New Zealand vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Today Match Prediction 29 Jun 2019

nz vs aus Match Prediction & Analysis

CWC2019 is getting to its final league stages where every match alters the team`s position in the points table.  New Zealand suffered their first defeat against a spirited Pakistan team in the last match. Openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro are looking out of sorts and struggling to put a good partnership.

Skipper Kane Williamson is doing the bulk of scoring with runs in every match and is looking in scintillating form. Ross Taylor and Colin de Grandhomme have scored two half-centuries each and made crucial partnerships for the team. James Neesham scored a fighting 97 runs last match to lift the team`s target to 237 runs. Lockie Ferguson is having a dream tournament and has taken 15 wickets so far.

Matt Henry and Trent Boult have bowled well in patches but they need to bring their best against a strong Australian team. Mitchell Santner looked like taking a wicket every ball last match but ended his spell with no wickets. 

Australia showed their experience as five-time World Cup winners and they are the first team to qualify for the semifinals. David Warner (500 runs) and Aaron Finch (496 runs) are the top run scorers for the team and piping each other as leading run scorer in every match. Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, and Glenn Maxwell have spent very less time in the middle and it is mainly due to the success of the openers in the team.

Mitchell Starc is in red hot form and is picking up wickets every time his captain handed the ball to him. Jason Behrenndoff took a brilliant five-for against England team is making the new ball swing viciously. Pat Cummins is playing a perfect foil for other bowlers creating pressure on one end. Nathan Lyon replaced Adam Zampa and is considered as an attacking spin bowling option in the playing XI. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

New Zealand Preview

Key Players:

Colin De Grandhomme – De Grandhomme scored two fifties in last three matches in testing conditions. He has arrested the middle order slide and added valuable partnerships in both the matches.   

Lockie Ferguson – Ferguson has the ability to bowl at speeds of 150+ kmph and he is taking wickets consistently in the middle over’s to stop the opposition from building partnerships. He has already taken 15 wickets so far in the tournament.  

Recent Stats 

Kane Williamson - 414 runs, Avg. -138, Strike rate – 78, HS -148, 100s-2, 50s -1

Lockie Ferguson – 15 wickets, Economy – 5 RPO, BB - 4/37 

New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:

Kane Williamson(C), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro/Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (Wk), James Neesham, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Colin De Grandhomme

New Zealand Actual Playing XI:

Trent Boult, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, KS Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, Ross Taylor, Ish Sodhi, James Neesham

Australia Preview

Key Players:

Aaron Finch – Aaron Finch survived a testing spell from English opening bowlers with the new ball and then scored a magnificent century. He has scored two centuries and three half-centuries in the 7 matches played so far.      

Mitchell Starc – Mitchell Starc bowled a brilliant inswinging Yorker to dismantle the well-settled Ben Stokes. It is the ball of the tournament so far. Mitchell Starc has 19 wickets so far and is the leading wicket-taker currently.   

Recent Stats 

David Warner - 500 runs, Avg. -83, Strike rate – 87, HS -166, 100s-2,  50s -3

Mitchell Starc – 19 wickets, Economy – 5.4 RPO, BB – 5/46 

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk)

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Alex Carey, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Usman Khawaja, Jason Behrendorff, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner

Weather Conditions

Lord`s is considered as the home of cricket in England. The new ball is expected to swing very early in this pitch. Batsmen will find it easier to score once they are set.  We expect scores of around 280-300 runs here. The match day promises to be sunny and clear with no rain interruptions expected. 

Toss: WIN the toss, BAT First

Teams batting first have scored over 280 runs in both the matches here. Both captains will look to bat first and put pressure on the opposition batsmen. The pitch might slow down as the match progresses and batting might be difficult in the second innings.