Day 4 of the Men’s T20 World Cup promises a blockbuster triple-header with high stakes and contrasting narratives across venues in India. The action begins in New Delhi, where Namibia open their campaign against a disciplined Netherlands side at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. With both teams eyeing an early edge in a competitive group, a fast-paced contest is on the cards.
The focus then shifts to Chennai as the Netherlands return to action, this time against the United Arab Emirates at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Having already shown their intent, the Dutch will be keen to consolidate their push for a Super 8s spot, while UAE aim to spring a surprise on spin-friendly conditions.
The day concludes with a marquee clash as Pakistan take on the United States. Riding the momentum of a strong start, Pakistan will look to extend their winning run, while the USA hope to challenge one of the tournament favourites. Excitement is guaranteed across all three encounters.
When and where to watch
Netherlands vs Namibia in Delhi in a Group A match at 11 am IST
New Zealand vs UAE in Chennai in a Group D match at 3 pm IST
Pakistan vs USA in Colombo in a Group A match at 7 pm IST
All matches will be telecast on Star Sports, with live streaming available on JioHotstar.
Here is a quick preview of the three games scheduled on Day 4 of the T20 World Cup.
MATCH 1 Prediction: Netherlands vs Namibia in Delhi
Netherlands and Namibia are set to clash in a crucial Group A encounter of the Men’s T20 World Cup in New Delhi. For the Dutch, the match presents an opportunity to bounce back after a narrow three-wicket defeat to Pakistan, a contest in which they displayed resilience and competitive intensity, pushing the 2009 champions deep into the final overs.
Historically, the Netherlands have enjoyed the upper hand against Namibia across formats. In T20Is, the Dutch hold a slight edge, having won three of their last four meetings, underlining their advantage with both bat and ball.
That said, Namibia should not be taken lightly. The African side begins its World Cup campaign with intent, aiming to set the tone early. Playing in their fourth consecutive T20 World Cup, Namibia have established themselves as one of the stronger associate teams, consistently delivering spirited performances in qualifiers and warm-up fixtures.
Captain Gerhard Erasmus remains central to Namibia’s batting plans, offering stability and the ability to shift gears when required. The bowling attack is well balanced, with all-rounders JJ Smit and Bernard Scholtz providing variety and control, particularly as conditions begin to favour bowlers later in the innings. In the pace department, Ben Shikongo and Ruben Trumpelmann are expected to play key roles with the new ball.
For the Netherlands, tightening their middle-overs performance and finishing innings more effectively will be crucial, as they have often let strong starts slip. Namibia, meanwhile, will look to capitalise on early momentum, with their depth in all-round options potentially proving decisive in what promises to be a closely fought contest.
Pitch Report
The pitch in New Delhi has been fairly batting-friendly, with the average first-innings score around 165. This will be the venue’s first morning T20I, so how the surface behaves under sustained sunlight will be worth watching. In contrast, across 53 day T20 matches here, the average score drops significantly to 148. Weather is expected to play no role, with no rain forecast and temperatures hovering around a pleasant 22°C.
Predicted Playing XIs
Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (c) (wk), Zach Lion Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul van Meekeren
Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (captain), JJ Smit, Malan Kruger, Zane Green (wk), Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo
MATCH 2 Prediction: New Zealand vs UAE in Chennai
New Zealand take on the UAE in a Group D clash of the T20 World Cup at the Chepauk, with the Black Caps eyeing a step closer to the Super 8s. Having begun their campaign with a confident five-wicket win over Afghanistan, New Zealand will be keen to maintain momentum and strengthen their qualification prospects.
The Black Caps enter the contest as firm favourites, backed by a strong T20I pedigree and a well-rounded squad. Their batting depth, featuring the likes of Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman, has provided stability and firepower, while the bowling attack offers variety through pace and spin. On spin-friendly Chepauk conditions, the likes of Mitchell Santner could play a decisive role in the middle overs.
The UAE, meanwhile, arrive with nothing to lose and plenty to gain. While they lack New Zealand’s experience at the top level, they have shown flashes of competitiveness in recent years. Batters such as Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu will be key to their hopes of posting or chasing a challenging total, while their bowlers will need to be disciplined on a surface that traditionally rewards patience and accuracy.
For New Zealand, a win would not only keep their winning run intact but also put them firmly on course for a Super 8s berth. The UAE, on the other hand, will be aiming to defy the odds and keep their tournament alive with a statement performance.
Pitch Report
The Chennai pitch has traditionally been good for batting in T20Is, with an average first-innings score of 177. Chasing has proved advantageous at the venue, with teams batting second winning three of the four T20Is played here so far, making fielding first the preferred option after winning the toss.
While spinners are expected to have a say, batters should also find value for their shots. Conditions are set to be bright and sunny, with temperatures around 29°C.
Predicted Playing XIs
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
UAE: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (c), Aryansh Sharma, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Sohaib Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Arfan, Junaid Siddique, and Muhammad Jawadullah
MATCH 3 Prediction: Pakistan vs USA in Colombo
Pakistan and the United States face off in a compelling Group A encounter at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, with both sides keen to make an early statement in the tournament. Pakistan come into the contest under pressure despite a narrow win over the Netherlands, a match that exposed some batting volatility even as late-order hitting helped them scrape through.
Their bowling, however, remains a major strength, with Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed consistently applying the brakes and striking in the middle overs. For Pakistan, this fixture carries added significance. A victory would go a long way in strengthening their push for a Super 8s berth in a tightly contested group.
Much will depend on the form of openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, along with skipper Salman Agha, who has rediscovered his touch at No.3. On a Colombo surface that often offers early assistance to bowlers before easing out under lights, their approach at the top could set the tone.
The United States, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the tournament’s most intriguing dark horses. Their famous win over Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup — sealed via a Super Over after a dramatic tie — remains one of the great upsets in recent cricket history.
The Americans also pushed India hard in their opening game, with only Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliance denying them a memorable victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Shadley van Schalkwyk was outstanding in that match, rocking India with three wickets in a single over, though his efforts ultimately went unrewarded.
Led by experienced campaigners Monank Patel and Saiteja Mukkamalla, the USA boast a dynamic batting line-up capable of scoring quickly and building partnerships. Their bowlers, armed with incisive new-ball spells and clever variations at the death, will look to capitalise on any lapses from the Pakistan batters.
With Super 8s qualification at stake, this clash promises a high-intensity contest that could shape the early trajectory of Group A.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo has offered a balanced contest in T20Is, with the average first-innings score around 147. Spinners are expected to play a significant role, making conditions challenging for batters as the game progresses. The weather is likely to be cloudy, but there is no immediate threat of rain.
Predicted Playing XI
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed
USA: Andries Gous (wk), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Monank Patel (c), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar
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