Home Blog Page 305

ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Aditya Narsale
-
0
ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Key Players | Chester-le-Street Pitch Report

The Three Lions had it easy in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. It was so easy that Eoin Morgan’s team could cruise without any worry in what was one of the most one-sided T20I series in history.

Now, it’s time for the 50-over series, where the two teams will play three matches, starting from 29th June. The defending world champions England are ranked 4th in ICC rankings in ODI format and they will be desperate to move up in the rankings, and pick up ODI Super League points.

Sri Lanka were awful in the recent T20I series, as they were whitewashed 3-0. Sri Lanka have not been able to maintain their brand of cricket in recent years, as they have slipped down to 9th in the ODI Rankings. They need to be more skilful and more emphasis should be given to their batting. However, they will now be without Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella, who have all been suspended for breaching the bio-bubble. Indeed, the task just got tougher.

Match Details: 

  • Match: ENG vs SL, 1st ODI, Sri Lanka tour of England, 2021
  • Date and Time: Tuesday, June 29, 2021. 3:30PM (IST), 11:00 AM Local Time
  • Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street

Key Players/Key Stats:

England 

  • Jonny Bairstow might keep wickets in the absence of Jos Buttler. The 31-year-old Yorkshire batter is a nightmare for the bowlers, especially in this limited-overs format. Bairstow was the highest run-scorer in the last series against India where the English opener scored 219 runs in 3 matches. But he has not been that impressive against Sri Lanka in ODIs, scoring just 109 runs in 7 innings. So he will be looking to improve his stats against the Islanders. 
  • Joe Root is Mr Dependable for England in the ODI format. He has cemented his No. 3 spot over the years. He is returning to the ODI squad and will intend to lead his team with his consistency and part time bowling as well. Joe is the top run scorer in ENG vs SL HTH matches among current cricketers by scoring 1,028 in 23 innings at avg of 57.11. 
  • Sam Curran is making his mark in all formats of the game. The 23-year-old Surrey cricketer has played only 8 ODI matches, but has already picked up 7 wickets and scored 132 runs with the bat. He could be the X-factor in the game for hosts. 
  • Adil Rashid will be the key bowler for England, especially in the middle overs. He uses his variations quite well to get the desired results. He has scalped 14 wickets in 10 innings against SL and will be looking forward to getting some more throughout the series. 
  • Chris Woakes is a highly-rated bowler who is ranked 7th in the ODI bowler rankings. He is just one short of 150 wickets in his ODI career, and has mustered 1315 runs as well. Chris has taken 24 wickets in 17 innings against SL in ODI format at bowling avg of 32.62. And he can score some runs as well. He has scored 231 runs in 10 innings so far, including a score of 95*. 

Sri Lanka: 

  • With Gunathilaka, Mendis and Dickwella now gone, the pressure ramps up on skipper Kusal Perera to perform. He has a very poor ODI record vs England that Sri Lanka will be desperate he turns around here (16 inns, 252 runs, avg. 16.80). His last ODI knock was a century vs Bangladesh (120).
  • Dasun Shanaka (scored a 50 in the T20Is) and the experienced Dhananjaya de Silva will be key in the absence of experienced players. Dhananjaya has scored 104 runs (avg. 34.66) and taken five wickets (avg. 22.00) in six ODIs vs England.
  • Wanindu Hasaranga, the batsman batted well in Bangladesh scoring 98 runs in 3 matches and also picked 3 wickets also. He has been economical throughout the T20I series. He is yet to play against England in ODIs. He could be the threat for Englishmen. 
  • Dushmantha Chameera was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka in the T20I series against England. The 6-ft tall right-arm seamer picked 3 wickets in the only ODI he played against England. So he is one of the bowlers to watch in the series. 

Stats and Facts

  • Head to head: Matches 75, England 36, Sri Lanka 36, Tied 1, NR 2.
  • Last 5 matches: England 3, Sri Lanka 2 (We can remember the big upet of the WC 2019 where SL defeated ENG by 20 Runs).
  • England have won 8 matches out of 14 and SL won 3 out of 4 at the venue Chester-le-Street .

Squads

England

(Dawid Malan replaced Jos Buttler in the series as Jos left out due to injury)

Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings,Dawid Malan , Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, George Garton, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera(C), Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Charith Asalanka,Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya and Praveen Jayawickrama.

Possible Playing 11

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3. Joe Root, 4. Liam Livingstone/Dawid Malan, 5. Eoin Morgan (c), 6. Sam Billings, 7. Moeen Ali, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Sam Curran, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood

Sri Lanka: 1. Oshada Fernando, 2. Kusal Perera (c & wk), 3. Pathum Nissanka, 4. Dhananjaya de Silva, 5. Ramesh Mendis, 6. Dasun Shanaka, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Akila Dananjaya/Lakshan Sandakan, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Binura Fernando/Nuwan Pradeep

Chester-le-Street Durham Pitch Report and Weather Report

In the last five matches on this ground, teams batting first have posted 300-plus score three times. However, the captain who wins the toss might be unsure of whether to bowl or bat first, as chasing has proven successful in recent times. The weather forecast predicts just a 16% possibility of rain, so a result can be expected.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Key Players | Chester-le-Street Pitch Report
ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Key Players | Chester-le-Street Pitch Report
ENG vs SL 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Historically, Sri Lanka and England have been neck to neck in ODIs. However, considering the current form, England is looking miles ahead and favorites to win the first ODI and the series.

Written by Aditya Narsale. Follow Aditya on Twitter today.

5 reasons why New Zealand won the WTC Final

Vaibhav Tripathi
-
0
5 reasons why New Zealand won the WTC Final

5 reasons why New Zealand won the WTC Final | Looking at 5 key areas that New Zealand got right in the WTC Final vs India

A tenacious New Zealand lifted the inaugural World Test Championship title with a comfortable eight-wicket win over India on the sixth and final day of the marquee event in Southampton. Veteran Ross Taylor and skipper Kane Williamson stood unflustered against a stern pace attack and effective spin duo to guide New Zealand to their first major ICC trophy since 2000.

Prior to the start of the game, India started as slight favourites with the bookmakers, but it was expected that the resilient Kiwi team would give it their all in the big-ticket final. The Kane Williamson-led New Zealand team played better cricket throughout the four days of riveting action of a 6-day Test and was deservingly crowned as the WTC title winners. Starting with the toss right down to finishing the game in due time, New Zealand were always a couple of steps ahead of India.

All 11 players played their part in some way or another to help their team to claim the Test mace. So in this article will search for the reasons why New Zealand edged past India to take the mace home.

1. New Zealand’s ideal preparation leading up to the big-ticket final

The number one Test team in the world couldn’t have asked for better scheduling than playing a 2-match Test series against England ahead of their summit clash against India. The Kiwis got a fair idea of the conditions and enjoyed some much-needed match practice. This was in contrast to India, who only played intra-squad matches to prepare themselves for the one-off game.

New Zealand were terrific against England winning the series 1-0, which boosted the morale of the team and lifted their spirits to win another Test match and claim the world title.

2. Winning the toss and selecting the right XI

5 reasons why New Zealand won the WTC Final | Looking at 5 key areas that New Zealand got right in the WTC Final vs India
5 reasons why New Zealand won the WTC Final – The NZ pace attack was superb.

Day 1 of the WTC final Test was washed out due to rain. When the toss could finally happen on day two, Kane Williamson called it right and elected to field first in a cloudy Southampton. The moment he won the toss he looked assured of what his team wanted to do.

A lot of talk before the game was about New Zealand’s bowling and looking at the overhead conditions, he made the right call of playing four frontline seamers and Colin de Grandhomme with Ajaz Patel missing out on selection. The decision to bowl first was proven right by the bowlers who made the bowl talk and restricted the Indian batting line-up.

Overcast conditions and moisture certainly played a big part throughout the course of the 4-day play. Indians traditionally play spin well and with not much happening for the slower bowlers, captain Williamson’s choice of players was on spot.

3. Swinging masterclass from Kyle Jamieson

Kyle Jamieson, the most devastating newcomer to Test cricket in recent times, eearned the Player of the Match award for his outstanding returns. The 6 foot 8 inches tall fast bowler picked up 7 wickets for 61 runs in 46 overs in the match, including 5-31 from 22 overs in the first innings. Notably, his first innings performance was the most economical fifer for a New Zealand bowler against India in Tests, bowled at a rate of just 1.41. Also, twice in the game, he got the prize wicket of his RCB skipper, Virat Kohli.

Not only did he pick up wickets, but he didn’t give too many freebies for the Indians to score. Hence, he was economical and choked the opposition batting with 22 maidens in 46 overs bowled. Jamieson’s ability to swing the ball with control made him the most successful bowler of the game. Moreover, his height helped him extract a lot of bounce off the track which made it even more difficult to bat against him, as it is a huge challenge to get forward to such a tall bowler.

4. Kane Williamson, the captain and batsman, rose to the occasion

5 reasons why New Zealand won the WTC Final | Looking at 5 key areas that New Zealand got right in the WTC Final vs India
5 reasons why New Zealand won the WTC Final – Williamson was superb.

Before the final, Williamson had racked up 261 runs from five Tests in England at 26.10 including 1 hundred, 1 fifty. So, the numbers weren’t favouring the Kiwi maestro to do well in this Test, and he also had an elbow injury that required injections to overcome it.

Despite this, Williamson stood up for his team when it mattered most and battled out against a top-quality Indian bowling attack. Kane made 49 and 52 not out in the low-scoring final and stamped his authority as a high-class batsman in challenging conditions.

Also, as a captain, his on-field tactics were there for everyone to see. He was simply brilliant with his field placements and bowling changes. If one has to describe Kane Williamson’s game, then it was a perfect match that he must have dreamt of since he made his international debut for New Zealand. He was the best batsman in the WTC final, and is the first captain to win the ICC World Test Championship – a fairytale game every player wishes for and Williamson wasn’t lucky but deserving to get all these accolades.

5. Valuable runs coming from the bat of the Kiwi tailenders

Before the match, much was made of the battle between the respective lower orders. It was surely why India chose both Jadeja and Ashwin to provide extra batting cover down the order.

However, it was the New Zealand lower order that was successful in making significant contributions to the team’s first innings total after they bowled India out for 217. With captain Kane Williamson glued at one end with his team reeling at 162 for the loss of six wickets, the Black Caps tail added 87 runs after having lost six wickets which helped the team to gain a significant lead of 32 runs in the first innings. These runs not only put New Zealand ahead of India in the first innings, but it also came in quick time and gave the Kiwis that crucial extra time to seal victory late on day six.

New Zealand outperformed India in all three aspects and deservingly won the world title. Their players showed great heart and character in the 6-day final and as they say, finally the nice guys were at the right end of the results.

“Redemption for New Zealand, Agony, agony for India”.

Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.

WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
-
0
WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs South Africa 2nd T20 Key Players | Grenada Pitch Report

That was emphatic. West Indies, who are without a doubt one of the leading contenders to win the upcoming T20 World Cup, flexed their muscle to dismantle South Africa in brutal fashion to kick-off the T20I series.

And it can be a very long one for the Proteas if they don’t find answers, fast. They have the opportunity to immediately respond to the onslaught, with the 2nd T20I taking place 24 hours after the first. Indeed, they will have to find ways to keep the stacked Windies batting lineup as quiet as possible.

Of course, that is the most obvious example of easier said than done. Evin Lewis led the way with a remarkable display of hitting, as the two Andre’s – Fletcher and Russell – kept the pressure on the Proteas along with the ageless Chris Gayle. The sheer number of horizontal-bat shots going the distance emphasised just how strong this Windies’ side is even to deliveries not pitched in the slot. Then, when balls were pitched further up, the long off and long on boundaries were cleared with ease.

So, if you’re not a Protea fan, tuck yourself in and get comfortable. While you’re at it, maybe grab a bowl of popcorn and watch what this Windies side can offer in this one.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

West Indies:

  • Evin Lewis was easily player of the match yesterday, courtesy of his damaging knock of 71 off 35 balls that blew the Proteas away. Remarkably, that was his first ever T20I vs South Africa, so he will be looking for another great display off both front and back foot.
  • Chris Gayle has the most runs in WI-SA T20Is. The legendary left-hander has 339 runs in just eight T20Is against the Proteas, at an average of 48.42 and strike rate of 187.29. He scored 32* off 24 balls yesterday, and looked pretty comfortable.
  • Andre Russell looked mighty dangerous with the bat, even hitting his first ball for a huge six (23* off 12 balls). He now strikes at 155.26 in five T20Is vs South Africa, and is coming off bowling figures of 1/29 yesterday. Key player.
  • Watch out if Kieron Pollard gets a chance today. He will be looking to improve on his figures vs South Africa, which read: 6 inns, 80 runs, avg. 20.00, SR 112.67. He is still capable of producing a blinding innings, as he showed for Mumbai Indians earlier in 2021.
  • Dwayne Bravo will be key in the death overs once again. His 2/30 yesterday took him to fourth in the wicket-taking chart in WI-SA T20Is (7). Jason Holder has four wickets in three matches vs South Africa.
  • Fabian Allen was superb with his change of pace. His 2/18 kept South Africa in check, and the all-rounder will be looking for more of the same here.

South Africa:

  • A shining light for South Africa is Rassie van der Dussen. The classy right-hander now averages 45.60 with a strike rate of nearly 139.60 in 21 T20Is. He top-scored for the Proteas yesterday (56* off 38 balls).
  • South Africa needs Quinton de Kock to play a blinder. He has made two starts in two T20Is vs West Indies (47 and 37), and he looked in good touch yesterday before gifting a catch to mid-on. Key player.
  • Is David Miller batting too low at six? Given his hitting credentials, the Proteas will be better served batting him a little higher up the order. He was in some decent touch in the recent PSL, hitting scores of 21, 73 and 22 in his three matches.
  • How will Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi respond after going the distance yesterday? Rabada has a poor T20I record vs WI so far, with just one wicket in three matches (avg. 108, econ. 10.12). But, no one can ignore his class. And, surely, South Africa use Anrich Nortje more this game?
  • Tabraiz Shamsi, the world’s number one T20I bowler, held his own pretty well yesterday with some turn on offer. He finished with 1/27, and was the pick of the South Africa bowlers.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 11, West Indies 5, South Africa 6.
  • Evin Lewis became the sixth West Indian batsman to reach 1,000 T20I runs.
  • West Indies have won three of their four T20Is in 2021. South Africa have won just two of eight matches this year.

Possible Playing 11

Lendl Simmons is in the West Indies 13-man squad. However, Andre Fletcher looked in some good touch, so Windies might persist with the same opening pair. Also, Windies could look to give Fidel Edwards a run.

West Indies: 1. Andre Fletcher, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Chris Gayle, 4. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 5. Andre Russell, 6. Kieron Pollard, 7. Jason Holder, 8. Fabian Allen, 9. Dwayne Bravo, 10. Kevin Sinclair, 11. Fidel Edwards/Obed McCoy

South Africa need to bounce back quickly. So, it remains to be seen if they persist with the same XI, including whether either Aiden Markram or Janneman Malan comes in over Reeza Hendricks.

South Africa: 1. Reeza Hendricks/Aiden Markram, 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Temba Bavuma (c), 4. Rassie van der Dussen, 5. David Miller, 6. Heinrich Klaasen, 7. George Linde/Wiaan Mulder, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Lungi Ngidi/Lizaad Williams, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi

Grenada Pitch Report and Weather

It is likely that this game will be played on the same pitch as yesterday (awaiting confirmation). It was a pretty good batting surface, with some spin available to the slow bowlers. Yorkers and change of pace will be key in keeping the big-hitters quiet.

There is some chance of rain throughout the day, but there should be enough play for a result.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs South Africa 2nd T20 Key Players | Grenada Pitch Report
WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs South Africa 2nd T20 Key Players | Grenada Pitch Report
WI vs SA 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

West Indies look the much complete T20 side. The Proteas have some fine players in their side, but the sheer depth of Windies batting should get them over the line.

Most boring T20 series ever? Twitter reactions as England thrash Sri Lanka 3-0

Charbel Coorey
-
0
Most boring T20 series ever? Twitter reactions as England thrash Sri Lanka 3-0

Most boring T20 series ever? Twitter reactions as England thrash Sri Lanka 3-0 | Sri Lanka team trolled after losing 3-0 to England in one-sided series

Seven years ago, Sri Lanka were crowned the World T20 Champions. Now, fans from around the world don’t miss the opportunity to pinpoint their remarkable decline.

In without a doubt one of the most one-sided assignments in T20I history, England thumped Sri Lanka once again to sweep the T20I series 3-0. This was when England were well below their absolute best particularly in the second-half of their batting innings at Southampton. However, it was more than enough, despite Dushmantha Chameera’s superb spell of 4/17.

Sri Lanka, who won the toss for the third-straight match, this time opted to field after under-par batting performances in the first two T20Is. But, it was the same old story as Kusal Perera’s men failed to even reach 100 as they were left embarrassed by offering no competition in the series. Their top score in the top eight was a 27-ball 19 for Oshada Fernando, which was nothing short of a struggle.

In the final T20I, three England bowlers conceded less than four runs per over in their allotted four. Chris Woakes (1/9), Chris Jordan (1/13) and Sam Curran (2/14) partnered David Willey (3/27) to completely blow away the fragile Sri Lankan batting lineup. This was after Dawid Malan produced a timely return to scoring form (76), only falling short of Sri Lanka’s team score (91) by 15 runs.

As always, fans took to Twitter to express their views on a very one-sided match and series. Here are some of the reactions:

Also read: Is your tweet included? Twitter reactions as New Zealand achieved great WTC win last week

Attention will now turn to the ODI series, which starts on 29 June. However, given the bench strength of England and Sri Lanka’s struggles, is there any chance the ODIs will be competitive? Unlikely.

Most boring T20 series ever? Twitter reactions as England thrash Sri Lanka 3-0 | Sri Lanka team trolled after losing 3-0 to England in one-sided series

ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
-
0
ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England Women vs India Women Key Players | Bristol Pitch Report

There is no doubt about it; the England–India rivalry is well-and-truly growing, with the two sides engaged in some fine battles across formats over the past couple of years. The latest was a fascinating Test, where India pulled off a terrific fighting draw after England produced excellent cricket for most of the match.

Attention now turns to ODI cricket, with the two teams looking to get ahead in this cross-format series. The last time these two teams met in an ODI series was in February 2019, where India achieved a fine 2-1 series win at home. Now, India will be looking to put their 4-1 series defeat against South Africa behind them and achieve success in foreign conditions against what remains a strong England unit.

Unlike India, England enjoyed success in an ODI series earlier in 2021. They beat New Zealand 2-1 away from home, and will be out to continue the winning form after falling short of victory in the Test match. Rain is expected to have a say throughout the day, but hopefully there will be enough action to force a result in what promises to be another competitive battle.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

England:

  • Heather Knight continues to produce the goods no matter the format. The England skipper is coming off a fine knock of 95, as well as 2/7 and 1/41 in the Test.
  • Surprisingly, Knight has made just one 50+ score in 17 ODIs vs India (total of 367 runs at 26.21). However, her last ODI against them was back in 2019, and she has gone from strength-to-strength since, including two 50+ scores in three ODIs vs New Zealand earlier this year.
  • Star all-rounder Nat Sciver will also be looking for a batting boost vs India. She has two 50+ scores in eight knocks vs India, with a total of 241 runs at an average of 30.12. Also, she will be looking to improve on her bowling record against India, which reads: 10 ODIs, three wickets, avg. 72.00.
  • Tammy Beaumont looked in good touch in the Test (scored 66). She too will be looking to improve on her ODI record vs India, where she has no 50+ score in 17 ODI innings against them (303 runs, avg. 20.20). Beaumont was superb in the NZ series earlier this year, where she scored 231 runs in three matches whilst only being dismissed once (three 50+ scores).
  • Katherine Brunt has the most wickets of any England bowler vs India. Her 39 wickets have come in 28 ODIs at an average of 18.25.
  • Sophie Ecclestone continues to go from strength-to-strength. She has 10 wickets in five ODIs vs India (avg. 14.10), and she just came off figures of 4/88 and 4/118 in the recent Test. Wicket-taker.

India:

  • What a revelation 17-year old Shafali Verma has been not only for Indian cricket, but for the women’s game, too. She is yet to make her ODI debut, but one imagines that she can make a similar impact to her Test debut (96 and 63), where she won player of the match.
  • Smriti Mandhana has a terrific record against England in ODIs. The experienced left-hander has six scores of 50+ in 10 ODIs against them, with a total of 530 runs at an average of 58.88.
  • Mithali Raj has the most runs of any player in ENG-IND ODIs. The Indian skipper has amassed 1,798 at a fine average of 47.31 in 55 ODIs since 1999. Key player.
  • Harmanpreet Kaur’s 558 runs against England come at an average of 42.92. Her experience will be key. Deepti Sharma has scored 158 runs (avg. 52.66) and taken 10 wickets (avg. 28.60) in eight ODIs vs England.
  • No bowler has more wickets in IND-ENG ODIs than Jhulan Goswami. The veteran seamer has taken an amazing haul of 71 wickets in 52 ODIs vs England at 18.32 dating back to 2002.

Also read: Is your tweet included? Twitter reactions to India Women pulling off great draw vs England

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 69, England 37, India 30, NR 2.
  • India have won three of their past five ODIs vs England, dating back to 2018 and 2019.
  • Punam Raut was India’s leading run-scorer in the ODIs vs South Africa earlier this year with 263 runs at 87.66, with two fifties and a century. Mithali Raj was close behind with 210 runs at an average of 70.00.

Possible Playing 11

England: 1. Tammy Beaumont, 2. Lauren Winfield-Hill, 3. Heather Knight (c), 4. Nat Sciver, 5. Amy Jones (wk), 6. Sophia Dunkley, 7. Fran Wilson, 8. Katherine Brunt, 9. Sophie Ecclestone, 10. Anya Shrubsole, 11. Sarah Glenn

India: 1. Shafali Verma, 2. Smriti Mandhana, 3. Punam Raut, 4. Mithali Raj (c), 5. Harmanpreet Kaur, 6. Deepti Sharma, 7. Sneh Rana, 8. Shikha Pandey, 9. Jhulan Goswami, 10. Pooja Vastrakar, 11. Poonam Yadav

Bristol Pitch Report and Weather

The last two completed men’s ODIs on this ground were played in 2019. England chased Pakistan’s 358 with ease and Australia chased Afghanistan’s 207 with ease too. So, a good batting surface can be expected, similar to that of the Test match between these two Tests.

However, there is rain forecast throughout the day. So, the captain who wins the toss could look to chase.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England Women vs India Women Key Players | Bristol Pitch Report
ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England Women vs India Women Key Players | Bristol Pitch Report
ENG-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

A competitive battle awaits in what is a tough game to predict. England, at home, look good to start the ODI series with a win. However, this one could come down to chasing, especially if D/L comes into play.

ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Aditya Narsale
-
0
ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20 Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report

England, predictably, won the first two games easily and thus the series. It is a game of pride for Sri Lanka at a venue that hosted the first-ever World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand. Though it is just formality as we have got the series result, both teams are all set to play the final T20I of the series. 

This was a crucial series for both teams as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming T20 World Cup. While England has made most of the opportunity, the Lankans have wasted them. They have been totally outplayed in both games and look on the back foot ahead of the third game as well, especially given they have lacked so much intent with the bat.

This will be an opportunity for new Sri Lankan players to play aggressively and not think about the result. And hence the team management can try out their remaining players who were not part of the first 2 games. For England, one can expect further rest and rotation with this match being played 48 hours after the last. Can Sri Lanka put on a better show?

Match Details

  • Match: ENG vs SL, 3rd T20I, Sri Lanka tour of England, 2021
  • Date and Time: June 26,  02:30 PM (local time), 01:30 PM GMT, 7 PM IST
  • Venue: The Rose Bowl, Southampton

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

England:

  • Liam Livingstone could be a great differential captaincy pick if England bats first, as he is likelier to get a batting opportunity and will bowl a few overs as well. He bowled 2 overs and took 1 wicket in the first game. He was MOM in the 2nd game of the series scoring 29 runs of 26 balls which helped his team to win comfortably. 
  • Jason Roy looks in great form. He scored 36 runs off just 21 balls in 1st game but could not continue his innings and got out to a rash shot. He will look to improve in the next match and play an impactful inning here. Till now he has scored 164 runs in 5 games he played against SL. 
  • Captain Eoin Morgan has not been able to score big in the last few games and looked out of form. But in the final match of the series he will be really looking forward to leading his team from the front. While his captaincy decisions have been brilliant in a couple of games in the series, he needs to play a great knock that can increase his confidence. He is just 46 runs away from being the highest run-scorer for England vs Sri Lanka in T20Is (currently 212 runs, avg. 30.28, SR 123.25).
  • Sam Curran is the player who has impressed all the viewers most and will be eyeing another match-winning performance. His run out like a footballer in the last match went on and earned many grand wishes on social media. He will surely bowl in powerplay overs in this match too. And scoring some crucial runs to finish off things will be another task for him. In the last game he played a beautiful cameo of 16 (8) which helped England win.
  • Adil Rashid has bowled beautifully in this series to date (2/17 and 2/24). Can he pick up more wickets at a ground that can aid some spin?

Sri Lanka:

  • Dasun Shanaka scored a half-century for his side, who were heading towards their lowest ever T20 score. He saved them and helped them post a respectable total in the first match. So surely he will be looking forward to another big effort, this time at the Ageas Bowl. 
  • Wanindu Hasaranga is one of the few guys from Lankan side who impressed in the series. In both games he has been economical and has taken 2 wickets as well. The visiting team would want him to carry on with his rich vein of form in the final encounter. 
  • Captain Kusal Perera got good starts in both the games at Cardiff, but he failed to take his team to a par score. So he will be one of the key players to watch out at Southampton as Sri Lanka needs a captain who leads from the front ahead of ICC T20 WC. So on a decent batting strip in Southampton, Kusal would be looking to churn out a knock of substance.

Stats and Facts

  • Head to head: Matches 11, England 7, Sri Lanka 4.
  • Last 5 matches: England 5, Sri Lanka 0.
  • England have won 5 T20I matches out of 8 at The Rose Bowl. Sri Lanka have won 1 game out of 2 at the venue.
  • Chris Jordan has the most wickets in ENG-SL T20Is (14 in seven matches).

Squads  

England: Eoin Morgan (C), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, George Garton, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

(Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the series.)

Sri Lanka:  Kusal Perera(C),Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Charith Asalanka,Dasun Shanak, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya and Praveen Jayawickrama.

Possible Playing 11

Jos Buttler is out of this T20I and the three ODIs due to a calf injury. Also, there is a chance that England will rest Mark Wood after he played the first two matches.

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Johnny Bairstow (wk), 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Sam Billings, 6. Liam Livingstone, 7. Moeen Ali/David Willey, 8. Sam Curran, 9. Chris Woakes, 10. Chris Jordan, 11. Adil Rashid

Sri Lanka: 1. Danushka Gunathilaka, 2. Avishka Fernando, 3. Kusal Perera (c & wk), 4. Kusal Mendis, 5. Niroshan Dickwella, 6. Dasun Shanaka, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Akila Dhanajaya, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Binura Fernando

Southampton Pitch Report and Weather Report

The pitch in Southampton has been fairly good for batting over the years. An average score of 166 suggests that a competitive game seems to be on the cards. In the last two matches at the venue, the team batting second won, and hence, chasing should be the way forward. There are chances of rain around 1 PM and 2 PM and hence, there could be a couple of interruptions.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20 Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report
ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20 Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report
ENG vs SL 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Tip: You can edit your fantasy team after the toss to make sure that all players you chose are chosen in the playing 11 by their respective teams.

Match Prediction:

Sri Lanka needs to play aggressive cricket there because they have nothing to lose now. So if they do play that kind of game then they can have chances of winning. Otherwise, England will win easily again.

Written by Aditya Narsale. Follow Aditya on Twitter today.

WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Aditya Narsale
-
0
WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs South Africa 1st T20 Key Players | Grenada Pitch Report

After South Africa’s great victory in the two-match series in the longest form of cricket, we are here for the shortest form of international cricket that is T20Is. The respective teams will play a five-match T20I series, all at Grenada, which provides some key things to look forward to. Indeed, this promises to be an exciting battle.

The hosts, West Indies are the one of the most dominant sides in world cricket as far as T20 cricket is concerned. And the squad they have selected for the series looks pretty good and dominant. The defending T20 World Cup champions will be looking forward to continuing their T20I dominance all over the globe, as the 2021 T20 World Cup is fast approaching.

But their opponents here look promising too. South Africa would love to continue their winning streak on this tour. Their squad is strong and confident as well, as they will have a close eye upon how their players perform ahead of T20 WC 2021. This five-match T20I series is going to be an exciting prospect for both sides. 

Match Details

  • Match: West Indies vs South Africa T20I series 2021, 1st T20I.
  • Date and time: June 26, 02.00 PM (local time) , 11.30 PM IST
  • Venue: National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada. 

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

West Indies: 

  • Chris Gayle, the Universe Boss, is all set to launch the ball over the roofs of the stadium. I think there is no need to describe his abilities and what he can do. Just going through his stats in WI vs SA head to head, he is the top run scorer with 307 runs in 7 innings at brilliant avg of 43.85 and strike rate 195.54. He also has a century on his name in the clash and has hit 49 boundaries (25 6’s and 24 4’s) till now. SA bowlers will have to make sure that they send him back early, otherwise if Gayle storm arrives at Grenada then no one can save them.
  • Another Caribbean hitter Lendl Simmons can be the cause of worry for SA team. He is well-known for giving good starts to his team. And if he remains at the crease till 10th over, no one can stop him there. He has only played a couple of matches against South Africa but he has scored 126 runs at 63.00 and has a massive Strike rate of 155.55. He will surely play an important role throughout the series.
  • Kieron Pollard: Caribbean limited overs cricket captain is another threat for the opposition. The inform hard hitter has not been that effective against South Africa till now but he will surely look at taking bowlers on the roll and make the record better. Pollard hit 6 sixes in an over against Sri Lanka in the month of March and also had a good IPL season, producing another amazing knock for MI. So he is confident and will look forward to start the Caribbean summer in a happy manner.
  • Another Caribbean all rounder and massive hitter, Andre Russell, will make his comeback to international cricket. South African bowlers surely know how dangerous Andre could be if not sent to the pavilion early. He can take the game away from opposition at any moment smashing the white sphere out of the ground with his power hitting. A man with his career strike rate of 151.26 in Intl cricket is going to be an important part of the series. 
  • DJ Bravo: One more experienced all rounder from West Indies is well known for his death bowling and power hitting. DJ Bravo will be the player to watch out for WI in all the T20Is they play ahead of T20 WC. He has the experience of playing 10 matches against SA and will be aiming to improve on his record of five wickets.

South Africa:

  • Rassie van der Dussen : 32-year old RVDD is ranked 6th in the ICC T20I rankings. The top order batsman has been impressive since his debut and has played some brilliant match winning knocks. However he is yet to play T20I against West Indies, so can he use the fact that the Caribbean bowlers have not bowled to him to his benefit?
  • Quinton de Kock:  The wicketkeeper batsman QDK was brilliant in both the Tests he played against WI recently. Now, he will be looking at his favourite form of the game. His confidence level will be very high throughout the series now. Quinton loves the extra pace from bowlers and he is very well known for strong hitting against them. He has played just a single game against WI but scored brilliant 47 in that game. He will also help his skipper in taking important decisions with his captainship experience.
  • David Miller: In the absence of Faf, Miller will have to step up and take care of middle order batting. The left-hander has been consistent with his teams over the years. If he gets set at the crease, no doubt he will be the biggest threat for the Caribbean bowlers. Miller has played 4 matches against WI and scored 105 runs at strike rate of 137 and he will surely look upon to increase this number in this series.
  • Kagiso Rabada: A fine pacer who can destroy the opposition and change the game within an over. He has played only a couple of matches against WI but he has been hit by those power hitters for 76 runs in 7.4 overs and has taken just a single wicket. He surely needs to step and guide his bowling unit by leading from the front against the likes of Gayle, Russell, Pollard etc. 
  • Tabraiz Shamsi is the number one-ranked T20I bowler. He has taken 10 wickets in seven matches in 2021, at a fine average of 17.20 and economy rate of 6.37.

Stats and Facts

  • Head to Head: Matches 10, West Indies 4, South Africa 6.
  • Last 5 matches : West Indies 3, South Africa 2.
  • Only 1 T20I played at Grenada till now in which the hosts WI lost to Ireland. 
  • The respective teams haven’t played any T20I against each other after ICC T20 WC 2016. So this is the first time that they will meet to play a T20I match/series since then.

Squads 

West Indies : Kieron Pollard (C), Nicholas Pooran (wk), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder,Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jnr

South Africa : Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock (wk), George Linde, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wiaan Mulder, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Possible Playing 11

West Indies have named their 13-man squad for the first two T20Is. The notable absentees include Shimron Hetmyer and Sheldon Cottrell.

West Indies: 1. Lendl Simmons, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Chris Gayle, 4. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 5. Kieron Pollard (c), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Jason Holder, 8. Fabian Allen, 9. Dwayne Bravo, 10. Obed McCoy, 11. Fidel Edwards

South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Janneman Malan/Aiden Markram, 3. Temba Bavuma (c), 4. Rassie van der Dussen, 5. David Miller, 6. George Linde, 7. Wiaan Mulder, 8. Lizaad Williams, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Tabraiz Shamsi, 11. Anrich Nortje

National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada Pitch report and Weather report

It is a pretty decent pitch to bat on, if you get yourself in. Ideally looking at the pitch, one would choose batting first but due to weather he may go to the opposite. Since it is day time, it will be windy with some showers as well. Game might be disturbed in some intervals but hopefully we will get the result.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1: 

WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs South Africa 1st T20 Key Players | Grenada Pitch Report
WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2: 

WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs South Africa 1st T20 Key Players | Grenada Pitch Report
WI vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

West Indies’ incredible batting depth makes them the favourites. Windies to win.

Written by Aditya Narsale. Follow Aditya on Twitter today.

WI vs SA T20Is: 5 things to look forward to

Vaibhav Tripathi
-
0
WI vs SA T20Is: 5 things to look forward to

WI vs SA T20Is: 5 things to look forward to | 5 things to look forward to in the upcoming WI vs SA T20Is – who will win this 5-match series?

The Caribbean outfit, two-time world T20 champions, West Indies will play a five-match T20I series in Grenada against South Africa from 26 June. This series holds importance as the ICC WT20 2021 is near, and both teams will want to stabilize their squad before taking part in the mega event.

South Africa would be in high spirits after their thumping series win over men in maroon in the Tests. However, we all know Windies are a far better T20 side, so it promises to be tough for the Proteas. The visitors played their last T20I series against Pakistan where they lost 2-1 on home soil. On the other hand, West Indies played their last T20I series against Sri Lanka, where they won 2-1.

It will be another exciting contest between two powerhouses of cricket. Let us look at five key things to look forward to in the upcoming T20I series.

Pitch at the National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada

The whole five-match T20I series will be in Grenada. Traditionally a high-scoring ground, this has been a venue where batsmen have enjoyed scoring. However, the bowlers might have a say in this series.

Often, change of pace has been effective. Considering the fact that five straight games will be played on the one ground, pitches will likely become tired, as the groundsmen will hardly get any time to prepare the wickets. As a result, the deck should take turn later on in the series.

A long series will definitely change the nature of the wicket and it will be a bit challenging for both teams to adapt effectively. Fans will be hoping for a high-scoring series, but with one venue to host five games, we might see low-scoring affairs towards the end of the series.

Temba Bavuma’s captaincy under scanner

It hasn’t been an ideal start for Temba Bavuma as the full-time skipper of the Proteas after taking the reins from Quinton de Kock. Under his leadership, South Africa lost their last ODI series against Pakistan at home, and he didn’t feature in the T20I series against the same opposition.

So, this series provides Bavuma with an ideal opportunity to claim his first series win as a captain of South Africa. With extra responsibility on his shoulders as a batsman, Bavuma will have to make sure that he leads from the front with the bat, without playing with too conservative an approach.

If Temba is fit to play the series then he will be tested, not only as a batsman but as a captain too. If he can balance both his batting and captaincy, then South Africa will fancy their chances for a series win.

Who will partner Quinton de Kock at the top?

WI vs SA T20Is: 5 things to look forward to | 5 things to look forward to in the upcoming WI vs SA T20Is - who will win this 5-match series?
WI vs SA T20Is: 5 things to look forward to – Who will partner Quinton de Kock?

The Proteas are travelling with five opening options including the incumbent opener Quinton de Kock. The team has tested many pairs in order to fix one right combination at the top before the WT20. Contenders to partner de lock are Aiden Markram, Janneman Malan, Reeza Hendricks, and captain Temba Bavuma, so it remains to be seen who gets first go alongside the keeper-batsman.

All have performed on different occasions to claim the top spot, with Markram performing particularly well against Pakistan earlier this year. With tough competition at the top, Bavuma may take a back seat and drop himself down the order. As a result, it is likely that Markram will start with Quinton in the first T20I, and by the end of the series, the Proteas need to have a better idea of their opening combination heading into the mega event.

All-round Brigade of Windies

WI vs SA T20Is: 5 things to look forward to | 5 things to look forward to in the upcoming WI vs SA T20Is - who will win this 5-match series?
WI vs SA T20Is: 5 things to look forward to – Kieron Pollard is one of many all-rounders.

Teams always wish to have at least one all-rounder in their lineup to get the balance right. Here, West Indies having the luxury of having four seam and one spin bowling all-rounder in their current squad. The four-seam bowling all-round options – Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard – adds value to the team in all three departments, and if the pitch has something to offer for the slower bowlers then Allen can come handy with his slow left-arm spin and brutal hitting down the order.

The return of Russell makes the West Indies an incredibly intimidating side heading into the T20I series, as he is one of the hardest strikers of the cricket ball. Also, he can bowl in any phase of the game and is a brilliant fielder as well.

With the all-rounders that West Indies have at their disposal, there will be great depth both in their bowling and batting department. Thus, this gives Kieron Pollard the option of going with an extra batsman or bowler depending on the nature of the wicket and conditions.

Chris Gayle in the new role for the Men in Maroon

In the last few years, the “Universe Boss”, who is the most successful opener in T20 cricket, has found himself adapting to the new role of batting at number three in the 20-over game. The big question for the team management will be where to fix Gayle in the XI; as an opener or one down at three.

Gayle undoubtedly has been the best and most destructive T20 opener of this generation. Of late, he has shown that he can have the same impact while batting at number 3. In the last T20 assignment against Sri Lanka, Gayle batted at three. Although he struggled at that position throughout the series, his experience of playing this format and ability to tonk any bowler at his will makes Gayle a versatile option for the current T20 title holders.

Like South Africa, the Windies too have healthy competition for the opening slot in Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons and Andre Fletcher as the opening options. If Gayle opens for Windies, then two out of the three openers will have to sit out. Simmons showed up in the last series against Sri Lanka and he was the one who opened with Evin Lewis, which meant Gayle had to bat at three, which might be the plan heading into this series. Fletcher in all likeliness will warm the bench, but he could very well get a chance this series.

It is going to be one hell of a series as the home side will be looking for retribution while for the visitors it is about continuing the winning momentum.

Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.

Tributes flow after BJ Watling retires with WTC mace

Charbel Coorey
-
0
Tributes flow after BJ Watling retires with WTC mace

Tributes flow after BJ Watling retires with WTC mace | BJ Watling retires from Test cricket: fans acknowledge great career Watling has had for NZ

BJ Watling, arguably New Zealand’s greatest ever wicket-keeper batsman, retired from Test cricket on the high he deserved. Overseeing his team’s WTC triumph from the dressing room, Watling then took a final walk on the cricket field alongside Kane Williamson – two of the stalwarts of New Zealand cricket over the past decade – to lead the victory lap.

While the Black Caps received deserved praise for their brilliant performance, attention was still strongly focused on New Zealand’s gritty keeper-batsman. If anything highlighted just how big a fighter Watling is, it was his tenacity on the final day to continue to keep with a dislocated finger. And he kept superbly. Such is his stature that it was going to take a lot more than a finger injury to force him off the field on his last day as a Test cricketer.

However, Watling’s tenacity goes way beyond the final day of the WTC Final. His tenacity was evident in the way he batted over the years. His best knocks often came when his team was in trouble. So, despite New Zealand’s terrific depth, replacing such a terrific cricketer promises to be one tough ask. Good luck, Tom Blundell.

In the end, BJ Watling got the finish he deserved. Fans and pundits took to Twitter to pay tribute to Watling after a truly outstanding career that spanned 75 Tests, generated 3,790 tough runs at an average of 37.52 with eight centuries, as well as 265 dismissals.

PSL 2021 Final: MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
-
0
PSL 2021 Final: MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

PSL 2021 Final: MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

After much deliberation and planning, PSL 2021 restarted in the UAE earlier this month. And in a mix of unpredictable results, outstanding performances and countless stories, here we are at the PSL 2021 Final.

Multan Sultans have the opportunity to win their first ever PSL title. They were superb in the 1st Qualifier against highly-fancied Islamabad United, pushing them away thanks to an all-round display. Peshawar Zalmi then did the same, thanks to the magnificent form of Hazratullah Zazai. Now, both sides face off in a test of nerves; a match that has the makings for a classic.

Here we go.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Multan Sultans:

  • Mohammad Rizwan made the confident decision to bat first vs Islamabad United, and it paid off for his team. He is coming off a duck last game vs United, but he scored a superb 82 off 56 balls in his last game vs Zalmi, 11 days ago,
  • What an impact Sohaib Maqsood has made for Sultans in PSL 2021. He has scored the third-most runs in PSL 2021, with 363 runs at an average of 40.33 with a very impressive strike rate of 152.52. This includes a brilliant 61 off 31 balls vs Zalmi on June 13.
  • Johnson Charles scored a superb 21-ball 41 in the Qualifier 1 match against Islamabad United. Will he produce a similar performance here?
  • Sohail Tanvir was player of the match in Qualifier 1 (3/17). He has a fine record in PES-MUL matches, with 11 wickets in six matches.
  • Shahnawaz Dahani has been one of the players of the PSL season. The pace bowler has troubled many-a-batsman with his hit-the-deck style bowling, resulting in 20 wickets in 10 matches including 2/44 and 4/31 vs Zalmi this season.
  • Imran Tahir has taken six wickets in his last three matches (3/17, 1/18, 2/29).

Peshawar Zalmi:

  • What an impact Hazratullah Zazai has had on Zalmi. He has belted 206 runs in his four PSL 2021 matches, with three half-centuries at an overall strike rate of 188.99. If he gets going again, watch out.
  • What an arrival by Jonathan Wells. In his first match of PSL 2021, which was a Qualifier, and only just out of quarantine, Wells struck a calm half-century to see Zalmi home vs United (55* off 43 balls). What can he produce today?
  • The ageless Shoaib Malik just keeps on producing. He struck 32* off just 10 balls in his last innings, part of 130 runs in his last three knocks at a strike rate of 183.10.
  • However, Zalmi will be hoping that Malik improves on his career record vs Multan, which reads 43 runs in four innings at an average of just 14.33.
  • Sherfane Rutherford has scored the second-most runs of any Zalmi player in the past year (258, avg. 36.85).
  • Sultans isn’t one of Wahab Riaz’s favourite opponents. He averages 45.33 against them in eight matches (six wickets), and went wicketless in both matches vs Multan this season (0/33 and 0/51). So, the skipper will be out to build on his excellent PSL 2021 numbers (18 wickets in 11 matches).
  • Mohammad Irfan has been bowling well in recent matches. He will be key (figures of 1/41 and 1/24 vs Sultans this season).

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 8, Sultans 5, Zalmi 3.
  • Both teams won a game each against each other in the PSL 2021 league stage.
  • Sultans won against Zalmi in the UAE, beating them by eight wickets (167/2 vs 166/7).
  • Kamran Akmal has a poor record vs Sultans: 8 inns, 102 runs, avg. 12.75. However, he did make his highest score against them (35) in his last meeting on June 13.
  • If Multan Sultans win, it will be their first ever PSL title. If Zalmi win, they will go equal with Islamabad United with two titles.

Possible Playing 11

Mohammad Irfan’s leg injury sparked quite the stir in the Qualifier against Islamabad. According to reports, he is fine to play. Umaid Asif, though, is suspended for breaching the bio-bubble regulations.

Peshawar Zalmi: 1. Hazratullah Zazai, 2. Kamran Akmal (wk), 3. Jonathan Wells, 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. Rovman Powell, 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Amad Butt, 8. Wahab Riaz (c), 9. Sameen Gul, 10. Mohammad Irfan, 11. Mohammad Imran

Multan Sultans: 1. Shan Masood, 2. Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), 3. Sohaib Maqsood, 4. Rilee Roussouw, 5. Johnson Charles, 6. Khushdil Shah, 7. Sohail Tanvir, 8. Imran Tahir, 9. Blessing Muzarabani, 10. Imran Khan, 11. Shahnawaz Dahani

Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

Run-scoring has been quite the occurrence in recent matches. Winning the toss and batting may be the way to go to increase pressure in the final. The weather will be hot, as always.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

PSL 2021 Final: MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Final: MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PSL 2021 Final: MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Final: MUL vs PES Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

A final that can truly go either way. Multan, with the extra recovery time, may come into this one feeling more fresh. However, the form of Zalmi’s top order can decide this one. The final could come down to which team can dominate the powerplay overs – with either bat or ball. Should be a beauty.

1...304305306...499Page 305 of 499