(ICC Credit)
In Tarouba, New Zealand finds themselves on the brink of early elimination, urging them to deliver a vastly improved performance in a crucial do-or-die encounter against tournament co-hosts West Indies in the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand endured a dramatic batting collapse, crumbling to a mere 75 runs before being dismissed in just 15.2 overs during their tournament debut against Afghanistan. This collapse led to a shocking 84-run defeat for them at the Providence Stadium.
This defeat has caused their run rate to plummet to -4.2, the weakest among the four teams in Group D, relegating them to the bottom of the rankings. Now, they face the looming threat of an uncommon elimination in the group stage, a surprising predicament for a team renowned for its remarkable consistency in World Cup tournaments. Over the past six editions, they have consistently reached the semi-finals: in the ODI World Cups of 2015, 2019, and 2023, as well as in the T20 World Cups of 2016, 2021, and 2022. With only two of their batsmen managing to reach double figures, the Kane Williamson-led squad must significantly improve their batting performance to stand any chance against the favored local team.
It wasn’t just their batting that let them down; New Zealand’s fielding also faltered, with missed catches, stumping opportunities, and run-out chances adding to their woes. This allowed the Afghanistan opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran to build a formidable 103-run partnership. Meanwhile, the West Indies faced no such troubles, poised to secure a spot in the Super Eight stage if they clinch a third consecutive victory. After a shaky start with a hard-fought win against Papua New Guinea, the West Indies have found their stride, cruising to a commanding 134-run win by dismissing Uganda for just 39 runs in their previous encounter.
