New Zealand vs Netherlands Prediction: New Zeland made a statement when they won the first game by 9 wickets

New Zealand and Netherlands are going head to head in the 6th game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, India on 9th October. New Zeland made a statement when they won the first game by 9 wickets. Who will win this game?

Before the commencement of this World Cup, New Zealand was enduring a less-than-ideal run of form, facing consecutive losses against India and England. Moreover, the team was grappling with injuries impacting key players like Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, and Tim Southee.

Nonetheless, in their opening game against England on Thursday, the Black Caps displayed their top-notch performance to secure an emphatic victory.

Matt Henry, who partnered with Trent Boult in the new-ball attack in Tim Southee's absence, exhibited exceptional form by claiming three wickets. He received strong support from Boult, who maintained pressure by restricting the flow of runs.

The spinners made a significant impact, collectively taking five wickets. They are expected to play a crucial role in this match, given that the Hyderabad pitch tends to assist slower bowlers. New Zealand made headlines with their explosive batting on Thursday, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra displaying aggressive intent.

Both players notched individual centuries, forming an unbroken 273-run partnership, the highest ever for New Zealand in a World Cup match.

The middle order is somewhat lacking in experience, especially in Williamson's absence. Nevertheless, all-rounders James Neesham and Mitchell Santner provide depth to the batting lineup.

New Zealand appears to be content with going into matches with three bowlers and supplementing the rest with part-time bowlers. This approach worked effectively against England and is unlikely to pose an issue against the Netherlands. However, it may warrant further scrutiny as the World Cup progresses. 

Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell. Tom Latham (wk) (c), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

Despite their loss in the opening fixture against Pakistan, the Netherlands can draw several positives from that match. Bas de Leede displayed outstanding all-round prowess by capturing four wickets and contributing 67 runs. He remains a pivotal player for his team in this upcoming match.

Additionally, the Netherlands boasts another high-quality seamer in Logan van Beek, who is likely to partner with Paul van Meekeren to open the bowling. The spin department comprises Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe, and Colin Ackermann, who delivered a decent performance against Pakistan but will be expected to step up further.

Turning to the batting, Vikramjit Singh played a gritty half-century against Pakistan and provided valuable support to Bas De Leede, forging a 70-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. However, the team will require improved contributions from players like Max O'Dowd, Scott Edwards, and Teja Nidamanuru if they aim to post a competitive total.

While the Netherlands put up a respectable showing against Pakistan, it's important to acknowledge that they are not on the same level as the other nine teams in this World Cup. Achieving a competitive position against New Zealand and coming close to victory would necessitate an extraordinary performance from the Netherlands.

Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Tela Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (c) (wk), Saqib Zulfiqar, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren

Batting first at Chennai's M. A. Chidambaram Stadium has proven advantageous, with a win rate exceeding 58%, compared to a 33% win rate while chasing. Thus, we anticipate that the toss-winning captain will opt to bat first. The pitch at this stadium is generally considered favorable for batting but tends to offer some assistance to spinners. It provides consistent bounce early on, enabling batsmen to play their shots with ease against the new ball, but it can become trickier as the ball softens. Fast bowlers must maintain precision in line and length to avoid conceding runs.

In recent matches, the average first-innings score here has hovered around 250. However, the team batting first will aim for a total exceeding 280 to provide their bowlers a competitive advantage. Spinners are expected to come into play during the second half as the pitch slows down.

The weather in Chennai will remain warm and humid, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. India and Australia are among the strongest teams in the tournament, promising a hard-fought contest. Considering both teams' recent form, India holds a slight edge with its well-balanced and in-form squad.

Additionally, the home conditions in Chennai are likely to favor the Indian team. While a full-strength Australian team should not be underestimated, it might face challenges in starting the tournament with a win.

Our prediction is to bet on India to win the match.