As Pakistan left a bewildering lot after their first game of the ICC World Cup competition against the West Indies, the latter looked on course to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Now, both teams seem likely to return through immigration in their respective countries a bit earlier than planned.
The West Indies come up against unbeaten New Zealand Saturday at Manchester from 2.30 pm (8.30 am TT time) in a day/night encounter and if they end up on the wrong side of the result that's it for skipper Jason Holder's team, as their last three games against India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be of academic interest.
However, going into this clash, the West Indies will have at the back of their minds the fact that they defeated the Kiwis by 91 runs in a World Cup warm-up clash with a hundred from the in-form Shai Hope.
Since then the Kiwis have built their momentum nicely through the tournament while the Windies have been thoroughly unpredictable after a fine opening seven-wicket victory against Pakistan on May 31.
Holder understands what's needed by his team today.
"It is clear for us now that we need to win the next four games to stand a good chance of making the semi-finals. We have found ourselves in this position and we can't look at other teams and hope they beat the opposition in order to benefit us. We need to win our matches because that is what we can control," Holder explained yesterday.
"I think it's a situation where you've had to be tough. We've had a few frank discussions within the dressing room to find ways in which we can improve upon. I think all teams would get themselves in that situation at some point. But, yeah, we've had some pretty good discussions over the last couple of days. And tomorrow (today) is just a day to deliver."
Holder admitted that the team has been wanting in a couple of departments since their opening dominance of the Pakistanis.
He said, "It's just a situation where we've just got to play smarter cricket. We've just got to seize the crucial moments in the game. I don't think we've done that well enough here in this tournament so far. I don't think the ground pretty much would hamper, and I think it's really a little bit better. We've got to be a little bit clearer as to our plans, make sure we make adjustments on any given day if our plan A doesn't come, doesn't work."
The captain explained, "We still have a few niggles within the group. We're just trying to manage the niggles as best as we possibly can. I think one guy who maybe probably definitely out tomorrow (today) is Russell. I don't think he's fit enough to go tomorrow but everybody else should be good to go."
It's expected to be dry and warmer in Manchester for today's game. According to weather forecasts, some patchy fair-weather clouds are likely to develop but otherwise, there will be mostly sunny spells.
Results from the last two games played at Old Trafford also might tempt both the captains to bat first.
New Zealand and West Indies have faced each other in seven matches in World Cup tournaments. Out of these, New Zealand has won four and the West Indies three. The highest total in the encounters was 393 by New Zealand while the highest score posted by West Indies is 250. The lowest total posted by West Indies was 158 and 156 is the lowest Kiwis total in the marquee event.
TEAMS
West Indies: Jason Holder, capt, Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, wk, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
WEST INDIES VS NEW ZEALAND HEAD TO HEAD WORLD CUP
1975: West Indies won by 5 wickets.
1979: West Indies won by 32 runs.
1992: New Zealand won by 5 wkts.
1999: West Indies won by 7 wkts.
2003: New Zealand won by 20 runs.
2007: New Zealand won by 7 wkts.
2015: New Zealand won by 143 runs.