England and the Netherlands are set to face off in Match 40 of the ICC World Cup 2023 at MCA Stadium in Pune on November 8. England, the reigning champions, have had a disappointing run and are already out of the tournament, having secured just one win in their first seven matches. The Netherlands are also struggling, occupying the 9th position with a mere four points after seven matches. While mathematically the Dutch can still make it to the semi-finals, it seems like a nearly impossible feat.

Head to Head - England and the Netherlands have crossed paths in six One Day International (ODI) matches, with England emerging victorious in all of those encounters. In World Cup competitions, the two teams have met three times. Their first World Cup clash took place in 1996, and England won that match by a margin of 49 runs.

Pitch Report - The pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium was anticipated to favor high-scoring games this winter, but it has failed to live up to those expectations. It currently boasts the 7th highest average run rate out of the ten stadiums in the tournament. New-ball bowlers like Farooqi and Jansen have found success on this pitch, so the Netherlands will need to ensure the match doesn't end too quickly, especially with England performing well in the first 10 overs.

Weather Report - As for the weather, Pune is expected to be very hot on the match day, with temperatures reaching 31°C. In the evening and at night, the temperatures will drop to 21°C.

In summary, England and the Netherlands are clashing in a crucial World Cup match. England's title defense has been disappointing, and the Netherlands face an uphill battle to reach the semi-finals. The history between these teams favors England. The pitch in Pune hasn't been as high-scoring as expected, and the weather will be hot during the day but cooler in the evening.

Picture Credits - Times of Sports