West Indies vs New Zealand Prediction: West Indies' aiming for super 8

West Indies and New Zealand are going head to head in Match 26 of the ICC T20 World Cup at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago on 13th June 2024. West Indies' victory will propel them towards the super 8 stage of the tournament. Who will win this game of cricket?

West Indies will be riding high on their success from the first two games as they prepare to face their next opponents. Johnson Charles and Brandon King are set to open the innings for the team. King has been in exceptional form, being the leading run-scorer for West Indies with 612 runs in the last 20 games at a strike rate of 145.36, having scored 78 runs in the first two games. However, Charles has been struggling at the World Cup with just 13 runs in the same number of games, despite his 381 runs in the last 15 matches.

Nicholas Pooran is expected to come in at number three, having scored 49 runs in the initial fixtures. He has a total of 470 runs in 18 innings since last year at a strike rate of 151.61. Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford will be key players in the middle order alongside Andre Russell, who has been in exceptional form this year. Russell, the IPL winner, has scored 45 runs and taken three wickets in the World Cup, boasting the highest strike rate of 191.85 amongst West Indian batters since last year.

Akeal Hosein will lead the bowling attack with support from Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie. Hosein has 20 wickets in 20 games since 2023 at an economy of 8.20, while Joseph is the top wicket-taker for West Indies in the same period with 23 wickets. Motie will be under scrutiny, having claimed 15 wickets in the last 9 games at an economy of 6.75, the best amongst West Indies bowlers.

Johnson Charles, Brandon King, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rovman Powell (c), Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie.

New Zealand suffered a disappointing 84-run loss in their first World Cup match, putting them in a must-win situation to advance to the Super-8 stage. Finn Allen and Devon Conway are set to open the innings, with Allen having been the team's second-highest run-scorer since 2023 and possessing the highest strike rate among New Zealand players. However, Allen was dismissed for a golden duck in the previous game against West Indies. Conway, on the other hand, has been struggling with only 176 runs in his last 12 games at a strike rate of 116.55 but has a strong record against West Indies. It is suggested that Rachin Ravindra, with a better strike rate than Conway, should be considered for selection. Captain Kane Williamson, although lacking recent game time, is expected to play a vital role with his experience. Glenn Phillips, with an impressive record against West Indies, will be a key player to watch. In the middle order, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman will play crucial roles, with Chapman being New Zealand's leading run-scorer since 2023. The bowling attack will be led by Trent Boult, Matt Henry, and Lockie Ferguson, who were instrumental in taking wickets in the previous game. Ferguson, in particular, has an impressive record against West Indies. It is recommended to include Ish Sodhi, the second-highest wicket-taker since 2023, in place of Michael Bracewell. Mitchell Santner will feature as the second spinner with a strong bowling record. 

Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson.

The West Indies have won both of their matches in the ongoing World Cup, but their victories have been against weaker teams in the tournament. They will now face a tougher opponent in New Zealand, who have a strong track record in T20Is against the West Indies, winning 8 out of their last 10 matches. Key player Glenn Phillips, with 337 runs at a strike rate of 182.16 against the West Indies, is expected to play a significant role in this game. Our prediction is that New Zealand will come out victorious against the West Indies.