Rovman Powell believes that the West Indies have an excellent opportunity to defeat New Zealand in their upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 Group C match at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. New Zealand finds themselves at the bottom of the table with a net run rate of -4.200 after suffering a heavy defeat to Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, by 84 runs in their first group match.
In that match, New Zealand was set a challenging target of 160 runs but crumbled under pressure, being bowled out for a mere 75 runs in 15.2 overs. Except for Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry, none of their batters managed to reach double figures. Recognizing New Zealand’s vulnerable position, Powell suggested that this is an ideal time for the West Indies to capitalize on their opponents’ weaknesses.
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“Definitely, if there’s a good time to play New Zealand, I think it’s now. As you said, they’re a little bit undercooked. The pressure is really on them because this game decides whether they go on: yes or no. Having said that, we’re not focusing on New Zealand; we’re focusing on what we have to do,” Rovman Powell remarked in the pre-match press conference.
RovmanPowell also alluded to the possibility of a low-scoring game due to the prevailing weather conditions.
“With the rain around, that can play a part in the scores. If the groundsmen don’t have sufficient time to produce good wickets, that’s also a problem with the rain around. You don’t get enough time to sun. Hopefully, tomorrow is a very good day in terms of the weather,” he added.
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The West Indies have had a strong start in the tournament with victories over Papua New Guinea and Uganda. They are just one win away from securing their place in the playoffs. Currently, they are positioned second in Group C with 4 points and a net run rate of +3.574. Powell and his team are keenly aware of the stakes and are focused on maintaining their winning momentum against a pressured New Zealand side.
