It looked the most straightforward group to read, and one game in it seems to be proving just that. It's hard to imagine NZ/India not being the semi finalists here.....and quite possibly the finalists too (I think only SA can challenge them).
They're not a particularly good ODI team, batting is very very reliant on 1 of 3 players scoring a big one, and their bowlers leak runs like crazy. Haris Rauf still getting games outside of T20s boggles the mind.
It seems to have played similar to the tri-series final, there too NZ didn't have a particularly easy chase, and got to the target with some help from Pakistan.
Coincidence, surely.
They lack some firepower with their batting but their tailenders are showing some firepower, more than some of their batsmen.
Not an easy pitch to bat on but it got easier if you batted long enough on it as Young., Latham and Phillips showed. even Babar but he lacked support.
I'm a bit sceptical of how NZ's bowling will go against the better batting sides, Pakistan are somehow a favourable matchup for their attack in this format and they've managed to boss them more than you'd expect. That said it's a better attack than the one put out in the 2023 WC, Bracewell and O'Rourke are good additions and not having to rely on a bunch of overs from Neesham and Southee.
This is also after they were at like 20 runs after the first 10 too
Should be Young but it'll be Latham
I'd say it was a reaction to the blow back they got from the World T20.
I'd give it to Young he was playing for his place too
