Match preview: New Zealand v West Indies

Venue
The Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Team news
The fourth and last quarter-final takes place at the Cake Tin in chilly Wellington, and New Zealand are the clear favourites as they've yet to lose a game, while the Windies are as fragile as Chris Gayle's lower back.
The West Indies opener is at risk of not playing in this game, due to a back injury, and they will only decide before the toss whether the cortisone injections have done enough to get him on the field. If not, Dwayne Smith and Johnson Charles will open.
The Windies have been very up and down so far, and only scraped into this round on the final day of the group stages, thanks to Pakistan doing them a favour and beating Ireland, whom the Windies had lost to.
The Black Caps, on the other hand, have been excellent in all departments, aside from that one game against Australia where they chased 150 down with one wicket to spare. Skipper Brendon McCullum has said he will keep playing attacking cricket, despite the risks.
The Kiwis are in possession of the best opening pair with the ball in tournament wicket-taking phenom Trent Boult, as well as Tim Southee, who took seven wickets at this venue against England in the group stage.
Paceman Adam Milne is set to return for this game, having missed out with a shoulder injury previously. He will send Mitchell McClenaghan back to the drinks carrier role, and the Windies will be wary of his 150 kpm deliveries.
Last encounter
The sides last met in an ODI series in January 2014, which was drawn two all. The last game then, in New Zealand, saw the Windies win by a whopping 203 runs in Hamilton, thanks to centuries from Kirk Edwards and Andre Russell. They ensured a score of 363, and the Black Caps were all out for 160. Nikita Miller took four wickets, while Corey Anderson got a top score of 29.
World Cup meetings
They did not encounter each other at the 2011 edition, but they did clash in 2007 at North Sound. The Kiwis won that game by seven wickets in the Super Eights, with the Windies all out for 177. Jacob Oram, Shane Bond and Dan Vettori, who is the only surviving member, took three wickets each, before Scott Styris made 80 not out for the win.
Key players
If Chris Gayle can't play, Andre Russell is the next bet for big runs. The all-rounder has been better with the ball so far, taking regular two-wicket hauls, but did quite well with the bat against Pakistan, making 42 not out, and also bagging some big runs on the tour to South Africa.
The co-hosts have a number of players to keep an eye on, but pace pair Boult and Southee will be key, no matter if they bowl first or second. One imagines they could defend a score under 200 if required, as well as remove the erratic Windies cheaply if they have first go.
Umpires
Richard Kettleborough and Bruce Oxenford (on-field), Rod Tucker (third umpire), Chris Broad (match referee)
Weather
It's set to be nice and sunny for most of the day, with a smattering of cloud cover at some points, but it won't be very warm. Temperatures are not due to go above 18.
Prediction
New Zealand's winning run will continue, but with a bit of a scare via some quick Windies batting. Kiwis v Proteas semi-final.
Latest
-
News
Temba Bavuma and Dean Elgar named Proteas captains
Temba Bavuma is set to lead the Proteas in the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups as well as the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023
-
News
Ben Stokes admits England came up well short with the bat again in India
The tourists were skittled for 205 after winning the toss.
-
News
India v England, day 1: England left to rue familiar failings
The tourists surprised many by selecting James Anderson as their only frontline seamer.
-
News
England’s batting woes in India continue on opening day of fourth Test
The tourists were skittled for 205 after winning the toss.
-
News
England batsmen in a spin again as India take control in Ahmedabad
The tourists could not take advantage of winning the toss on the most reliable surface since the series opener.
-
News
England on uneasy ground at tea in fourth Test
The fourth Test was delicately poised after two sessions.
-
News
Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes steady England after early losses
England unveiled a surprising team selection for the fourth Test.
-
News
Kieron Pollard hits six sixes in an over in West Indies’ T20 win over Sri Lanka
The Trinidadian shares the achievement with former India batsman Yuvraj Singh.
-
News
Paul Collingwood expects James Anderson and Stuart Broad to excel in the Ashes
Anderson and Broad’s combined age at the start of that series will be 74.
-
News
New Zealand stars Devon Conway and Martin Guptill move up in T20I Rankings
Stoinis, Southee, Santner and Sodhi among others to advance in men’s weekly update after first two matches of New Zealand-Australia series.