New Zealand had a rollicking start to their 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, prevailing in their first four matches comfortably. But the Kiws have faced two losses in a row since against India and Australia, and will aim to return to winning ways against an upbeat South Africa in Pune on Wednesday, November 1. The Proteas have now won three back-to-back games, including a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Pakistan in their previous game, and would love to keep the juggernaut rolling. (Scorecard | Match Blog | Streaming | Key Battles)
Incidentally, both these teams faced off in a thrilling showdown in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final on Sunday, October 29, where RSA edged out the All Blacks 12-11 to lift the trophy. Merely three days later, the two nations will take each other on again in a World Cup game, albeit in a different sport. The implication of this game could be huge, as the victors will firm up their push for a semi-final berth.
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Let's take a look at three key battles that could shape the outcome of the NZ vs SA game:
Rachin Ravindra Vs Marco Jansen
The battle of the two 23-year-old southpaws could be a very interesting one to watch. Indian-origin batter Rachin Ravindra has been a revelation in the tournament so far. He scored a dazzling undefeated ton in the World Cup opener against defending champions England and came up with a magnificent 75 against the unbeaten India, and then another fantastic century, this time against Australia. But it would be a stiff challenge to replicate the feat with the tall, lanky seamer Marco Jansen in the Proteas arsenal. Jansen has been the most consistent performer with the ball in this edition of the ODI World Cup, picking up at least two wickets in every game played by his team so far, and has troubled batters with just enough movement and disconcerting bounce off a length.
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Daryl Mitchell Vs Gerald Coetzee
New Zealand middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell has adapted to the Indian conditions very well and played spinners as well as pacers adroitly to do well for the Kiwis in the middle overs, in particular. He struck a fabulous century against India in Dharamsala and a sparking unbeaten 89 against Bangladesh in Chennai. But on Wednesday, he will have to contend with right-arm fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, who has been key to the Proteas' fortunes. Coetzee has hurried batters with his nippy pace and put up a string of good performances. In the thrilling game against Pakistan, the 23-year-old Coetzee dislodged the set batters Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan, which proved decisive to the match's outcome.
Quinton De Kock Vs Mitchell Santner
This one offers to be a mouthwatering contest between the two of the best performers in the tournament so far. While attacking southpaw Quinton de Kock leads the batting charts currently with 431 runs to his kitty, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner is at number three in the wicket-takers list with 14 scalps to his name. Three of de Kock's six innings have yielded a century, including a tournament-high 174 from 140 delivered against Bangladesh. Santner, on the other hand, became the first bowler in the tourney to take a fifer and has gone from strength to strength since then.
