ODI World Cup 2023: New Zealand’s strongest predicted playing XI against Sri Lanka

New Zealand (NZ) will be eager to seal their spot in the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as they take on Sri Lanka (SL) in their last league fixture on Thursday, November 09 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The game is a must-win affair for the Kiwis, who began their campaign with four consecutive wins but ended up losing their next four fixtures.

As a result, they’re precariously poised on the fourth spot on the points table with eight points to their name from as many games. They desperately need a win in their next fixture to qualify for the semis or else the Kane Williamson-led side’s fate will be in the hands of Pakistan and Afghanistan, who will both have to lose their respective last fixtures to ensure a place in the semi-finals for the Kiwis.

However, New Zealand wouldn’t want to be in such a position and will look to defeat Sri Lanka in the upcoming fixture. For that, they will once again have to field their strongest playing XI in the upcoming fixture:

Here's New Zealand's Predicted XI against Sri Lanka:

Openers: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway

Devon Conway began the tournament with a magnificent 152* against England in Ahmedabad. However, he failed to replicate his performance in the following matches and could only score 164 runs in the next seven matches. After a string of low scores, Conway will be desperate to find his form back and help his side advance through to the semis.

Rachin Ravindra has been the find of the tournament so far having scored 523 runs from eight innings at an average of 74.71 and a strike rate of 107.39 with three hundreds and two fifties to his name. He ranks on the third spot on the list of leading run scorers in the tournament so far and will be eager to climb to the top with another match-winning innings against Sri Lanka and help his side qualify for the semis.

Check Here: Most Runs in ODI World Cup 2023

Middle Order: Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham (wk)

Kane Williamson made a terrific comeback to the team after sitting out due to injury. The Kiwi skipper played a brilliant innings of 95 (79) against Pakistan, however in a losing cause. Having regained fitness, Williamson will be eager to steer his team into the semi-finals with a captain’s knock against Sri Lanka.

Daryl Mitchell has been in great form in the tournament so far having scored 375 runs from seven innings at an average of 62.50 and a strike rate of 108.60. The 32-year-old has scored one hundred and two fifties in the tournament so far and will be hungry for another big innings against Sri Lanka.

Mark Chapman hasn’t looked at his best in the cricketing extravaganza having scored just 75 runs from four innings at an average of 25. Having not scored a single fifty in the tournament so far, Chapman will be hungry for a big innings in the upcoming fixture to help his side advance to the semi-final.

Glenn Phillips has also chipped in with performances time and again in this tournament as he’s scored 227 runs from seven innings at an average of 37.83 and a strike rate of 107.07. Phillips has also been handy with the ball having scalped six wickets from eight innings so far. He will look to bring his all-round skills to the fore in the upcoming fixture and help his side reach the semi-finals.

Tom Latham has had a below-par World Cup so far having scored 153 runs from six innings at an average of 30.60 with two fifties to his name. Latham will look to find some form in the upcoming fixture and make a vital contribution to the team’s total against Sri Lanka.

All Rounder: Mitchell Santner

Santner has been having a phenomenal World Cup so far as he’s done everything that’s been asked of him in the tournament so far. The southpaw has been handy down the order batting at a strike rate of 132. He’s also the leading wicket-taker for his side with 14 wickets from eight innings at an average of 26.85 and an economy of 5.17.

Bowlers: Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

In the only match played in the tournament so far, Sodhi leaked runs at an economy of 11 giving away 44 runs from four overs. However, there’s hardly any doubt on his prowess as a wrist spinner and he will look to bamboozle batters with his variations in the upcoming game.

Having missed a large chunk of the tournament due to injury, Southee hasn’t looked at his best in the two matches he’s played and has just picked three wickets. With the knockouts approaching, Southee will look to find his mojo back in the upcoming fixture and will help his side qualify for the semis.

Trent Boult also didn’t have a great time in the last fixture as he gave away 50 runs in his six-over spell. The left-arm seamer has scalped ten wickets from eight innings at an average of 38.10 and an economy of 5.36. Boult is one of the most lethal bowlers with the new ball in the world and will be eager to unleash his wrath in the upcoming game.

Also Check: Most Wickets in ODI World Cup 2023

New Zealand's Probable Predicted XI:

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