NZ v SA 3rd ODI, Preview: Teams seek lead in the series

Team New Zealand managed to end the marathon winning streak of South Africa in the previous ODI. The 12-match long winning streak ended as a result of some fine bowling by Trent Boult, coupled with some reckless shots by the Proteas batsmen on the day. Come the third ODI, the stakes are high yet again. The Kiwis need to prove that their win at the Hagley Oval was not a shot in the dark.

The hosts would, therefore, be keen on backing up the win with another one. Whoever wins the game, shall take a handy 2-1 lead in the 5 match series. However, winning the series alone is not the agenda for both the sides here. They have a bigger picture to look at. With the Champions Trophy coming up this year, both teams have stressed on the fact that they need to get their permutations and combinations right.

Both teams have just one more ODI assignment post this series for their preparations for the ICC mega event. Coming into the game, the competition looks evenly balanced with both teams being in good form recently. Both teams have lost just one of their previous 5 matches.

Team News:

New Zealand

The Kiwi camp is the one that is struggling to get their best fit together. They are stuck with the selection conundrums over the wicketkeeping position. They have played Tom Latham as a makeshift wicketkeeper ahead of specialist keeper Luke Ronchi. Albeit Latham has looked decent behind the stumps, his batting has been far from being impressive.

The last time Latham was seen amongst the abundance of runs was against Bangladesh in December 2016. Since then, it has all been a struggle for the southpaw. Considering the venue at Wellington, the pitch has been a seam-friendly track. Hence, it will only come as a surprise to see Ish Sodhi retained in the lineup. Matt Henry is most likely to make a comeback in the playing eleven at the expense of Sodhi.

Having said that, the Kiwi coach Mike Hesson has kept everyone in the loop by saying they are working well with the combination of 2 spinners, 2 pacers and as many all-rounders. The onus will also be on the all-rounder Neil Broom. Broom is yet to stamp his authority in the series. He has had two very quiet games thus far and needs to tick the boxes right sometime soon.

South Africa

South Africa will definitely feel dented after seeing their herculean streak end. However, they have none but themselves to be blamed. Their batsmen showed some character initially but threw their wickets away in the run chase. This will definitely be a concern for them as they have often been struggling in a run chase at crunch times.

Quinton de Kock has got starts but failed to make it to big scores. The dynamic southpaw has to convert the fifties to bigger scores for his good and for the team too. JP Duminy, one of their experienced players, is yet to come up to his best groove. David Miller is fit and shall continue to bat at number 6 as Farhaan Behardien misses out.

In a recent press conference, JP Duminy confirmed that pacer Kagiso Rabada is fit again and is up for selection for the game. Wayne Parnell might well make way for Rabada as Dwaine Pretorius looks like a certain player in the starting eleven.

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Probable XI:

New Zealand

Dean Brownlie, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (C), Ross Taylor, Neil Broom, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

South Africa

Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (C), JP Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir.

StatAttack:

1. AB de Villiers needs 5 more runs to be the fastest to 9000 ODI runs and break Sourav Ganguly’s record.

2. Tim Southee has scalped 23 wickets at the Westpac stadium – the most by any bowler. He had figures of 7/33 against England at the venue.

3. In the head to head encounter at the venue, both teams have clashed twice before. New Zealand won by 5 runs in 2004 and South Africa edged the hosts by 6 wickets in 2012. AB de Villiers had scored a century in that match.

4. It is the same venue where Martin Guptill has smashed 237 against West Indies in the World Cup 2015.

5. The venue has startling numbers. It is the same venue where New Zealand had posted 393 in the World Cup fixture against West Indies. Also, the same track had seen England bundle out for 123 in the same tournament.