Preview
In a high-stakes clash, Newzealand faced off against Sri Lanka in Match No 41, where a victory was imperative for New Zealand to secure a spot in the semifinal. On the other hand, Sri Lanka aimed to salvage their campaign and win may take them to Champions Trophy.
Newzealand’s Strategic Move
Winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bowl, strategically putting Sri Lanka in to set a target. This move allowed New Zealand to plan their pursuit, considering both victory and maintaining a favorable run rate, creating a tough task for fellow contender Pakistan.
Sri Lanka’s Struggle and Recovery
Sri Lanka faced an early setback, losing their first wicket with just 3 runs on the board. Despite the stumble, K Perera’s explosive innings led to the fastest 50 of the tournament in just 22 balls. However, New Zealand’s disciplined bowling and fielding efforts limited Sri Lanka to 128 runs, with a remarkable 10th-wicket partnership adding 43 runs.
New Zealand’s Chase
Chasing a target of 172 at an average run rate of 3.44 runs per over, New Zealand’s opening pair, Conway and Ravindra, set the stage with an 86-run partnership. Despite losing wickets in the pursuit of an improved run rate, New Zealand secured a crucial victory by 5 wickets in 23.2 overs. Trent Boult, with a stellar performance of 3 wickets for 37 runs, was named the Player of the Match.
Current Standings and Future Prospects
With this win, New Zealand now holds 10 points and a positive run rate of 0.78, securing the fourth position. The focus shifts to Pakistan, who must win their upcoming match against England by 287 runs if batting first to challenge New Zealand’s position. While the odds seem in New Zealand’s favor, the unpredictable nature of cricket leaves room for surprises. New Zealand has completed its task but anxiously awaits the outcome of the Pakistan vs. England match on November 11.
| Match No-41 | ||||
| M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 09 November 2023 | Toss-NewZealand | ||
| Sri Lanka | NewZealand | Newzealand won By 5 wickets | ||
| 171(46.4) | 172 (23.2) | |||
| K Perera-51(28) | A Mathew-2/29 | D Conway-45(42) | T Boult-3/37 Ravindra-2/21 M Santner-2/22 | POM Trent Boult for his 3 Wickets for 37 runs |
| ICC MEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP POINTS TABLE | ||||||||
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Loss | NR | Points | NRR | Remarks |
| 1 | India | 8 | 8 | 0 | – | 16 | +2.456 | Q |
| 2 | South Africa | 8 | 6 | 2 | – | 12 | +1.376 | Q |
| 3 | Australia | 8 | 6 | 2 | – | 12 | +0.861 | Q |
| 4 | Newzealand | 9 | 5 | 4 | – | 10 | +0.743 | |
| 5 | Pakistan | 8 | 4 | 4 | – | 8 | +0.036 | |
| 6 | Afghanistan | 8 | 4 | 4 | – | 8 | -0.338 | |
| 7 | England | 8 | 2 | 6 | – | 4 | -0.885 | |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 8 | 2 | 6 | – | 4 | -1.142 | |
| 9 | Sri Lanka | 9 | 2 | 7 | – | 4 | -1.419 | |
| 10 | Netherland | 8 | 2 | 6 | – | 4 | -1.635 | |
