Having failed to replicate their success from the first game against Pakistan, West Indies need to win each of their remaining four matches to stay in contention for the semi-finals race.
They have failed to combine as a team and produce match-winning results in their last few matches. Despite registering a par score of 321 for eight, Bangladesh chased down the total with 8.3 overs to spare as the bowlers failed to find their right lengths. Their senior players, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell haven’t produced any performance of note, putting the lesser experienced middle order under further pressure.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. As the race to the semi-finals stiffens, Jason Holder’s men will need to put up a disciplined effort to rise against their dipping form and script a turnaround.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have been steadily moving to a position of strength at the World Cup, winning each of their four completed games so far. While results against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka were a product of flair, their big players rising to the occasion saw them over the line against South Africa. Each of their three all-rounders, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner have performed on either fronts, contributing to a formidable balance.
In a West Indies batting order which is struggling to stitch match-winning partnerships, Shai Hope has been the glue designated to hold the innings together. The wicket-keeper batsman, who missed his century by four runs against Bangladesh, will hope to repeat his performance from the warm-ups, wherein he scored 101 against the Black Caps.
New Zealand’s Martin Guptill looked well set for a big score against South Africa, before being dismissed hit-wicket for 35. Guptill, who will have fond memories from the previous edition of the flagship event, where he scored an unbeaten World Cup record 237 in the quarterfinals against West Indies, will eye another big score.
Facts
Ross Taylor has scored 636 runs -- the most by player on New Zealand’s current squad -- in the 17 matches he played against West Indies.
Martin Guptill smashed a career best 237 not out against West Indies back in 2015 in Wellington. This remains the highest individual score by any batsmen of the two sides.
Chris Gayle has amassed 939 runs in the 29 matches he played against the Kiwis. This is the highest total by any player on the two sides’ current World Cup squads.
New Zealand’s Trent Boult has taken 17 wickets -- the most by any player in their current team -- in the seven games he played against West Indies
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