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The 32nd match of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup will see New Zealand face off against South Africa as they look to seal off their semifinal berth.
Our top New Zealand vs South Africa predictions
Contents
While South Africa’s solidity in the competition which has seen them all but qualify for the semifinals makes them a favourite – they are 3/4 (1.75) to win this – it would be difficult to discount a side like New Zealand (11/9 or 1.22) who are coming off a stunning, near-chase of 388 against Australia.
First Prediction: Quinton de Kock to hit a 4 and a 6: 5/6 (1.83)
Quinton de Kock is playing what is probably his final ODI tournament having decided to retire from this format at the end of the World Cup. And boy, has he made it count. The only batter with three centuries, he has made 431 runs in the tournament so far – the highest – and expect him to get going yet again.
Second Prediction: Both teams to score 275+ runs: 6/5 (2.2)
With the kind of batting form that the two sides have shown in this tournament so far, it would take something special for them not to score big. Expecting this to be a high-scoring contest.
– Hundred vs England.
– Fifty vs India.
– Fifty vs Australia.
– Fifty vs Netherlands.23-year-old Rachin Ravindra has taken World Cup 2023 by Storm, the future of New Zealand cricket. pic.twitter.com/dbmSfP5YZc
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 28, 2023
NZ vs SA – A semifinal berth on line
While South Africa have all but qualified for the last four stage, New Zealand need one more win to ensure their chances get a solid boost. This could be a crucial encounter as a result of what’s at stake.
New Zealand
A second defeat in the tournament as they went down to Australia in Dharamsala last game would have pegged New Zealand back slightly but the good news was the manner in which they fought till the very last ball.
In what became the highest World Cup score in a losing cause, New Zealand’s 383 ended five runs short of Australia’s score. While a defeat is a defeat, it was an indicator of how New Zealand might not get too intimidated by South Africa’s big scores.
South Africa
Much like New Zealand, South Africa are also coming off a close encounter but unlike the Kiwis, they ended up winning it.
That match came against Pakistan in which South Africa chased down Pakistan’s 270 with one wicket standing. The final wicket stand added 11 runs unbeaten to help South Africa register their fifth win of the tournament.
New Zealand vs South Africa h2h score
South Africa are 41-25 ahead in ODI cricket against New Zealand having last played each other in 2019 – at the last World Cup.
New Zealand had won that encounter, their sixth win in World Cup cricket over South Africa to go with just two defeats. In fact, New Zealand have won five successive matches at the World Cup against South Africa.
Pitch report and weather conditions
The two matches that have been played here in this World Cup haven’t been the highest-scoring ones but that has also to do with the lack of batting edge that the team batting first has portrayed.
Both were won by the team chasing.
Expect a high of 33 degrees centigrade with humidity levels of 40% but it will get cooler as the match progresses.
Key match details for NZ vs SA
- Date & Time: 8.30 am GMT, Wednesday, November 1
- Venue: MCA Stadium, Pune
- Where to watch: In the UK, you can watch this match with Sky Sports while Indian fans can tune in to Star Sports or Disney+ Hotstar to watch it live. In New Zealand, this game will be showcased on Sky Sport and SkyGo.co.nz while South African viewers can subscribe to SuperSport Grandstand and the Super Sport app to watch this match live.
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