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IND vs NZ T20 World Cup: 4 major talking points

Debashish Sarangi
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IND vs NZ T20 World Cup: 4 major talking points

Cricket News: IND vs NZ T20 World Cup: 4 major talking points | India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup: who will win

The seventh edition of the biggest carnival of T20 cricket, the ICC T20 World Cup has commenced in a grand fashion the United Arab Emirates.

Before the start of the tournament, a majority of the experts had predicted an Indian victory against Pakistan. But, surprising many, Pakistan defeated India for the very first time in a World Cup game by playing some outstanding cricket. They further went on to defeat New Zealand at Sharjah and thus currently are sitting on top of the table in the second group.

Therefore, the clash between India and New Zealand in Dubai is vital as both would like to open their account in the points table. There are a few key points to be discussed ahead of this face-off. Let’s have a look at them.  

1. Toss will be crucial

If we look the recent history of Dubai, the chasing teams have won the game on all three occasions in this World Cup. The presence of dew in the second half made life difficult for Indian bowlers against Pakistan. On the other hand, the Pakistani batters felt more comfortable while batting under the wet conditions as the ball was coming nicely onto the bat off the dryish surface. Therefore, the toss is definitely going to play a big role and both the teams would like to bowl first in Dubai.

2. Who will step up for India with the ball?

The Indian bowlers failed to fetch a single wicket in the last game against Pakistan, which was really disappointing for the Indian fans. In the same game, Pakistan took three important wickets inside the powerplay itself which played a crucial hand in restricting India to a modest total of 151.

But the Indian opening bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami didn’t seem threatening at all. They weren’t consistent with the line and length and therefore couldn’t put an iota of pressure on the Pakistani openers. Shardul Thakur might come in place of one between these two bowlers.

Importantly, he picked 16 wickets from just 9 games (including 9 wickets in Dubai) in the second phase of IPL 2021. Further, in the spin department, Varun Chakravarthy looked very ordinary and therefore might be replaced by the experienced R Ashwin.

3. India should be very careful against the Kiwi attack

We have got enough evidence of the discomfort that the Indian top order goes through while playing the moving ball; the game against Pakistan being the most recent one. If we talk about the New Zealand bowling, they have some really brilliant operators of the new ball including the experienced duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

Looking at the way Shaheen Afridi rattled the Indian top order with the new ball some days ago, it can be inferred that Trent Boult could be the biggest weapon for New Zealand to deal in the powerplay. Also, they might get tempted to include Kyle Jamieson in the playing XI considering the trouble he has caused to the Indian batters in recent times.

4. The curious case of Hardik Pandya

One of the biggest concerns for India at the moment is the batting form of Hardik Pandya. After having a great T20I series down under, Hardik is currently going through a lean patch with the bat. His performances were nothing short of horrible in the T20I series against England and Sri Lanka, as well as the second phase of IPL 2021.

Also, as Hardik is not contributing with the ball, he is certainly becoming a liability on the team. So, if they decide to bench Hardik (which is less likely as they are backing him), they probably will go with an extra batter in Ishan Kishan as a like-for-like replacement. This will add an extra LHB option, which might work well especially against the spin duo of Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner.

These are some major talking points ahead of this crucial encounter between India and New Zealand. Both these teams have some extraordinary T20 players and we can certainly expect a nail-biter on Sunday. 

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today

10 fun cricket facts you might not have known

Charbel Coorey
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10 fun cricket facts you might not have known

10 fun cricket facts you might not have known | Some fun and interesting cricket facts that you might not have known previously

Even if you’re not too familiar with cricket, one common theme is that it seems to go on forever. Whether you spent your youth playing “kwik” cricket or you’re an avid follower of the sport, cricket is woven throughout the DNA of hardcore fans around the globe.

For example, it’s almost as important to many Brits as football, so its relevance to British popular culture can’t be overstated. With such a long and storied history, there will be plenty of cricket facts you may have overlooked.

Here are 10 of our favourite cricket facts!

1. The longest ever cricket match lasted 12 days

You’ve probably heard some of the jokes in the UK about how cricket matches last a long time. Even if you’ve watched a cricket game unfold over a couple of days, though, you haven’t come anywhere near close to watching the longest match ever recorded. That honour goes to the England-South Africa Test match in 1939, which lasted an astonishing 12 days and still concluded without a clear winner. That’s either riveting or stultifying, depending on who you ask!

2. There are cricket commentators who never played T20 cricket

T20 cricket is essentially the future when it comes to competitive versions of the sport. It’s a truncated version of the standard cricket game in which each team only gets one innings, with a maximum number of 20 overs allowed. Despite the ubiquity of this form of cricket, though, many of its current commentators never got a chance to play it. In an interview with Betway, commentator Ian Bishop says that although he was initially frustrated by it, he now considers it just as “pure” as other cricket formats.

3. The first England Cricket World Cup was won by the women’s side

The inaugural Cricket World Cup (known today as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup) was held in 1975, but two years before that, the women’s World Cup took place. The England women’s cricket team actually took home the trophy, smashing Australia with a winning score of 279/3.

4. 111 is widely considered to be an unlucky score

10 fun cricket facts you might not have known: Stumps look like ‘111’

You’d think that achieving a score of 111 runs would be something to celebrate, wouldn’t you? However, many cricket players – especially those who are particularly superstitious – regard this score as bad luck. 111 resembles the wickets and stumps in cricket, so many view this score as a bad omen of things to come. Obviously, this has never been substantiated, because there really is no such thing as a “bad omen”. Still, it’s pretty spooky, no?

5. The phrase “good innings” comes from cricket

Have you ever heard the British idiom “good innings”, as in “he had a good innings”? That phrase originates from cricket. The idiom means that someone had a good try at something or lasted for a good amount of time, and it derives from a player’s “innings” in cricket, in which they’re able to score a high amount of runs as a batsman. The next time you use the phrase “good innings”, give some thought to its origins in the world of cricket!

6. Only one player has hit a six from the first ball of a Test match

Test cricket refers to the highest level of play internationally, with only certain teams achieving the coveted “Test status” needed to play at this level. To this day, only a single batsman has managed to hit a six from the first ball bowled at a Test match, and that’s West Indies batsman Chris Gayle. The West Indies went on to win the game against Bangladesh, of course; with a force of nature like Gayle wielding the bat, there was pretty much no way they could lose…

7. The greatest Test cricket upset happened in 1952

Way back in 1952, Australia faced off against South Africa in Melbourne in a game of Test cricket. South Africa were not looking like the favourites at the game’s outset; they were weak and untested and had only scored a single win during their last ten Test games. Despite these handicaps, South Africa emerged with a 373-run total and a 13-wicket score. Numbers-wise, this is arguably the single greatest Test cricket upset in history.

8. The highest number of Test runs sits at over 15,000

Top 5 Batting Performances at the MCG in BGT Matches | Looking back at the best batting performances in Border-Gavaskar Trophy at MCG
10 fun cricket facts you might not have known: Sachin Tendulkar is the highest-ever Test run-scorer.

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar currently has the record for the highest number of Test runs in history. He’s managed to rack up an incredible 15,921 runs across 200 matches, making him an incredibly formidable force at the wicket. Runners-up include Australia’s Ricky Ponting, who scored 13,378, and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis, who managed 13,289. As you can tell, Tendulkar is miles above both of these players, so hats off to him!

9. The two most common reasons for pausing a game are pretty obvious

We wish we had something more quirky and out-there to relate when it comes to the two main reasons for either pausing or postponing a cricket game. However, the actual answer to this question is probably a lot more mundane than you’d like. That’s right: cricket games are most often suspended or paused for bad light or for rain. It makes sense; after all, it’s hard for players to see in front of them or play to their usual standard if the rain is bad. Still, we’d have liked something a little more outlandish.

10. Cricket was at the Olympic Games precisely once

If you’ve ever wondered why they don’t play cricket at the Olympic Games, they did, but only once. The 1900 Olympic Games played host to cricket after the sport was originally due to appear at the 1896 Games, but was withdrawn due to a lack of interest (no, really). Only two countries fielded teams for the 1900 Olympics: the UK, which was hosting the competition, and France. As you might expect, given that France isn’t a nation known for its cricketing prowess, England won.           

T20 WC 2021 Match 22: AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 22: AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 22: AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs Sri Lanka Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

With West Indies and Bangladesh struggling badly, and South Africa dealing with internal issues, a great opportunity awaits Australia and Sri Lanka. Both sides won their respective first matches in contrasting fashion, as Australia crawled to their target of 119 against South Africa and Sri Lanka stormed to 172 against Bangladesh.

The action moves to Dubai with the quest to continue the momentum. Australia bowled well against South Africa, but questions around their batting remain. The form of their top three – particularly openers David Warner and Aaron Finch – is a worry, and Sri Lanka’s in-form pace attack is sure to test their mettle. However, a positive was Australia’s finishing courtesy of Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade, and they will be after more of the same.

So will Sri Lanka. Charith Asalanka, who was yet to find his feet in T20 cricket, was outstanding against Bangladesh. As was Bhanuka Rajapaksa. They are playing with confidence and come into this match on the back of four straight wins in the tournament. One feels their best chance today is making inroads into an Australian batting lineup that isn’t at its best, so an interesting battle awaits.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Australia:

  • Much is made of David Warner’s form, and rightly so given his stature in white-ball cricket. He has a wonderful T20I record against Sri Lanka, with 447 runs in 12 matches at an average of 55.88 and strike rate of 136.70. This includes a century.
  • Warner also enjoys batting at Dubai, with 536 runs in 15 matches at an average of 41.23 and strike rate of 134.00. However, this Sri Lankan side is fast-improving, so Warner will need to be at his best.
  • Aaron Finch is also in need of runs. The skipper has a modest record vs Sri Lanka (217 runs, avg. 27.13, SR 147.62) and a similar modest record at Dubai (258 runs, avg. 23.45, SR 118.35).
  • Glenn Maxwell has an extraordinary T20I record against Sri Lanka. The all-rounder has smashed 281 runs in four innings against them at an average of 140.50 and strike rate of 224.80. Also, Maxwell struck three half-centuries in three matches in the recent IPL.
  • Steve Smith is the glue that holds this batting lineup together. The star batsman is coming off a hard-fought 34-ball 35 against South Africa. However, Smith will be out to improve on a poor T20 record at Dubai: 8 inns, 111 runs, avg. 13.88, SR 113.27. This will be his first T20I against Sri Lanka.
  • Adam Zampa has the most wickets in Australia-Sri Lanka T20Is. The leg-spinner has taken an impressive haul of 14 scalps in seven matches at an average of 11.29 and economy rate of 5.64.
  • Josh Hazlewood is in irresistible form. The pace bowler took 2/19 vs South Africa, including 2/1 in his first two overs in the powerplay. He took figures of 2/29, 2/29, 0/22 and 1/27 in matches at Dubai in the recent IPL.

Sri Lanka:

  • Charith Asalanka was an excellent addition to Sri Lanka’s ODI team earlier this year. Now, he has made his first big impact in T20Is after a player of the match 80* off 49 balls against Bangladesh.
  • Kusal Perera has scored the most runs against Australia of any current Sri Lankan player (174, avg. 24.86, SR 121.68). However, he continues to struggle for form this year: 9 inns, 168 runs, avg. 21.00, SR 111.25.
  • Perera has struck 99 runs in two T20s at Dubai at an average of 49.50 and strike rate of 132.00.
  • It has been all or nothing for Bhanuka Rajapaksa in recent matches. He has scored 0, 2, 42*, 1 and 53 in his last five white-ball matches, so the key is getting a start.
  • Avishka Fernando has scored 0, 2* and 0 in his last three matches. This is after he enjoyed a good run of form with scores of 83*, 33, 62*, 61 and 30* in his previous five outings. Can he rediscover that form here?
  • Wanindu Hasaranga went wicketless against Bangladesh, but he will be key against an Australia side that is questionable against spin. He has taken 26 wickets in 16 T20Is this year at an average of 12.96 and economy rate of 5.52.
  • Lahiru Kumara is enjoying an excellent T20 World Cup. He has taken eight wickets so far at an average of 8.37 and economy rate of 4.62. He was very expensive in his only T20I against Australia, taking 1/49 back in 2019.
  • If Maheesh Theekshana is fit, it will be a big boost for Sri Lanka. The spinner has eight wickets at 5.62 and economy rate of just 5.00 in the tournament.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 16, Australia 8, Sri Lanka 8.
  • Australia have won the last four matches against Sri Lanka, including an easy 3-0 sweep at home in 2019.
  • Mitchell Starc has taken nine wickets in six T20Is vs Sri Lanka (avg. 18, econ. 6.75). Pat Cummins is not far behind with eight wickets in six matches (avg. 19.50, econ. 7.09).
  • Glenn Maxwell has dismissed Kusal Perera twice in 13 deliveries in T20Is.

Possible Playing 11

Australia should look at playing the same XI that beat Sri Lanka.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Mitchell Marsh, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Matthew Wade (wk), 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Josh Hazlewood

If Maheesh Theekshana is fit, he will likely slot in for Binura Fernando.

Sri Lanka: 1. Kusal Perera (wk), 2. Pathum Nissanka, 3. Charith Asalanka, 4. Avishka Fernando, 5. Wanindu Hasaranga, 6. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 7. Dasun Shanka (c), 8. Chamika Karunaratne, 9. Dushmantha Chameera, 10. Lahiru Kumara, 11. Binura Fernando/Maheesh Theekshana

Dubai Pitch Report and Weather

Batting second is the way to go in Dubai. The chasing team has won all three matches so far on this ground in the T20 World Cup.

The average first innings score in the recent IPL was 156.23, with CSK chasing 173 and then posting 192 themselves in the crunch matches.

Teams batting second have won 12 of the last 16 matches on this ground. Expect the captain who wins the toss to chase given there is likely to be dew.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

T20 WC 2021 Match 22: AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs Sri Lanka Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 22: AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 22: AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs Sri Lanka Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 22: AUS vs SL Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Kusal Perera
  • Batsmen: Steve Smith, Charith Asalanka
  • All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga
  • Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Lahiru Kumara

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

Sri Lanka are playing good cricket, so they should definitely not be taken lightly. Australia with their bowling attack start as favourites, but this one could come down to who bats second.

“Best thing for my cricket has been the IPL” – Marcus Stoinis

Charbel Coorey
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“Best thing for my cricket has been the IPL” – Marcus Stoinis

Cricket News: “Best thing for my cricket has been the IPL” – Marcus Stoinis | Stoinis interview with The Grade Cricketer during T20 WC

Marcus Stoinis, Australia’s all-rounder who led the team to a crucial victory over South Africa, has said that the IPL has had a profound impact on his game.

In an interview The Grade Cricketer, Stoinis said that the IPL has been the best thing for his cricket. The kind of quality around him in the Delhi Capitals camp and the experience of playing in high-pressure situations has helped Stoinis improve as a player.

“It’s honestly probably been the best thing for my cricket has been the IPL”, Stoinis said. “The people you get to talk to, the people who come through your room to get a coffee. When you’ve got that kind of respect for people, you realise how good people are at the things that they do.”

Stoinis also spoke about the experience of talking to superstars of the game, namely Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. Sharma and Dhoni have won nine IPL Titles between them, so the experience has been invaluable for the all-rounder.

“Talking to Rishabh about what he does, there’s no flukes there with these people,” said Stoinis. “I remember we played against Mumbai, I made sure I went and spoke to Rohit. We played against Chennai, and after the game, because I know Stephen Fleming the coach, I sat down with MS.”

“As soon as you put your own little ego away and you start to be willing to ask some questions, get feedback and other people’s perspectives; otherwise we wouldn’t be able to talk to these people if we are in our little bubbles in Australia and you put the guard up and think you know everything.”

“That is by far the best part of the IPL.”

Coming into the T20 World Cup, a concern for Australia was their finishing. However, Stoinis has been in terrific touch after slamming 41* off 25 balls in a warm up vs India followed by a 16-ball 24* to see Australia home in a low-scoring match against South Africa.

Australia play Sri Lanka tonight in a match that can take Aaron Finch’s team a big step closer to the Semi Finals.

T20 WC 2021 Match 21: SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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T20 WC 2021 Match 21: SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 21: SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction Today | Scotland vs Namibia Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Two Associate nations do battle in the T20 World Cup, and it is terrific to see. Five days after Namibia produced a wonderful performance against Ireland to seal their passage to the Super 12s, Gerhard Erasmus’ team have a wonderful opportunity to start the second part of their campaign with a win.

Scotland are hurt. They were strong in the first round of the tournament, but a 130-run hammering at the hands of Afghanistan takes some recovering from. Like Namibia, Scotland will look at this match as a winnable one ahead of matches against more established opponents, so it is crucial they get on the board here.

These two sides met in two T20s recently, each winning a match. This has the makings of a very competitive matchup, and with plenty at stake, both sides will be looking to make the most of this opportunity. The fact that two Associate sides do battle in front a global audience in a World Cup is cause for celebration on its own, and producing a strong performance is cause for even bigger celebration.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Scotland:

  • Richie Berrington has the most runs for any Scotland player against Namibia. Berrington has scored 228 runs in eight matches against them at an average of 28.50 and strike rate of 129.57.
  • Berrington was strong in his two recent matches vs Namibia, scoring 61 (46) and 25 (21). Also, Berrington has a solid record at Abu Dhabi, with 156 runs in six matches at an average of 39.00 and strike rate of 135.65.
  • Calum MacLeod is not far behind Berrington in terms of runs against Namibia (187 runs, avg. 26.71, SR 129.86). He has scored 89 runs in four matches at Abu Dhabi at an average of 22.50 and strike rate of 145.90.
  • George Munsey has made four starts in this tournament (29, 15, 20, 26), and has two double-figure scores in official T20Is vs Namibia (17 and 11). Can Munsey go on with a start today?
  • Safyaan Sharif has taken the most wickets in Scotland-Namibia T20Is, with 10 scalps in seven matches at an average of 16.40. Sharif will be key at the death – an area where Namibia have been excellent in this tournament.
  • Josh Davey has taken nine wickets in four matches in this tournament, and has three wickets in two matches vs Namibia at an average of 21.33. Mark Watt also has three wickets in two matches vs Namibia at an average of 14.33 and economy of 5.33.

Namibia:

  • What an addition David Wiese has been to the Namibia team. The all-rounder has smashed 100 runs in the tournament so far at an average of 100.00 and strike rate of 163.93. He also has three wickets at an economy rate of just 6.50.
  • Craig Williams loves playing against Scotland. The top order batsman has the most runs in Namibia-Scotland matches with 276 at an average of 34.50 and strike rate of 160.47, including scores of 50 (37) and 80 (51) in their two recent T20s.
  • However, Williams will be aiming to improve his record at Abu Dhabi that currently reads: 8 inns, 155 runs, avg. 19.38, SR 106.90.
  • What a knock skipper Gerhard Erasmus played last week against Ireland (53*). Can he improve his record at Abu Dhabi? He has scored just the 77 runs in six matches on this ground at an average of 12.83.
  • JJ Smit will be key to Namibia’s finishing. He scored 20* (17) and 26* (15) in the recent T20s vs Scotland. Also, he took 1/19 and 1/26 respectively in those games.
  • Jan Frylinck has taken four wickets in two T20I matches against Scotland at an average of 9.75 and economy rate of 4.88.
  • Bernard Scholtz has taken the most wickets of any current Namibian squad member against Scotland, with seven scalps in just four T20Is at an average of 16.57 and economy rate of 8.29.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 8, Scotland 4, Namibia 4.
  • On October 9, Namibia (138/5) beat Scotland (137/8) by five wickets in an official T20I. Craig Williams was player of the match. In a T20 WC warm up five days later, Scotland (203/7) bounced back to win by 19 runs. George Munsey scored a 41-ball 67 and Matthew Cross scored a 33-ball 57.
  • David Wiese has struck seven sixes so far in this tournament.

Possible Playing 11

Despite the heavy defeat to Afghanistan, Scotland should look at playing the same XI.

Scotland: 1. Kyle Coetzer (c), 2. George Munsey, 3. Calum MacLeod, 4. Richie Berrington, 5. Matthew Cross (wk), 6. Michael Leask, 7. Chris Greaves, 8. Mark Watt, 9. Josh Davey, 10. Safyaan Sharif, 11. Brad Wheal

Namibia should also look to play the same XI that toppled Ireland last weekend.

Namibia: 1. Zane Green (wk), 2. Craig Williams, 3. Gerhard Erasmus (c), 4. David Wiese, 5. JJ Smit, 6. Jan Frylinck, 7. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, 8. Pikky Ya France, 9. Ruben Trumpelmann, 10. Michael van Lingen, 11. Bernard Scholtz

Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

Expect the captain who wins the toss to bowl first. Dew is likely to play a factor once again.

The chasing team also had more success in the recent IPL, winning five of the eight matches. The average first innings score was 159 in IPL 2021, so the team batting first will be looking to cross that mark.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

T20 WC 2021 Match 21: SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction Today | Scotland vs Namibia Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 21: SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 21: SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction Today | Scotland vs Namibia Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 21: SCO vs NAM Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Matthew Cross
  • Batsmen: Craig Williams, George Munsey
  • All-rounders: David Wiese, Jan Frylinck, Richie Berrington
  • Bowlers: Josh Davey, Safyaan Sharif

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

This has the makings of a competitive match. The trend of chasing teams winning could prove to be the case here again, especially given Namibia have chased well in this tournament.

T20 WC 2021 Match 20: ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 20: ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 20: ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Bangladesh Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Bangladesh enjoyed their best ever run of form in T20I cricket in the lead up to the T20 World Cup, which saw them jump up to sixth in the rankings and confidence rise with each and every match.

However, they have made a rocky start in each of the two stages of this World Cup. First, they lost in dramatic fashion to Scotland, of which they were able to recover from with wins against Oman and PNG. Next, they lost against Sri Lanka despite putting 171 on the board courtesy of some questionable decision making under pressure. And now, bouncing back from such a defeat will be much tougher against an England side that is one of the contenders for the tournament.

Concerns about Bangladesh have come to fruition so far. They beat Australia and New Zealand in very specific conditions at home, and weren’t put under a great deal of pressure in the process. When the pressure was on against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh didn’t seem to respond effectively, which saw the game slip away. Now, they must bounce back quickly as two straight defeats almost puts you out of Semi Finals contention in such a tough group.

For England, they will be looking to build on their demolition of the West Indies. Given they have such a huge net run rate, another strong performance here can be a major step towards the Semi Finals. Incredibly, England have never played Bangladesh in a T20I, but you can be sure that Eoin Morgan’s team will look to put the Tigers under pressure early and see what Mahmudullah’s team responds with.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

England:

  • Jos Buttler loves batting at Abu Dhabi. In six T20s on this ground, Buttler has struck 193 runs at an average of 63.67 and strike rate of 149.22. He was also the England batsman who looked most assured against West Indies, finishing with 24* off 22 balls.
  • Jonny Bairstow missed out against West Indies (7), but he looked in good touch in the warm up matches (49 off 36 balls and 30 off 21 balls). Bairstow will be looking to build on his record at Abu Dhabi that reads: 4 inns, 97 runs, avg. 24.25, SR 103.19.
  • Bairstow is enjoying a fine year in short-form cricket. The right-hander has struck 891 runs in 25 matches at an average of 42.43 and strike rate of 151.02.
  • Liam Livingstone, despite some poor recent form, still has some great overall short-form numbers for the year: 1,256 runs, avg. 38.06, SR 154.68. He has the potential to find form today against a Bangladesh attack that struggled at the death against Sri Lanka.
  • Moeen Ali was player of the match against West Indies with his 2/17. Bangladesh will have at least two left-handers in their top three (Naim and Shakib), so expect Moeen to bowl up front again.
  • Moeen is also coming off a successful IPL campaign with CSK scoring 357 runs at an average of 25.50 and strike rate of 137.30. He also struck 43* off 20 balls in the recent warm up vs India. It will be interesting to see where England uses Moeen in the batting order.
  • Adil Rashid took incredible figures of 4/2 vs West Indies. He also took 3/18 in the warm up vs New Zealand. Rashid will be looking to replicate his ODI form vs Bangladesh (11 wickets in four matches at an average of 19) in the T20I format.

Bangladesh:

  • Mohammad Naim, who is coming off a 52-ball 62 vs Sri Lanka, has the most T20I runs for Bangladesh this year. The opener has scored 477 runs in 2021 at an average of 26.50 and strike rate of 103.92.
  • Shakib Al Hasan wasn’t in the runs vs Sri Lanka (10), but he was a factor with the ball once again (2/17). He has the most wickets so far in the tournament (11), along with the third-most runs (118).
  • Mushfiqur Rahim came back into form with a superb 37-ball 57* vs Sri Lanka. Mushfiqur has a good record vs England in ODIs (485 runs, avg. 44.09), so he will be looking to transfer this into the T20I format.
  • Mahmdullah also a good record vs England in ODIs (394 runs, avg. 39.40). Also, the skipper will be key as the team’s finisher, and has the second-most runs for Bangladesh in T20Is this year (396, avg. 26.40, SR 111.23).
  • Mustafizur Rahman went wicketless against Sri Lanka (0/22), but his wicket-taking potential remains. He has the second-most T20I wickets for Bangladesh this year (24, avg. 14.62, econ. 6.36).
  • Mahedi Hasan (0/30) also went wicketless vs Sri Lanka. Mahedi was excellent in the first stage of the tournament, taking five wickets in three matches. He will be key in keeping the England batsmen quiet in the middle overs.
Which players have scored a century in T20s for England? | The four players with a T20 century for England in men's T20s.
T20 WC 2021 Match 20: ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction: Jos Buttler.

Stats and Facts

  • This will be the first ever meeting between England and Bangladesh in a T20 International.
  • Jason Roy took a liking to the Bangladesh attack in the 2019 ODI World Cup. He struck 153 against them.
  • Chris Woakes has struggled vs Bangladesh in ODI cricket (two wickets in six matches at an average of 139.50). Will he have a better time of things in the T20 format?
  • Mushfiqur Rahim’s 50 vs Sri Lanka was his first half-century in 29 T20 World Cup matches. Can he back it up with another?

Possible Playing 11

England could look to stick with the same XI that thrashed West Indies. It remains to be seen if Mark Wood is fit enough after missing the first Super 12s match.

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Jonny Bairstow, 5. Liam Livingstone, 6. Eoin Morgan, 7. Moeen Ali, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Chris Jordan, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Tymal Mills/Mark Wood

Mohammad Saifuddin has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Taskin Ahmed is likely to slot in his place. Bangladesh also have the option of wicket-taking left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam.

Bangladesh: 1. Mohammad Naim, 2. Liton Das, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim, 5. Mahmudullah (c), 6. Afif Hossain, 7. Nurul Hasan (wk), 8. Mahedi Hasan, 9. Nasum Ahmed/Shoriful Islam, 10. Taskin Ahmed, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

There has been one match played at Abu Dhabi so far in this World Cup. South Africa crawled to 118/9 before Australia fought their way to the target with three balls remaining. There was pace and bounce for the seamers, along with turn for the spinners.

The chasing team also had more success in the recent IPL, winning five of the eight matches. The average first innings score was 159 in IPL 2021, so the team batting first will be looking to cross that mark.

This is a day game in Abu Dhabi, which will test the players. A top of about 33 degrees is forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

T20 WC 2021 Match 20: ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Bangladesh Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 20: ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 20: ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Bangladesh Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 20: ENG vs BAN Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler, Mushfiqur Rahim
  • Batsmen: Mahmudullah, Jason Roy
  • All-rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Moeen Ali
  • Bowlers: Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mustafizur Rahman

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

England, on what is expected to be a decent batting pitch, should win this match.

Keshav Maharaj feels the T20 Bubble set up “not ideal”

Charbel Coorey
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Keshav Maharaj feels the T20 Bubble set up “not ideal”

Cricket News: Keshav Maharaj feels the T20 Bubble set up “not ideal” | Keshav Maharaj speaks about life in the bio-secure bubble

Cricketers going into the “biosecure bubble” setup before any tournament has become a new normal. The bio-bubble does not just limit itself to the pitch or field; it is, of course, mandatory that all entities partake in this new form of quarantine. It is very well known that the restrictions that a bio-bubble imposes on the cricketers had begun to take their toll.

Living continuously in a bio-bubble may not affect their performance on the field, but it could leave them mentally jaded. It is a point that has already been emphasised by former South African captain Faf du Plessis, Australia’s limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch and former India mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton.

The recent addition to this list is Keshav Maharaj during his bio bubble period before the ongoing T20 World Cup in UAE. The Proteas spinner, while speaking to Betway, describes the makeshift setup as ‘not ideal.’ However, he accepted the fact it is also working to make the best of this unusual preparation.

Regarding his hotel room stay, Maharaj felt the conditions were very different from what they used to be, and he is trying very hard to feel as at home as possible.

The South African cricketer also expressed his likeness for the neatness, and with no cleaners coming into the rooms, he had to spend time making himself more comfortable by keeping the room in check.

He was also vocal about watching a South African rugby team game, along with his team members in a cordoned-off dining area in the hotel room, which made him feel connected to home.

South Africa has had a great last 12 months in the cricketing aspect, with victories in both Test and T20 series in the Caribbean, followed by T20 whitewashes of Ireland and Sri Lanka in July and September. This suggests that the squad benefits from approaching a major tournament with an extra 12 months of development behind them.

One look around the team gathering is enough to know that this squad is good enough to make a solid statement in the T20 World Cup.

Van Der Dussen and Maharaj are both experienced cricketers, while Reeza Hendricks and Dwaine Pretorius have made great strides in the last 12 months.

Mark Boucher oversees the operation as head coach, while JP Duminy and Charl Langeveldt are on the coaching staff.

The staff are all relatively new to the job, but performances and results in 2021 show that South Africa’s trajectory may be on the up.

T20 WC 2021 Match 19: PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 19: PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 19: PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs New Zealand Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

If you think Pakistan’s fire is extinguished after a superb victory over India, think again. Recently, New Zealand left players and fans around the country heartbroken after they cancelled their tour at the last moment.

And Ramiz Raja vowed to ensure that the Pakistan side doesn’t forget about it. The men in green made an incredible start, thumping India by 10 wickets courtesy of Shaheen Shah Afridi’s brilliant opening burst and further excellence by Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. However, if they don’t follow up a strong performance with another, then that victory against India will quickly fall into a bit of a distant memory.

New Zealand begin their campaign today and it looks to be a tough start. But, if there is one thing fans know about the Black Caps is that they can never be counted out in ICC tournaments, showing time and time again that they belong at the business end. In a group where India are somewhat vulnerable, New Zealand can make the match against India on the weekend even more crucial if they can topple Pakistan today. All to play for.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Pakistan:

  • Fans will be looking forward to watch the classy Babar Azam once again after his clinical 68* vs India. The Pakistan captain has a good record against New Zealand with two half-centuries in six matches, with a total of 235 runs at an average of 47.00 and strike rate of 120.51.
  • Babar also has a solid record in T20s at Sharjah: 11 inns, 305 runs, avg. 38.13, SR 120.08.
  • What a year Mohammad Rizwan is having. The keeper-batsman, following his 79* vs India, has now amassed 1,541 runs this year at an average of 59.27 and strike rate of 133.88.
  • Rizwan also has a terrific record at Sharjah: 12 inns, 233 runs, avg. 46.60, SR 133.14. Plus, he has a score of 89 in four T20Is vs New Zealand.
  • No player has more runs in PAK-NZ T20Is than Mohammad Hafeez. The veteran has scored 552 runs in 17 matches against New Zealand at a fine average of 39.42 and strike rate of 137.65.
  • Hafeez also has plenty of experience at Sharjah, with 331 runs in 13 matches at an average of 30.09 and strike rate 127.80.
  • Can Shaheen Shah Afridi produce the goods after a player of the match display vs India? The brilliant left-arm seamer has taken 21 wickets in his first over in T20I cricket, so watch out Martin Guptill and Devon Conway. No other bowler has taken more than 13 in the same period (since February 2018). Afridi has taken seven wickets in five matches vs New Zealand.
  • Hasan Ali is enjoying a terrific year, with 43 wickets in 30 matches. He was expensive vs India (2/44) and has an economy rate of 9.61 in four T20Is vs New Zealand, but his wicket-taking ability remains.
  • Ali has taken 18 wickets in 10 matches at Sharjah (econ. 6.32).

New Zealand:

  • Devon Conway has taken to international cricket like a duck to water. The left-hander averages 59.12 in 11 T20I innings with four half-centuries, with one of those coming against Pakistan last year.
  • Martin Guptill has scored the most runs for New Zealand against Pakistan. He has scored 509 runs in 18 innings against Pakistan at an average of 29.94 and strike rate of 136.46.
  • Kane Williamson has the next-most runs for New Zealand against Pakistan. The New Zealand skipper has scored 414 runs at an average of 34.50 and strike rate of 115.96.
  • However, Williamson has a terrible record at Sharjah. He has scored just 23 runs in five matches on this ground at an average of 5.75 and strike rate of 63.89. Can he turn this around today?
  • Tim Seifert was outstanding against Pakistan last year. He scored the most runs of any player in the three-match series in New Zealand with 176 runs at an average of 88.00 and strike rate of 139.68, including two half-centuries.
  • Tim Southee has the most wickets in NZ-PAK T20Is with 23 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 16.13 and strike rate of 13.5. This includes a five-wicket haul.
  • Mitchell Santner will be key. He has nine wickets in eight matches vs Pakistan at an average of 18.44 and strike rate of 17.3. He recently took 3/22 in the warm up vs Australia.
  • Lockie Ferguson is coming off a strong IPL campaign, despite a disappointing final. He was terrific at Sharjah, taking figures of 2/10, 3/18 and 2/30.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 24, Pakistan 14, New Zealand 10.
  • Interestingly, Trent Boult has a poor record vs Pakistan. The left-armer has just the three wickets in six T20Is at an average of 73.33 and economy rate of 9.56.
  • Ish Sodhi will also be seeking an improvement vs Pakistan: 10 matches, six wickets, avg. 46.33, econ. 8.17.
  • Pakistan have won three of five matches against New Zealand in T20 World Cups.
  • Tim Southee needs one wicket to reach 100 in T20Is. Only Lasith Malinga and Shakib Al Hasan have gone past 100 to date.

Possible Playing 11

Pakistan should look to stick with the same team that beat India.

Pakistan: 1. Babar Azam (c), 2. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3. Fakhar Zaman, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Shoaib Malik, 6. Asif Ali, 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Imad Wasim, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

New Zealand are set to play two spinners, with a flexible batting lineup according to the situation.

New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Devon Conway, 3. Glenn Phillips, 4. Kane Williamson (c), 5. Tim Seifert (wk), 6. Daryl Mitchell/James Neesham, 7. Mitchell Santner, 8. Tim Southee, 9. Trent Boult, 10. Lockie Ferguson/Kyle Jamieson, 11 Ish Sodhi

Sharjah Pitch Report and Weather

The Sharjah track was slow and sluggish in the IPL, with the average first innings score just 137. However, the pitch has improved significantly for batting in the last two matches, with Sri Lanka chasing 172 vs Bangladesh and Afghanistan smashing 190 vs Scotland.

The chasing team has won 10 of the last 14 matches on this ground. There is a chance of dew on another clear and warm evening.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

T20 WC 2021 Match 19: PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs New Zealand Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 19: PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 19: PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs New Zealand Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 19: PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Devon Conway
  • Batsmen: Kane Williamson, Babar Azam
  • All-rounders: Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan
  • Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tim Southee

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

New Zealand are a very fine side, but Pakistan in this form are tough to beat. Pakistan to win.

T20 WC 2021 Match 18: SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 18: SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 18: SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction Today | South Africa vs West Indies Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

Knowing West Indies, they could come out today and smash 200+ after getting rolled for 55 in embarrassing fashion against England. Or, they could get rolled again against a South Africa side who bowled superbly in the quest to defend just 118 against Australia.

Who knows. And that is what makes this contest today a fascinating one.

Two first up losing teams go head-to-head in a crunch match in the Dubai heat. And, the question will be which of these two sides, who both have strong aspirations of making the Semi Finals, will better handle both the figurative and literal heat? West Indies will be after significant batting improvement, but one can be sure that they will go hard once again. South Africa will also be looking for improvement after a struggle against Australia, but it remains to be seen if they will play with such freedom.

The Proteas beat West Indies in the Caribbean earlier this year. Tabraiz Shamsi and Quinton de Kock led the way in a 3-2 series victory. One feels that those two will be key again, with others required to provide meaningful contributions along the way.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

South Africa:

  • Quinton de Kock was the highest run-scorer in the five-match series between the teams earlier in 2021. The left-hander struck three half-centuries in the five matches, totaling 255 runs at an average of 51.00 and strike rate of 141.66.
  • de Kock also has a solid record at Dubai. In 10 matches on this ground, the keeper-batsman has struck 320 runs at an average of 35.56 and strike rate of 130.61.
  • Aiden Markram is having a great year in T20Is. The classy right-hander, who was easily South Africa’s top scorer vs Australia (40), has smashed 448 runs in 2021 at an average of 40.72 and strike rate of 145.45. This includes 113 runs in three matches against West Indies (HS 70).
  • Rassie van der Dussen will be key to South Africa’s hopes. He scored a brilliant century vs Pakistan in the warm ups, so the Proteas will be hoping he displays some of that form here. He had a modest tour of West Indies earlier in the year: 5 inns, 97 runs, avg. 24.25, SR 129.33, HS 56*.
  • Tabraiz Shamsi was player of the series against West Indies in the Caribbean. The world’s number one T20I spinner took seven wickets in the five matches at an extraordinary economy rate of four runs per over. He is coming off an impressive spell vs Australia where he took 1/22.
  • Anrich Nortje is in fine form. The fast bowler is cranking up the pace, taking at least one wicket in each of his last nine T20 matches, including 2/21 last match vs Australia.
  • Nortje has four wickets in four matches vs West Indies (avg. 24, econ. 7) and 17 scalps in 12 matches at Dubai.
  • Kagiso Rabada showed signs of his best form against Australia (1/28). He was expensive against West Indies earlier this year (econ. 9.44), but he took seven wickets in five matches, indicating his wicket-taking ability. Also, he has 16 wickets in 13 T20s at Dubai.

West Indies:

  • No player has more runs in WI-SA matches than Chris Gayle. The Universe Boss has smashed 363 runs in 11 matches vs the Proteas at an average of 36.30 and strike rate of 177.94.
  • However, he clearly struggles at number three, so the Windies will be better served opening with him. Gayle scored just the 56 runs in four matches against South Africa earlier this year at an average of 18.66 and strike rate of 119.14.
  • Evin Lewis was brilliant against the Proteas a few months ago. The opener was the Windies’ highest scorer in that series with 178 runs in five matches at an average of 35.60 and superb strike rate of 160.36.
  • Lewis made scores of 36, 6 and 58 at Dubai in the recent IPL, part of 151 runs in the UAE leg at an average of 30.50 and strike rate of 162.36.
  • Roston Chase could come in to provide the Windies with some stability. He scored a half-century against Afghanistan in the warm up, but it was a big struggle (54* off 58 balls). Chase was outstanding in CPL, with the most runs of any player (446, avg. 49.55, SR 144.33).
  • Shimron Hetmyer will be key to the Windies’ hopes. He is coming off a very solid IPL campaign with Delhi Capitals, where he scored 242 runs at an average of 34.57 and strike rate of 168.05.
  • However, Hetmyer has a modest record at Dubai (12 inns, 163 runs, avg. 20.38, SR 125.38) and had a relatively quiet series against the Proteas earlier this year (57 runs, avg. 19.00, SR 107.54).
  • Watch out for Akeal Hosein. He gives the ball a big rip, and was impressive against England in the last match (2/24). South Africa struggled against spin vs Australia, so Hosein will be key.
  • Dwayne Bravo took the most wickets in the WI-SA series earlier this year (10 wickets, avg. 13.10, SR 11.4). Obed McCoy was close behind with nine wickets at an average/strike rate of 15.66/13.3.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 15, South Africa 9, West Indies 6.
  • Can Andre Russell influence this match? He has a poor record vs South Africa (9 inns, 98 runs, avg. 12.25), and the Windies need him to turn those numbers around.
  • Kieron Pollard enjoys batting at Dubai in T20s: 30 matches, 589 runs, avg. 31.00, SR 155.82.
  • Ravi Rampaul took 19 wickets in 10 matches in the recent CPL. He was in the wickets vs England too, dismissing Jason Roy.
  • David Miller averages just 19.63 in nine T20Is vs West Indies. It’s a key match for the experienced South African batsman.
  • South Africa have won two out of three matches vs West Indies in T20 World Cups.

Possible Playing 11

South Africa could look at bringing in Lungi Ngidi instead of the all-rounder option.

South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Temba Bavuma (c), 3. Aiden Markram, 4. Rassie van der Dussen, 5. David Miller, 6. Heinrich Klaasen, 7. Dwaine Pretorius/Lungi Ngidi, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi

Windies coach Ottis Gibson did hint that Roston Chase would bring balance to this side. If Windies do pick Chase and Chris Gayle, this will then allow them to play Gayle at opener. However, Lendl Simmons does have a decent record vs South Africa: 5 inns, 198 runs, avg. 39.60, SR 138.46.

West Indies: 1. Lendl Simmons/Chris Gayle, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Roston Chase, 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6. Kieron Pollard (c), 7. Andre Russell, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Akeal Hosein, 10. Obed McCoy, 11. Ravi Rampaul

Dubai Pitch Report and Weather

West Indies were rolled for 55 on this ground, but it was by no means a bad batting pitch. Pakistan proved this with a superb run chase against India where they chased down 152 with 13 deliveries and 10 wickets to spare.

The average first innings score in the recent IPL was 156.23, with CSK chasing 173 and then posting 192 themselves in the crunch matches.

Teams batting second have won 11 of the last 15 matches on this ground. But, there will be no dew issue today as this is a day game. A warm and clear day is forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

T20 WC 2021 Match 18: SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction Today | South Africa vs West Indies Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 18: SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 18: SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction Today | South Africa vs West Indies Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 18: SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Quinton de Kock
  • Batsmen: Evin Lewis, Aiden Markram
  • All-rounders: Dwayne Bravo
  • Bowlers: Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Akeal Hosein

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

Toss of the coin match. Teams have a great record chasing, so the team batting first will need around 160-170 at least to be competitive in such an unpredictable match. West Indies, with their great firepower, have greater potential to make big scores.

T20 WC 2021 Match 17: AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 17: AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 17: AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today | Afghanistan vs Scotland Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

Battle-hardened Scotland, on the back off a successful round one, do battle with Afghanistan in what is shaping up to be an interesting Group 2 after Pakistan’s superb victory over India.

And the stakes are high. Both these nations know what it feels like to play under pressure, both embarking on journeys as Associate nations. Recently, USA skipper Saurabh Netravalkar spoke to The CricBlog Podcast about how Associate cricket leaves no room for error, so both these nations will look to use that experience to their advantage in the quest to start the Super 12s in the best possible way.

Afghanistan start as favourites courtesy of their bowling attack in these conditions. They will be aiming to make inroads into a Scotland side that has had the benefit of competitive matches so far in this tournament, and have shown they can perform under pressure as they came from behind against Bangladesh and then beat Oman in a must-win match.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Afghanistan:

  • Mohammad Shahzad, who is coming off a 35-ball 54 in the warm up vs West Indies, has the most runs in Afghanistan-Scotland matches. The keeper-batsman has smashed 309 runs in six matches at an average of 51.50 and strike rate of 148.56.
  • Shahzad also has a great record at Sharjah. In 26 matches on this ground, Shahzad has struck 919 runs at an average of 41.77 and strike rate of 155.50.
  • Hazratullah Zazai is also damaging at Sharjah. The left-hander has smashed 322 runs in 10 matches at an average of 32.20 and incredible strike rate of 193.38.
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz has struck three half-centuries in 13 T20Is. He averages 34.30 with a fine strike rate of 143.87.
  • Mohammad Nabi is coming off an unbelievable spell in the warm up match vs West Indies. The skipper took figures of 3/2 in four overs. Nabi has taken nine wickets in six meetings vs Scotland (avg. 16.78, econ. 6.86), along with 87 runs at an average of 21.75 and strike rate of 155.36.
  • Nabi has plenty of experience at Sharjah. He has struck 503 runs in 30 matches on this ground at an average of 26.47 and strike rate of 161.22. This is along with 24 wickets.
  • Rashid Khan took 2/28 in his only T20I vs Scotland to date (back in 2016). The star leg-spinner will certainly be key, and comes into the match off the back of an excellent year so far: 57 wickets in 41 matches at an economy rate of 6.51. He also has 21 wickets to his name in 18 matches at Sharjah (econ. 6.21).
  • Mujeeb ur Rahman took 3/24 in the recent warm up match vs South Africa. He has 14 wickets in 11 matches at Sharjah, and will be key against George Munsey in particular.

Scotland:

  • Can George Munsey overcome the early threat of Mujeeb? He has a score of 41 vs Afghanistan in two T20Is against them.
  • Also, can Munsey build on his starts in this tournament? He has got himself set thrice, only to fall after making a start on each occasion (29, 15, 20).
  • Matthew Cross comes into this match in some good touch. The keeper-batsman has struck scores of 57, 11, 45 and 26* in his last four matches.
  • Can skipper Kyle Coetzer overcome a poor record vs Afghanistan? He has 87 runs in six matches at an average of 14.50 and strike rate of 87.00. Richie Berrington has very similar numbers: 85 runs in six matches at an average of 17.00 and strike rate of 111.84.
  • Josh Davey was brilliant in phase one of the T20 World Cup, taking eight wickets in three matches at an average of 8.37 and strike rate of 5.82.
  • Mark Watt conceded just 5.41 runs per over in the first round, taking three wickets in the process. He will be key in keeping the attacking batsmen of Afghanistan quiet.
  • Safyaan Sharif was back in the wickets vs Oman (2/25). Incredibly, he didn’t take a single wicket in four T20Is vs Afghanistan between 2013 and 2016, with an economy rate of 10.08. Can he change that today?

Stats and Facts

  • Afghanistan have beaten Scotland in all six meetings.
  • This will be the first meeting between the teams in T20Is since 2016.
  • Scotland won all three matches in the first stage of the T20 World Cup.

Possible Playing 11

Afghanistan: 1. Hazratullah Zazai, 2. Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Asghar Afghan, 6. Mohammad Nabi (c), 7. Karim Janat, 8. Gulbadin Naib, 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11. Naveen ul Haq

Scotland: 1. George Munsey, 2. Kyle Coetzer (c), 3. Matthew Cross (wk), 4. Richie Berrington, 5. Calum MacLeod, 6. Michael Leask, 7. Chris Greaves, 8. Mark Watt, 9. Josh Davey, 10. Safyaan Sharif, 11. Brad Wheal

Sharjah Pitch Report and Weather

The conditions were sluggish at Sharjah in the IPL and first round of the T20 World Cup. However, the batting conditions were a lot better in the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka game yesterday, as the Lions chased down 172 with ease in the end.

The chasing team has reigned supreme on this ground in recent times, with 10 wins out of the last 13 games.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

T20 WC 2021 Match 17: AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today | Afghanistan vs Scotland Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 17: AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 17: AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today | Afghanistan vs Scotland Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 17: AFG vs SCO Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Shahzad
  • Batsmen: Hazratullah Zazai, Calum MacLeod
  • All-rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Richie Berrington
  • Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Josh Davey

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

Scotland are in some good form, but Afghanistan look very good in these conditions. Afghanistan to win.

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