ICC World Cup : India To play Zimbabwe Saturday In Last Pool B Encounter
13 March, Auckland
,
India will play their sixth and final Pool B match in the ICC World Cup against Zimbabwe Saturday at Eden Park , Auckland .
India, who is on the top of the point table by winning all the five matches , will strive to maintain their unbeaten record at the 2015 cricket World Cup.
Having already qualified for the quarters following their win over the West Indies, India are likely to lock their horns with Bangladesh on March 19 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground unless Scotland manage a huge win over Australia at Hobart Saturday.
Any way India are going to the knock out stage as one of the favourities.
Though skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to stick with the winning combination against Zimbabwe , they just might change the playing 11 to give some match practice to others ahead of the knockouts.
On the other hand, Zimbabwe will look to end their campaign on a high in the inconsequential tie. Without a chance of qualifying for the knockouts, Zimbabwe will try to give their skipper a winning farewell as Brendan Taylor has decided to end his international career and concentrate on English county cricket.
Though Zimbabwe have lost four of their five matches yet, they have been competitive in each of them, giving a run for their money to all big teams, having chased in all their matches.
However, despite the talent and potential, they are likely to find India too hot to handle, who are on a nine-match winning streak in World Cups.
In another bad news for Zimbabwe, captain Elton Chigumbura, who also did not play against Ireland, has been ruled out again with a leg muscle injury he suffered against Pakistan.
Eden Park’s small straight boundaries may help the team batting first put up a big total but the wicket and conditions at the start should help seamers, who are likely to get some swing.
So it might be a small ground but definitely assists the fast bowlers, who will likely get more bounce. But how the pitch will assist the spinners, who have played a significant role for India in the tournament, remains to be seen.
In all probability, this could well be India’s last match in New Zealand in the World Cup because in the knockouts, they will play their quarters, semis and final, provided they win, in Australia because of the draw they have been placed in.