The highly anticipated clash between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Bengaluru today appears to be at the mercy of the weather, as heavy rain looms over the venue. The stakes are high for both teams, with New Zealand facing a crucial match to avoid elimination and Sri Lanka striving to salvage pride in the ICC World Cup 2023.
New Zealand began their World Cup campaign with a powerful victory against England, but they now face a precarious situation, sitting on 8 points from 8 games. The Kiwis are battling to secure a win to cement their position, with a close competition from Pakistan and Afghanistan for the coveted fourth spot.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka has had a lackluster tournament with only 2 wins out of 8 matches, finding themselves positioned alongside the Netherlands at the lower end of the points table.
The historical encounters between these two teams have seen New Zealand leading with 51 victories against Sri Lanka’s 41 in the 101 ODI matches they’ve played. However, the most recent encounter in March 2023 witnessed New Zealand triumphing by 6 wickets.
The looming rain poses a threat to this critical match, raising concerns among fans and analysts. Weather forecasts suggest a high probability of storms for several hours, with a 96% chance of rain in the immediate hours. However, the outlook indicates a potential decrease in rain likelihood after 4 PM, with humidity at 90% and temperatures ranging between 20 to 26 degrees.
This match also holds significance for New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, whose potential last World Cup appearance may be contingent on today’s result. Any loss or even a washed-out match could mark the end of New Zealand’s World Cup journey, emphasizing the importance of this game for fans and the legendary captain.
In a previous encounter at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, New Zealand faced Pakistan, accumulating a formidable 401 for 6 wickets, only to face a defeat by 21 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method due to rain interruptions.
The history between these World Cup competitors indicates a closely fought battle, with Sri Lanka holding a slight advantage of 6 wins against New Zealand’s 5 in 11 World Cup encounters, with the Kiwis securing a dominant 10-wicket victory in their last World Cup meeting in 2019.
