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MCA Stadium in Pune (Twitter)
The picturesque MCA Stadium in Pune plays host to the resumption of one of cricket’s understated but intense rivalry when the Netherlands confront England in Match 40 of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Wednesday (November 8).
A ground renowned for its flat-batting realms with steep bounce and insignificant lateral movement that enables stroke-making has been one of the higher-scoring venues of the marquee tournament in India and is unlikely to play any different when the Dutch take on the defending champions with a Champions Trophy 2025 slot up for stake.
While both teams are effectively ruled out of the semifinals contention, they still have a slot in the ICC 50-over event to play for. With the Netherlands placed ninth after two wins in seven matches and England tenth with just a solitary victory in as many games, the two teams enduring a lacklustre campaign desperately need another triumph under their belt.
Both will have to avoid a finish at the bottom two spots of the ten-team standings if they are to qualify for the eight-team competition in Pakistan in two years’ time, a scenario that shall spur the Netherlands on to potentially upstage the world cricket heavyweights.
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium Ground Stats
The high-scoring venue in Pune favours England’s explosive batting unit, which may have struggled against stiffer oppositions in varying conditions but could unleash their wrath on an inexperienced Dutch side, who require reasonable support from the deck for their bowlers to pack a strong punch.
| MCA Stadium Ground Stats | |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 10 |
| Matches Won (Batting First) | 5 |
| Matches Won (Batting Second) | 5 |
| Highest Team Total | 356/4 by India against England (2017) |
| Lowest Team Total | 232 by India against Australia (2013) |
| Average Runs Per Over | 6.02 |
| Average Runs Per Wicket | 37.15 |
| Average Total Batting 1st | 305 |
Of the two times the Netherlands have won in the tournament, the conditions in Dharamsala against South Africa and versus Bangladesh in Kolkata were tricky, offering pacers enough seam movement and rising bounce.
Unless the pitch plays similar, they could find it difficult to withstand the Jos Buttler-led side, which would be out to make amends and for once bat up to their potential in the tournament amidst a horrendous run of collapses and outcomes.
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