(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Australia and New Zealand will be pitted against one another in the 27th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
This will add onto the Trans-Tasman rivalry as once again, both these teams will give it their all to edge out the other.
The finalists of the 2015 World Cup, Australia and New Zealand, are in the middle of a completely contrasting World Cup campaigns.
While Australia lost their starting two games, New Zealand won four on the trot before suffering a defeat to India. The Aussies too made a resounding comeback, getting to winning ways in style as they currently march on a three-match streak without a loss.
Despite their failure to overcome the India challenge, the Black Caps are still sitting quite pretty. They are at the third position on the table with eight points and it can be early to say, but the Kiwis are being booked as one of the four semi-finalists. If they win versus Australia, it will almost be confirmed without a ‘Q’.
New Zealand are not known to make any changes and unless there is a forced one, they are likely to continue with the same set of players for the upcoming clash.
Both these sides look evenly-matched on paper. Maybe, it’s 55:45 in favour of New Zealand. However, toss will play a crucial role.
Mind you, it’s a day fixture in Dharamsala. New Zealand have lethal pacers, and so do Australia. Whoever wins the toss, they would prefer to bowl first to take advantage of the swing on offer in the morning.
This could swing the balance drastically to a great extent in the corner of one team. Nonetheless, a mouth-watering encounter is on the cards and we are hoping to see the first last-over thriller of this World Cup.