New Zealand vs USA T20 Preview & Tips - New Zealand tipped for morale-boosting T20 triumph

The USA were beaten by India in their last outing as they slipped to a 38-run loss at the hands of their opponents. 

This will be the first time the two nations have met in a competitive Twenty20 match. 

New Zealand head to the World Cup this year where they will face Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa and the UAE in what is one of the more difficult groups at the competition. 

With the Black Caps likely needing to beat at least one of Afghanistan or the Proteas alongside Canada and the UAE, New Zealand will want to arrive for their opener against Afghanistan on the back of a win. This is why their clash with the USA is vital. 

While they are the favourites to win this encounter and I back them to do so, every player in their World Cup squad will know that a defeat to the USA will bring up even more questions for the side. Following their 4-1 series loss to India, people will already be questioning whether they can tangle with the best, and this will be doubly true if they lose to the USA. 

If the Black Caps play their strongest team, which I expect them to do, then they should have no issue swatting the USA aside in their pre-tournament meeting. 

The USA face a tough World Cup group as they take on India, Namibia, the Netherlands and Pakistan for a place in the Super 8. 

Heading into the competition, the USA have been beaten in two of their last three, with a win over Namibia sandwiched by defeats to the UAE and India. While they did battle their way to a score of 200 in their last outing against India, they still lost by 38 runs. 

While the USA will likely have their moments against New Zealand, I predict that they will sink to a second consecutive defeat heading into the World Cup.