New Zealand and Namibia from Group 2, will meet in the 36th match of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Namibia will be hoping to be party spoilers for New Zealand, while New Zealand will be hoping to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Unlike India, New Zealand’s fate remains firmly in their own hands. They know that an otherwise straightforward path to the semi-finals could turn sour if they let their guard down against two opponents who have defied expectations so far.
What to expect
Namibia’s fighting spirit
Namibia has only excelled, despite its losses following a good start. For them, the match against New Zealand is an opportunity to rub elbows with the finest in the world and possibly contribute to making Group 2’s semi-final race a little more intriguing. Watch out for David Wiese, Ruben Trumpelmann, and JJ Smit, who already believe Sharjah will be a surface that “will fit our brand of bowling.” If they can pull off a win, it will not only upend New Zealand’s well-laid plans but will also go a long way towards bolstering the case for more inclusive World Cups.
New Zealand’s dicey middle-order
With Glenn Phillips and Jimmy Neesham not even getting an opportunity to bat against India, New Zealand’s middle-order is currently a little undercooked. In these conditions, there’s also a little inexperience; while this is Devon Conway’s first T20 series in Asia, Phillips has only played six games in this part of the world. Gary Stead won’t mind putting his middle-order through a workout against Namibia.
Martin Guptill is back in form
Guptill played a key role in bringing New Zealand home in the last match. Guptill’s 105-run stand with Phillips was the backbone of New Zealand’s total. His form will be crucial in determining New Zealand’s chances to qualify for the semis. In the previous match, he became the second batter to reach 3000 T20I runs. Only Virat Kohli has more T20I runs than Guptill, and Guptill is only 156 runs behind him.
Fantasy XI: Devon Conway, Zane Green, Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Stephan Baard, David Wiese, Daryl Mitchell, Trent Boult, Ruben Trumpelmann, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee
New Zealand’s Probable XI: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson(c), James Neesham, Devon Conway(w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
Namibia’s Probable XI: Stephan Baard, Michael van Lingen, Craig Williams, Gerhard Erasmus(c), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Zane Green(w), David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Ruben Trumpelmann, Ben Shikongo