Venue Details & Pitch Report - M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Average First Innings Score at Chennai in ODIs since 2015: 263

Batting First vs Batting Second at Chennai in ODIs since 2015: Win Bat 1st - 50%, Win Bat 2nd - 50%

NZ-AFG Players in the top 10 leading run-scorers list in ODIs since 2011: None

NZ-AFG Players in the top 10 leading wicket-takers list in ODIs since 2011: None

Ground Dimensions: The venue has straight boundaries of (70m) and short square boundaries (64m, 67m). ThirdMan-CowCorner (54m, 72m) and FineLeg-DeepExtraCover (57m, 72m).

Pitch Report: The venue has seen good scores, especially on the fresher pitches. However, it is largely also known for the assistance it offers to spinners. Pacers will still be in play in the powerplay of the first innings and those with variations can do well in the death overs as well.

We will have to keep a track on which pitch is used for this match - whether it is slow, spin-friendly (INDvsAUS) or hard, with a hint of grass (BANvsNZ).

Predicted Playing XI - New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Match 16, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (C & WK), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

        Bench: Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, James Neesham, Ish Sodhi

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Mohammad Nabi, Ikram AlikhilNajibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq

        Bench: Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Rahman

Fantasy Notes (NEW ZEALAND) - New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Match 16, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Prediction

STATS & NUMBERS

Relevant Numbers of New Zealand players in India in ODIs:

PLAYERBAT INNSRUNSAVG/SR50s/100sBOWL INNSWICKETSBOWL AVG/ECO
Kane Williamson1447640/722/1N/AN/AN/A
Tom Latham1252853/884/1N/AN/AN/A
Trent Boult    101338/5
Mark Chapman       
Devon Conway638477/1090/2N/AN/AN/A
Lockie Ferguson    5458/5.4
Matt Henry    51123/5.3
Daryl Mitchell517143/1071/032 
James Neesham47619/811/05456/6.6
Glenn Phillips57218/760/03314/5.8
Rachin Ravindra318391/141/132 
Mitchell Santner1122929/1011/0141735/4.5
Ish Sodhi    3438/6.3
Tim Southee    152530/5.4
Will Young27035/861/0N/AN/AN/A

Points to Consider

  • New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson suffered a fractured wrist in the game against Bangladesh and he is expected to miss a couple of the upcoming matches. 
  • Among the World Cup 2023 teams, Afghanistan has the second-worst record against left-arm orthodox spin in ODIs since 2022. This makes both Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra good options as differentials C/VCs, which will also depend on the pitch used at Chepauk.
  • Tom Latham is selected in just 17.6% of the teams but he is an excellent batter in subcontinent conditions compared to an average batter from SENA countries. At the same time, he will have to counter quality spinners in the opposition, who can take the ball away from him. Consider backing him as a differential pick especially if New Zealand bats first- he will bat in the middle order.

Fantasy Notes (AFGHANISTAN) - New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Match 16, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Prediction

STATS & NUMBERS

Relevant Numbers of New Zealand players vs Bangladesh in ODIs:

PLAYERBAT INNSRUNSAVG/SR50s/100sBOWL INNSWICKETSBOWL AVG/ECO
Rahmat Shah1651234/734/1N/AN/AN/A
Mohammad Nabi1434929/762/0151346/4.7
Hashmatullah Shahidi823930/662/0N/AN/AN/A
Najbullah Zadran922632/891/1N/AN/AN/A
Rashid Khan1321820/962/0152822/4.5
Ikram Alikhil615030/732/0N/AN/AN/A
Rahmanullah Gurbaz314849/1011/0N/AN/AN/A
Azmatullah Omarzai310334/931/03156/7
Ibrahim Zadran47418/670/0N/AN/AN/A
Mujeeb Ur Rahman    101527/4.3
Naveen-ul-Haq    5633/5.8
Noor Ahmad       
Riaz Hassan       
Abdul Rahman       
Fazalhaq Farooqi    3259/6.6

Points to Consider

  • Among the Afghan batters, Rahmat Shah has a good record (95 Avg in 127 balls) against left-arm orthodox, since 2022. He is only selected in 6% of the teams, consider trying him as a punt pick in the Grand Leagues.
  • On the other hand, Rahmanullah Gurbaz struggles against the same bowling type (Inns - 7, Outs - 4, Avg/SR - 20/66), and with two left-arm spinners in the opposition, he can become vulnerable, especially on a likely spin-friendly wicket. At the same time, he has good numbers against pace and he can score enough runs to do damage before the spinners are introduced.
  • Another key factor will be Ibrahim Zadran's matchup against left-arm pacer, Trent Boult in the powerplay. (I Zadran vs L-Pace since 2022: Inns - 9, Outs - 4, Avg/SR - 13/50). This will be the biggest challenge for him when he faces one of the best new ball bowlers.
  • In the absence of Kane Williamson, New Zealand will have 3 left-handers in their top 5, and off-spinners, Mohammad Nabi and particularly, Mujeeb Ur Rahman become important bowling picks, especially if Afghanistan is defending a total in the second innings.

Fantasy XI - New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Match 16, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Prediction

WK: Devon Conway, Rahmanllah Gurbaz

BAT: Daryl Mitchell, Hashmatullah Shahidi, 

AR: Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Azmatullah Omarzai

BOWL: Rashid Khan, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

C/VC: Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner

Differentials: Tom Latham (17.6%), Naveen ul Haq - bowl 1st (7.6%), Lockie Ferguson (29.2%)

C/VC Alternatives: Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry

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Stats Credit: Cricinfo, Cricmetric

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