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New Zealand continued with its good form in T20 cricket as the side won the first game of the 3-match series against Scotland by 68 runs. It was an excellent show from their batsmen as they batted the hosts out of the game. The Kiwis who have all bases covered shall look to win the series 2-0 with a good display with the bat and the ball in this game.
It was Scotland’s sixth consecutive defeat in this format of the game and the side would be under pressure. They have never won a game against New Zealand in the past and must fight against the baggage of history. A win would come as a big relief for the hosts, but they have the odds stacked up against them. We shall wait and see if the Scottish players can cause one of the biggest upsets in recent years and level the series.
TEAMS PREVIEW
SCOTLAND PREVIEW
Richie Berrington’s debut as the captain of the side didn’t go as he would have liked. The Scottish skipper shall like to see his bowlers put the upset of the last game behind them and come up with a confident show. Bowling is the weak link for the side as they take on some of the best hitters of the ball. They must approach this game with a positive mind to level the series.
George Munsey and Calum MacLeod did put up a good opening wicket stand in the last game, but the pair shall have to score at a better strike rate. The middle order didn’t go beyond single-digit scores and the side would like runs from the bats of Ollie Haris, Berrington, and Matthew Cross in this game. They have good hitters of the ball down the order in Chris Greaves, Michael Leask, and Mark Watt and these players have to make contributions.
Their bowlers were schooled in the last game and needed to bounce back for the side to put up a challenge for the Kiwis. Chris Sole and Hamza Tahir will have to bowl good spells with the new ball. Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, and Greaves must keep the scoring under check. There isn’t much depth in the bowling attack and hence the main bowlers shall have to be at their best.
Scotland was outclassed by New Zealand across the first T20i and will need to significantly improve with the ball if they are to stand any chance in this second chance, with the batters having to chase 226 to win.
The loss of Kyle Coetzer has been felt within the top order Zx Scotland’s number 3, 4, and 5 batters contributed a combined total of 12 runs and this is an area in which they’ll be expecting better this time round.
NEW ZEALAND PREVIEW
Mitchell Santner would be pleased with the efforts of his side. They have rested some of their key players and yet the side has been producing great performances. Their batting line-up is looking in great form and the New Zealand skipper would like another clinical performance from his players to win the series.
Martin Guptill and Finn Allen stitched together an 85-run stand in the last game with Allen scoring a hundred. A good show from them would be expected at the top. The middle order has good hitters of the ball, and the side would depend on Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, and James Neesham to score runs. Michael Bracewell, Dane Cleaver, and Santner add depth to this batting line-up.
Lockie Ferguson and Bracewell bowled well on a flat track in the last game. The side would like them to get early wickets and put Scotland under pressure. Neesham and Ben Sears leaked runs in the last game and better efforts would be needed from them in this game. Ish Sodhi and Santner were brilliant, and the side would have big expectations from them in this game.
New Zealand remained unbeaten across their European cricket tour as their batters indulged themselves upon the short boundaries in Edinburgh, racking up 225/5 with opener Finn Allen hitting his maiden T20i hundred.
Little is expected to change within the Black Caps line-up with their bowling attack likely to be very spin-heavy once again through players such as Ish Sodhi, Michael Bracewell, and Mitchell Santner.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
There is a forecast of rain in Edinburg on July 29. The overcast conditions would make it challenging for the batsmen in this game. Bowlers are likely to get more assistance than what we had seen in the last game. The side that bats first shall be happy to have 180 runs or more on the scoreboard.
VENUE DETAILS
Grange Cricket Club, Edinburgh is a small ground. The surface here is flat, and this allows batsmen to play their strokes freely. Under overcast skies, fast bowlers have done well at this venue as they get the ball to move. Spinners have a tough time on this surface as the ball doesn’t grip the surface and turn.
TOSS: TO BOWL
We saw an excellent batting surface in the last game. Batsmen had a great time and a side can seal a match by posting a big score on the board. However, weather conditions would be tough during this game where overs might have to be curtailed where the side chasing has an advantage. Hence, the side winning the toss would look to bowl first in the game.
NEW ZEALAND PREDICTED PLAYING XI:
Mitchell Santner (c), Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Dane Cleaver (wk), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Lockie Ferguson
SCOTLAND PREDICTED PLAYING XI:
Richie Berrington (c), George Munsey, Calum MacLeod, Ollie Hairs, Matthew Cross (wk), Michael Leask, Safyaan Sharif, Hamza Tahir, Mark Watt, Chris Greaves, Chris Sole
HERE IS OUR SCO VS NZ 2ND T20I MATCH PREDICTION
CASE 1: IF SCOTLAND BATS FIRST
First Innings score prediction: Scotland will score 160-170
Result prediction: New Zealand will win the match by 5 wickets
CASE 2: IF NEW ZEALAND BATS FIRST
First Innings score prediction: New Zealand will score 200-210
Result prediction: New Zealand will win the match by more than 40 runs
WINNING PREDICTION
Scotland suffered a massive loss in the last game, and they would need to gather confidence to do well here. Their bowling attack would be tested as New Zealand has displayed their batting firepower in recent games. New Zealand has big match players and a bowling attack that would make life tough for the Scottish batsmen. This would make New Zealand favorites to win here.
New Zealand to win.
