MA Chidambaram Stadium Pitch Report: After an emphatic win over defending champions England, high-flying Afghanistan aims to down last edition’s runner-ups, New Zealand, in the 16th match of the ODI World Cup 2023 on October 18 in Chennai.
The Kiwis, sans Kane Williamson, are on a 3-match win streak and will be wary of the Afghan spin trio of Mujeeb, Rashid, and Nabi as they look to top the table with four consecutive wins. Ahead of the NZ vs AFG match, check out a detailed pitch report for MA Chidambaram Stadium.
MA Chidambaram Stadium: Pitch Report
The MA Chidambaram Stadium traditionally offers favourable conditions for spin bowlers. The pitch is known to be slow and dry in the afternoon, aiding the spinner and making it difficult for the batters to get going.
As the sun sets, the pitch can become better for batters, especially at night when the dew sets in, making it tough for the bowlers to grip the ball.
The sample size for the ground is big enough, with just 25 ODIs being played here. In these matches, the average first-inning score is 232, with the side batting first having an advantage, winning 14 of 25 matches.
However, that trend has changed in World Cup 2023. Sides batting second have won both the matches played here so far, chasing down 200 and 246 respectively.
The two matches played here so far have shown conflicting results. The first match (IND vs AUS) saw spinners get into the game much, claiming 6 out of 10 wickets in the first innings. While the second match (NZ vs BAN) saw pacers claim 8 out of the 11 wickets.
Despite conflicting results, the team that wins the toss should opt to bat second, with dew coming into the play and the last two games being won by the chasing side.
Also Read:
- Highest score in ODI World Cup: South Africa break all-time record in Delhi
- Rohit Sharma becomes 1st Indian to hit 300 ODI sixes, Check Top 5
- NZ vs AFG Head to Head: Record ahead of their World Cup 2023 clash in Chennai
- IND vs PAK World Cup match beats MS Dhoni’s CSK to create viewership record