New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Prediction: New Zealand lost four games in a row

New Zealand and Sri Lanka are going head to head in the 41st game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru Urban, India on 9th November. New Zealand has gone out of trajectory and has lost four games in a row to the point that even their semi-final qualifications are in doubt. Who will win this game?

New Zealand's performance in the Cricket World Cup began strongly, with four consecutive wins against England, Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. However, they have faced a setback with four consecutive losses to India, Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan.

Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, who are both all-rounders, have been the leading run-scorers for New Zealand in this tournament. Ravindra has amassed 523 runs in eight innings, while Mitchell has contributed 347 runs in seven matches. The return of captain Kane Williamson from injury has provided a timely boost to the team.

In terms of bowling, spinner Mitchell Santner has been the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand in this tournament, claiming 14 wickets in eight matches. Unfortunately, New Zealand has lost fast bowler Matt Henry to injury for the remainder of the competition. It remains to be seen if the replacement player, Kyle Jamieson, will immediately join the playing XI.

New Zealand has yet to secure a Cricket World Cup victory, having finished as runners-up in the 2015 and 2019 finals. A loss to Sri Lanka in this match would likely extinguish their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. While they were considered title favorites a few weeks ago, they are currently facing a challenging situation to remain in contention.

Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tom Latham (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult 

Sri Lanka managed to secure back-to-back victories against England and the Netherlands but then faced a series of defeats at the hands of Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh. While their chances of reaching the semi-finals in the 2023 Cricket World Cup have diminished, they still have an opportunity to qualify for the next Champions Trophy by finishing among the top seven teams in India.

Sri Lanka has grappled with injuries to key players such as Lahiru Kumara, Dasun Shanaka, and Matheesha Pathirana, which has revealed the limitations in the squad's depth. The replacement players haven't been able to match the performance of the injured first-choice players.

Leading the charge in Sri Lanka's batting department are the in-form Sadeera Samarawickrama and Pathum Nissanka, amassing 372 and 330 runs in the tournament, respectively. Additionally, the hard-hitting duo of Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis has contributed nearly 300 runs each.

Dilshan Madushanka, the fast bowler, has been outstanding in this World Cup, claiming an impressive tally of 21 wickets in eight matches. He is widely regarded as one of the finest left-arm seamers in the tournament, as demonstrated by his recent performances, which include a five-wicket haul against India.

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka 

In four out of the last six ODIs played in Bengaluru, the team batting first emerged victorious. Two of these instances occurred in the current World Cup. Therefore, the team winning the toss in this match is likely to choose to bat first, although a consideration of the weather conditions is crucial.

It's worth mentioning that Sri Lanka defeated England at this venue earlier in the tournament when England opted to bat first. Conversely, New Zealand faced Pakistan here less than a week ago, lost the toss, batted first, and lost a rain-shortened match.

The recent first-innings ODI totals at this ground have been 156, 367, and 401, with teams being bowled out only twice in the last six ODI innings at this location.

The ODI between New Zealand and Pakistan on Saturday witnessed 601 runs being scored in 75.3 overs before rain intervened. Bengaluru is known for high-scoring matches, making it advisable to have two specialist spinners in the team to introduce variation in the pace and challenge the batsmen.

Regrettably, there is a forecast for more rain in Bengaluru on the day before and the day of the match. This suggests the likelihood of another shortened match, which can favor the team batting second.

Both New Zealand and Sri Lanka have encountered a series of defeats in their recent ODIs, with New Zealand losing their last four and Sri Lanka losing their last three. Momentum is lacking for both teams. However, New Zealand, known for performing well in crucial moments during major tournaments, might be the one to regain some momentum in this match.