New Zealand vs West Indies, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 warm-up: Preview, predictions

New Zealand and West Indies will face each other in the final warm-up match of the World Cup on Tuesday at Bristol. For both, this will be the final time to decide on their strategies before the real tournament kicks off on May 30.

New Zealand had a very good first outing as they defeated India by 6 wickets. Trent Boult (4/33) and Jimmy Neesham (3/26) ran through the Indian batting line up. Then Ross Taylor (71) and the captain Kane Williamson (67) chased down the target in the 38th over.

For the West Indies, this will be the first practice match. Their first warm-up against South Africa was abandoned due to rain after 12.4 overs, in which they failed to take a wicket and conceded 95, and Shannon Gabriel hobbled out of the ground. Eyes will be on Chris Gayle and Andre Russell for their forms.

Head to head

These two teams have an almost neck to neck overall record in ODIs against each other. In 64 matches played, West Indies won 30 and New Zealand 27. In neutral venues, West Indies are ahead, winning 5 and losing 3. New Zealand had won the last encounter between the side, two years ago, by 66 runs.

Key players

Ross Taylor (New Zealand): Along with Williamson, Taylor is the mainstay of the side. He has been in terrific form for over more the past year now. Even in the warm-up against India he guided his team to a win.

Shai Hope (West Indies): Hope has been in excellent form since last year’s India series. He got two hundreds and two fifties in the recent tri-series in Ireland. His tendency of converting starts to big innings is what West Indies require.

Squads

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Tim Southee (vc), Tom Blundell (wk), Tom Latham (wk), Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor.

West Indies: Jason Holder (c), Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Ashley Nurse, Fabian Allen, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Oshane Thomas, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Evin Lewis.

Prediction:

 It will be a close match with the Kiwis finally winning it.