ICC World Cup 2019: Match 25, New Zealand vs South Africa: Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update

Remember the 2015 World Cup semi-final? New Zealand managed to get over the line with one ball remaining to leave the South African players in tears. The two teams will once again face each other in the group stage of the ongoing quadrennial event. While the Kiwis are on a winning spree at the moment and are sitting pretty with 7 points after four matches, South Africa have registered just one win in four outings.

The BlackCaps played their last game on June 8 after which their encounter against India was washed out. They will be desperate to take the field after 11 days and hope that their winning momentum hasn’t been affected. In terms of team combination, they are likely to go in with the same playing XI which defeated Bangladesh unless the conditions force any changes. For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi has been declared fit and it is a huge boost for them.

Match Details

The 25th match of the ICC World Cup 2019 will be played between New Zealand and South Africa at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

The match starts at 10:30 AM local time (09:30 AM GMT) (3:00 PM IST).

The game will be live on Star Sports. Live streaming available on Hotstar.

Weather Report

The play is likely to be marred by rain as the showers with thunderstorms are expected. There is a 51% chance of heavens opening up in Birmingham and it will be cloudy throughout. The conditions will improve drastically after 7 PM but the match might possibly get washed out if it keeps raining.

Pitch Report

This is the first of the five matches of this World Cup at the venue and if the domestic One-Day tournament is taken into account, the pitch has something for both bowlers and batsmen. The highest score this season at the venue has been 301 and the runs won’t come easily for the batsmen.

Average first innings score: 273 (Last four One-Day matches at the venue)

Record of the chasing teams: Won – 2; Lost – 1; Tie – 1

Probable Playing XIs

New Zealand

Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (C), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Bench – Tom Blundell, Ish Sodhi, Henry Nicholls, Tim Southee.

South Africa

Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (C), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Lungi Ngidi.

Bench – Beuran Hendricks, JP Duminy, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Team News

Lungi Ngidi has been declared fit to play this match.

Power Picks

Faf du Plessis vs New Zealand in ODIs:

Innings: 15

Runs: 569

Average: 43.76

50s: 6

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain Options: Hashim Amla, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson

Vice-Captain Options: Faf du Plessis, Colin Munro, Andile Phehlukwayo

Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Head to Head/Small Leagues:

Wicket-Keeper – Quinton de Kock

Batsmen – Ross Taylor (C), Kane Williamson, Faf du Plessis (VC), Aiden Markram

All-Rounders – Colin de Grandhomme, James Neesham, Andile Phehlukwayo

Bowlers – Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Imran Tahir.

Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Grand/Mega Leagues:

Wicket-Keeper – Tom Latham, Quinton de Kock

Batsmen – Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Colin Munro (VC), Hashim Amla (C), Rassie van der Dussen

All-Rounders – Chris Morris

Bowlers – Matt Henry, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.

Expert Advice:

You will have to compromise either of Boult or Rabada to pick De Kock, Du Plessis, Taylor and Williamson in your team.

Having Chris Morris would be beneficial as he bowls well if there is a swing and also picks wickets at the death.

Probable Winners:

New Zealand are expected to win this match but South Africa can hit back.

*Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.