Though it came late, finally Sri Lanka has produced a solid batting performance to cross, their first 300 mark score this tournament, and outperform Caribbean’s.
Match 41 will see the hosts England lock horns with off tracked New Zealand.
Englishmen had a tremendous run in the first half but their performance witnessed a dip, which has made their semi-final hopes appearing to be hanging in a thread.
The Kiwis too have struggled after a fine run, in last two matches, and their semi-final spot still remains in doubt. Of the eight World Cup meets between the two, New Zealand has managed to maintain ascendancy in five games. Interestingly England is yet to defeat New Zealand in World Cups after 1983.
Match Details
England vs New Zealand, Match 41
3 July, 3:00 PM IST
Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
Pitch and Weather Report
It is expected to be another fine day in Durham, with partial cloud build-ups and a gentle breeze in later part of the day.
Team batting second has won three of the last four games played here.
Squads
England
Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Colin Munro, Ish Sodhi, Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham.
Team News
England
England has again reminded their dominance in ODI cricket in last fours, after a 31-run win against India, which once again saw ultra-aggressive batting, coupled up with disciplined bowling and quick hands.
Roy’s return has again bolstered the top order, as he appeared to have resumed from where he left.
A similar intensity game will leave no doubts on the inclusion of hosts in semi-finals.
Stokes has been handy for them owing to three-dimensional contributions, Buttler who appeared to be struggling with his form in past few games will look for a resurgence.
New Zealand
From being an unbeaten side this World Cup in first six matches to two continual losses, New Zealand is in desperate need of upturn, as they face in next game an uphill challenge against England.
Though bowlers have delivered consistently on all the outings, continuing failures from openers have left them in a tricky site now.
Skipper Kane Williamson has been consistent in the middle order, he needs to carry the same until the end, much like the 2015 World Cup.
As of the moment, it would be pretty much difficult to imagine Blackcaps not making it to the semis, but the fortune will depend on Pakistan-Bangladesh if they face another setback in tomorrow’s game.
Fantasy Prediction
Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Colin Munro, Ben Stokes, Jimmy Neesham, Chris Woakes, Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson. Captain: Martin Guptill, Vice Captain: Eoin Morgan.
