Australia and New Zealand clash in a Trans-Tasman derby of the ICC Champions Trophy, with both sides looking to get their campaigns off to a winning start.
In such a compact tournament, one loss – if it is a really big one – can sometimes be enough to put you out of contention, so neither team will want to bring their B-games out to the middle.
Australia will start this Champions Trophy 2017 match as the favourites, but New Zealand are more than capable of picking up a win at Edgbaston on Friday.
Here is a look at how this Australia vs New Zealand match could go.
If Australia bat first:
David Warner and Aaron Finch look in good nick from the off, with Warner in particular looking like he is ready to put his England nightmares behind him.
However, just when everything is looking hunky dory, Australia lose Warner to Mitchell Santner, after the left-hander, going for a big hit straight, finds the long-off fielder. Steve Smith and Finch put on a 43-run partnership, before the Australia captain is dismissed.
Australia would love a big score from Glenn Maxwell at this point, and that is precisely what they get from the unconventional batsman.
Finch, at the other end, is the glue that's holding this innings together, and thanks to a big partnership from these two, which also sees the opener get to his hundred, and along with a bit if help from Travis Head and Chris Lynn, Australia reach 328.
New Zealand do not get off to a great start as Martin Guptill goes in the second over to Pat Cummins.
Kane Williamson and Tom Latham, though, put on a nice partnership, which sets the base for the Kiwi chase.
When Latham falls, the responsibility falls on Williamson to see his team through, and the New Zealand skipper plays that role to a T. Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson and James Neesham all play around the their captain, as New Zealand are able to get to the target in the final over of the match.
If New Zealand bat first:
Guptill and Latham give the Kiwis a bright start, with the left and right-hand combination putting on 78 runs. Guptill is dismissed by the part-timer Travis Head, but Latham carries on with Williamson, with the two taking New Zealand to a strong position as we move into the final 15 overs.
There is a bit of a hiccup, as two wickets tumble quickly, but Corey Anderson comes to the Black Caps' rescue, scoring a stirring half-century, which guides New Zealand to 318.
Disaster strikes for Australia early in the chase as Warner and Finch are dismissed within the first five overs.
Smith and Glenn Maxwell, though, calm things down, and, quickly, they bring Australia back in the game with a memorable partnership of 156. When Maxwell is picked up by Anderson, there is still plenty of work to do for Australia, and this is where Head and Chris Lynn come in.
These two go hell for leather at one end as Smith stays strong at the other, and that plan works to perfection as Australia get to their target with three balls to spare.
