runs in 13 balls and was picked up by Motie again. He was entrusted with the number three position, stepping Williamson down to four but the move could now yield results.
Allrounders: Glenn Phillips, James Neesham
Mitchell-Santner-and-Jimmy-Neesham. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Glenn Phillips was the only saving grace for New Zealand in both of their games. He scored run a ball 18 runs against Afghanistan and was the resisting force against West Indies as he scored 40 off 33 balls. He is the top scorer for New Zealand so far with 58 runs in two games. The fact that he bowled just one over in two games, highlights his underutilization by the Kiwis.
James Neesham was not fielded in the playing XI for the first game. He was inducted for the game against West Indies. The all-rounder failed to make an impact with the bat as he scored just 10 runs in 11 balls. His partnership with Phillips was termed as crucial as Kiwi had recovered in the chase after the early struggle. But Neesham was outsmarted by Alzarri in the 16th over.
Bowlers: Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Mitchell Santner. (Source -Getty Images)
Mitchell Santner failed to impress with the ball in both games as the spinner picked just one wicket conceding 45 runs in six overs he bowled. His contribution with the bat was minimal in the first game and made amends against West India by remaining unbeaten on 21 in an unsuccessful chase.
The veteran pacer Tim Southee did not play the first game against Afghanistan and the lack of experience in the Kiwi bowling lineup was highlighted as Afghans scored 159 runs on a tricky pitch. When he did come back for the second fixture, he picked two wickets in four overs conceding 21 runs. His utilisation by Williamson was the hot topic in the team’s loss.
Check Here: T20 World Cup 2024 Most Wickets
Fiery speedster Lockie Ferguson was promoted ahead of Southee and he was expensive in the first game conceding at an economy rate of seven. He has picked three wickets in two games and was particularly impressive against West Indies. He was taken to the cleaners by Andre Russell in the 12th over and Windies sensed a formidable score thereafter.
Trent Boult was the pick of the performer for the Kiwis up until now. The pacer has picked five wickets in two games at an economy rate of under six runs per over. He set the platform for his team by pocketing Johnson Charles in the first over and later in the second change sent dangerous Russell packing.
New Zealand Playing XI:
Devon Conway (Wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson(C), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson.
