Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey

CWC 2019 Match 7: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Preview Dream11. AFG vs SL Preview Dream11 Prediction

Think this isn’t an important game in CWC 2019? Think again.

We could be turning the page on another great chapter in a great story. Afghanistan, playing in their second World Cup, have the chance to pick up their second victory after defeating Scotland in 2015. Their effort against Australia was as encouraging as it was exciting, taking the game to the Aussies for a good period of time. In an unpredictable game on Wednesday, one thing is for certain – Afghanistan will give it their all.

Sri Lanka are in turmoil. Their first up loss against New Zealand, in just a total of 45.3 overs, is an accurate representation of their fortunes in the last two-and-a-half years. 12 wins in 54 completed matches, coupled with a captain, in just his second ODI since the 2015 World Cup, carrying his bat through what can only be termed as batting carnage, is temptation for packing the bags and heading home for a rebuild. The batsmen, who fell like nine-pins, have to pick themselves up and move onto the next challenge. An exciting Afghanistan side awaits.

Also read – South Africa v Bangladesh: #ProteaFire or #ProteaDire?

Key to an Afghanistan win

Afghanistan were in early trouble vs Australia. After Pakistan and Sri Lanka were bundled out for 105 and 136 respectively in the previous two games, you may have been forgiven for thinking another blowout was coming. However, Afghanistan’s effort was superb, led by Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib and half-centurion Najibullah Zadran. Rahmat, a superb player, will be the glue that holds the Afghan batting effort here. Will we see fireworks from the likes of Mohammad Shahzad, who missed out last game? Can Gulbadin Naib’s team get the better of a Sri Lankan attack looking really low on confidence? Their batting will play a key role as to whether they can win this.

But that’s not to say their bowling is not important. Australia took the attack to their spinners last time out, but Afghanistan are up against a Sri Lankan lineup that is unsure of its identity, searching desperately for that bit of confidence as they are for runs. Hamid Hassan became the first bowler to bowl two maidens to David Warner in an ODI. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman, while expensive, had their moments. The talent is there for Afghanistan, and if they can take early wickets, they can prey on a Sri Lankan middle order that inspires as much confidence as the average teenager in a social situation without a smartphone.

Key to a Sri Lanka win

A steady start in the powerplay is not enough for most sides in this World Cup. However, that is what Sri Lanka need from Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne. They can’t afford to be three down within 10 overs, which exposes a middle order that has shown to bleed wickets. Like Afghanistan, it is about batting well in stages for Sri Lanka, so the onus is also on Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis to set a platform for Thisara Perera to cause damage.

Also, Sri Lanka had only 136 to defend against New Zealand, but the bowling was all over the place. Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai can find the boundary at will, so the key for Sri Lanka will be to build early pressure and early wickets from the likes of Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal. Then, it’s about chipping away at the Afghanistan middle order, which includes quality in the form of Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi.

Pitch and conditions

There is a chance of some showers in Cardiff on what is expected to be a cloudy, cool Tuesday. Whoever wins the toss might look to bowl, with the Cardiff pitch displaying quite a bit of greenness in recent games.

Possible Playing 11

Afghanistan had an impressive outing at times vs Australia. Stick with the same team?

Afghanistan: 1. Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2. Hazratullah Zazai, 3. Rahmat Shah, 4. Hashmatullah Shahidi, 5. Najibullah Zadran, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Gulbadin Naib (c), 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Hamid Hassan, 10. Dawlat Zadran, 11. Mujeeb ur Rahman

For Sri Lanka, do they make changes after a first-up shocker?

Sri Lanka: 1. Lahiru Thirimanne, 2. Dimuth Karunaratne (c), 3. Kusal Perera (wk), 4. Kusal Mendis, 5. Angelo Mathews, 6. Dhananjaya de Silva, 7. Thisara Perera, 8. Jeevan Mendis/Nuwan Pradeep, 9. Isuru Udana, 10. Suranga Lakmal, 11. Lasith Malinga

Dream11 Prediction

Also read: India vs South Africa Preview + Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Also read: India vs South Africa Preview + Dream11 Prediction

Stats and Facts

• Sri Lanka and Afghanistan met in the 2015 World Cup, with Sri Lanka chasing 233 with four wickets to spare.
• Afghanistan thrashed Sri Lanka by 91 runs in their last meeting – in the 2018 Asia Cup in the UAE.
• Sri Lanka have won just 12 of their past 54 completed ODIs.

Match Prediction

This has the makings for a tight game.

Sri Lanka are in desperate need of a lift in what is looking a dire situation for them. Afghanistan, though, have showed the quality to suggest they can compete in a number of matches this tournament. One of them is this match, which I think they will win to pick up their second-ever success in World Cups.

Also, be sure check out my series of “five key talking points” from every CWC 2019 match! The latest:

England v Pakistan: From embarrassment to ecstasy for Pakistan!

South Africa v Bangladesh: #ProteaFire or #ProteaDire?

New Zealand v Sri Lanka: Goes from bad to worse for SL

Australia v Afghanistan: Plenty to like about Afghanistan + keep booing Smith and Warner!

Thanks for reading!