Do or die for Zimbabwe cricketers

Where: Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad
When: Fri March 4, 09:30 local, 04:00 GMT, 15:00 AEDT, 17:00 NZDT
ODI Head to Head: Played: 27, Wins: New Zealand 19, Zimbabwe 7, No Result: 1, Tie: 1
Last meeting: 31 August, 2005 - New Zealand 238 (49.1 ov) def Zimbabwe 211 (49 ov) by 27 runs
World Cup Head to head: Played: 5, Wins: New Zealand 4, Canada 0, No Result: 1
World Cup Last meeting: March 8, 2003 - Zimbabwe 7-252 (50 ov) def by New Zealand 4-253 (47.2 ov) by six wickets
SELECTION TABLE:Likely New Zealand team: Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (wk), Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jamie How, James Franklin, Daniel Vettori (c), Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett
Despite injury doubts on Styris (finger) and Vettori (hamstring) both are expected to play in this match which is so vital for New Zealand's chances of making the quarter-finals. If the match had been against Canada or Kenya they may have been rested. Kyle Mills could play if he recovers from a back problem.
Likely Zimbabwe team: Brendon Taylor, Charles Coventry, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura (c), Sean Williams, Greg Lamb, Prosper Utseya, Greame Cremer, Ray Price, Chris Mpofu.
Zimbabwe are likely to stick with the same team that thumped Ireland, with the bowling attack to remain loaded with spinners. They will be hoping the likes of Price and Cremer can maintain their recent form.
X-FACTOR:New Zealand: Brendon McCullum - Has proved he can score big, and quickly, and could tear apart the Zimbabwean spinners early on
Zimbabwe: Charles Coventry - Super-talented opener who is yet to his straps at this tournament
SUMMARY:The winner of New Zealand and Zimbabwe's clash in Ahmedabad on Friday will be one step closer to the quarter-final stage of the tournament.
With minnows Canada and Kenya bringing up the rear end of Group A, either New Zealand or Zimbabwe will make the last eight of the tournament and this match will go a long way to determining which side that is.
Vettori will be seeking a response from his players after they were easily defeated by Australia in their last fixture while Zimbabwe will be hoping to ride the momentum of their smashing 175-run victory against Canada.
Several of the Kiwis' best players are yet to fire at the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the likes of Brendon McCullum, Taylor and Ryder could all explode with the bat.
But they will be facing an attack predominantly made up of spin bowlers, with the African side having enjoyed success with their four-pronged spin attack that includes Price, Cremer, Lamb and Utseya.
They restricted Australia to just 262 from 50 overs before the quartet took all 10 wickets against Canada and at least one of the spinners is expected to open the bowling.
While the tactic has worked so far, it is fraught with danger and if Brendon McCullum or Ryder, who will open and bat at No.3 respectively, can impose themselves on the game, their aggressive style of batting is likely to cause Zimbabwe problems.
Bennett has claimed six wickets in two games so far for the Kiwis and will be hoping to maintain his form while Southee has also impressed and if the pair are to get early wickets, it will go a long way to ensuring New Zealand win.
But Zimbabwe are in good form with the bat and after Taibu and Ervine only just missed out on hundreds against Canada, the pair will be keen to notch triple figures.
Coventry is another batsman who could fire and after two disappointing knocks so far, a big innings from the opener would not surprise.
There is so much riding on this fixture and you can guarantee both sides will be leaving everything out on the ground, with New Zealand favourites but wary of an in-form Zimbabwean side.