ICC World Cup 2023: NZ vs AFG MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Pitch Report, and Ground Stats

Afghanistan will go head-to-head against New Zealand in the 16th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Wednesday, October 18 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

New Zealand kicked off their tournament campaign in remarkable fashion, notching up three consecutive wins. They initiated their journey with a thumping nine-wicket win against England, followed by victories over Netherlands by 99 runs and Bangladesh by eight wickets.

On the other hand, Afghanistan has had a roller-coaster World Cup journey. They began their campaign with back-to-back defeats to Bangladesh and India but turned the tables with their first major upset, defeating the star-studded England team by 69 runs at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.

New Zealand will be entering this match without their usual captain, Kane Williamson, who has been ruled out of the remaining group stage matches due to a thumb fracture. Tom Latham will take on the captaincy in his absence. Meanwhile, Afghanistan is keen to maintain their winning momentum.

Before heading into this game, let’s take a look at the pitch report and ground stats of the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai:

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NZ vs AFG: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Pitch Report

The Chepauk pitch has proven to be spin-friendly, but it can also favour batters if they steer clear of cross-batted shots. Initially, there could be some seam movement, but as the game progresses, spinners will come into play. Given the conditions, we might witness a lower-scoring affair.

The toss won’t be a game-changer in this matchup, as it’s been split evenly between teams choosing to bat or bowl first. The team that can effectively deploy their spinners will have the upper hand. A total of 270 to 290 runs will pose a challenging target in this context.

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NZ vs AFG: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Ground Stats

• Total matches: 36
• Matches won batting first: 17
• Matches won bowling first: 18

• Average 1st Inns scores: 224
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 206

• Highest total recorded: 337/7 (50 Ov) by ASIAXI vs AFRICAXI
• Lowest total recorded: 69/10 (23.5 Ov) by KEN vs NZ
• Highest score chased: 291/2 (47.5 Ov) by WI vs IND
• Lowest score defended: 171/10 (45.4 Ov) by ENG vs RSA

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NZ vs AFG: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Weather Report

Wednesday in Chennai promises a scorching and sunny day, with temperatures ranging from 29°C to 32°C. However, as the day progresses into evening, the heat will subside. Expect significant humidity at around 70%, with gentle winds blowing at approximately 13 km/h.