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The benched XI of IPL 2021

Robin Rounder
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The benched XI of IPL 2021

Cricket News: The benched XI of IPL 2021 | Looking at players who played 2 games or less in the Indian Premier League 2021

The Indian Premier League is the best T20 cricket league in the world. Players from all around the globe participate in the league making the competition very tough. There are many quality players who don’t even get picked in the auctions while many don’t even get to play any games throughout the season due to team combinations.

IPL 2021 was no different as there were many good players who didn’t even get to play a single game or more than one or two games throughout the season. Today we’ll select a playing 11 of such players who didn’t get enough opportunities to showcase their skills in IPL 2021.

We’ve selected players who have played a maximum of two games in IPL 2021 for their respective franchises.

CricBlog’s Benched XI of IPL 2021:

1. Ajinkya Rahane (Captain) 

Ajinkya Rahane played only two games in IPL 2021 for the Delhi Capitals. He couldn’t find a place in the eleven as Delhi had Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan at the top followed by Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. Fitting Rahane in there wasn’t the logical move.

Rahane has scored 3941 runs in 151 IPL games at an average of 31.52 and striking at 121.33. He also has two hundreds to his name. Rahane has been one of the most consistent players in the IPL and is the 12th highest-run scorer in IPL history. He can utilize the powerplay and can hold one end with others playing around him.

Rahane will be the opener for our Benched XI and will lead this side as well.

2. Narayan Jagadeesan

Narayan Jagadeesan has been a part of CSK’s squad for quite some time now. The wicket-keeper batsman from Tamil Nadu is a consistent performer in the domestic circuit. Jagadeesan has scored 702 runs in 30 innings at an average of 35.10 and strike rate of 125.35. He was the highest run-scorer in the SMAT 2020/21 with 364 runs in eight matches averaging 72.80 and striking at 141.

Jagadeesan has been at CSK since 2018 and he made his IPL debut in IPL 2020. He didn’t have a great start to his IPL career but he surely has the potential to be one of the top batters of the tournament in the future. Jagadeesan was the third-highest run scorer in TNPL 2021. He will be the second opener in our eleven.

3. Mohammad Azharuddeen

Many of you may have heard this name for the first time. However, all who know of him will know how good a player he is. Mohammad Azharuddeen was a part of RCB’s squad in IPL 2021. The 27-year old is a attacking top order batter from Kerala. He recently scored the second-fastest century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-2021 in just 37 balls against Mumbai. He scored an unbeaten 137 off 54 deliveries with nine fours and 11 sixes.

Azharuddeen has scored 452 runs in 22 innings at an average of 22.55 and a strike-rate of 142. He is a very exciting young player who didn’t get any opportunity in IPL 2021. Azharuddeen will bat at 3 in our Benched XI.

4. Sam Billings (WK)

Sam Billings didn’t get to play even one match in IPL 2021. He was a part of the Delhi Capitals squad. Billings as a batter hasn’t performed up to his full potential yet but he has been terrific with the bat in the last one year or so. Billings is a good player of spin as well as pace bowling. He performed really well in the last BBL scoring 260 runs in 10 innings striking at 142.85, which is excellent for a number 4.

5. Tim David

Tim David has been one of the most talked about cricketers in recent times. The right-hander is very destructive and can tear apart any bowling line-up on his day. David has scored 1469 runs in 58 T20 innings at an average of 34.97 and strike rate of 153.50. His numbers in T20Is are 558 runs at an average of 46.50 and strike rate of 158.52 in 14 matches.

Tim was picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore but he got to play only one game. Before coming into the IPL David had played in the CPL, BBL and PSL, and has shown what he can do with the bat. 

6. Ben Cutting

Aussie all-rounder Ben Cutting was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad and didn’t even get to play despite Andre Russell’s injury. Cutting is an explosive lower-order batter and is very handy with the bat. He is an experienced campaigner and has scored 2368 runs at an average of 22.76, striking at 149 in 143 T20 innings.

Cutting was in good form in the last BBL playing for the Thunder. He can open the innings as well if needed.

7. Krishnappa Gowtham

Krishnappa Gowtham was picked up by CSK for 9.25 Crores in the auction before IPL 2021, but he didn’t play a single game in the whole tournament. Gowtham is an bowling all-rounder who bowls off-spin and is known for his destructive batting towards the end of the innings. Gowtham has played 24 games in IPL and has picked 13 wickets at an economy of 8.26 while he has scored 186 runs at a whopping strike-rate of 169.

He has picked 41 wickets in 62 T20 games and has scored 594 runs at a rate of 159.24. Gowtham is a utility player and can contribute with both bat and ball.

8. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav was in the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2021 but he too didn’t get to play even one match this season. Umesh is a seasoned campaigner and has picked 119 wickets in 121 matches. He can be very lethal in the powerplay, and has been in great form in red ball cricket. He will hope to continue that in the IPL whenever he gets the chance.

9. Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini played only two games in IPL 2021 and he failed to perform. Saini bowls quick, consistently clocking 140+. He hasn’t fulfilled his potential till now but he can bowl hard lengths and can be a very good asset for any team.

10. R Sai Kishore

Ravisrivasan Sai Kishore is a left-arm orthodox bowler from Tamil Nadu. He was in the CSK squad for IPL 2021 and didn’t get to play any game this season. He is very economical and a genuine wicket-taker in domestic circuit. He has picked 33 wickets in 30 matches at an economy of just 5.28.

Sai Kishore was the second wicket-taker in TNPL 2021 with 13 wickets in seven games with an economy of 5.85. He has already shown a lot of promise and is one for the future.

11. Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir was in CSK for IPL 2021 and played only one game in this edition of the IPL. Tahir at the age of 42 is still one of the best leg-spinners in T20 cricket. Tahir picked 13 wickets in 11 games of CPL 2021 at an economy of 6.40. He is a genuine wicket-taker and adds a lot of value to any team he plays for.

CricBlog’s Benched XI for IPL 2021:

Ajinkya Rahane (c)

N Jagadeesan (wk)

Mohammad Azharuddeen

Sam Billings

Tim David

Ben Cutting

K Gowtham

Umesh Yadav

Navdeep Saini

R Sai Kishore

Imran Tahir

So, this was our Benched XI for IPL 2021. We hope you liked it. Thanks for reading.

Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.

T20 WC 2021 Match 6: OMN vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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T20 WC 2021 Match 6: OMN vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 6: OMN vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs OMA Dream11 Prediction Today | Oman vs Bangladesh Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report

Group B just got a whole lot more interesting after Scotland’s magnificent comeback victory over Bangladesh two nights ago. The result has now significantly raised the pressure on the sixth-ranked T20I team, who came into the World Cup on the back of home series wins against Australia and New Zealand.

However, did those series wins give Bangladesh a false sense of security? Shakib Al Hasan, before the New Zealand series, did call for “better pitches” at home, which didn’t materialise. As a result, the Tigers looked a little shocked away from their own den, struggling in their chase of 141 against the Scots – a score they should never have allowed them to reach after restricting them to 53/6.

All of a sudden, Bangladesh face a must-win game on a surface that is vastly different to those dished up at Mirpur. And, there is the added pressure of facing motivated hosts Oman, who are coming off a convincing win against PNG courtesy of strong performances by Aqib Ilyas, Jatinder Singh and skipper Zeeshan Maqsood.

However, the hosts will be seeking a significant improvement in their fielding if they want to challenge and beat Bangladesh today. The key will be staying in the game for as long as possible against an under-pressure opponent in what could be a very interesting contest. Could Oman seal progression through to the Super 12s, pending the result in the Scotland-PNG match? A huge opportunity awaits.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Aqib Ilyas is enjoying a dream run of form. The right-hander struck scores of 59 vs Sri Lanka, 30 vs Namibia and 78 vs Netherlands in the leadup to the World Cup, before a solid 50* vs PNG.
  • Jatinder Singh’s 42-ball 73* against PNG could not have come at a better time. Oman’s premier batsman was enduring a poor run of form before the first match (7, 5, 8, 1).
  • Jatinder top-scored with 25 off 20 balls against Bangladesh in 2016. Also, his 300 runs at this ground come at an average of 37.50.
  • Zeeshan Maqsood will have a key role to play with bat and ball. The Oman skipper was outstanding vs PNG, taking three wickets in an over to turn the match (he finished with 4/20). He scored a duck in his only T20I vs Bangladesh, back in 2016.
  • Khawar Ali has both the second-most runs (601, avg. 20.72) and wickets (35, avg. 16.85) for his country. He took 1/24 and scored 8 in his T20I vs Bangladesh to date.
  • Bilal Khan was the bowler who held his own against Bangladesh in 2016. The Tigers scored 180/2, but Bilal was economical conceding just 16 in his four overs.
  • The left-armer is the joint sixth-fastest to 50 T20I wickets (level with Dale Steyn). He is coming off a solid outing vs PNG, taking 2/16 including a maiden.

Bangladesh:

  • Shakib Al Hasan’s struggle against Scotland was costly. He is striking at just 100.93 in 12 T20I innings in 2021, so this is an important innings for he and Bangladesh.
  • Shakib dominated Oman with the ball in their meeting five years ago, taking 4/15. He scored 17* off nine balls in the same game.
  • Can Liton Das finally shift from being talented to consistent? He scored a 33-ball 53 for the Bangladeshis XI against Oman A in a warm up T20 11 days ago. Mohammad Naim scored 63 off 53 balls in the same game.
  • Eyes will be on Mushfiqur Rahim, who, along with Shakib, took too long to settle against Scotland. His two sixes over midwicket looked to get him going, and Bangladesh needs their experienced man to deliver here.
  • Mahmudullah has the second-most runs for Bangladesh in T20Is this year (319, avg. 24.53, SR 101.91), including some crucial knocks for his team. He will be important as a finisher.
  • Mahedi Hasan is coming off a superb display against Scotland. The spinner took 3/19, and he will be key in building wicket-taking pressure today.
  • Mustafizur Rahman has the most wickets for Bangladesh in T20Is in 2021, with 20 in 12 matches at an average of 12.95 and economy rate of 5.97. This includes 2/32 vs Scotland, where he took two wickets in the death overs. However, he will be seeking an improvement to his execution in this period.

Stats and Facts

  • Bangladesh (180/2) beat Oman (65/9) comfortably by 54 runs (D/L method) in the same stage of the 2016 T20 World Cup. Tamim Iqbal was the star with a century, but he is not available now.
  • Nurual Hasan smashed a 15-ball 49* against Oman A 11 days ago.
  • If Scotland and Oman win today, Bangladesh will be out of the tournament before their match against PNG.

Possible Playing 11

Oman should stick with the same XI that beat PNG.

Oman: 1. Aqib Ilyas, 2. Jatinder Singh, 3. Khawar Ali, 4. Zeeshan Maqsood (c), 5. Kashyap Prajapati, 6. Naseem Khushi (wk), 7. Mohammad Nadeem, 8. Ayaan Khan, 9. Sandeep Goud, 10. Kaleemullah, 11. Bilal Khan

Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo said that Soumya Sarkar was picked over Mohammad Naim against Scotland due to the fact he offers a bowling option in the dew. It remains to be seen if they choose Soumya again, who continues to underwhelm.

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

Al Amerat Pitch Report and Weather

It was an easy-paced surface on day one of the T20 World Cup on Sunday, but Bangladesh struggled to get going. Runs were on offer for batsmen willing to play the percentages. Expect more of the same today.

The forecast is for warm and clear weather, but dew could be a factor.

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 6: OMN vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs OMA Dream11 Prediction Today | Oman vs Bangladesh Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 6: OMN vs BAN Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 6: OMN vs BAN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs OMA Dream11 Prediction Today | Oman vs Bangladesh Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 6: OMN vs BAN Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mushfiqur Rahim
  • Batsmen: Jatinder Singh, Aqib Ilyas
  • All-rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Zeeshan Maqsood, Mahedi Hasan
  • Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Bilal Khan

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

Match Prediction

It would be one of the most extraordinary failures in Bangladesh cricket if they fail to qualify for the Super 12s. Given the experience they possess, they should have enough to win today.

5 players who unexpectedly underperformed in IPL 2021

Debashish Sarangi
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5 players who unexpectedly underperformed in IPL 2021

Cricket News: 5 players who unexpectedly underperformed in IPL 2021 | 5 underperformers from the recent IPL 2021 campaign

The 14th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) finally came to an end with the Chennai Super Kings crowned as the champions for the fourth time.

In this IPL, some players, such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, performed beyond our expectations whereas some couldn’t live up the promise. In this article, I am going to mention five such players who couldn’t perform up to the mark despite being hailed as giants in T20 cricket. Here we go.

Liam Livingstone (Rajasthan Royals)

Livingstone was a name whom everybody expected to come with all guns blazing in IPL 2021. He had a fantastic BBL followed by some outstanding performances to his name internationally for England and The Hundred.

In the absence of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, he was given a golden opportunity to prove his worth in the IPL. But his returns were as dismal as they could be. Livingstone was able to score just 42 runs in five innings at an extremely poor average of 8.40 and a sub-par strike rate of 102.44. The Englishman will surely up for grabs in the mega auction and it will be interesting to see whether he gets picked by any side or not.

Nicholas Pooran (Punjab Kings)

Nicholas Pooran is highly admired by the cricket fraternity as an extremely valuable asset in T20 cricket. But he was just a pale shadow of himself in IPL 2021. Pooran had his worst IPL this season as he scored mere 85 runs in 11 innings at a terrible average of 7.73. He looked horribly out of touch and is all set to be released by PBKS ahead of the mega auction. I hope he comes back stronger next season.

Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians)

Trent Boult, being a very experienced swing bowler, was expected to excel for Mumbai Indians with the new ball. But his performance was really disappointing as he picked just 13 wickets contrary to 25 wickets in IPL 2020. Although his economy improved by a bare margin, his average of 31.23 and strike rate of 23.69 with the ball were significantly higher than that he had in the last season. Thus, Trent Boult definitely let MI down to a certain extent and his dismal returns played a big role in MI’s failure to reach the playoffs in IPL 2021.   

Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals)

In IPL 2019 and 2020, Rabada took 55 wickets in just 29 games at a superb average of 16.65 and a brilliant strike rate of 12.29. He even went on to win the Purple Cap in IPL 2020 and DC fans had expected him to replicate the same in this IPL as well.

But unfortunately, he couldn’t stand up to the high expectations and had a mediocre IPL. In IPL 2021, Rabada was able to pick just 15 wickets in 15 games at a considerably higher average of 30.40. This shows that he wasn’t anywhere near to his best this season and couldn’t support Avesh Khan and Anrich Nortje in the most desired manner. His ineffectiveness definitely costed DC some games, especially the vital encounter against CSK in the first qualifier.

Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians)

Suryakumar Yadav was the most valuable player for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020 as he smashed 480 runs at an impressive average of 40 and a magnificent strike rate of 145.02. He was one of the keys in MI’s victorious campaign.

He got an average start in this IPL as well, but his performance in the second phase was horrible to say the least. Overall, he managed to score 317 runs at a very poor average of 22.64. He got out in single digit scores in four consecutive matches, which was one of the major reasons behind Mumbai missing the playoffs this time. 

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today

T20 WC 2021 Match 5: SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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T20 WC 2021 Match 5: SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 5: SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction Today | Scotland vs Papua New Guinea Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report

What a night it was for Scotland two nights ago. Courtesy of their brilliant victory against Bangladesh, Kyle Coetzer’s team, after a magnificent all-round performance by Chris Greaves, can take a huge step towards the Super 12s stage with victory over Papua New Guinea.

And they are expected to do so. However, this is a vital game for another reason. They will be seeking an improvement with the bat after falling to 53/6 against Bangladesh. With such experience in their top and middle order, the best way for Scotland to make a mark in this tournament is for their batting lineup to lead the way with their capable, balanced bowling attack to follow suit.

For PNG, the positives were there in their ICC global tournament debut against Oman. The partnership between Charles Amini and skipper Assad Vala was heartening, but everything outside of that stand is room for significant improvement. Indeed, this is to be expected from a team finding its feet at this level, so today is a great opportunity to continue building.

Can PNG’s bowlers and fielders, who struggled so badly against Oman, make inroads into Scotland’s experienced lineup? Also, importantly, can Tony Ura lead the way at the top with the rest following in a strong batting display across all three stages of the innings? Answering these questions, along with others, is key to PNG’s continual development.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Scotland:

  • Richie Berrington has scored the most runs in Scotland-PNG matches, with 176 in four matches at an average of 88.00 and strike rate of 126.62. This includes 41* off 28 balls 11 days ago.
  • George Munsey was player of the match against PNG in their T20I on October 8. He smashed a 33-ball 50.
  • Munsey comfortably has the highest strike (152.52) among Scottish players with at least 150 T20I runs. The next highest is 127.98.
  • Kyle Coetzer is enduring a very lean run of form. The skipper has struck scores of 5, 14, 1, 10, 17, 0 in his last six white-ball matches. However, he did score 81 in an ODI vs PNG at the start of October, so he will be looking to produce something similar at the top today.
  • What a performance it was by Chris Greaves against Bangladesh. His 46 (28) and 2/19 was an all-round display to savour. He took 1/17 in four overs on T20I debut vs PNG on October 1.
  • Brad Wheal was in excellent rhythm against Bangladesh. The pacer took 3/24, and he will be looking to build on that today.
  • Mark Watt is in terrific form. The left-arm spinner has taken nine wickets in his last four matches (2/11, 4/10, 2/34, 1/19). He was outstanding in the middle overs against Bangladesh, and he will be key in building pressure vs PNG.

Papua New Guinea:

  • Assad Vala is coming off a fine half-century in PNG’s global tournament debut on Sunday. He also scored a half-century 11 days ago against Scotland (55 off 43 balls), in addition to 51 vs Sri Lanka in the warm up. The skipper will be aiming for more of the same.
  • Charles Amini also looked in good touch vs Oman. He and Vala put on an 81-run stand. He was looking good for more than his 37 off 26 balls as he got run out in disappointing fashion.
  • Amini will be looking to improve his record against Scotland. He has 44 runs in four matches against them at an average of just 11. He does have four wickets with the ball, though.
  • Can Tony Ura make an impact here? The opener has been a rock for PNG cricket over the years. He has the most runs in T20I cricket for PNG (754, avg. 35.90, SR 140.14). Like Amini, however, Ura will be seeking to improve his record vs Scotland (4 inns, 62 runs, avg. 15.50, SR 83.78).
  • Sese Bau could impact this game with his all-round abilities. He scored a strong 38* off 26 balls 11 days ago vs Scotland and can contribute with a few overs as well.
  • Norman Vanua has taken three wickets in two matches vs Scotland at an average of 13.00. He also has the most wickets for PNG in T20Is (25 inns, 35 wickets, avg. 14.42, SR 14). He didn’t bowl at all vs Oman, so it will be interesting to see how he is used today.
  • Plus, his 47 runs vs Scotland come at a strike rate of 188 (one dismissal).

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 4, Scotland 4, Papua New Guinea 0.
  • A big win for Scotland today will almost certainly seal their passage through to the Super 12s.
  • Safyaan Sherif is wicketless in his last four T20Is. However, he was excellent at the death vs Bangladesh, and he has the potential to take wickets at this stage today.

Possible Playing 11

Scotland should look to stick with the same team that beat Bangladesh.

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

PNG would also be well served giving the same XI a chance to improve in this match.

Papua New Guinea: 1. Tony Ura, 2. Lega Siaka, 3. Assad Vala (c), 4. Charles Amini, 5. Sese Bau, 6. Norman Vanua, 7. Simon Atai , 8. Kiplin Doriga (wk), 9. Damien Ravu, 10. Kabua Morea, 11. Nosaina Pokana

Al Amerat Pitch Report and Weather

It was an easy-paced surface on day one of the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Runs were on offer for batsmen willing to play the percentages. Expect more of the same today.

The forecast is for warm and clear weather.

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 5: SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction Today | Scotland vs Papua New Guinea Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 5: SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 5: SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction Today | Scotland vs Papua New Guinea Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 5: SCO vs PNG Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Matthew Cross
  • Batsmen: George Munsey, Tony Ura
  • All-rounders: Richie Berrington, Charles Amini, Assad Vala
  • Bowlers: Brad Wheal, Chris Greaves

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

Match Prediction

Scotland to win.

T20 WC 2021 Match 4: SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 4: SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 4: SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs Namibia Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Seven years ago, Sri Lanka were the talk of the town as they raised the T20 World Cup aloft. Their magnificent triumph came after consistent appearances in the business end of ODI World Cups in the 2000’s and 2011, and were a team to be feared.

So, the fact that Sri Lanka are now in the qualifiers is proof of such a steep decline in recent years. It is only until the last couple of months where optimism is beginning to grow again thanks to the arrival of some fine talent, but that alone won’t be enough to qualify out of a very competitive group that also includes Ireland and Netherlands.

As Sri Lanka have declined, Namibia have risen. The men from Southern Africa have gone from strength-to-strength over the past five years, and look in good shape to compete in their first global tournament since the 2003 ODI World Cup. They are certainly not here as pushovers, with 18 victories in 22 completed T20Is to date, including their last three against UAE, Scotland and PNG.

Namibia base their game around six hitting, which was crucial to their qualification back in 2019. Craig Williams is in superb touch, while Stephan Baard and Gerhard Erasmus will also look to lead the way. The Namibians also welcome David Wiese, who has the most five-wicket hauls of any bowler in T20 history.

Sri Lanka will have to be on their game. If they think they can just turn up and win, they have another thing coming. A good performance in such a competitive Group A will be key to qualification to the Super 12s stage.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

  • Avishka Fernando has historically struggled in T20Is, but is enjoying a strong run of form batting at number four. He has struck 83*, 33, 62* and 61 in his last four matches vs Oman, Bangladesh and PNG.
  • Sri Lanka will be hoping Kusal Perera is fit enough to play as he nurses a hamstring injury. He has 1,416 runs in T20s at a strike rate of 132.21.
  • Can Pathum Nissanka impact this game at the top of the order? He is coming off a 58-ball 76 in his last game – the warm up match vs PNG.
  • A firing Dhanajaya de Silva adds a different dimension to the Sri Lankan team. However, the all-rounder has struggled in T20s this year, with just 97 runs in 11 matches at an average of 13.86.
  • Wanindu Hasaranga will have a key role to play. He didn’t make an impact in his limited opportunities in IPL 2021, but he remains an excellent talent. He has 20 wickets in 14 T20s this year at an economy rate of just 6.09, in addition to 1/24 and 2/16 the warm ups.
  • However, Hasaranga will be out to make an impact with the bat. He has produced some fine knocks in ODIs, but has struggled in T20s this year with just 78 runs at an average of 7.80.
  • Dushmantha Chameera was in fine touch in the warm ups, taking 3/27 and 2/20 against Bangladesh and PNG respectively. Chameera has been one of Sri Lanka’s bright spots this year, with 15 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 17.86.

Namibia:

  • What Craig Williams has done for Namibian cricket has been outstanding, and he will be keen to deliver on the world stage even at the age of 37. He has struck 57, 50, 57, and 81 in his last four T20Is, part of a total of 259 runs this year at a strike rate of 142.
  • Skipper Gerhard Erasmus was Namibia’s top run-scorer in the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier (9 inns, 268 runs, avg. 38.28, SR 137.43). He will be seeking to improve on a bit of a lean run in recent matches (27, 0, 11, 32 and 4 in his last five matches).
  • Erasmus will also be seeking an improvement on just 25 runs in four T20s on this ground at an average of 6.25.
  • Stephen Baard was under par in the warm ups, scoring 1 and 0 vs Oman and Scotland respectively. He did strike 42, 39, 39 and 8 in his four T20s before that. Namibia’s third-highest run-scorer ever in T20Is (496 runs, avg. 33.08, SR 121.86) will be key at the top.
  • JJ Smit has struck 22 sixes in 18 matches, only behind Erasmus’ 24 for Namibia in T20Is. Smit hit the most sixes in the 2019 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE, with 14 maximums in nine matches. He also took 16 wickets in the same campaign.
  • David Wiese has six five-wicket hauls in T20s – the most of any bowler. Two of them came recently in the CPL. Also, Wiese had a fine hit out in the warm up vs Scotland, scoring 31 and taking 2/23.
  • Jan Frylinck has the most wickets of any Namibian in T20Is, with 35 scalps in 20 matches at a superb average of 10.80 and strike rate of 11. This includes a remarkable 6/24 against UAE recently.

Stats and Facts

  • This will be the first ever meeting between Sri Lanka and Namibia in international cricket.
  • Sri Lanka have lost nine of 12 T20Is this year. Two of their three wins came against a very depleted India.
  • Avishka Fernando has struck three fifties in his last four matches, but none were official T20Is. He is still looking for his first official T20I fifty.

Possible Playing 11

Kusal Perera is in doubt with a hamstring problem. If he is fit, he will certainly be a key addition at number three.

Sri Lanka: 1. Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 2. Pathum Nissanka, 3. Kusal Perera/Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 4. Avishka Fernando, 5. Dhananjaya de Silva, 6. Charith Asalanka, 7. Dasun Shanaka (c), 8. Chamika Karunaratne, 9. Wanindu Hasaranga, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Maheesh Theekshana/Akila Dananjaya

Namibia: 1. Stephan Baard, 2. Zane Green (wk), 3. Craig Williams, 4. Gerhard Erasmus (c), 5. David Wiese, 6. JJ Smit, 7. Pikky Ya France, 8. Jan Frylinck, 9. Ben Shikongo, 10. Bernard Scholtz, 11. Michael van Lingen

Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score at Abu Dhabi in the recent IPL was 159, with the chasing team winning five of the eight matches. However, the last game saw Mumbai Indians smash 235 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, who themselves scored a strong 193 in reply.

A warm, clear evening 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 4: SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs Namibia Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 4: SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 4: SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs Namibia Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 4: SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Dinesh Chandimal
  • Batsmen: Avishka Fernando, Craig Williams
  • All-rounders: David Wiese, Wanindu Hasaranga, JJ Smit
  • Bowlers: Dushmantha Chameera

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

Match Prediction

Sri Lanka need to be wary of a motivated and talented Namibia side. But, they should have enough T20I experience to win.

T20 WC 2021 Match 3: IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 3: IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 3: IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction Today | Ireland vs Netherlands Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Who said the T20 World Cup will only become interesting at the Super 12s stage? After a fascinating day one where Scotland produced a magnificent comeback to beat Bangladesh, Group A gets underway in Abu Dhabi.

And this is the group that looks most fascinating on paper. Sri Lanka are not the force they once were, and Namibia have made wonderful strides in the past five years. With them are Ireland and Netherlands, who both have strong cases for progressing through to the Super 12s stage.

Ireland, despite their up-and-down form in T20Is in recent years, can never be counted out. They were disappointing in their 2-1 series defeat against UAE in the leadup to the tournament, but as history has showed, a global tournament can bring the best out of the Irish. With the confidence of two comfortable warm up victories against Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh, Ireland will believe that they can make the perfect start to a very competitive group.

And it looks to be a challenging start indeed. The Netherlands are many’s pick to qualify to the main round courtesy of their experience and capable bowling attack. Ryan ten Doeschate will call time on a decorated career after this tournament, which will no doubt increase his and his team’s motivation to send him out on a high.

This should be a cracker. These two sides have history in the T20 World Cup, where Netherlands pulled off a miraculous chase in 2014 to qualify for the main round. And, the Dutch have enjoyed other great moments, particularly beating England in 2009 and 2014. So, what will be the great moment this time, and for whom?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Ireland:

  • Paul Stirling is in wonderful form and you feel he is key to Ireland’s hopes. He has struck 737 runs this year in 27 matches at an average of 29.48 and strike rate of 141.46.
  • Stirling will be out to improve on his record against The Netherlands. The right-hander is yet to hit a half-century in nine matches, averaging just 18.89 overall (170 runs). He does have a fine record at this ground, with 565 runs in 17 matches at an average of 33.24 and strike rate of 137.80.
  • It has been a tough year for Kevin O’Brien in T20 cricket (18 inns, 332 runs, avg. 18.44, SR 102.15). However, his scores of 46, 12 and 54 against UAE can do his confidence the world of good.
  • O’Brien averages 22 in seven matches against the Dutch and 21.88 in 17 matches on this ground. Ireland will be hoping he can crack the 20 mark and carry on.
  • Skipper Andy Balbirnie has a solid record against The Netherlands. In five matches, he has struck 199 runs at an average of 39.80 and strike rate of 143.17.
  • George Dockrell is more of a batting all-rounder these days, but he could have an impact with the ball if called on. He has 16 wickets in 11 matches vs the Dutch at an average of 16.50.
  • Simi Singh is one to watch, without a doubt. He has struck 240 runs in 16 matches this year (avg. 24), along with 17 wickets. He has a half-century in three T20Is against the Dutch as well as four wickets.
  • Craig Young comes into this match in fine form, with figures of 3/15 (vs PNG) and 2/21 (vs Bangladesh) in the warm up matches.

Netherlands:

  • Netherlands have plenty of experience, but the man who can turn the game in their favour is Max O’Dowd. The opener has scored 235 runs in seven T20Is vs Ireland at an average of 33.57 and strike rate of 141.57.
  • O’Dowd smashed a 73-ball 133 earlier this year, albeit against the inexperienced Malaysia outfit.
  • Stephan Myburgh played one of the memorable knocks in T20 World Cup history in 2014. He slammed a 23-ball 63 to help Netherlands chase Ireland’s 190 within the 14.2 overs they had to in order to qualify.
  • Ben Cooper has a magnificent record against Ireland. In eight innings, Cooper has struck 287 runs at an average of 57.40 and strike rate of 128.13. He scored 40 (vs Oman) and 19 (vs Scotland) in the warm ups.
  • Can Ryan ten Doeschate influence this game as many know he can? He has played just the three matches vs Ireland to date (75 runs, avg. 37.50, one wicket). However, he did struggle in the T20 Cup in England (11 inns, 73 runs, avg. 10.43, SR 97.33), so it will be interesting to see how he responds.
  • Roelof van der Merwe will also be key with both bat and ball. His 86 runs vs Ireland come at an average of 28.67 and strike rate of 132.31. He also has seven wickets in six matches at an average of 19.57.
  • Paul van Meekeren is coming off a successful CPL campaign, where he won the title with St Kitts. He has a superb record against Ireland, with 14 wickets in seven matches at an average of just 12.71.
  • Skipper Pieter Seelaar has the potential to swing the game in his team’s favour. He has 11 wickets in 10 matches vs Ireland (avg. 21.73).

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 13, Ireland 4, Netherlands 7, N/R 2.
  • Ireland and Netherlands met four times in 2019, with both teams winning two matches apiece. Ireland won both games in Oman, while Netherlands won in the UAE (Dubai).
  • Harry Tector has struck 50, 55, 13*, 38 and 23 in his last five white-ball matches.
  • Mark Adair has taken seven wickets in his last four white-ball matches.
  • Tim van der Gugten took 2/11 (vs Scotland) and 1/29 (vs Oman) in the warm ups. The seamer can be a point of difference for the Dutch.
  • Colin Ackermann will be key as one of the limited spin options in the Netherlands’ squad. He is coming off a solid performance vs Oman, scoring 37* (21) and taking 1/11.

Possible Playing 11

Ireland: 1. Paul Stirling, 2. Kevin O’Brien, 3. Andy Balbirnie (c), 4. Harry Tector, 5. George Dockrell, 6. Lorcan Tucker/Niel Rock (wk), 7. Simi Singh, 8. Mark Adair, 9. Andy McBrine, 10. Craig Young, 11. Josh Little/Ben White

Brandon Glover was the second-highest wicket-taker in the 2019 Qualifier, which further highlights the Netherlands’ pace bowling depth.

Netherlands: 1. Max O’Dowd, 2. Stephan Myburgh, 3. Ben Cooper, 4. Colin Ackermann, 4. Ryan ten Doeschate, 5. Roelof van der Merwe, 6. Bas de Leede, 7. Scott Edwards (wk), 8. Pieter Seelaar (c), 9. Tim van der Gugten/Brandon Glover, 10. Paul van Meekeren, 11. Vivan Kingma/Philippe Boissevain

Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score at Abu Dhabi in the recent IPL was 159, with the chasing team winning five of the eight matches. However, the last game saw Mumbai Indians smash 235 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, who themselves scored a strong 193 in reply.

A warm and clear day is forecast, which comes as no surprise.

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 3: IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction Today | Ireland vs Netherlands Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 3: IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 3: IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction Today | Ireland vs Netherlands Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 3: IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Scott Edwards
  • Batsmen: Ben Cooper, Paul Stirling
  • All-rounders: Roelof van der Merwe, Simi Singh, Colin Ackermann
  • Bowlers: Craig Young, Paul van Meekeren

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

Match Prediction

A difficult match to predict. Ireland have played more cricket of late, while Netherlands have to gel quickly. However, I will predict Netherlands, with their experience and bowling depth, to win.

T20 WC 2021 Match 3: IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs NED Dream11 Prediction Today | Ireland vs Netherlands Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 2: BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 2: BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 2: BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Scotland Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report

The two favourites to qualify out of Group B do battle in the quest to take a big step in the quest for qualification to the Super 12s stage.

Bangladesh struggled in the warm ups against Sri Lanka and Ireland, but will be looking to build on a wonderful run in T20 Internationals. Series wins against Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand has increased optimism that the Tigers can be a dark horse in the tournament, particularly given the slow pitches of the UAE.

However, they will first have to perform well in Oman on a surface expected to be vastly different to those of Dhaka. Also, their batting is in the spotlight as they have often failed to chase challenging scores since the start of the Australia series, and a good start here with the bat can be a wonderful confidence booster. Indeed, having Shakib Al Hasan available less than 48 hours after the IPL Final is a big boost in their attempt to improve on a poor T20 World Cup record.

This is also a wonderful opportunity for Scotland. You feel they have been building for something bigger in recent years until the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on things. Now, they have the chance to impress on the world stage, with experienced players keen to make a mark. The Scots will be aiming to build on their strong showings in the warm up matches, and will no doubt remind Bangladesh that they shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Bangladesh:

  • If Shakib Al Hasan delivers, Bangladesh will be hard to beat. He made plenty of starts at home vs Australia and New Zealand, but will be looking forward to playing on a different kind of surface here.
  • Bangladesh could pick Soumya Sarkar, who struck two starts in the warm up matches (34 and 37). Like Shakib, Soumya prefers to bat on truer surfaces, as he showed against Zimbabwe earlier this year with a player of the series performance (126 runs, three wickets).
  • Mushfiqur Rahim’s form is also a concern for Bangladesh. One of Bangladesh’s greatest ever players was enduring a poor run of form against New Zealand, and scored just 13 and 4 in the warm ups.
  • Skipper Mahmudullah was Bangladesh’s top run-scorer in their series against New Zealand with 120 runs at an average of 60 on tough batting pitches. He missed the warm ups with “slight back pains”, but should be right to go here according to reports.
  • Mustafizur Rahman will be key, particularly in the death overs. He was performing well in the IPL until the last couple of matches where he went wicketless and was expensive. If there is any grip in the surface, watch out.
  • Shoriful Islam was expensive in the warm up matches (0/41 and 1/41). However, the left-arm seamer has proven to be a genuine wicket-taker, with 17 wickets in 11 T20Is this year at an average of 17.35 and strike rate of 13.

Scotland:

  • If George Munsey gets going, watch out. No Scottish player with at least 150 T20I runs comes close to Munsey’s strike rate of 153.36. The hard-hitting left-hander is coming off a 41-ball 67 in the warm up against Namibia.
  • Also, in three T20s on this ground, Munsey has struck 98 runs at a strike rate of 208.51.
  • Kyle Coetzer missed out in the warm ups (17 and 10), but remains key to Scotland’s hopes. He has scored 78 runs in three matches on this ground at an average of 26.00 and strike rate of 144.44.
  • Richie Berrington smashed a century in Scotland’s only T20I to date vs Bangladesh, back in 2012. Berrington was in some fine form last month against Zimbabwe, striking scores of 82*, 42 and 44.
  • Calum MacLeod is one of the four players (Munsey, Coetzer and Berrington) to hit at least 1,000 T20I runs for Scotland. He prefers to bat first (avg. 34) compared to batting second (avg. 22.26) in T20s. Also, MacLeod has struck 117 runs in three matches on this ground for just the one dismissal (SR 113.59).
  • Mark Watt comes into this form on the back of some fine bowling form. The left-arm spinner took 2/11 and 2/34 in recent matches vs Namibia, as well as 4/10 to bowl Ireland out for 91.
  • Safyaan Sharif is the only Scottish bowler with at least 50 T20I wickets (45 inns, 53 wickets, avg. 24.18, SR 17.8).

Stats and Facts

  • Scotland won the only T20I between the two sides, back in 2012. They won by 34 runs in a comprehensive display against a Bangladesh side that had Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah.
  • Matthew Cross is coming off a 33-ball 57 against Namibia.
  • Bangladesh have won just five of 25 matches at the T20 World Cup.

Possible Playing 11

Mohammad Naim has been in poor form, so it could be between he and Soumya Sarkar for the opening slot.

Bangladesh: 1. Soumya Sarkar/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. Mohammad Saifuddin, 10. Shoriful Islam, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

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

Al Amerat Pitch Report and Weather

Scores in the region of 160 were common in the recent series between Sri Lanka and Oman. Expect an easy-paced track here, with the batsmen to have a say in the game.

The forecast is for warm and clear weather, as is the case for the rest of the week in Muscat.

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 2: BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Scotland Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 2: BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 2: BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Scotland Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report
T20 WC 2021 Match 2: BAN vs SCO Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mushfiqur Rahim
  • Batsmen: Liton Das, George Munsey
  • All-rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Richie Berrington
  • Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Safyaan Sharif

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

Match Prediction

Scotland can certainly challenge Bangladesh in this contest. But, Bangladesh’s experience and Oman conditions should be enough to get them over the line.

T20 WC 2021 Match 1: OMN vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
T20 WC 2021 Match 1: OMN vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

T20 WC 2021 Match 1: OMN vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | OMA vs PNG Dream11 Prediction Today | Oman vs Papua New Guinea Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report

From another wonderful moment for the decorated Chennai Super Kings to another less than 48 hours later. The people of Oman will witness their national side host the opening match of a global tournament in what is a fantastic opportunity for their team. 3,000 will be in attendance, while many others will tune in on their televisions and smartphones.

The T20 World Cup – a year late – is finally upon us, and phase one of the tournament promises to be quite fascinating. Oman, hosting phase one of the T20 World Cup, have a great opportunity to make that home advantage count in their quest to qualify for the Super 12s. Facing them today is a critical game given that Bangladesh and Scotland are the favourites to qualify from Group B.

Papua New Guinea is the most winnable match in the group for Oman, given this is PNG’s first appearance at a global tournament and are enduring a bad run of form. However, don’t let that distract you from what is a brilliant story. Most of their squad hails from Hanuabada Village, a conclave on the western side of PNG capital Port Moresby, and here they are looking to make a mark on the world stage. In fact, this will be the first time ever that PNG will play in front of a televised audience back home. A big occasion indeed.

While qualification out of the group looks a distant possibility for PNG, a good performance here will certainly raise further attention as to the strides they have made. They will want to put their best foot forward in what also looks like their best opportunity to compete in this group. Here’s to a good match.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Oman:

  • Aqib Ilyas has been the man in form for Oman. He struck 59, 30 and 78 in the T20 World Cup warm up matches against Sri Lanka, Namibia and Netherlands respectively. Also, he struck 34 and 56 in ODIs vs PNG on this ground a few weeks ago.
  • Can Jatinder Singh make his mark on the World Cup right away after a poor run of form (scores of 7, 5, 8 and 1) in the warm up matches? He has the most runs for Oman in T20Is (697, avg. 27.88, SR 114.07).
  • Jatinder has a solid record on this ground in T20Is, with 215 runs in seven matches at an average of 35.83 and strike rate of 117.48.
  • Khawar Ali’s all-round ability will be key for Oman. He has both the second-most runs (601, avg. 20.72) and wickets (35, avg. 16.85) for his country. He recently decimated the PNG lineup in an ODI, taking 5/15 on October 1.
  • Skipper Zeeshan Maqsood will be keen to lead from the front on a big day for his team. He has the third-most runs for Oman in T20Is (26 inns, 547 runs, avg. 24.86, SR 11.63), along with 18 wickets with his left-arm spin. He struck 26 and 17* in ODIs vs PNG a few weeks ago.
  • Will PNG be able to handle Bilal Khan? The left-arm seamer is the only Oman bowler to have at least 50 T20I wickets (51, avg. 16.25, SR 14.3). He recently took 1/12 and 1/32 in ODIs vs PNG.
  • In fact, Bilal Khan is the joint-sixth-fastest, along with Dale Steyn, to 50 T20I wickets (35 matches).

Papua New Guinea:

  • Tony Ura is the face of PNG cricket. He is PNG’s only centurion, with a total of 768 T20I runs in 26 innings at an impressive average and strike rate of 37.70 and 141.46 respectively.
  • Ura struck 69 recently against Namibia in Dubai, before making scores of 2 (vs Ireland) and 24 (vs Srl Lanka) in the World Cup warm ups.
  • Skipper Assad Vala showed fine form in two ODIs against Oman at the turn of the month. He struck scores of 27 (49) and 62 (78). He is PNG’s second-highest run-scorer in T20Is, with 516 at an average of 23. Also, he is PNG’s third-highest wicket-taker with 22 scalps at an average of just 13.
  • The skipper also top-scored for PNG in the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament, with 197 runs in eight innings at an average of 28.14 and strike rate of 121.60.
  • Sese Bau has the second-highest average for any PNG player with at least 300 T20I runs (26.73), only behind Ura’s 37.70. Bau has had a bit of a lean patch leading into the tournament (7, 12, 3 in his last three matches), so PNG will be hoping he hits form here.
  • Damien Ravu has the second-highest number of wickets for any PNG bowler in T20Is. His 24 scalps in 18 matches come at an average of 10.66 and economy rate of just 5.66. However, he has gone wicketless in each of his last seven matches across ODI and T20 matches.
  • Nosaina Pokana will be key for PNG. The left-armer has 21 wickets in as many T20Is at an average of 18.14 and economy rate of 5.96. He took 1/48 vs Oman in an ODI a few weeks ago, and will be looking to improve on two wickets in his last four T20 matches.

Stats and Facts

  • This will be the first meeting between Oman and Papua New Guinea in a T20 International. Oman did beat PNG comfortably in two ODIs recently as part of the Cricket World Cup League 2 tournament.
  • Oman have been in some decent form. They beat a strong Mumbai domestic team 2-1 in a T20 series last month, and pushed Sri Lanka recently in their two matches against them.
  • PNG have lost their last 12 matches (eight ODIs, two T20Is and two unofficial T20s). Can they turn that around here?

Possible Playing 11

Oman: 1. Jatinder Singh, 2. Aqib Ilyas, 3. Khawar Ali, 4. Kashyap Prajapati, 5. Zeeshan Maqsood (c), 6. Suraj Kumar, 7. Sandeep Goud, 8. Naseem Khushi (wk), 9. Mohammad Nadeem, 10. Fayyaz Butt/Kaleemulah, 11. Bilal Khan

Papua New Guinea: 1. Tony Ura, 2. Lega Siaka, 3. Assad Vala (c), 4. Charles Amini, 5. Kiplin Doriga (wk), 6. Sese Bau, 7. Norman Vanua, 8. Chad Soper, 9. Simon Atai, 10. Nosaina Pokana, 11. Damien Ravu

Al Amerat Pitch Report and Weather

The recent T20s between Sri Lanka and Oman saw scores of 160. Sri Lanka finished well in the first game to reach 162/4, followed by the Lankans then chasing Oman’s 150 in the next match. Expect another easy-paced surface here.

The forecast is for clear and hot weather, with a top of about 35 degrees.

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 1: OMN vs PNG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | OMA vs PNG Dream11 Prediction Today | Oman vs Papua New Guinea Key Players | Al Amerat Pitch Report | T20 World Cup Round 1 match 1 OMA vs PNG Dream11 | OMN vs PNG Best Dream11 Team
T20 WC 2021 Match 1: OMN vs PNG Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

T20 WC 2021 Match 1: OMN vs PNG Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Simon Atai
  • Batsmen: Tony Ura, Jatinder Singh, Aqib Ilyas
  • All-rounders: Khawar Ali, Neeshan Maqsood, Assad Vala
  • Bowlers: Bilal Khan

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

Match Prediction

Oman at home look good for a win. They have been in decent form lately and should beat a PNG side finding its feet at this level.

Twitter reactions as CSK win their 4th IPL Trophy

Nash Sant
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0
Twitter reactions as CSK win their 4th IPL Trophy

Cricket News: Twitter reactions as CSK win their 4th IPL Trophy | MS Dhoni leads CSK to their 4th IPL trophy after victory over KKR

When IPL 2021 began in April in India, not many gave CSK a chance to win the trophy seven months later. And when the second phase began in the UAE in September, no one really gave KKR a chance of reaching the Final.

But here we were.

After beginning the second phase at the seventh spot, KKR won five of their remaining seven games to end up in the fourth spot at the end of the league stage. 

Pressure was high at Dubai Sports City and the game sure was going to be a thriller. It all started with KKR winning the toss and putting CSK into bat first. In the past, that has worked for them when they won their two titles back in 2012 and 2014. On both occasions they ended up chasing over 190. 

CSK got off to a steady start. It was not a flier by any means but they kept the scoreboard ticking just over seven and at the start Ruturaj was the aggressor in the partnership with Faf. After that, CSK kept the run rate at a steady pace and Uthappa made full use of the opportunity that he got. Playing at a SR of 206, Uthappa made sure that the loss of Gaikwad wasn’t felt and it was important to keep the scoring rate above eight, which he was successful in doing.

After getting rid of Uthappa, KKR felt like they were pulling things back until Moeen Ali and Faf Du Plessis kept nailing boundaries each over and never looked out of sorts. The enigma of Faf struck again as he scored 86 and was only dismissed on the last ball of the innings. He missed the Orange cap by two runs to his fellow opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad.

At the mid innings break, Ruturaj had this to say, “It’s stopping, holding up, we did brilliantly well to get to 190, it’s going to be challenging for them. I think it’s enough but we need to execute well. I wanted Faf to hit a six off that last ball to add six more to our total (asked if he knew Faf was two short of the orange cap).”

KKR got off to a great start. The kind of start you would expect and hope for from your openers in a high pressure final chasing 193. But after the loss of the first wicket, KKR did not quite capitalise on that start and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Morgan made a gutsy move promoting himself to number 5 when things had not gone his way so far in the tournament. But that move did not pay off as he only played 8 balls to score 4 and saw wickets tumble at the other end.

In the end, KKR left things a little too late and lost the IPL final by 27 runs. 

At the final presentations, Dhoni said, ”Before I start talking about CSK, need to talk about KKR. Difficult to come back and do what they have, if any team deserved to win the IPL, it’s KKR. Huge credit to the coaches, team and support staff. The break really helped them.

Coming to CSK, we shuffled players. We had match winners coming game after game and doing really well. Every final is special, if you look at stats, we may say we’re the most consistent team to lose the final too. I feel it’s important to come back strong, especially in the knockouts. Frankly no chats, we don’t talk a lot [meetings]. It’s more one-on-one, our practice sessions are meeting sessions. The moment you get into a team room, it brings about different pressure. Our practice sessions have been good. I would love to thank the fans, wherever we’ve played, even when we were in South Africa, we’ve always had a good number of CSK fans. That is what you crave for.”

Eoin Morgan after a pleasing campaign: “We are extremely proud of the fight we have shown. The character and fight is trademark. Our owners – Shahrukh, Venky have been absolutely outstanding. Guys fought incredibly hard and performed. Iyer and Gill have been outstanding. Ventakesh is new to this platform. They have been the cornerstone of our batting. Tripathi left everything out there today. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury.”

Twitter reactions as CSK lift 4th IPL trophy

Written by Nash Sant. Follow Nash on Twitter today

WBBL 07 Match 3: ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
WBBL 07 Match 3: ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

WBBL 07 Match 3: ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction Today | Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Key Players | Hobart Pitch Report

Last season’s champions play one of this season’s challengers.

However, one feels that defending the title will be a challenge for the Sydney Thunder. Skipper Rachael Haynes is likely to be out of the tournament, replaced as captain by Hannah Darlington in a wonderful moment for the youngster. Also, the loss of such quality in Rachael Trenaman (Hurricanes), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight and Shabnim Ismail is not easy for any team to cope with.

But, they do welcome the in-form Smriti Mandhana, who is without a doubt one of the top batters in the world. It will be a tough test right away for Mandhana and co, as Adelaide Strikers on paper look one of the contenders for the WBBL 07 Title. Star South African Dane van Niekerk joins a Strikers side that has a well-balanced, exciting bowling attack led by Megan Schutt. Also, with Tahlia McGrath coming off a player of the series performance against India, the Strikers are well placed to improve on their sixth-placed finish in WBBL 06.

Who will start off with a win?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sydney Thunder:

  • Smriti Mandhana is in fine touch. The Indian opener has struck 422 runs in 16 white-ball matches this year at an average of 30.14 and strike rate of 132.29. She is coming off an excellent series against Australia, with a century in the Test followed by 52 in the last T20I.
  • Mandhana has played five matches at Bellerive Oval, scoring 115 runs at an average of 28.75 and strike rate of 149.35.
  • Sammy Jo-Johnson is a key X-Factor for the Thunder. She was the leading wicket-taker in WBBL 06 with 22 scalps in 14 innings at an average of 14.81 and strike rate of 13.4. Plus, she has 11 wickets in as many games vs Strikers.
  • Deepti Sharma is also a welcome addition to the Thunder. The Indian all-rounder will be key with both bat and ball. She has 149 runs in 17 T20s this year at an average of 29.80 along with 15 wickets at an economy rate of just 5.71.
  • 19-year old Hannah Darlington is now the youngest ever WBBL captain. The seamer was superb last season, taking the second-most wickets in the competition (12 inns, 19 wickets, avg. 13.68, SR 13.2). She has five wickets in four matches vs the Strikers (avg. 18.20).
  • Samantha Bates has the equal-most wickets in Thunder-Strikers matches (12 in 10 matches, avg. 17.25)

Adelaide Strikers:

  • Dane van Niekerk was the top run-scorer in the Women’s Hundred earlier this year (259, avg. 43.16, SR 105.71). She also took eight wickets.
  • In 10 matches against the Thunder, van Niekerk has struck 125 runs at an average of 25.00 and strike rate of 103.31. She also has five wickets at an economy rate of 6.91.
  • Katie Mack averages just 19.56 in 12 career matches vs Thunder. However, she has enjoyed some success playing for the Strikers against Thunder, with 90 runs in four innings at an average of 45.00, including one half-century.
  • Mack will be aiming to improve on her poor record at Bellerive Oval: 6 inns, 48 runs, avg. 12.00.
  • Laura Wolvaardt is one to watch. The South African had a solid Hundred campaign (7 inns, 181 runs, avg. 36.20, SR 116.77, and is enjoying a terrific year overall: 15 inns, 342 runs, avg. 42.75, SR 134.12.
  • So can Wolvaardt improve on a poor record vs Thunder? She has scored just 29 runs in five matches at an average of 5.80.
  • How good was Tahlia McGrath against India? The all-rounder was player of the series thanks to two crucial batting knocks (42* and 44*). She will be aiming to improve on her average of 16.44 in 10 innings vs Thunder, as well as her nine wickets in 11 innings.
  • Megan Schutt has just the four wickets in 11 innings vs Thunder at an average of 62.50. However, she enjoys bowling at Bellerive Oval, with nine wickets in eight T20s on this ground.
  • Sarah Coyte has seven scalps in nine matches vs Thunder (avg. 29, econ. 7.08). Amanda-Jade Wellington has 12 scalps in 11 games vs Thunder at an average of just 20.
  • Darcie Brown recently made an excellent start to her international career vs India, and will be looking to build on those performances here.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 12, Thunder 6, Strikers 5, N/R 1.
  • Sydney Thunder won both matches against the Strikers last season.
  • This is a big season for Pheobe Litchfield. The youngster had to train in lockdown throughout the year, so will be hoping to make a strong start. She has scored just the 35 runs in four innings vs Strikers so far, but expect her to play a key role higher up the order this season.

Possible Playing 11

Sydney Thunder: 1. Smriti Mandhana, 2. Phoebe Litchfield, 3. Sammy-Jo Johnson, 4. Corinne Hall, 5. Deepti Sharma, 6. Anika Learoyd/Olivier Porter, 7. Tahlia Wilson (wk), 8. Hannah Darlington (c), 9. Lauren Smith, 10. Issy Wong, 11. Sam Bates

Adelaide Strikers: 1. Katie Mack, 2. Dane van Niekerk, 3. Laura Wolvaardt, 4. Tahlia McGrath, 5. Bridget Patterson, 6. Maddie Penna/J Barsby, 7. Amanda-Jade Wellington, 8. Sarah Coyte, 9. Tegan McPharlin (wk), 10. Megan Schutt (c), 11. Darcie Brown

Bellerive Oval Hobart Pitch Report and Weather

Expect a true batting pitch for this match. Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Villani both struck quick half-centuries a couple of nights ago.

There are some showers forecast during the day in Hobart, which should hopefully clear by the evening. A cool night is forecast with the top temperature during the day just 15 degrees.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

WBBL 07 Match 3: ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction Today | Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Key Players | Hobart Pitch Report
WBBL 07 Match 3: ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

WBBL 07 Match 3: ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction Today | Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Key Players | Hobart Pitch Report
WBBL 07 Match 3: ST-W vs AS-W Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Tahlia McGrath
  • Batters: Smriti Mandhana, Laura Wolvaardt
  • All-rounders: Dane van Niekerk, Tahlia McGrath, Sammy Jo-Johnson
  • Bowlers: Sam Bates, Darcie Brown

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

Match Prediction

Adelaide Strikers look a very well-rounded team in WBBL 07. Sydney Thunder have lost a lot of quality, which gives the Strikers the edge. Strikers to win, barring any amazing individual brilliance by a Thunder player(s).

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