World Cup 2019: New Zealand expected to maintain winning run against Afghanistan

Afghanistan's spinners will be hoping to cause New Zealand a few problems in their third match of the Cricket World Cup in Taunton.

New Zealand will be expected to make it three wins from three at the Cricket World Cup when it faces Afghanistan in Taunton.

The Black Caps followed up their crushing win over Sri Lanka by getting home by just two wickets in a tense encounter with Bangladesh on Wednesday. Ross Taylor made a crucial 82 after the impressive Matt Henry claimed 4 for 47 in a gripping contest at The Oval.

It would be a major shock if New Zealand fails to maintain its 100 per cent record on Saturday.

Read | Kiwis ready to counter Afghan spin, says Taylor

Afghanistan has lost both games so far and suffered another blow when wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a knee injury, with Ikram Ali Khil replacing him.

New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls (hamstring) is back in contention, but paceman Tim Southee (calf) remains sidelined.

 

TOURNAMENT SO FAR

New Zealand thumped sorry Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in its first match in Cardiff, but the nerves were jangling as it made hard work of reaching its target of 245 against the Tigers.

Australia consigned Afghanistan to a seven-wicket loss in Bristol before Gulbadin Naib's men went down by 34 runs in a rain-affected match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

 

WHAT THEY SAID

New Zealand seamer Matt Henry: "We have a new challenge coming up against Afghanistan in different conditions. We'll have to adapt and bring our 'A game' to put our best foot forward to get another win."

Read | Naib rues Shahzad World Cup injury blow

Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib: "We can take a lot of [positive] things from the last game with Sri Lanka. One time it looked like we were in the game. Me and Najibullah [Zadran] batted really well. We hope we carry on our momentum in the upcoming matches."

 

OPTA FACTS

- The Black Caps won the only previous ODI between the two nations by six wickets at the 2015 World Cup.

- New Zealand has won 10 of its last 11 World Cup matches — its only defeat during that span coming in the final against Australia four years ago.

- Kane Williamson has scored 747 runs in his last 10 ODI knocks in England and Wales.

- Mohammad Nabi took 4 for 30 against Sri Lanka, equalling his best ODI figures. Just two of his 90 legal balls have been struck for boundaries in the tournament.