Match 30: SL vs AFG| Match Analysis| Pitch Report| Best 11

The 30th match of the tournament will be played between Sri Lanka (SL) and Afghanistan (AFG).

Current Standings:

Sri Lanka (SL) Analysis:

After losing 3 starting matches they are back on track with 2 back to back wins. Their batting has been good so far in the World Cup but their bowling was a little bit problematic but in the last match against England their bowling was tremendously good. They need these kinds of wins so that they can secure their place.   

Tournament performance so far:

Pathum Nissanka after starting with a zero has hit back to back 4 half centuries with the scores of 51, 61, 54 & 77 runs. His average is 60.75 and gave his team a solid start in every match. Kusal Perera played a brilliant innings against Australia where he scored 78 runs but in the remaining matches he didn’t touch the double digit mark. 

Kusal Mendis the newly appointed skipper of the team in place of Dasun Shanaka who was ruled out due to injury, has started the tournament with a half century followed by a century but after that he was not looking in his previous rhythm and got out early. Sadeera Samarawickrama is looking in tremendous form and scored 295 runs with an average of 98.33 which includes 1 century and 2 half centuries. He is looking in top notch form and contributes healthy runs in the middle order.   

Charith Asalanka is a highly destructive batter from the side. He has scored 79 runs against South Africa and is contributing well in the middle and death overs. Dhanajaya de Silva hasn’t been contributing much with the bat and with the bowl also. His highest score in the World Cup is 30 runs which came against the Netherlands. Angelo Mathews played his first match against England and his experience shows there by grabbing 2 important wickets and putting the opposition on the back foot. 

Maheesh Theekshana has got 3 wickets till now but in the last two matches he was brilliant with the bowl though he took 1 wicket each in those matches but his economy was under control. Dunith Wellalage has not shown his consistency in this tournament, neither with the bat nor with ball. He needs to be more accurate with his line and length. Kasun Rajitha has done exceptionally well in the last 2 matches where he got 4 & 2 wickets respectively. His early breakthrough makes it easier for the team.   

Lahiru Kumara bowled well against England where he got 3 wickets and was named Player of the Match. He has sheer pace that cannot be tackled easily by the batters. Dilshan Madushanka has been bowling tremendously well in the starting and death overs and has 11 wickets to his name. He is going well with an average of 24.55. 

Predicted 11 for the Match:

Kusal Mendis (c/wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanaka. 

Afghanistan (AFG) Analysis:

Afghanistan have already shocked the world after registering 2 wins in the World Cup. Those 2 came in the last 3 matches. They are having potentially great batters and bowlers in the team. They played franchise leagues all over the world and this helped them alot in achieving the heights.   

Rahmanullah Gurbaz has played well from his side and in the matches where his team won he has scored half centuries. He always gives his team a great start and is a good striker of the ball and plays destructively. Ibrahim Zadran always gets a good start but is unable to score much but against Pakistan he played a brilliant knock of 87 runs which results in winning the match and he was awarded with the Player of the Match in that match.  

Rahmat Shah, one of the experienced players in the team, hasn’t been in good touch with the bat but he showed his experience against Pakistan where he made a superb 77 runs and remained unbeaten till the end. Hashmatullah Shahidi the skipper of the team has played some good knocks and one of them came against India where he scored 80 runs. His captaincy is getting better and better after each win. 

Azmatullah Omarzai has given a perfect balance in both the departments. With the bat he has scored one half century which came against India and also manages 20’s 30’s runs with the bat. And with his bowling he took 4 wickets in the World Cup till now and added a great option to the team. Ikram Alikhil scored a brilliant half century against England in the very first match he played in the tournament. He has shown quite well keeping skills till now. 

Mohammad Nabi, one of the most experienced players in the squad has not seen in his perfect form. He is a great all rounder but with the bat his highest score was 19 runs and with the bowl he has taken 3 wickets till now in the tournament. Rashid Khan the star bowler has taken 6 wickets in the tournament till now and can bat aggressively in the death overs as he is also known as a great striker of the ball. 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman though is not looking good in this tournament but his excellent performance against England with the bowl and also with the bat got his team their first victory in the World Cup. He has 4 wickets till now in his pocket in this tournament. Naveen-ul-Haq has taken 6 wickets but has an economy over 6 which needs to be controlled so that he can be more dangerous as his run up is different which makes him unique. 

Noor Ahmed the young lad of the team played his first match of the tournament which was against Pakistan and got 3 important wickets which showed his tremendous bowling effort. Fazalhaq Farooqi started well but was unable to pick many wickets and was expensive in the death overs which made him exit in the last match.          

Predicted 11 for the Match:

Hashmatullah Shahidi ©, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmed. 

Pitch Report and Weather Report:

The match will be played at Maharashtra Cricket Association, Pune. The pitch here offers huge benefits to the batters and 300 runs can be chased easily. The black soil used in this pitch will offer some bounce to the pacers. 

Weather will be mostly sunny as there will be no chance of rain. During the daytime the temperature will be around 33 degree celsius while the temperature will be 19 degree celsius at evening.      

Head to head (SL vs AFG) in the World Cup:

They played 2 matches against each other in the World Cup. 

Best 11 for the match:

Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran, Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Kasun Rajitha.