New Zealand will take on Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2023 on Saturday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
However, the excitement surrounding this match is overshadowed by the looming threat of rain, with a substantial 70 to 80 percent chance of rainfall during Saturday afternoon in Bengaluru, potentially affecting the outcome of the game.
The significance of this clash is magnified for Pakistan, who are aiming to secure a crucial victory against New Zealand this week, in order to improve their chances to qualify for World Cup semi-finals.
The margin of victory holds great importance, with an 84-run win or chasing the target within 35 overs being the desired outcomes for Pakistan. Such results would catapult Pakistan ahead of New Zealand in the tournament standings, both teams accumulating eight points but with Pakistan holding a superior net run rate.
In the unfortunate scenario of the match being washout caused by rain, both teams would be granted one point each. It's important to note, however, that a washout would not impact the net run rate calculations.