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Women’s Ashes: EngW v AusW 3rd ODI Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey
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Women’s Ashes: EngW v AusW 3rd ODI Preview Dream11

Women’s Ashes: EngW v AusW 3rd ODI Preview Dream11. England Women vs Australia Women 3rd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction

The beauty of the Women’s Ashes format is that there can be no dead rubber at this stage of the campaign.

England were right in both ODIs so far. However, they were left to rue their batting on both occasions, falling under-par twice before their bowlers did all they could to rescue the situation. A win here would give their campaign the boost they need, as a 6-0 points deficit puts far too much pressure on them ahead of the one-off Test worth four points. This is must-win.

Australia haven’t been perfect. However, they have been professional, setting both ODIs up with the ball before holding their nerve in the chases. That they haven’t had the perfect batting performance yet despite two wins can be an ominous warning for England. Can Meg Lanning’s team clean-sweep the ODI series and take a potentially Ashes-winning 6-0 lead?

Also read: Where to now for Afghanistan after team management’s rubbish hurt their World Cup campaign?

Key to an England win

Tammy Beaumont is one hell of a player. Her strokeplay puts pressure back on the bowlers, using timing to perfection to elevate England. She was brilliant in the second ODI, but lacked the crucial support needed to get England to a bigger total, which was proven by her scoring over 50% of the team’s runs. Here, more is needed from the likes of Amy Jones and Heather Knight if England are to put together a strong team effort, rather than relying on one player or two to get them to a competitive score.

Also, if you give this England side the chance to bowl first or defend a strong total, you can be confident in them helping deliver victory. They are bowling a lot better as a unit than they are batting, putting Australia under pressure twice in this series. Can Anya Shrubsole back up her three wickets with more here? Can the likes of Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone and Laura Marsh all combine to get the better of Australia’s strong batting lineup? It’s all to play for now.

Key to an Australia win

The Australian attack combined beautifully to build pressure on England, knowing damage could be done with Tammy Beaumont off-strike. That they did, picking up regular wickets, with the main destroyer Delissa Kimmince with five. Ellyse Perry with early wickets will be the order of the day again, and Beaumont will be the prize one given her record and the form she is in. Can the Aussie bowlers combine again to consign England’s strong lineup to another under-par performance?

Also, Australia’s middle order came to the fore in what was a real positive for the team. Ellyse Perry had some luck with a stumping call on four, but she translated that into a crucial 62 that set things up for Australia. However, like England, Australia are losing wickets a bit too regularly, with Jess Jonassen and Beth Mooney proving how important they are down the order. Will this be the day the Australian top order – led by Alyssa Healy – provides a strong start that the middle order can build on?

Also read: Enjoy cricket betting online? Key things you must keep in mind!

Possible Playing 11

It remains to be seen if terrific wicket-keeper batswoman Sarah Taylor is fit for this one.

England: 1. Amy Jones, 2. Tammy Beaumont, 3. Sarah Taylor (wk), 4. Heather Knight, 5. Natalie Sciver, 6. Fran Wilson/Danielle Wyatt, 7. Katherine Brunt, 8. Anya Shrubsole, 9. Sophie Ecclestone, 10. Laura Marsh, 11. Kate Cross

Australia: 1. Alyssa Healy (wk), 2. Nicole Bolton, 3. Meg Lanning, 4. Ellyse Perry, 5. Rachael Haynes, 6. Beth Mooney, 7. Ashleigh Gardner, 8. Jess Jonassen, 9. Delissa Kimmince, 10. Georgia Wareham, 11. Megan Schutt

Dream11 Prediction

EngW v AusW 3rd ODI Preview Dream11. England Women vs Australia Women 3rd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction
EngW v AusW 3rd ODI Preview Dream11

Option 2:

EngW v AusW 3rd ODI Preview Dream11. England Women vs Australia Women 3rd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction
EngW v AusW 3rd ODI Preview Dream11

Also read: Enjoy cricket betting online? Key things you must keep in mind!

Stats and Facts

  • Australia have won four of the past five ODIs against England.
  • Australia won the Test match at Canterbury four years ago.
  • Tammy Beaumont scores a 50+ score once in every four ODI innings. She will play this game at her home ground in Kent.

Match Prediction

This series has been too closely fought to see a whitewash. England will give it their all, but it could very well be that the team who wins the toss might go on to win it.

Runs on the board might prove crucial this time around.

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 Match 45: Australia v South Africa Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey
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0
CWC 2019 Match 45: Australia v South Africa Preview Dream11

CWC 2019 Match 45: Australia v South Africa Preview Dream11 Prediction. AUS vs SA Preview Dream11 Prediction

How much change does a year make? In the case of Australia and South Africa, quite significant.

Steve Smith and David Warner will play against South Africa for the first time since the Cape Town ball tampering saga in March last year. It was part of a challenging 2018 for Australia, where they also possessed the worst winning record of ODI side. This included a 2-1 home loss to the Proteas in November.

Also read: Why 2018 was a blessing for Australia

Fast forward 10 months later, and it is South Africa wondering where they go to next. A poor World Cup campaign has emphasised the need for change, as they could finish ninth in a tournament that many thought they could be participating in the Semi Finals. Can they finish on a high note and ruin Australia’s aspirations to finish first?

Key to an Australia win

Australia’s top order has often delivered big runs in CWC 2019. Aaron Finch and David Warner – both with over 500 runs – have allowed Australia to play off the front foot. However, the effort of Alex Carey against New Zealand was encouraging, highlighting the depth available in positions of discomfort. Here, Australia will want the complete batting performance – something they have actually lacked for most of the tournament. Can the top order – including Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja – set a platform that the likes of Marcus Stoinis can take advantage of?

Also read: Alex Carey has proved me wrong

Also, Australia have the opportunity to build further confidence with the ball. The inclusion of Jason Behrendhorff as Mitchell Starc’s new-ball partner has worked a treat, with the Aussies making inroads early into England and New Zealand. The left-arm combination has been terrific, along with Pat Cummins who continues to be miserly with an economy rate of just 4.66 in CWC 2019. His record vs Faf du Plessis (four dismissals in 68 balls) is something Australia will want built on. Can they combine for another fine bowling effort against a side that has struggled?

Key to a South Africa win

This could very well be the last ODI of Hashim Amla’s magnificent career. Whether he can overcome Australia’s attack will be key for the Proteas. However, Quinton de Kock’s struggles against left-arm seam will be put under the microscope by Starc and Behrendhorff in a test of whether he can overcome this weakness. A strong start is vital for the Proteas, where the middle order can play off. Will there finally be a century scored after Faf du Plessis came close last time out?

Also, eight wickets in as many games is not the return Kagiso Rabada would have been after. However, he has often bowled better than his figures have suggested, and has one final chance to send a dagger through the confidence of the Australians. Chris Morris has been a positive in a tough campaign, and if the Proteas’ all-rounders find some movement and combine well with last-game man Imran Tahir, they may just give Australia a worry or two.

CWC 2019 Match 45: Australia v South Africa Preview Dream11 Prediction. AUS vs SA Preview Dream11 Prediction Dream 11 for AUS vs SA. Possible Playing 11 Match prediction Cricket World Cup 2019 Cricket Blog CricBlog
Photo by Andy Kearns/Getty Images. CWC 2019 Match 45: One final celebration from Tahir in ODIs?

Pitch and conditions

The forecast is for good weather for most of the day in Manchester. There is a chance of a shower. In regards to the pitch, the seamers might find some assistance early, after which it should be a good day for batting.

Possible Playing 11

Shaun Marsh broke his arm at training and is out of the World Cup. His replacement, Peter Handscomb, might come in for Glenn Maxwell, who also copped a blow in the same session.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Usman Khawaja, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Glenn Maxwell/Peter Handscomb, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Jason Behrendorff

South Africa could stick with the same side that thumped Sri Lanka by nine wickets. This will be the last ODIs JP Duminy and Imran Tahir ever play. Can the Proteas send them out as winners?

South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Hashim Amla, 3. Aiden Markram, 4 Faf du Plessis (c), 5. Rassie van der Dussen, 6. JP Duminy, 7. Andile Phehlukwayo, 8. Dwaine Pretorius, 9. Chris Morris, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Imran Tahir

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

CWC 2019 Match 45: Australia v South Africa Preview Dream11 Prediction. AUS vs SA Preview Dream11 Prediction Dream 11 for AUS vs SA. Possible Playing 11 Match prediction Cricket World Cup 2019 Cricket Blog CricBlog
CWC 2019 Match 45: Australia v South Africa Preview Dream11

Option 2:

CWC 2019 Match 45: Australia v South Africa Preview Dream11 Prediction. AUS vs SA Preview Dream11 Prediction Dream 11 for AUS vs SA. Possible Playing 11 Match prediction Cricket World Cup 2019 Cricket Blog CricBlog
CWC 2019 Match 45: Australia v South Africa Preview Dream11

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head in World Cups: Matches 5, Australia 3, South Africa 1, 1 tie.
  • The last meeting between the sides in World Cups was in the 2007 Semi Final, where Australia won easily.
  • The most wickets by a single bowler in a World Cup campaign was Glenn McGrath with 26 in 2007. Mitchell Starc currently has 24.
  • This will be the last ODI for both JP Duminy and Imran Tahir.
  • South Africa won the last ODI against Australia in Hobart.

Match Prediction

South Africa have been the biggest disappointment in CWC 2019.

While they have the talent to challenge any team, there is still plenty at stake for Australia who are improving further heading into the Semi Finals. Australia to win.

Also read: Time for South Africa to say goodbye to an all-time great?

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 Match 44: India v Sri Lanka Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey
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0
CWC 2019 Match 44: India v Sri Lanka Preview Dream11

CWC 2019 Match 44: India v Sri Lanka Preview Dream11. IND v SL Preview Dream11 Prediction

At one point in the earth’s existence, it seemed like only three things were certain: death, taxes and an India-Sri Lanka match. Their last meeting, in any format, was 16 months ago; a long time in this rivalry.

For India, this is more than just a simple hit out. It is an opportunity to put pressure on Australia for the top spot. New Zealand in the Semi Final looks a much more attractive proposition than England, and if South Africa can spring a surprise against Australia, an India win here makes this a reality. Virat Kohli’s team have only lost one game, but there is room for improvement, especially in the middle order. Will this be the game where everything clicks?

Sri Lanka will play their final match. However, it has been a better campaign than expected, picking up three wins along the way including that memorable one over England that opened the Semi Finals race right up. They would certainly be ruing a poor defeat against South Africa when their tournament was still alive, but they have positives to take home. One is Avishka Fernando, who has breathed life into Sri Lanka’s flailing ODI fortunes. Will they sign off with a win?

Key to an India win

Rohit Sharma has been terrific. The second player to score four hundreds in a single World Cup, Rohit has sent a message to his opponents: miss a chance and pay the price. With KL Rahul providing strong enough company, strong opening stands are crucial to India’s chances in this World Cup. With the middle order still striving for form, the onus is on the top order – including Virat Kohli – to score big and enable the middle order to play with freedom.

Also, how good is Jasprit Bumrah? He was rewarded with wickets last time out against Bangladesh, and also remains crucial to India’s chances in CWC 2019. The pace trio (if India decide to choose all three) also including Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami will be looking for a good outing, making inroads to the Sri Lanka top order to set the game up. How well they bowl at the death is also an interesting feature to look forward to ahead of a possible Semi Final against hard-hitting England.

Also read: Is Jasprit Bumrah the best bowler in the world across formats?

Key to a Sri Lanka win

Can Sri Lanka throw a spanner into India’s form and confidence? How their batting holds up against India’s attack will be key. Avishka Fernando has looked super impressive in this campaign to date, but can Sri Lanka’s top order deliver as a unit? The platform was set vs West Indies and they were rewarded with a 300+ score. They need another big innings or two at the top here.

Also, can Sri Lanka get the better of India’s top three? Lasith Malinga was in the wickets last time out against West Indies, but more is needed from the other bowlers to get the better of India. Wickets in the powerplay will be key, but who will be the bowler(s) building pressure in the middle overs? Sri Lanka need to force India to graft away in the middle, giving themselves a chance of restricting India at the death.

Pitch and conditions

A flat, slow pitch is expected for Leeds, with possibly some turn. A bright sunny day is also on the agenda.

Possible Playing 11

This is the last chance for India’s middle order to find some form ahead of the Semi Finals. Will Dinesh Karthik keep his spot or will Kedar Jadhav return? Also, with the pitch a chance of turning, India could revert back to two wristspinners. It will be interesting to see who misses out between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami if the case.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. KL Rahul, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Rishabh Pant, 5. MS Dhoni (wk), 6. Dinesh Karthik, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Mohammed Shami, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Thisara Perera could return for Sri Lanka in place of Lahiru Thirimanne.

Sri Lanka: 1. Dimuth Karunaratne (c), 2. Kusal Perera (wk), 3. Avishka Fernando, 4. Kusal Mendis, 5. Angelo Mathews, 6. Lahiru Thirimanne/Thisara Perera, 7. Dhananjaya de Silva, 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Lasith Malinga, 10. Kasun Rajitha, 11. Jeffrey Vandersay

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

CWC 2019 Match 44: India v Sri Lanka Preview Dream11. IND v SL Preview Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Match Prediction. Dream11 for IND vs SL Cricket Blog CricBlog

Option 2:

CWC 2019 Match 44: India v Sri Lanka Preview Dream11. IND v SL Preview Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Match Prediction. Dream11 for IND vs SL Cricket Blog CricBlog

Also read: Enjoy cricket betting online? Key things you must keep in mind!

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head in World Cups: Matches 7, India 3, Sri Lanka 4.
  • The last WC meeting between the sides was the 2011 Final, where India won by six wickets.
  • Jasprit Bumrah needs one wicket to reach 100 in ODIs. If he achieves it in this match, he will become the second quickest India seamer to the mark after Mohammed Shami.
  • No batsman has scored five hundreds in a single World Cup edition. Rohit Sharma has the chance to do so.
  • Avishka Fernando became the youngest Sri Lankan to score a WC century.

Match Prediction

While there are certainly some positives for Sri Lanka in recent times, expect India to have too much in the locker for them.

Also read: Is Jasprit Bumrah the best bowler in the world across formats?

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 – Afghanistan v West Indies: 5 key talking points

Charbel Coorey
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0
CWC 2019 – Afghanistan v West Indies: 5 key talking points

CWC 2019 – Afghanistan v West Indies: 5 key talking points, AFG vs WI: 5 key talking points from their 2019 World Cup match.

So, there it is. Afghanistan finish the World Cup with no wins, after yet another game where they were right in with a chance of victory.

West Indies ended their own disappointing campaign with a win, sending Chris Gayle out from World Cups as a winner. The Universe Boss wasn’t able to deliver with the bat, but a wicket, nifty fielding and push-ups were a fitting end.

Here are five talking points from West Indies’ 23 run win.

1. Afghanistan’s team management has a lot to answer for

Senior players were unhappy ahead of the tournament, and it remained the case throughout. The change of captain played a huge role, with Gulbadin Naib out of his depth as skipper. Afghanistan could have won at least three matches, but finished empty-handed.

If the team management continues with rubbish team politics, Afghanistan will struggle to progress at the rate their talent suggests they can. All eyes will be on how they operate after the tournament, including what continuity measures they put in place. One action should be the captain. Another has to be settling on the batting lineup, as their selections seemed to be based from random generators. For example, Afghanistan began the tournament with Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad as the opening pair for their first two matches. Then it was Zazai and Noor Ali Zadran for the next two matches, followed by Zadran and Gulbadin Naib for one match. If that wasn’t enough, Zazai and Gulbadin had a go for one match, with Rahmat Shah and Gulbadin opening in the last three matches.

You can catch my thoughts on Afghanistan’s team management in earlier articles:

Rant: Afghanistan vs South Africa: Team management has hurt Afghanistan badly

Rant: Afghanistan vs Pakistan: What on EARTH was Gulbadin Naib thinking?

2. The last 10 overs prove crucial

As Bangladesh have found, the last 10 overs of an innings can turn a match. Afghanistan also found out the hard way.

Afghanistan were ahead of the West Indies up until the 40-over mark. In fact, Afghanistan were 20 runs better off than what the Windies were with 10 to go, but there was always the costly final 10 overs in the back of everyone’s mind. Shai Hope and Evin Lewis were steady in setting a platform, but Jason Holder and Nicholas Poortan were brilliant in elevating the Windies to 300+, scoring the bulk of the 111 runs in the final 60 balls.

3. Ikram Ali Khil shows his talent

Subject of the Afghanistan batting merry-go-round was 18-year old Ikram Ali Khil. Brought into the side in rather controversial circumstances, Ali Khil started down at eight and nine. Promoted to four against Pakistan, he found timing and faster scoring difficult.

Here, he was promoted to three. He played a blinder, confirming Afghanistan have another youngster that can hold them in good stead for years to come. He was dismissed by Chris Gayle, who started his career before Ali Khil was even born. Afghanistan’s young keeper-batsman was aggressive, playing terrific shots down the ground in particular en route to becoming the fourth-youngest half-centurion in World Cups. He had Afghanistan hoping for a fine victory.

It didn’t materialise, but Afghanistan have a good cricketer on their hands as he develops physically and technically (both batting and wicketkeeping). Let’s hope the team management don’t go ruining things.

4. Kemar Roach surely the subject of regret for West Indies

Before West Indies’ first game against Pakistan, Michael Holding queried why neither Kemar Roach or Shannon Gabriel were playing. It didn’t matter that day, with Pakistan surrendering against any short-pitched bowling. However, as teams figured the Windies out, they really began to struggle.

Roach played four games in CWC 2019. One of them was washed out seven overs in. Given the one-dimensional nature of the Windies throughout the tournament, it is incredible to think that this is the case. In the three completed games, the most he conceded in a ten over spell was a miserly 38, taking six wickets along the way.

I am still in disbelief that they didn’t play him in the game against Bangladesh, where they were thrashed even after scoring 321. This game and the tournament itself showed the need for better balance in the Windies attack. Roach, at 31, needs to be backed to deliver the goods for the next few years.

5. West Indies need a wicket-taking spinner

It is time for the Windies to really invest in their younger players after a disappointing campaign. Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran can be mainstays in their batting lineup for years to come, building the core of their team. John Campbell, who wasn’t in the squad, can strike fast runs at the top if he is chosen as the man to eventually replace Chris Gayle.

However, the West Indies need a quality spinner in ODIs. While Ashley Nurse and Fabian Allen aren’t bad bowlers, they lack the wicket-taking threat that other sides in the tournament possess. This certainly contributed to the one-dimensional nature of West Indies’ attack, which they must look to improve on post-CWC 2019.

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 Match 43: Bangladesh v Pakistan Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey
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0
CWC 2019 Match 43: Bangladesh v Pakistan Preview Dream11

CWC 2019 Match 43: Bangladesh v Pakistan Preview Dream11. BAN vs PAK Preview Dream11 Prediction

It could have been so different for Pakistan and Bangladesh. Instead of fighting it out for a Semi Final spot, both sets of passionate fans can only hope for a positive end to the tournament.

Pakistan sat in the top four by the time last Saturday’s action was complete. However, England’s last two wins has rendered it just about impossible for them to qualify. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s men have to win by 316 runs, and even though Pakistan are incredibly unpredictable, it is pretty safe to predict their campaign will end today.

Also read: Were New Zealand lucky to make the Semi Finals?

Bangladesh, like Pakistan, will be ruing a few moments throughout their campaign. Led by the brilliant Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh have arguably played their best ever cricket in a World Cup despite qualifying past the group stage in 2007 and 2015. Their bowling, as feared before the tournament, has proven to be mostly ineffective, which has left too much for the batting – impressive as it has been – to do. Can they finish off with a victory in inspirational skipper Mashrafe Mortaza’s final World Cup match?

Key to a Pakistan win

It has been a disappointing campaign for Fakhar Zaman. Returning to the nation where he made an incredible start to his ODI career, Fakhar has been unable to add another dimension to his team’s batting as fans hoped he would. He has an opportunity today against a Bangladesh attack that has struggled for powerplay wickets in CWC 2019, setting things up for Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail. With Imad Wasim proving the worth of his all-round ability against Afghanistan, Pakistan can look to finish the innings well.

Also read: Imad proves his all-round worth

Also, the battle between Pakistan’s in-form bowling attack and Bangladesh’s batsmen promises to be a good one, despite this being a dead rubber. Shaheen Shah Afridi, after a lean period in ODIs, has roared into life with two four-wicket hauls in a row. He and Mohammad Amir, who is high up on the wicket-takers list, will be key in getting into Bangladesh’s top order that includes the in-form Shakib Al Hasan. Then, can Pakistan bowl with better control and intent in the middle overs than they did at times vs Afghanistan?

Key to a Bangladesh win

Bangladesh have played some excellent cricket in CWC 2019. However, their bowling has been a weak point, which was similar to their Champions Trophy 2017 campaign. Mustafizur Rahman was brilliant at the death against India, but can he deliver early scalps against Pakistan? Will Bangladesh, after Tamim’s very costly drop, take all their chances? Bangladesh need to build pressure and then pounce when Pakistan look to break free.

Also, we will get to see Shakib Al Hasan one last time in what has been one of the most incredible individual efforts in any World Cup. His 542 runs, second only to Rohit Sharma’s 544, is coupled with 11 wickets that has put Bangladesh right in the contest each match. To win, Bangladesh will need one final big effort from him, as well as Tamim Iqbal who hasn’t quite had the tournament expected of him. Can Soumya Sarkar also build on his starts of late and set things up for their capable middle order?

Also read: It is sad that Shakib Al Hasan won’t feature in the Semi Finals

Pitch and conditions

Conditions at Lord’s have been of help to the bowlers. You only have to look back to Australia’s games against England and New Zealand. The pitch will be the same one used for the Pakistan-South Africa game a few weeks ago. Warm and sunny conditions are expected.

Also read: Are England capable of winning when conditions aren’t quite to their liking?

Possible Playing 11

Mahmudullah could be fit to play this match. This will be Mashrafe Mortaza’s final World Cup match.

Bangladesh: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Soumya Sarkar, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Liton Das, 6. Mahmudullah, 7. Mosaddek Hossain, 8. Mohammad Saifuddin, 9. Mashrafe Mortaza (c), 10. Rubel Hossain, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Mohammad Hasnain could get a run for Pakistan, possibly for Wahab Riaz.

Pakistan: 1. Imam-ul-Haq, 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Haris Sohail, 6. Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), 7. Imad Wasim, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Mohammad Amir, 10. Wahab Riaz/Mohammad Hasnain, 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

CWC 2019 Match 43: Bangladesh v Pakistan Preview Dream11. BAN vs PAK Preview Dream11 Prediction. Dream 11 for PAK vs BAN Possible Playing 11 Match Prediction. Cricket World Cup 2019 Cricket Blog CricBlog
CWC 2019 Match 43: Bangladesh v Pakistan Preview Dream11

Option 2:

CWC 2019 Match 43: Bangladesh v Pakistan Preview Dream11. BAN vs PAK Preview Dream11 Prediction. Dream 11 for PAK vs BAN Possible Playing 11 Match Prediction. Cricket World Cup 2019 Cricket Blog CricBlog
CWC 2019 Match 43: Bangladesh v Pakistan Preview Dream11

Stats and Facts

  • Bangladesh won the only World Cup meeting between the sides, back in 1999.
  • Bangladesh have won the last four ODIs against Pakistan.
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi has eight wickets in his last two ODIs.
  • Mustafizur Rahman is two wickets away from 100 in ODIs.
  • Bangladesh’s seamers have taken just two wickets in overs 1-20 in CWC 2019 (79 total overs).

Match Prediction

Teams who have batted first have won 27 of 38 matches in CWC 2019. In fact, only Bangladesh have successfully chased over 250.

Here, I predict the team batting first will win again (which has happened in all three games at Lord’s in CWC 2019). Any total in the region of 270 will be mighty tough to chase.

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 – England v New Zealand: 5 key talking points

Charbel Coorey
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0
CWC 2019 – England v New Zealand: 5 key talking points

CWC 2019 – England v New Zealand: 5 key talking points. ENG vs NZ: 5 key talking points from their 2019 World Cup match

After much deliberation and possible scenarios, especially over the past two weeks, hosts England have reached the CWC 2019 Semi Finals.

Just four days ago, England found themselves outside the top four. In the end, though, they got the job done, achieving the absolute minimum expectation of them by reaching the knockout stage. They stepped up in their final two games, and for that they deserve praise for their effort.

New Zealand, on the other hand, have crawled into the Semi Finals. Their total of 186 was another chapter in the book of batting struggles this tournament. They must produce a significant turnaround if they are to challenge either Australia or India in the Semi Final, otherwise they will just prove to be a small little speed bump for their opponent on the road to the Final.

Here are five talking points from England’s huge 119-run win.

1. Who will beat England on a good batting pitch?

First, it was hand England the Cup full stop. Now, it’s only if they win the toss.

Jonny Bairstow’s comments ahead of their crucial clash against India drew criticism. Now, with England having scored well on two good batting tracks, criticism from rival fans and pundits have been amplified further. Are England only capable of performing well in conditions that don’t offer much swing or seam? Can this England side be considered great, even if they win this World Cup?

Being as neutral as possible (given I am Australian), the answer to the second question is no. Yes, the pitch slowed up as the day went on, but it was terrific for batting early on. It was not like the pitch against Australia, where England looked totally confused on how to play. Greatness should be measured by what a side can do in all kinds of conditions, overcoming obstacles to perform well rather than showing frustration in an interview about how the pitches have been different than usual. With Bairstow and England so good in these conditions, the challenge for the other sides remaining is how they beat them if faced with the same in the knockouts. It still remains to be seen whether England can chase down totals in high-pressure games.

2. Were New Zealand lucky to reach the Semi Finals?

From one controversial opinion to another. Were New Zealand lucky to reach the Semi Finals?

The Black Caps have crawled into the Semi Finals. Three straight losses has seen them lose all momentum. However, is it of any surprise? They were pushing things really close in earlier matches, winning by the skin of their teeth where better judgement and execution from the opposition might have seen different results.

They snuck past a Bangladesh side that could have better taken their chances. South Africa didn’t review an edge off Kane Williamson and missed a host of other chances. Carlos Brathwaite was inches away from winning the game for West Indies. With huge reliance on Kane Williamson, the washout against India and Pakistan’s washout vs Sri Lanka, New Zealand might well be considered fortunate. In the end, Pakistan’s horrible loss to West Indies came to New Zealand’s benefit.

Also read: Drop Rohit, pay the price

3. Mark Wood continues his excellent tournament

Mark Wood entered the tournament with an ODI bowling average in excess of 45. At the end of England’s league campaign, Wood has finished with 16 wickets in eight games at 23.

This is an excellent reward for a bowler who has had his fair share of injuries. As New Zealand continued to huff and puff to stay in the game, Wood snuffed out any chance they had by continuing to build pressure in the middle overs. It is what he has been doing for most of the tournament, and England need him to do the same in the knockout stages.

Also, what Wood’s pace showed was the importance of Lockie Ferguson for New Zealand. Ruled out with hamstring stiffness, the Black Caps missed Ferguson’s pace and aggression particularly against Eoin Morgan – the recipe for his stay towards the top of the wicket-takers chart in CWC 2019.

4. New Zealand’s batting…

The less said, the better. But, it just has to be mentioned yet again.

Dating back to their match against Bangladesh, New Zealand’s batting has never really clicked into gear. Their average opening stand in CWC 2019 stands at just 27.5, boosted heavily by an unbeaten 137 against Sri Lanka. Their possible Semi Final opponents, Australia, average close to 90. Kane Williamson has played this tournament almost as an opener, keeping New Zealand afloat even as their middle order has been on and off. He has scored 30% of his team’s runs which is far too much for any team, regardless of how good he may be.

So, can New Zealand get it right in the Semi Final? It is not easy to simply flick on a switch, but Martin Guptill is certainly a better player than his CWC 2019 performance suggests. He was a crucial man for the Black Caps ahead of the tournament, and remains so if they are any chance of lifting the Cup. Also, New Zealand must rotate the strike better, as they are eating up far too many dot balls. More proactive and confident batting, coupled with the timely fifty by Tom Latham, can hold the Black Caps in better stead.

Also read: How good is this Jasprit Bumrah bloke?

5. Is the form of Jos Buttler a concern for England?

The reintroduction of Jason Roy has reaped immediate reward for England. His return from injury was a significant boost for Jonny Bairstow in particular, who has played with plenty with freedom en route to two straight hundreds.

However, should England be concerned about the form of Jos Buttler? He hasn’t got going the way many know he can in recent times, with the proof being that he has scored 150 runs in seven innings apart from his century against Pakistan in England’s second match.

He has the quality and power to deliver game-changing knocks in the knockout games. England will be hoping that is the case.

Thanks for reading!

Women’s Ashes: EngW v AusW 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey
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0
Women’s Ashes: EngW v AusW 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

Women’s Ashes: EngW v Ausw 2nd ODI Preview Dream11. England Women vs Australia Women 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction

The 2019 Women’s Ashes, expected to be closely fought, began with a low-scoring thriller in Leicester.

England were on the mat. Four down for just 19 in 31 balls represented an awful start to an Ashes campaign. However, they showed their quality for the rest of the match, fighting back to nearly snatch victory in what would have been one of the best turnarounds you’ll see in ODIs. Can they put in a much improved batting performance to draw level in this series?

Australia made hard work of the 178-run target. Like England, they will be after an improved batting performance. However, their bowling and intensity upfront was irresistible, coming out firing to get first points of the 2019 Ashes series. A win here will have them push ahead of England by four points in the points-based series, which gives them a nice buffer early on.

Key to an England win

England’s top four, on paper, looks magnificent. However, they were anything but in an awful start in the first ODI, scoring a combined 17 runs to fall well behind the eight-ball. Tammy Beaumont looked good for a big score, looking by far the most fluent of the England batswomen early before chopping on. She will be key in translating that into a more significant score, with good support from the likes of Amy Jones, Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight. With Natalie Sciver and England’s lower order (i.e. Sophie Ecclestone) in good touch, the top needs to provide a better start.

Also, England’s bowlers will be feeling confident after a big effort. Alyssa Healy will be the key wicket at the top, whilst building dot-ball pressure against Australia’s remaining top order players. Targeting the stumps worked nicely for England in the first ODI, and they need to test Australia’s skill and technique once again. However, can they hold onto their chances and remain more disciplined this time? Five wides were given to lose the game and Anya Shrubsole dropped two crucial chances, which is something to avoid here.

Key to an Australia win

Alyssa Healy’s strokeplay and timing was something else in the first ODI – so much so that the England supporters had no choice but to soak it in. Healy will be key again, but like England, Australia need more from their top four. Nicole Bolton, Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry were all out early, putting pressure on Healy and the middle order to get Australia over the line. Can Australia execute their shots better en route to a more cohesive batting display?

The win in the first ODI was set up by the bowlers. Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt again highlighted their excellent partnership, ripping through the England top order with accurate and intent-filled bowling. With England’s top order out to have a much better outing, the challenge for these two bowlers will be to repeat it, with Australia’s spinners to build further pressure in the middle overs.

Pitch and conditions

There were no gremlins in the pitch in the first ODI. Both sides just need to execute better. The forecast is for mid-20s and mostly sunny.

Also read: Do you enjoy cricket betting online? Some key tips to keep in mind

Possible Playing 11

England: 1. Amy Jones, 2. Tammy Beaumont, 3. Sarah Taylor (wk), 4. Heather Knight, 5. Natalie Sciver, 6. Fran Wilson/Danielle Wyatt, 7. Katherine Brunt, 8. Anya Shrubsole, 9. Sophie Ecclestone, 10. Laura Marsh, 11. Kate Cross

Australia: 1. Alyssa Healy (wk), 2. Nicole Bolton, 3. Meg Lanning (c), 4. Ashleigh Gardner, 5. Beth Mooney, 6. Rachael Haynes, 7. Ellyse Perry, 8. Jess Jonassen, 9. Delissa Kimmince, 10. Georgia Wareham, 11. Megan Schutt

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Women’s Ashes: EngW v Ausw 2nd ODI Preview Dream11. England Women vs Australia Women 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

Women’s Ashes: EngW v Ausw 2nd ODI Preview Dream11. England Women vs Australia Women 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction
Women’s Ashes: EngW v AusW 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

Also read: Can Afghanistan get their first win of CWC 2019? + Dream11

Stats and Facts

  • Australia have won three of the last five ODIs against England.
  • Alyssa Healy averaged over 54 in ODIs in 2018. She is averaging 40+ so far in 2019.
  • Tammy Beaumont averages over 50 in ODIs in England. Primed for a big one?

Match Prediction

This promises to be another closely-fought match.

At the end of the first ODI, England would have surely believed that if they start the second game better, they could go on and win it. My heart says Australia, but I think England will bounce back.

Also read: Do you enjoy cricket betting online? Some key tips to keep in mind

Thanks for reading!

Ireland v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey
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Ireland v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

Ireland v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI Preview Dream11. IRE vs ZIM 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction

The series is on the line as the action moves from Bready to Belfast.

Ireland took a 1-0 series lead thanks to a pretty clinical performance on Monday. They have the chance now to better what they achieved recently against Afghanistan, where they couldn’t capitalise on a first up victory. Andy Balbirnie, who has had a superb year in ODIs, was excellent, as was Mark Adair in setting up and finishing the victory for Ireland. Will they seal the series?

Zimbabwe have now lost three consecutive ODIs on their tour of Netherlands and Ireland. Familiar shortcomings came to the fore in the first ODI, with Craig Ervine’s century the clear standout in a top order that underwhelmed. Can they put in an improved display to keep the series alive?

Key to an Ireland win

The Ireland bowlers worked well as a unit in the first ODI. That they had Zimbabwe in control even with Tim Murtagh and Boyd Rankin taking just one wicket between them is cause for encouragement. Mark Adair, along with Murtagh and Rankin, will be tasked with putting further pressure on a Zimbabwe batting lineup that continues to rely on individual brilliance rather than a collective effort. Also, Shane Getkate will be looking to build on his fine ODI debut, where his first wicket was Brendan Taylor.

Also, how good has Andy Balbirnie been in 2019? Another fine knock held Ireland in good stead last time out, and he will be tasked with producing similar. Paul Stirling and James McCollum can reduce Zimbabwean confidence further with a good opening stand that Ireland can play off. However, the middle order will be after an improvement after losing regular wickets to give Zimbabwe a sniff last time out. With Mark Adair capable of striking the ball well, Ireland can have their finishing sorted.

Also read: Can Afghanistan get their first win of CWC 2019?

Key to a Zimbabwe win

Had it not been for Craig Ervine and Ryan Burl, who knows what Zimbabwe would have scored in the first ODI. Their reliance on one or two players to step up has been a common theme in recent matches, with the lack of partnerships a concern. Hamilton Masakadza, with scores of 7, 5 and 15 in his last three ODIs, must provide Zimbabwe with a strong start that the experienced middle order can play off.

Also, Zimbabwe had some good moments with the ball in the first ODI. However, like their batting, the good moments were not prolonged enough to have a significant impact on the game in their favour. Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara lead the way after underwhelming performances in the Netherlands, but not a single wicket was taken from anyone else in the attack. Can Zimbabwe make a strong start by removing Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie as early as possible? Then, can they build on it effectively?

Pitch and conditions

Both the recent Ireland-Afghanistan ODIs were played in Belfast. The team batting first won easily twice. The weather is expected to be fine, with periods of cloud.

Also read: Do you enjoy cricket betting online? Some key tips to keep in mind

Possible Playing 11

Ireland: 1. Paul Stirling, 2. James McCollum, 3. Andy Balbirnie, 4. William Porterfield (c), 5. Kevin O’Brien, 6. Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7. Shane Getkate, 8. Mark Adair, 9. Andy McBrine, 10. Tim Murtagh, 11. Boyd Rankin

Zimbabwe: 1. Hamilton Masakadza (c), 2. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe/Solomon Mire, 3. Craig Ervine, 4. Brendan Taylor, 5. Sean Williams, 6. Sikandar Raza, 7. PJ Moor, 8. Ryan Burl, 9. Donald Tiripano, 10. Kyle Jarvis, 11. Tendai Chatara

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Ireland v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI Preview Dream11. IRE vs ZIM 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction. Dream11 for IRE vs ZIM 2nd ODI 4th July today. Possible Playing 11 Match Prediction Cricket Blog CricBlog
Ireland v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

Option 2:

Ireland v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI Preview Dream11. IRE vs ZIM 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction. Dream11 for IRE vs ZIM 2nd ODI 4th July today. Possible Playing 11 Match Prediction Cricket Blog CricBlog
Ireland v Zimbabwe 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

Also read: Can Afghanistan get their first win of CWC 2019? + Dream11

Stats and Facts

  • Ireland have won two of their last three ODIs vs Zimbabwe.
  • Andy Balbirnie in ODIs 2019: 11 innings, 553 runs, average 55.30, three centuries.
  • Zimbabwe have lost three ODIs in a row.

Match Prediction

Zimbabwe need all their experienced players to come to the fore in a must-win match.

However, they are looking short of cohesion and confidence. While they do have it in them to bounce back, Ireland at home look good to make it 2-0.

Also read: Do you enjoy cricket betting online? Some key tips to keep in mind

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 Match 42: Afghanistan v West Indies Dream11

Charbel Coorey
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0

CWC 2019 Match 42 – Afghanistan v West Indies Dream11. AFG vs WI Preview Dream11 Prediction

Two sides that had much optimism associated with them before the tournament began have just one win between them. It is safe to say things haven’t gone quite as planned. The Finalists of the World Cup Qualifier in 2018 meet in a game where eyes are on the future.

What can we say about Afghanistan? They could – and probably should – have three wins in this World Cup. The latest missed opportunity was a heartbreaking three-wicket loss to Pakistan, where skipper Gulbadin Naib played a key role in the defeat. This was the latest episode in a string of poor decisions that has crippled Afghanistan’s campaign, where team politics and poor strategy can actually threaten future progress. Can they end their campaign with a win?

Also read: What on EARTH was Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib thinking?

West Indies have been mighty disappointing. With big-name players on deck and a nothing-to-lose attitude, West Indies were considered a danger side by many. However, it hasn’t materialised, winless since their first up thrashing of Pakistan back on June 1. The latest disappointment was a loss to Sri Lanka, but Nicholas Pooran was the shining light, giving us all a glimpse into a positive-looking future.

Key to an Afghanistan win

Afghanistan have fought well with the bat in recent matches. Three 200+ totals in a row has been a positive change after some low scores early in the tournament. However, the difficulty they have faced in converting starts has hurt them, with a number of batsmen getting out when set. This experience can certainly hold Afghanistan in good stead, but to win here, they need the likes of Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi to play significant knocks to set a very strong platform for Afghanistan.

Also, Afghanistan’s spin attack is considered a strong one, and they have shown why in recent games. With conditions offering spin in Leeds last week in their tight loss to Pakistan, Afghanistan’s spinners have a great opportunity to target a Windies batting lineup that has struggled to bat with the fight and discipline needed at times to succeed. However, Afghanistan will be hoping Mujeeb ur Rahman is fit after hobbling off with a foot problem against Pakistan.

Key to a West Indies win

West Indies’ bowling has been one-dimensional in CWC 2019. Focused heavily on the short ball, they have been unable to provide answers when batting sides pose questions, which has been a significant reason they sit where they are. Will we see a few more salutes from Sheldon Cottrell? Can Oshane Thomas discover the form he had at the start of the tournament? If Afghanistan batsmen do manage to make starts, can the Windies cut their innings short? The short ball can be a good avenue, but its the pressure the Windies build that will also be key.

In a turn of events, Chris Gayle is set to play on after the World Cup. However, can he lighten things up in his final World Cup appearance? It will be a challenge against Afghanistan’s spinners, but if Gayle gets going, we could see something like what Eoin Morgan did. Also, more is needed from Shai Hope, who has been bowled three times in a row. He can be the glue of this lineup, and with Nicholas Pooran playing beautifully, West Indies can set things up for the likes of Shimron Hetmyer to go hard.

Pitch and conditions

The pitch for the Afghanistan-Pakistan game was conducive to spin bowling. It could be the case again. The weather forecast is mostly sunny.

Possible Playing 11

The fitness of Mujeeb ur Rahman is something to keep an eye on after hobbling off the field at the back end of Pakistan’s run chase. Also, Afghanistan sent in Ikram Ali Khil at four against Pakistan but couldn’t score very freely.

Also read: What on EARTH was Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib thinking?

Afghanistan: 1. Rahmat Shah, 2. Gulbadin Naib (c), 3. Hashmatullah Shahidi, 4. Asghar Afghan, 5. Najibullah Zadran, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Samiullah Shenwari, 8. Ikram Ali Khil (wk), 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Sayed Shirzad, 11. Mujeeb ur Rahman

Kemar Roach could come back into the side after missing the Sri Lanka game with illness. Also, Evin Lewis could return from injury.

West Indies: 1. Chris Gayle, 2. Evin Lewis/Sunil Ambris, 3. Shai Hope (wk), 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Jason Holder (c), 7. Carlos Brathwaite, 8. Fabian Allen, 9. Kemar Roach, 10. Oshane Thomas, 11. Sheldon Cottrell

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

CWC 2019 Match 42 - Afghanistan v West Indies Dream11. AFG vs WI Preview Dream11 Prediction. Dream11 for AFG vs WI Possible Playing 11 Match Prediction. Cricket World Cup 2019 Cricket Blog CricBlog
CWC 2019 Match 42 – Afghanistan v West Indies Dream11

Option 2:

CWC 2019 Match 42 - Afghanistan v West Indies Dream11. AFG vs WI Preview Dream11 Prediction. Dream11 for AFG vs WI Possible Playing 11 Match Prediction. Cricket World Cup 2019 Cricket Blog CricBlog
CWC 2019 Match 42 – Afghanistan v West Indies Dream11

Stats and Facts

  • This will be the first World Cup meeting between the sides.
  • Afghanistan have won three of the last four ODIs against West Indies, including two in the World Cup Qualifier in 2018.
  • Rashid Khan’s best ODI figures came against West Indies. He took 7/18 in 2017.

Match Prediction

Tough game to predict. This might very well depend on the toss and conditions (how much the ball turns), where the team batting first will win.

I like Afghanistan in this one. They have been coming close, and this could be their time.

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 – India v Bangladesh: 5 key talking points

Charbel Coorey
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0
CWC 2019 – India v Bangladesh: 5 key talking points

CWC 2019 – India v Bangladesh: 5 key talking points. IND vs BAN: 5 key talking points from their 2019 World Cup match.

It’s official. India are in the 2019 World Cup Semi Finals. Bangladesh are out.

India’s 28-run win has continued a string of positive results against Bangladesh in multi-team tournaments. Since India beat Bangladesh in the 2015 World Cup Quarter Final, they enjoyed success against the Tigers in the 2016 Asia Cup Final, 2017 Champions Trophy Semi Final, 2018 Nidahas Trophy Final, 2018 Asia Cup Final and now this.

Bangladesh fans were hoping things would be different this time around. The feeling of being knocked out by India has unfortunately become all-too-common, with the players letting themselves down in key stages in this match. India, on the other hand, have achieved what many expected them to by reaching the Semi Finals.

Here are five talking points from India’s win in front of a special fan!

1. Rohit Sharma makes the opposition pay, again

This was one of the biggest games in Bangladesh’s cricket history. They needed to be on the money straight away, especially after losing such an important toss on a used pitch. But, Tamim Iqbal dropping their Semi Final hopes, along with a string of other fielding errors, suggested that nerves got the better of them.

Rohit Sharma took advantage. Rohit, who now leads the CWC 2019 run-scorers charts, has been outstanding in this tournament. However, he has lived a charmed life, dropped five times across the campaign, to go with Pakistan’s botched run out in Manchester. But, it takes a fine player to make the opposition pay, and that is what Rohit did, mesmerizing us all with delightful strokeplay that had many thinking of a double century as soon as he raised his bat to celebrate his hundred.

Sharma joined Kumar Sangakkara as the only players to score four hundreds in a single World Cup. In the end, though, I may have to take responsibility for his wicket in the ultimate jinx. His partnership with KL Rahul is going OK, which may prompt India to stick with this pair at the top despite including Mayank Agarwal in the squad.

2. It is sad that Shakib Al Hasan won’t feature in the Semi Finals

It is incredible to think that there are still discussions over whether Shakib is Bangladesh’s best ever cricketer. Truth be told, this was confirmed a decade ago.

This was another magnificent performance by a magnificent cricketer. India’s fast start (69/0) in the first 10 overs spelt real trouble for Bangladesh, but Shakib steadied things in an excellent opening spell. With beautiful flight, dip and spin, Shakib challenged the Indian openers’ inside and outside edges, bowling a 4-over spell that cost just 13. He helped get Bangladesh into the game further with a quality finish to his spell, where he went for just nine runs in his three overs at the death.

Then came his batting. The part of his game that has really come leaps and bounds in this tournament. He held things together, batting with maturity that has sometimes eluded him throughout his career. In the process, he became the first ever player to score 500+ runs and take 10+ wickets in a single World Cup. No player has even achieved even 400+ runs and 10+ wickets in a single edition.

But, Shakib, despite such a great performance, won’t be featuring in the Semi Finals. It is certainly an injustice to the campaign he has had, where few could argue if he was awarded man of the tournament right now. This campaign, despite progression in the 2007 and 2015 edition, can be considered Bangladesh’s best performance. They competed so well, but fell just short – how they would be ruing that tight loss to New Zealand earlier in the tournament.

3. Jasprit Bumrah rewarded in the wickets column

All of India held their breath as India physiotherapist Patrick Farhat ran over to attend to Jasprit Bumrah who was pointing to his shoulder after attempting to field a ball. Fans know the value of Bumrah, and it shows in the trust they and Virat Kohli have in him.

Think about it. How many times do we find ourselves saying “Bumrah still has a number of overs left. They’ll have to score off Bumrah”? A testament to his skill, Bumrah is on par with Rohit and Virat Kohli as India’s most important players in their quest for World Cup glory.

India v Bangladesh: 5 key talking points – The trust is huge.

However, Bumrah hasn’t always been rewarded with the wickets. Again, proof of his quality lies in the fact that teams often try to see him out, but on this occasion he executed the cutters and yorkers beautifully to finish with four wickets. Here, he took the crucial wicket of Sabbir Rahman in the 44th over, just as Bangladesh could believe they were in with a shout. In the big games, if India put runs on the board, they can feel confident with this guy bowling at the death.

Also read: Why Jasprit Bumrah was India’s best bowler against England

4. Bangladesh batsmen waste starts

Shakib Al Hasan was holding things together. With he and Mushfiqur Rahim playing fluently, Bangladesh had right to believe they could pull off the 315 chase needed to keep their tournament alive.

However, old weaknesses crept in for Bangladesh. Each of their top five reached at least 20, with only Shakib going past the next best score of 33. Just as Bangladesh were looking like getting themselves in the contest, they would lose a wicket, with Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim particularly guilty of getting out to very loose shots. From the moment Tamim was unable to amend his drop off Rohit Sharma with the score on 39, Bangladesh had a string of partnerships that read 35, 47 and 41 which told the story.

In the end, Bangladesh missed Mahmudullah’s experience. Also, Mohammad Shaifuddin’s late flurry was a reminder of what could have been. With Shaifuddin a capable batsman at eight, Bangladesh bat deep. They got to the final five overs needing a possible 51, but they lost wickets too regularly in the middle overs and paid the price.

5. Five-star Mustafizur Rahman

A double-wicket maiden in the 39th over gave Bangladesh an avenue right back into the game. After the Fizz should have had Rohit early, he then came back to dismiss the dangerous Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya in a single over. Just 25 then came off his last four overs at the death, taking a further three in the final over to give Bangladesh hope.

This used pitch – perfect for cutters – played right into Mustafizur’s hands. He bowled with great control and purpose, and now sits on 98 wickets in just 53 ODIs.

But, it can again be said that India’s middle order didn’t quite take full advantage of their incredible start. Rohit Sharma fell with the score on 180 with 20.4 overs remaining. With nine wickets in the shed, India managed 134/9 in the next 124 deliveries, which could have been far less had it not been for Rishabh Pant.

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