We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Probable XIs
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson
India: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Pitch Report
Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton
(Based on the last 3 games)
1st innings average score: 314
2nd innings average score: 241
Wickets per innings: 8
Type: Initial movement for pacers. Batting becomes easier once the ball loses its shine.
Weather: Showers are forecast.
Wins
Batting 1st: 67%
Batting 2nd: 33%
Fantasy Tips of the Day
If batters survive the initial overs, runs will keep on piling. In the last 3 games, the top order and pacers have fetched the bulk of the fantasy points. The spinners, however, took a beating.
Smart Picks
Shreyas Iyer is yet to taste failure against New Zealand in ODIs. He has scored a hundred and 3 fifties in 4 outings. In addition, his Ultimate Team percentage reads 100% in his last 5 ODIs – the only player from both teams to have full marks in fantasy cricket.
Tom Latham’s numbers for the format aren’t any less. At the venue, he has scored 324 runs at an average of 46. Against India, he averages 65 in 18 games.
Umran Malik not only sent down thunderbolts but also maintained tight lines. In the process, he took 2 wickets at a crucial phase and almost sent Kane Williamson back with an absolute peach at the start of his innings. His aggressive bowling is likely to keep him amongst wickets.
Change in format has brought change in fortunes for Kane Williamson. Playing the role of a sheet anchor helped him garner 94* off 98. It, however, was just another good knock against India. He has 9 fifties and a hundred in 26 games against them.
Shikhar Dhawan (639 runs) and Shubman Gill (580 runs) are the top run-scores for India in 2022. They watched the ball closely against a disciplined New Zealand attack, adding 124 runs for the first wicket.
Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson have been bowling well in tandem. Since the T20I series, they have hunted down 13 Indian batters.
Washington Sundar was on song with the bat, blasting 37* off 16. Although he went wicketless, he provided 2 bonus points for maintaining an economy of 4.2 RPO.
Matt Henry bowled better than the scorecard suggests. Before the first game, he had not gone wicketless in 2022, sniping up as many as 17 wickets in a mere 7 ODIs.