Confident New Zealand eye final spot against South Africa

LAHORE: After commanding victory over Pakistan, New Zealand will look to secure their place in the tri-series final as they faced South Africa in the second ODI of Tri Nation Series at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday (today).

The Black Caps, riding high on Glenn Phillips’ spectacular century in their opening match, enter as favorites against a South African side still reeling from their recent series loss to Pakistan.

The Kiwis will be forced to re-jig their opening combination following Rachin Ravindra’s injury, with Devon Conway expected to step in. Ravindra, who suffered a blow to his forehead while attempting a catch in the previous match, is likely to be rested as a precautionary measure ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Kane Williamson’s men demonstrated their batting prowess in the series opener, posting a formidable 330/6 against Pakistan. Phillips’ unbeaten 106 off 74 balls, supported by half-centuries from Kane Williamson (58) and Daryl Mitchell (81), showcased the team’s batting depth.

The spin trio of Phillips, Mitchell Santner, and Michael Bracewell proved equally effective, strangling Pakistan’s chase. South Africa, under Temba Bavuma’s leadership, face an uphill battle with a depleted squad.

The Proteas will bank on Lungi Ngidi’s experience (96 wickets in 61 ODI innings) to make early inroads. The performances of Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram, and Kyle Verreynne could prove crucial in their bid to bounce back from recent setbacks.

The Gaddafi Stadium pitch continues to favor batsmen, with the first ODI’s high-scoring nature likely to be replicated. While seamers might find some early movement, the surface is expected to remain batting-friendly throughout. The day-night format could influence the toss decision, with teams potentially preferring to chase under lights when the ball tends to skid on.

Despite South Africa’s historical dominance in ODIs against New Zealand, the current form and team composition heavily favor the Black Caps. A victory today would not only secure New Zealand’s spot in the final but also reinforce their growing stature in limited-overs cricket.

Wicketkeeper Tom Latham, who departed for a duck in the previous match, will be eager to make amends, while the bowling unit, which efficiently dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup, aims to maintain their momentum against the Proteas.

The match begins at 9.30 am local time, with New Zealand knowing that a win would make them the first team to qualify for the tri-series final, while a loss would leave their fate dependent on other results.

Team New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke, Kyle Verrynne and Meeka-eel Prince, Wiaan Mulder, Jason Smith, Mihlali Mpongwana and Senuran Muthusamy, Junior Dala, Gideon Peters, Eathan Bosch, Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi.

TODAY’S FIXTURE

New Zealand vs South Africa

9:30 am PST