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CWC 2019 Match 27 – England v Sri Lanka Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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June 21, 2019 at 8:40 am

CWC 2019 Match 27 – England v Sri Lanka Preview Dream11. ENG vs SL Dream11 Prediction

England and Sri Lanka’s match in the 2015 World Cup was barely a battle. Just months before that tournament, Sri Lanka pummelled England 4-2 on their own turf, before making a mockery of England’s 309 in Wellington.

Fast forward four years later, and these two sides have gone in the complete opposite direction. England have gone from World Cup pretenders to contenders, whereas Sri Lanka have just 12 wins to show in their last 55 completed ODIs. This is not a game the neutral will circle in red as a possible classic, but Sri Lanka know that a win could still keep them in the hunt for a surprise top four spot. Can they cause a significant upset?

Key to an England win

Eoin Morgan was utterly dominant against Afghanistan. In an exhibition of clean hitting, Morgan showcased England’s depth in scoring 397 with Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes out cheaply along with Jason Roy’s absence. Sri Lanka were all over the place in the opening few hours against Australia, and given Sri Lanka’s lack of control with the ball, England have an opportunity to repeat what they did to Afghanistan just a couple of days back. Back Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root to be in the runs again, with the middle order pouncing.

Also, how would England feel about not taking all 10 wickets against Afghanistan? The game was all but over at the innings break, but England weren’t at their best with the ball. There should be a desire to get back in the wickets here, up against a Sri Lankan middle order doing it tough. Can England see the back of the dangerous Kusal Perera early? What about Dimuth Karunaratne who is in good touch? Who will then help dominate in the middle overs?

Key to a Sri Lanka win

Sri Lanka’s start to the run chase against Australia was phenomenal. The win probability was just in favour of Australia at the 15 over mark, with Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera on fire to build hope of a World Cup upset. However, bad moments outdid the good, as has been the case for the past few years, which Sri Lanka need to overcome here. Can they finally put together a complete batting display across 50 overs? Can Angelo Mathews find the form Sri Lanka desperately need him to?

Also, can Sri Lanka tame England’s strong batting? It is a tall ask, so like the batting, Sri Lanka need consistency across the innings. Lasith Malinga will be key in finding success, giving Sri Lanka a chance to put pressure on England’s middle order as early as possible. Then, can Sri Lanka keep some pressure on in the middle overs? Also, can they follow up their good death effort against Australia?

Pitch and conditions

The forecast is good for Friday. There has been plenty of rain around in Headingly and the pitch reportedly has a tinge of green. However, expect it to be very good for batting.

Possible Playing 11

Also read: England v Afghanistan 5 key talking points: James Vince wastes another start.

James Vince is set to get another chance but can he make it count?

England: 1. Jonny Bairstow, 2. James Vince, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. Moeen Ali, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood/Liam Plunkett

Sri Lanka have some headaches. Nuwan Pradeep was very poor vs Australia and it remains to be seen whether he will get another shot.

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

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

Sri Lanka have won four of the last five World Cup matches against England.
England have won their past six ODIs in Headingley.
If Moeen Ali is picked, this will be his 100th ODI.

Match Prediction

Sri Lanka have had the wood over England in World Cups. However, both teams have gone in the opposite direction in the last four years.

England to win.

Also read: Be sure to check out my “key talking points” after each CWC 2019 game! The latest:

New Zealand v South Africa: The dreaded “C” word…

England v Afghanistan: Electric Eoin gives Rashid a day he Khan forget

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 – New Zealand v South Africa: 5 key talking points

Charbel Coorey

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June 21, 2019 at 1:15 am

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CWC 2019 – New Zealand v South Africa: 5 key talking points. NZ vs SA: 5 key talking points from their 2019 World Cup match.

“We left everything out there. That’s all I can ask”, said South African skipper Faf du Plessis, whose future as captain is surely up in the air.

It wasn’t meant to turn out like this from a South African perspective. It was meant to be a tournament where they would thrive off the lower expectations. Instead, their CWC 2019 campaign has only been an addition to their haunted history in World Cups.

New Zealand, on the other hand, continue to go on their merry way. They have just about confirmed their place in the Semi Finals, with their inspirational skipper Kane Williamson guiding them to victory with a magnificent century.

Here are five key talking points from the game that has all but ended South Africa’s Semi Final hopes.

1. The best innings of CWC 2019 so far?

There have been some fine knocks in CWC 2019. Shikhar Dhawan’s amazing century with a broken thumb against Australia, Shakib Al Hasan’s superb 124* vs West Indies and Rohit Sharma’s fighting century on a challenging pitch vs South Africa come to mind.

However, this innings from Kane Williamson was special. Stuck at 80/4 with the all-rounders, Williamson held things together superbly, overcoming the concern of hitting the fielders consistently. Timing was at a premium on a two-paced surface, but Williamson never panicked. Luck was on his side at times, but as all class players do, he made the opposition pay, leading the Black Caps home in what was an excellent display of staying as cool as possible under pressure.

The best innings of the tournament to date? There is certainly a case for it.

Such a tough pick. Both really good knocks. Went with Williamson because it was he with the all-rounders at 80/4.
— CricBlog (@cric_blog) June 20, 2019

2. The dreaded “C” word

Yes, that C word.

Had South Africa been playing New Zealand in a bilateral ODI series, there is every reason to believe they would be favourites to take it out. After all, South Africa have been good in such series of late, winning each of their last five bilateral ODI assignments heading into the World Cup.

However, something is different about South Africa in World Cups. The wave of pressure, of which the best teams ride well, seems to cripple the Proteas, on show yesterday when they seemed terrified at times of making a mistake. But, mistakes were aplenty, with blunder after blunder in the field only intensifying the detractors’ claims that they just aren’t cut out for it at World Cups.

Dropped catches, misfields and an incredible non-review at a desperate time against New Zealand’s best player. They had New Zealand in big trouble at 80/4. Despite Andile Phehlukwayo’s struggles, South Africa had to win it from that position.

In the end, 2019 is just another chapter in the story of hurt for the Proteas.

3. Lockie Ferguson’s moment of magic

Lockie Ferguson had a poor finish to the South African innings. A dropped catch off Rassie van der Dussen in the penultimate over was then followed by conceding a six and four off the final two balls to the same batsman.

However, we were treated to a moment of magic earlier in the innings. As Simon Doull beautifully articulated in commentary, Ferguson’s rise is testament to the improvement in his fitness. This has not only enabled Ferguson to bowl faster for longer, but also to bowl smarter, which was on show against key man Faf du Plessis. His dismissal was truly a moment of magic, following up a 149 km/h bouncer with a 148 km/h yorker that Faf is still getting his bat down to as we speak.

Watch Lockie Ferguson's lethal yorker to Faf du Plessis, and all the other South Africa wickets #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #SAvNZ | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/qq4GqUfOIf
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2019

4. Colin de Grandhomme with a performance NZ needed

Colin de Grandhomme bowling tight overs and then contributing significantly with the bat is a dream scenario for the Black Caps.

If New Zealand are to go all the way in this World Cup, they need impetus in the middle order, and ‘CDG’ came up with the goods yesterday as the pressure dialed up significantly after the fall of Jimmy Neesham. He brought up his fifty in just 39 balls, reducing the pressure on Williamson and lifting it on South Africa, of which they struggle to deal with in World Cups.

1/33 off 10 followed by 60 off 47 balls is a magnificent day’s work. Can he continue making a great impact for New Zealand in this World Cup?

5. Where to for Hashim Amla?

Hashim Amla got through a challenging period in the early overs when the ball was swinging around. Conditions weren’t easy, with all bowling testing Amla’s technique en route to achieving his 8,000th ODI run.

However, his innings divided opinion. Many believed it was from the old days, with a lack of proactive play a key factor in his strike rate and dismissal. Colin de Grandhomme was allowed to bowl freely. Amla’s scratchy innings against Afghanistan while chasing a small target against a dispirited attack on a flat track gave his detractors more ammunition, creating plenty of doubt as to whether he can score his runs quickly enough to propel South Africa further.

On the evidence on display in recent times, one feels Amla is on his final legs as an ODI cricketer. Post-World Cup 2019 might be the time to promote Rassie van der Dussen to opener and say goodbye to one of South Africa’s finest ever batsmen in the ODI format.

Also read: Be sure to check out my “key talking points” after each CWC 2019 game! The latest:

England v Afghanistan: Electric Eoin gives Rashid a day he Khan forget

Bangladesh v West Indies: Super Shakib and brilliant Liton hammer Windies

India vs Pakistan: India too good for hapless Pakistan

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 Match 26: Australia v Bangladesh Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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June 20, 2019 at 8:34 am

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CWC 2019 Match 26: Australia v Bangladesh Preview Dream11. AUS vs BAN Dream11 Prediction

Well, what do you know? The 10-team World Cup, introduced to increase competitiveness and reduce meaningless games, has a top four race that is on life support.

Bangladesh have a crucial role to play in breathing life to a World Cup that is gasping for air. The Tigers need to beat at least one of Australia and India, as well as both Afghanistan and Pakistan, if they are to have a chance of making the Semi Finals. With superb wins over South Africa and West Indies, led by the brilliant Shakib Al Hasan, Australia must certainly be wary of the side of whom they cancelled a home series against last year citing ‘financial non-viability’.

Aaron Finch’s Australia can all but secure a spot in the Semi Finals with a win here. They have not been at their best, though, falling further behind India and England in the World Cup winner conversation. So, a big performance to help gain momentum will be of importance, which includes striking the right team balance – a topic of conversation right throughout their campaign to date.

Key to an Australia win

Bangladesh’s batting, led by Shakib Al Hasan, has been a key feature of their promising campaign. So, what will Australia do differently to Bangladesh’s previous opponents in CWC 2019? Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, both up top and at the death, remain crucial to Australia’s chances. However, the third and fourth bowler conundrum, coupled with the need for more control from the all-rounders are areas for Australia rectify. Today is a chance for the likes of Nathan Coulter-Nile to make more of a mark with the ball, and as the Bangladesh-West Indies game showed, a change of pace through spin can be crucial to avoid predictability. The short-ball tactic by the Windies was blunted by Bangladesh, but the longer square boundaries at Trent Bridge is an opportunity for Australia to exploit, coupled with excellent use of the fuller ball.

Also, apart from a few shaky moments, Australia’s batting from overs 1-40 has been impressive so far in CWC 2019. The form of Aaron Finch has added another dimension to Australia’s batting, getting his side off to good starts more often than not, setting a platform for the middle order to build off. However, David Warner’s search for his best form continues despite his runs. If he is at his blistering best, it takes pressure off the likes of Steve Smith in accumulating runs. With Marcus Stoinis set to return, Australia can look to play just one of Shaun Marsh or Usman Khawaja, setting a strong platform for Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell to finish a lot better than Australia have in recent games.

Key to a Bangladesh win

A huge opportunity presents Bangladesh. However, with opportunity comes challenge, with the bowlers tasked with keeping Australia’s batting lineup in check. A key question is whether Bangladesh can break the Finch-Warner stand early, turning this into a good first powerplay that forces an Australia rebuild. Plenty depends on Maxwell and Stoinis to finish strongly for Australia, so the aim for Bangladesh will be to have these two in as early as possible. Marcus Stoinis struggles against spin early. Maxwell against seam. Bangladesh have the resources to attack from both ends at this point, but can they get the better of Australia’s top four first? Can the seamers withstand the Aussie onslaught early? What impact can Shakib and Mehidy have with the ball?

Also, Bangladesh were scintillating with the bat against West Indies. The chase of 322, equal second highest with their own against Scotland in 2015, was child’s play, cantering to the target with 51 balls to spare. Their planned attack against the short ball rendered the Windies helpless, smashing 177 runs off 112 short-of-a-length deliveries.

However, Taunton’s small boundaries played into Bangladesh’s hands. The longer square boundaries at Trent Bridge accounted for Chris Gayle and Andre Russell against England, so Bangladesh need to guard against looking for the big hits out to the square boundaries. Indeed, the follow up deliveries will be just as important, testing the sharpness of their footwork, of which Tamim, Shakib and Liton were very adept at last time out. Can Bangladesh’s top six all contribute strongly to the cause against an Aussie attack looking to put in a cohesive display?

Pitch and conditions

There is a chance of some scattered showers in Trent Bridge, but it doesn’t look like it will impact this match too much. The pitch has generally been good for batting at Trent Bridge, and it should remain the case. However, with the amount of games played at Trent Bridge as well as the rain in recent times, there could be some turn on offer.

Possible Playing 11

Marcus Stoinis is set to return for Australia, giving them key batting and bowling cover. However, his form before injury was scratchy, so he has to step up. Also, Australia need to play a specialist spinner. With the key left-handers in the Bangladesh lineup, Nathan Lyon could be picked. The final spot in the team will then be between Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja.

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

Barring injuries, Bangladesh have no reason to change their lineup after Liton Das played an absolute blinder with Shakib in their win vs West Indies. A key question is whether Soumya Sarkar can convert the promising starts he has made.

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

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

Australia have won both completed matches against Bangladesh in World Cups (1999 and 2007). Their 2015 meeting was washed out.
Shakib Al Hasan is in career-best form. He has bagged a 50+ score with 2+ wickets in the same game on 23 occasions in ODIs, level with all-time great Jacques Kallis. Also, he has scored 100+ with 2+ wickets in the same game on five occasions, level with Chris Gayle as players who have done this the most.
Bangladesh enjoyed one of their greatest ever moments in the UK, beating Australia in a 2005 classic.
Australia will leapfrog England and New Zealand to go back to the top of the CWC 2019 standings if they win.

Match Prediction

If Australia aren’t focused, they will lose this match. Simple.

Bangladesh are far from the pushovers they once were – a factor that Australia must keep in their minds heading into this game. Indeed, there is plenty at stake, and Australia will surely be focused enough to effectively seal a top four spot.

Australia’s bowling attack has an edge, which can prove crucial here. Australia to win, but this could be a very interesting match.

Also read: Be sure to check out my “key talking points” after each CWC 2019 game! The latest:

England v Afghanistan: Electric Eoin gives Rashid a day he Khan forget

Bangladesh v West Indies: Super Shakib and brilliant Liton hammer Windies

India vs Pakistan: India too good for hapless Pakistan

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 – England v Afghanistan: 5 key talking points

Charbel Coorey

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June 19, 2019 at 8:34 pm

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CWC 2019 – England v Afghanistan: 5 key talking points. ENG vs AFG: 5 key talking points from their 2019 World Cup clash.

A 150-run win to England was a predictable end to Tuesday’s cricketing story. However, the script was quite the read, with Eoin Morgan keeping you glued and willing to flip over the page with no hesitation to see what was next.

The England skipper was unsure of whether he’d even play after suffering back spasms against West Indies. After being forced to stand up in his own press conference, it was a bit of a long shot to see Morgan in action against Afghanistan. In the end, in the words Pavilion Opinions, it is the journalists who ought to be standing after such an incredible ODI innings.

Below are five key talking points from England’s very comfortable win.

1. Electric Eoin

Afghanistan kept England in check better than most would have expected in the first 30 overs. However, as soon as Morgan strolled out to the crease, bad back and all, he was relentless, hitting ‘go’ from the word go, launching blow after blow en route to a world record 17 sixes in a single innings.

Naseer Hussain, who hit 15 in his 88-game career, joked about it during the innings break. There wouldn’t have even been a smile in the Afghanistan change room, with Gulbadin Naib’s face a forlorn sight by the end of the innings as England amassed 397/6.

Morgan was unstoppable. Many say that this is “just Afghanistan”, but one need not forget they possess one of the leading white-ball bowlers in the world. The England skipper was in no mood for respect, building on Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root’s anchoring of the innings to take England to greater heights on the day.

2. Afghanistan end the day with reason to smile

Afghanistan were never a chance of winning this game at the innings break. After such a poor tournament with the bat to date, Afghanistan needed to hold their own on a good track, with the opportunity to gain some batting confidence ahead of future matches. That they did, batting out 50 overs for the first time in CWC 2019.

Hashmatullah Shahidi produced the kind of form he showed at last year’s Asia Cup. Hell-bent on fighting through despite getting hit by a Mark Wood bouncer, Shahidi showcased the commitment associated with Afghanistan in their incredible rise. He soldiered on for his mother, whilst becoming the ninth Afghan to achieve 1,000 ODI runs, with the highlight an incredible straight pull for six off Wood in the 32nd over.

This batting effort might just provide confidence boost Afghanistan need.

CWC 2019 - England v Afghanistan: 5 key talking points. ENG vs AFG: 5 key talking points from their 2019 World Cup clash. — Image: Getty. England v Afghanistan 5 key talking points: Hashmatullah Shahidi showed character

3. Afghanistan’s fielding woes

You might be up against it with the ball. The same with the bat. However, fielding is an area that can help lower ranked sides compete.

Afghanistan’s fielding has been so poor that they would be well behind the pace even in club competitions. Discipline cost them dearly against Sri Lanka, losing that game by 34 runs after giving away at least 50 runs in extras and fumbles.

From the moment they misfielded twice in the first three overs here, the writing was on the wall. Dawlat Zadran’s awful misjudgment on the boundary was most costly, putting down Eoin Morgan in his 30’s. We all know what happened next.

For Afghanistan to progress as a cricketing team, the first areas they must look at (apart from stupid team management decisions) is their fitness and fielding. Bangladesh showed against West Indies the value of energetic and clinical fielding, saving runs and then being able to transfer that energy to other aspects of their game.

4. James Vince wastes another start

Jason Roy’s hamstring injury and Alex Hales’ ill-discipline has opened the door for James Vince. However, it was another opportunity wasted.

Surely no one can be nervous watching Vince start his innings. He is usually an excellent starter, playing elegantly to give the impression he will be going on to score a big one. However, in what has plagued Vince in his career to date, he was out for yet another start, playing a poor shot to get out in the 20’s.

He will get at least one more opportunity with Jason Roy’s injury. He needs to make it count.

5. Rashid has a day he Khan forget

Rashid Khan was not happy with the captaincy change before the tournament. Since then, he has not quite been the same.

The man who is a source of pride among millions of fans and arguably Afghanistan’s premier cricketing icon had his worst day as a professional cricketer. To compete with England, Afghanistan needed Rashid to be at his best, using the slight turn on offer to his advantage. However, the ball kept disappearing over the boundary after Dawlat Zadran’s helpless flap at the ball, with Rashid conceding a world record 11 sixes en route to the most expensive World Cup figures in history.

How Rashid Khan bounces back will be key. Everyone has a bad day. No one day makes you a great cricketer, nor does it make you a bad one.

Let’s see how he and Afghanistan follow up against India.

Netherlands vs Zimbabwe 1st ODI Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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June 19, 2019 at 1:01 pm

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Netherlands vs Zimbabwe 1st ODI Preview Dream11. NL vs ZIM 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

As CWC 2019 fever starts to heat up, a lower-profile ODI series begins in The Netherlands between two sides desperate for more opportunities.

Zimbabwe, who missed out on qualification to the 2019 World Cup in heartbreaking fashion, are set to play just their fifth ODI of this calendar year. Their previous four were at home to UAE during IPL 2019, so gaining the attention and exposure required to build has been a challenge. They did enjoy the winning feeling, though, taking out that series 4-0, and ODIs against Netherlands and Ireland can be used as a message to say they are ready to play higher-ranked sides more often.

The Netherlands have had quite the wait for their next ODI. Their last was a one-run loss to Nepal all the way back in August last year, which is reason to be excited for this clash. They have enjoyed success against a Test playing nation in an ODI before (Bangladesh in 2010), so can they create another fine moment in their cricketing history with another scalp? Under the leadership of Pieter Seelaar, that is what they will be after.

Key to a Netherlands win

The retirement of Peter Borren leaves a bit of a hole in the Netherlands’ batting stocks. So, plenty rests on the top order’s ability to get their side off to a good start against Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara, who were too good for UAE back in March. The likes of Wesley Barresi, Max O’Dowd and Ben Cooper will be key in setting a platform, backed up by the likes of Bas de Leede who can then look to take advantage.

Also, pace bowler Vivian Kingma has been brought back into the Netherlands’ squad for this series. 26 wickets in 25 List A games at an average of 28 is something to build on, and he has an opportunity to test himself against some fine players for Zimbabwe. Keep an eye out for how well the likes of Fred Klaasen, Reolof van der Merwe and Pieter Seelar can build pressure on Zimbabwe in an attempt to get the better of their more experienced players such as Brendan Taylor.

Key to a Zimbabwe win

Kyle Jarvis took 10 wickets in four ODIs in Zimbabwe’s recent series vs UAE, displaying excellent line, length and movement to prove too good. In conditions that could assist the bowlers up-front, Jarvis will be Zimbabwe’s main man with the ball, backed up by Tendai Chatara and Donald Tiripano who took a combined 11 wickets in that series against UAE. These three will be key in setting a fine platform for the all-rounders, namely Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza, to continue the work.

Also, Zimbabwe welcome back plenty of experience in what is positive news. Hamilton Masakadza returns to the lead the side, along with Brendan Taylor who also missed the UAE series through injury. The two stalwarts will be key in overcoming an enthusiastic Dutch attack, paving the way for the likes of Craig Ervine, Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza to build a strong total via middle overs accumulation and partnerships.

Pitch and conditions

Some rain is predicted for the afternoon in Deventer. This is the first ever ODI at Sportpark Het Schootsveld, so what the pitch plays like will be interesting to see. Typically, pitches in The Netherlands are similar to that of Ireland, offering some assistance early before becoming pretty good for batting.

Also read: New Zealand vs South Africa World Cup Match Preview Dream11 Prediction

Possible Playing 11

Ryan ten Doeschate is unavailable for Netherlands as he is playing for Essex.

Netherlands: 1. Wesley Barresi, 2. Max O’Dowd, 3. Ben Cooper, 4. Tobias Visee, 5. Bas de Leede, 6. Roelof van der Merwe, 7. Scott Edwards (wk), 8. Pieter Seelaar (c), 9. Brandon Glover, 10. Vivian Kingma, 11. Fred Klaassen

Hamilton Masakadza returns to captain the side. Regis Chakabva, Timycen Maruma, Brian Chari , Brandon Mavuta and Tony Munyonga are all out of the squad that played UAE, replaced by Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Richmond Mutumbami and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe.

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

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts:

Netherlands won the last match between these sides (a List A match) in 2017. Zimbabwe won the series 2-1, though.
The only official ODI between the sides was way back in the 2003 World Cup, where Zimbabwe won by 99 runs.
Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza, back in the Zimbabwe setup, have played 392 ODIs between them.

Match Prediction

A great opportunity for The Netherlands to do well against a Test team.

However, Zimbabwe look to have enough experience on hand to get a win.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: New Zealand vs South Africa World Cup Match Preview Dream11 Prediction

CWC 2019 Match 25: New Zealand v South Africa Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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June 19, 2019 at 8:47 am

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CWC 2019 Match 25: New Zealand v South Africa Preview Dream11. NZ v SA Dream11 Prediction

Get ready. It’s crunch time, with a rematch of the classic 2015 World Cup Semi Final awaiting us.

We have had reason to believe that the top four race has a twist or two yet. South Africa is a side that can stir the pot, coming off a long-awaited first victory in CWC 2019. Sure, the Cardiff weather was more of a threat to the Proteas than struggling Afghanistan, but they find themselves in a situation where they can put some pressure on the Black Caps

New Zealand, still one of two undefeated sides in CWC 2019, finally play their next game after their potential blockbuster against India was washed out. How well Kane Williamson’s side hit the ground running after a longish break will be key, with an opportunity to really consolidate their position in their top four.

Key to a South Africa win

Runs for Hashim Amla was a welcome feature of South Africa’s thumping victory over Afghanistan. However, New Zealand’s mix swing and pace will be a tougher test, so can Amla overcome his worries up front in recent times? With Quinton de Kock threatening to find his best form, the Proteas’ opening partnership can set the tone in a crucial game. Then, can the middle order build on starts – something that has been an achilles heel of South Africa in CWC 2019? Faf du Plessis will undoubtedly be key, but who else will put their hands up to make a big contribution?

Also read: Afghanistan vs South Africa 5 key talking points: RANT – Disgraceful Afghanistan team management

Also, South Africa have received a big boost with the return of Lungi Ngidi. The Proteas’ attack has looked more potent in their two most recent games (India and Afghanistan), which is something they must build on here. Kagiso Rabada’s pace and skill, Lungi Ngidi’s bounce, Chris Morris’ decent form and Andile Phehlukwayo’s accuracy are ingredients capable of producing a beautiful dish. Can South Africa make key inroads in the powerplay, setting things up for Imran Tahir to target the middle order?

Key to a New Zealand win

Can the Black Caps bowlers re-open some of South Africa’s batting wounds? The battle between Trent Boult and Quinton de Kock, given de Kock’s issues at times against left-arm seam, will be one of the key duels that can shape this game. South Africa have shown a tendency to lose wickets regularly in CWC 2019, so an opportunity awaits New Zealand’s bowlers to open this game up with swing via Boult and Matt Henry, aggression courtesy of Lockie Ferguson and control in the middle overs through Mitchell Santner.

Also, New Zealand’s openers against South Africa’s pace threat is another one of the excellent duels to look forward to in this clash. Faf du Plessis will want to introduce Imran Tahir to new batsmen looking to get set, so a platform up top is crucial for New Zealand to get into the game. With Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in the runs, the Black Caps can be hopeful of setting a platform for their hard-hitting all-rounders to pounce.

Pitch and conditions

Cloudy conditions are expected for most of the day. Rain – even storms, is a good chance of occurring throughout the day. The pitch is said to be on the slow side, with an off-white colour suggesting a dry surface that can help spin.

Possible Playing 11

Lungi Ngidi will come back into the South Africa team, likely to be for either Beuran Hendricks or Chris Morris. Morris has bowled well in the last two games, so he could be persisted with. Also, Tabraiz Shamsi and JP Duminy could be considered if the Proteas feel the pitch will spin.

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

Also read: Afghanistan vs South Africa 5 key talking points: RANT – Disgraceful Afghanistan team management

Henry Nicholls for Colin Munro for New Zealand? Also, Ish Sodhi could get a run.

New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Colin Munro/Henry Nicholls, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Tom Latham (wk), 6. James Neesham, 7. Colin de Grandhomme/Ish Sodhi, 8. Mitchell Santner, 9. Matt Henry, 10. Lockie Ferguson, 11. Trent Boult

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

Head-to-head in World Cups: Matches 7, New Zealand 5, South Africa 2.
The last meeting between the teams in a World Cup was the unforgettable 2015 Semi Final.
Kane Williamson averages just 15.8 against Imran Tahir in eight games.
New Zealand and India remain the two unbeaten sides in CWC 2019.

Match Prediction

What a match this promises to be, provided the weather allows for it.

New Zealand are in a good place. South Africa are desperate. I have a feeling desperation will win in this one, with the Proteas to get a crucial win that keeps them in the hunt for a top four spot.

Also read: Be sure to check out my “key talking points” after each CWC 2019 game! The latest:

India vs Pakistan: India too good for hapless Pakistan

Afghanistan vs South Africa: RANT – Disgraceful Afghanistan team management

Australia vs Sri Lanka: Finch and Starc superb for Australia

Thanks for reading!

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

Charbel Coorey

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June 18, 2019 at 1:22 pm

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Bangladesh v West Indies: 5 key talking points. BAN vs WI: 5 key talking points from their 2019 Cricket World Cup clash.

Complete and utter torment in Taunton.

How the tables have turned. The last World Cup meeting between Bangladesh and West Indies resulted in stones being thrown at the West Indies bus. An expectant and hopeful home crowd, like the bus windows, were left shattered by Bangladesh’s 58-all out capitulation under the leadership of Shakib Al Hasan.

Fast forward eight years later, Shakib produced one of the all-time great World Cup performances to flatten West Indies. Along with Liton Das, Bangladesh made West Indies’ 321 look like child’s play, cantering to the total with 51 balls to spare.

The Tigers, with seven wins in their last nine games against West Indies, rightly looked at this game as a significant opportunity in the quest for a Semi Finals birth. They are now in the mix, with a crunch game against Australia to come on Thursday.

For now, here are five talking points from Bangladesh’s first ever win over West Indies in World Cups.

1. Supreme Shakib

Mark Nicholas, despite his magnificent commentary, raises eyebrows every time he mentions Shakib Al Hasan as an ‘understated’ cricketer. Shakib, top of the all-rounder rankings in all formats consistently over the past decade, showed why, picking up two wickets and then taking complete control of the game batting at number three.

Shakib Al Hasan is "understated", according to Mark Nicholas. Would anyone who's watched him play for longer than the duration of (a third of) a single tournament ever call him that?
— Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) June 17, 2019

To bat at three was Shakib’s request. He wanted to own games even more than he had for over a decade. Shakib is Bangladesh’s best ever cricketer, and he needs to constantly be in the action. Since his shift to number three in the Tri-Series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in January 2018, Shakib has only gone from strength-to-strength. He averages 59.68 in 19 ODIs at three, with this year alone producing 524 runs to date at a staggering average of 131.

Here, he made the Windies’ bowlers look third rate. The short ball, Bangladesh’s achilles heel at times over the years, was West Indies’ Plan A, B and C, with Chris Gayle as Plan D. Shakib obliged, cutting, pulling and then driving mercilessly as Jason Holder grew more and more helpless with each passing delivery. It was a masterclass from the world’s best all-rounder.

2. West Indies get it horribly wrong

It is incredible to think that a number of teams are still unsure of their best combinations in a World Cup. West Indies is one of those sides, unwilling to play a specialist spinner.

West Indies made a massive blunder here, playing Andre Russell as their fifth specialist bowler. The man can barely walk, offering up only three effective overs early in the innings, after which he looked physically incapable of doing anything more. Couple that with the lack of variety and Plan B in the attack, Bangladesh were cantering to the total, slowed down only by a freak piece of Sheldon Cottrell fielding and a legside strangle.

Bangladesh knew the short balls were coming. West Indies sent down 112 short-of-a-length deliveries, in which Bangladesh smashed 177 runs for the loss of just two wickets. Darren Bravo didn’t need to play. Ashley Nurse did. Jason Holder needed to try cut out Shakib’s cut shot. Maybe a gully? Backward point? Didn’t happen. There was too little adaptability and change of plans according to the situation.

This selection blunder also had an impact elsewhere. Both Bangladesh’s fielding and running between the wickets were streets ahead of the Windies, taking advantage of a number of slow movers inside the 30-yard circle, keeping the scoreboard ticking with incredible ease and regularity. Crucially, there were missed opportunities too, particularly Shakib’s top edge on 58 that fell in no man’s land.

3. Can Liton Das reach his potential?

Talented Bangladesh batsman. Beautiful on the eye. All the shots in the book…. with an average of 21.63 in 28 ODIs.

We’ve seen this before.

Mohammad Ashraful, arguably the most unfulfilled talent in the last two decades, had all the traits and numbers Liton Das has. Sure, Ashraful played a lot more games, but Liton was heading in the same direction, hence why he was left out of Bangladesh’s first XI in this World Cup.

However, this was an innings of high class. Walking in at the loss of two quick wickets on World Cup debut, Liton kept the scoreboard moving right away to move Bangladesh out of a position of stress. As he grew more confident, he raced to 50 before Jason Holder could even think about what to do next, then followed by an amazing highlight reel headlined by three superb sixes in a row off Shannon Gabriel.

If Liton can continue producing this kind of form, Bangladesh have yet another dimension to their play that can hold them in good stead in the race to the Semi Finals.

4. Shai Hope dividing opinion

Shai Hope has a superb record against Bangladesh. His rise in the ODI format has been a key reason why West Indies have grown more competitive in recent months. However, his 121-ball 96 is cause for discussion. Was he too cautious?

West Indies needed to rebuild after Chris Gayle’s early dismissal. Shai Hope, who plays the anchor role that West Indies need, did that well with Evin Lewis. He also anchored things nicely for Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder to go ballistic.

However, when he was required to hit big at the end, he couldn’t. Just 62 runs came in the final eight overs, prompting Holder to state after the game that they were 40-50 short. In a game like this, a strike rate of under 80 can prove crucial, and this is where Hope can improve.

He has the talent and ability. It’s about building on what he has now to elevate his game even further.

Bangladesh v West Indies: 5 key talking points – Shai Hope’s great record against Bangladesh continued, but could he have scored quicker at the death?

5. Where to now for Andre Russell?

Little impact with the bat and knees the size of mini-basketballs.

Andre Russell, a player who could have elevated West Indies to greater heights at CWC 2019, has struggled. His batting has not adapted to the longer format, and his bowling has been hampered by injury problems. Russell could barely walk by the time his sixth over was complete. Like perhaps most of his teammates at that point, he didn’t want to be on the field.

So, what do the Windies do? Is it worth carrying an injured player for potential, especially with such a crucial role as fifth bowler? Darren Ganga rightly claimed it was “incomprehensible” that an injured Russell was picked, and with their campaign officially on life support, the Windies have decisions to make – either play him as a batsman only or not at all.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Be sure to check out my “key talking points” after each CWC 2019 game! The latest:

India vs Pakistan: India too good for hapless Pakistan

Afghanistan vs South Africa: RANT – Disgraceful Afghanistan team management

Australia vs Sri Lanka: Finch and Starc superb for Australia

CWC 2019 Match 24: England v Afghanistan Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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June 18, 2019 at 8:47 am

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CWC 2019 Match 24: England v Afghanistan Preview Dream11. ENG vs AFG Dream11 Prediction

Will the incredible events in Taunton be sandwiched by two damp squibs in Manchester?

Old Trafford hosts its second game in three days following India’s comprehensive win over Pakistan. Hosts England are back in action after two straight wins, getting their campaign back on track after a loss to Pakistan two weeks ago. The hope for a competitive, close game in CWC 2019 is unlikely to be fulfilled, with form and paper suggesting the hosts should have little trouble today against an Afghanistan side that has caused plenty of self-inflicted harm. Can the Afghans put together a big performance today – the kind that was expected of them before the tournament, after a string of disappointing defeats?

Key to an England win

Afghanistan have gone past 200 only once so far in CWC 2019. The last two games in particular has seen middle order collapses after promising powerplays against the likes of Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada. So, the England change bowlers could have just as an important role as the in-form Jofra Archer in further hurting Afghanistan’s batting prospects in this tournament. Executing well with the ball was at the centre of England’s big win over West Indies, and they will want more of the same against a struggling batting lineup.

Also, the tournament favourites have a chance to flex their muscle with the bat. England are still not short of power even with Jason Roy out with a hamstring injury; the aim inflicting more doubt in the minds of Afghanistan’s bowlers and fielders who are also producing moments to forget. The top order, including Joe Root, has been dominant in their last two wins – can they make it three straight great starts?

Key to an Afghanistan win

What a sight this would be.

To stand a chance, Afghanistan’s batsmen have to hold the fort better than they have previously. If they get the chance to bat first on a used pitch, batting the full 50 overs will be crucial to get a total the spinners can bowl at.

Hazratullah Zazai, despite his ODI troubles, has helped build decent starts with Noor Ali Zadran. Afghanistan will hope for the same again, but can their misfiring middle order step up? It is incredible to think that Afghanistan dropped in-form Najibullah Zadran last game, but those selected need to play as straight as possible and rotate the strike effectively to give themselves a chance with wickets in hand.

While handling Jofra Archer and co. will be a big ask, so too will be restricting England’s power hitting. The likes of Hamid Hassan and Aftab Alam have had some good moments in CWC 2019, but their inconsistencies are reflective of the team’s fortunes. Can Afghanistan make inroads in the powerplay? Will Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi be given the chance to target England’s hard-hitting middle order with some turn on offer? Will Afghanistan’s awful fielding improve today, saving runs instead of letting them through?

In a game like this, Afghanistan have to get just about everything right while hoping England have an off-day.

Pitch and conditions

“Weather in Manchester” took a huge spike in the Google Search world on the weekend. Here, the forecast looks pretty promising with the sun expected to make an appearance right throughout the day. The pitch will be the same one used for the India-Pakistan game, so the spinners can have a say.

Possible Playing 11

Jason Roy is out for at least two games with a hamstring tear sustained against West Indies. Also, Eoin Morgan had back spasms but trained on match eve, so he could play.

England: 1. Jonny Bairstow, 2. James Vince, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. Chris Woakes, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Liam Plunkett, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood

Afghanistan team management has lost the plot with their decisions over the last few weeks, so who knows who they will pick and drop?

Afghanistan: 1. Hazratullah Zazai, 2. Noor Ali Zadran, 3. Rahmat Shah, 4. Hashmatullah Shahidi, 5. Asghar Afghan/Najibullah Zadran, 6. Gulbadin Naib (c), 7. Mohammad Nabi, 8. Ikram Ali Khil (wk), 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Mujeeb ur Rahman/Aftab Alam, 11. Hamid Hassan

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Stats and Facts:

England and Afghanistan have played a single ODI against each other to date. England won a rain-affected match by nine wickets in the 2015 World Cup.
Legspinners Adil Rashid and Rashid Khan have taken a combined 259 ODI wicket since the last World Cup.
Afghanistan have crossed 200 just once in four games so far this tournament.

Match Prediction

Another tough day awaits Afghanistan. While they are capable of having some good moments, sustaining it for long enough seems too much of a challenge.

England have too much quality and experience to let this one slip. England to win.

Also read: Be sure to check out my “key talking points” after each CWC 2019 game! The latest:

India vs Pakistan: India too good for hapless Pakistan

Afghanistan vs South Africa: RANT – Disgraceful Afghanistan team management

Australia vs Sri Lanka: Finch and Starc superb for Australia

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 – India v Pakistan: 5 key talking points

Charbel Coorey

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June 17, 2019 at 12:56 pm

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CWC 2019 – India v Pakistan: 5 key talking points

India v Pakistan: 5 key talking points. IND vs PAK: 5 key talking points from their 2019 World Cup clash.

Who breathed the bigger sigh of relief? Indian fans or ICC headquarters, (especially its social media team)?

Rain, which the ICC were rightly sweating over before the match, had the final say, but not before the result was well and truly decided. Many India fans were confident about the result before the match began. Their team showed why they had good reason to, dominating an ill-disciplined, loose and lethargic Pakistan side from start-to-finish to record their seventh straight World Cup win against them. A huge margin of 89 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method was indeed reflective of the game.

Amid the yawns, expensive figures and beautiful strokeplay, below are five key talking points from another one-sided India vs Pakistan match.

1. Ruthless Rohit makes sloppy Pakistan pay

Pakistan won the toss and bowled, just as they did against Australia. Pakistan, apart from Mohammad Amir, bowled poorly up front, just as they did against Australia. Pakistan’s naivety and repeated mistakes is cause for frustration, especially in such a big game that almost decides whether they will have a proper say in the top four race.

Hassan Ali was all over the place once again. Pakistan bowled too short and both sides of the wicket, coupled with awful fielding that had fans turning away in disgust. Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is reportedly seeking a move away from Old Trafford, and on this display, one can joke that it is because he is a Pakistan fan.

Rohit Sharma is too good to miss out. With a strong ally in KL Rahul, a capable opener himself in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit couldn’t believe his luck as he brought the sea of blue to their feet with a collection of delectable cuts and pulls. Pakistan’s poor bowling can be exemplified in the fact that Rohit was very happy to play the dominant role, when he usually likes to give himself a chance to get set. By his 20th ball, he raced to an ominous 25, that quickly turned into 50, then 100 and then very quickly 140. The writing was really on the wall when Virat Kohli came in and effortlessly stroked a 77 to become the quickest ever to 11,000 ODI runs.

It was like a training run.

2. Mohammad Amir then daylight

We can harp on about the gap between India and Pakistan right now. However, what about the gap between Mohammad Amir and his teammates?

Incredibly, Amir wasn’t picked in Pakistan’s original 15-man squad. His class is well known, but it wasn’t translating into wickets, taking just five in 14 matches before the World Cup at a strike rate of 121.2. In this tournament, though, he has been simply outstanding, carrying an ill-disciplined attack on his shoulders and leading the way.

Unfortunately, his bowling counterparts haven’t been very willing to follow. Amir, now level with Mitchell Starc, has 13 wickets in four matches. The next best for Pakistan is Wahab Riaz’s five, with an average of 47.40 and economy rate of 7.48 to go with it.

3. India are looking a very strong unit

India were considered one of the favourites for the Title before the World Cup began. They have shown why in each of their three matches so far.

This match was all about India’s excellence. Pakistan’s players were merely spectators, showcasing the gap between the two sides at the moment. Even without Shikhar Dhawan, India’s top three remains an irresistible force, combining for 306 runs at Old Trafford to flatten Pakistan.

While the failure to reach 350 may have disappointed some (helped by a weird non-review from Virat Kohli), India were always in control. Even with Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s hamstring niggle, India were always in control, exemplified in Vijay Shankar’s ability to hit the spot right away and claim the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq.

India is a side that has just about all bases covered. From a strong top three to hard-hitting middle order to capable bowling attack (Mohammed Shami can come in next game), India will be mighty hard to beat. Indeed, teams can believe that if they get the better of at least two of India’s top three on a given day, they can get the better of them.

However, on current form, that is going to take some effort.

4. Pakistan’s middle order struggles

Another day, another Pakistani middle order collapse.

Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam’s platform gave Pakistan fans some hope, especially considering India lost Bhuvneshwar Kumar to hamstring tightness. However, who in the middle order was to continue the job and get Pakistan in with a chance with 10 overs to go?

The answer was no one.

From the moment Babar Azam was bowled by an absolute beauty by Kuldeep Yadav, Pakistan were in free-fall, losing 4/12 to render the rest of the game a NRR exercise. Fakhar Zaman’s tame top edge to fine leg, Mohammad Hafeez clipping a leg side half-volley straight to deep square leg and Shoaib Malik continuing to struggle in England were the main ingredients in an awful dish for Pakistan.

By the time the players came back after another rain delay, Pakistan needed 130 off 30 balls with four wickets in hand. A lot more seats were visible in the crowd, which is the appropriate ending to a match that did not live up to the hype.

5. The state of the India v Pakistan rivalry

Marketing teams get excited. So do broadcasters, advertisers and the like. If this game was to be washed out, the ICC would have not only had to deal with rightly disgruntled fans on social media, but also significant wasted investments from advertisers upwards of AUD$5 million.

However, the build-up and hype to these matches have been more intense than the matches themselves. Since Pakistan’s thrilling one-wicket win over India in the 2014 Asia Cup in Bangladesh, the next six have not kept anyone on the edge of their seat.

India won by 76 runs in the last World Cup. Then by 124 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy Group Stage. Pakistan fired back with a 180-run drubbing in the Final, which preceded eight and nine wicket wins for India in last year’s Asia Cup, in addition to this 89-run win.

With tensions between the nations not catering for any matches in the ODI Championship League, the health of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is dependent on tournament classics.

At the moment, we are way off.

Also read: Be sure to check out my “key talking points” after each CWC 2019 game! The latest:

Afghanistan vs South Africa: RANT – Disgraceful Afghanistan team management

Australia vs Sri Lanka: Finch and Starc superb for Australia

Thanks for reading!

CWC 2019 Match 23: Bangladesh v West Indies Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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June 17, 2019 at 1:01 am

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CWC 2019 Match 23: Bangladesh v West Indies Preview Dream11. BAN vs WI Dream11 Prediction

Rivalry. It is a hot word in the cricketing world with India and Pakistan taking centre stage on Sunday.

Monday sees a rivalry, too. Sure, it is nowhere near the magnitude of an India-Pakistan battle, but these two sides have had their fair share of battles over the past few years, culminating in a number of tight battles in the ODI format.

Bangladesh have enjoyed success against West Indies in recent times. They enter this meeting against Jason Holder’s men on the back of series wins both home and away in 2018, as well as three wins in the recent Ireland Tri-Series. West Indies, who were mighty disappointing against England, join Bangladesh in must-win territory as both these sides look to keep their Semi Final hopes alive.

Who will step up?

Key to a Bangladesh win

Bangladesh are favourites in the eyes of Tamim Iqbal, who himself has enjoyed success against the Windies. In Bangladesh’s two 2-1 series wins (home and away) last year, Tamim scored a total of 430 runs in six innings at 107.50. After a slow start to his CWC 2019 campaign, Tamim has to lead the way in overcoming the Windies’ short-ball onslaught, and then helping set a platform with the in-form Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmdullah and co. to follow. Can Bangladesh, via Soumya Sarkar also, make a strong start and carry on with the job against a wounded Windies? How well will they play the short ball?

Also, will Bangladesh’s bowlers be ready to tackle a Windies’ batting onslaught after an extended break? The Windies’ batting effort against England suggested that it is going to be an all-or-nothing approach with boundaries, dots and pretty much nothing in-between. So, can the Tigers limit the boundaries? Who can help see the back of Chris Gayle early? Will it be Mehidy Hasan Miraz, given that Gayle can struggle early vs off-spin bowling? Another thorn in the Bangladesh side is Shai Hope, so how well the seamers can bowl to a plan that is backed up by the spinners in limiting the Windies’ power game will be interesting to see.

Key to a West Indies win

Can the Windies blow Bangladesh away with effective use of the short ball? Bangladesh know what’s coming, but so did Australia and South Africa, who joined Pakistan in losing a number of powerplay wickets. West Indies have taken a total of nine in this period, with their only bad day coming against England last time out. Can the likes of Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas get the Windies off to a flyer, getting the better of Bangladesh’s experienced players? Then, who will back it up?

Also, West Indies need to have a better day out with the bat. They did not properly take into account the big boundaries in Southampton, but the smaller boundaries in Taunton might be to their liking. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis have the potential to push Bangladesh right onto the back foot like England managed to do in Cardiff. Indeed, Shai Hope, who averages a huge 94.57 in nine ODIs vs Bangladesh, will be tasked with holding things together, along with the impressive Nicholas Pooran, as teammates look to go big. Andre Russell might not be fit for this game, but can the Windies get the really big score their batting lineup is capable of?

Pitch and conditions

Overcast conditions are expected in Taunton on Monday. Rain should hopefully stay away, with a good batting wicket expected.

Possible Playing 11

Liton Das could be preferred to Mohammad Mithun for Bangladesh.

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

Andre Russell is struggling with multiple injuries. His knee and left-wrist gave way just a few days ago against England, which surely puts him in big doubt for this game. If he is out, Darren Bravo could come in and bat up the order. Also, West Indies could look to a full pace attack again to target Bangladesh.

West Indies: 1. Chris Gayle, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Shai Hope, 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Jason Holder, 7. Andre Russell/Darren Bravo, 8. Carlos Brathwaite, 9. Shannon Gabriel, 10. Oshane Thomas, 11. Sheldon Cottrell

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

Head-to-head in World Cups: Matches 4, Bangladesh 0, West Indies 3, NR 1.
Bangladesh have won seven of their last nine ODIs against West Indies.
Shai Hope’s last six scores against Bangladesh: 43, 146*, 108*, 109, 87, 74.
Shakib Al Hasan is fifth in the CWC 2019 top run-scorers list with 260.
Both teams sit on three points after four matches, which makes this a must-win.

Match Prediction

Really difficult match to predict.

Much depends on how well Bangladesh handle the short ball from the Windies, as well as how well the Windies can power-hit with the bat.

I predict a tight Bangladesh win given the number of experienced players in their team, as well as their good record of late vs West Indies.

Also read: Be sure to check out my “key talking points” after each CWC 2019 game! The latest:

Afghanistan vs South Africa: RANT – Disgraceful Afghanistan team management

Australia vs Sri Lanka: Finch and Starc superb for Australia

Thanks for reading!

CRICKET BLOG FOR THE FANS, BY THE FANS

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Possible Playing 11

Dream11 Prediction

Stats and Facts

Match Prediction

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2. The dreaded “C” word

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Key to a Bangladesh win

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Possible Playing 11

Dream11 Prediction

Stats and Facts

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2. Afghanistan end the day with reason to smile

3. Afghanistan’s fielding woes

4. James Vince wastes another start

5. Rashid has a day he Khan forget

Key to a Netherlands win

Key to a Zimbabwe win

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Possible Playing 11

Dream11 Prediction

Stats and Facts:

Match Prediction

Key to a South Africa win

Key to a New Zealand win

Pitch and conditions

Possible Playing 11

Dream11 Prediction

Stats and Facts

Match Prediction

1. Supreme Shakib

2. West Indies get it horribly wrong

3. Can Liton Das reach his potential?

4. Shai Hope dividing opinion

5. Where to now for Andre Russell?

Key to an England win

Key to an Afghanistan win

Pitch and conditions

Possible Playing 11

Dream11 Prediction

Stats and Facts:

Match Prediction

1. Ruthless Rohit makes sloppy Pakistan pay

2. Mohammad Amir then daylight

3. India are looking a very strong unit

4. Pakistan’s middle order struggles

5. The state of the India v Pakistan rivalry

Key to a Bangladesh win

Key to a West Indies win

Pitch and conditions

Possible Playing 11

Dream11 Prediction

Stats and Facts

Match Prediction

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