In perhaps the most exciting ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 clash, England and 2015 World Cup finalists New Zealand will lock horns at The Riverside Durham on Wednesday. When the two teams meet, a spot in the World cup semi-final will be at stake. It is for that coveted spot that both the teams will be eyeing this match as a virtual quarter-final.

However, a defeat may still leave either team to qualify but both the teams would want to be the masters of their own destiny rather than depend on the result of the Pakistan-Bangladesh match.

The winner of the match will not only book a confirmed place in the semi-final but also secure the third spot on the table. New Zealand will go up to 13 points if they win but are expected to lag behind India’s net run rate who still have one match to go. If England win, however, they will go up to 12 points.

However, even if New Zealand lose and Pakistan win their last clash against Bangladesh, both the teams will be tied at 11 points. But Pakistan lag far behind as far as the net run rate is concerned and it would take a victory of a massive margin to deny New Zealand a place in the semis.

Would the Kiwis want to risk it? The answer is, of course, a loud no!

In any case, at this moment, England and New Zealand’s World Cup fate is in their own hands.

England will take a lot of confidence from the win against India and the fact that they are looking a far more settled unit now with Jason Roy back in the XI.

Sunday’s win against India came after they had lost a couple of back-to-back matches against Sri Lanka and Australia.

Jonny Bairstow (111) and Jason Roy, who made 66 post his arrival from a hamstring injury, put on 160 for the opening wicket before the in-form Ben Stokes hit 79, his third successive fifty, to take the total to 337-7.

England, aiming to win their first World Cup, kept things tight on the field with Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett scalping the wickets.

On the other hand, New Zealand head into the match following a couple of back-to-back losses to Pakistan and Australia.

The Kiwis can boast of a bowling attack led by left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult, who took a hat-trick against Australia, and Lockie Ferguson who is one of the most successful pacers in this tournament.

Someone like Matt Henry could be included in the Playing XI in place of spinner Ish Sodhi, given that Riverside is not known to assist the spinners.

Be that as it may, while a few England batsmen have made hundreds at this World Cup, New Zealand have been largely dependent on skipper Kane Williamson and senior batsman Ross Taylor for runs.

Colin Munro was dropped for the Australia game while opener Martin Guptill has scored a paltry 85 runs from six innings since his 73 not out against Sri Lanka. Wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham is averaging only 8.2 in this competition.

Can the Kiwi batsmen rise up to the occasion and march into the semi-finals or will the Englishmen take a step further in the mega event? Only time will tell.

The teams meet at The Riverside Durham, Chester-le-Street. Live action begins from 3 pm (IST) onwards.

Squads:

England: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

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