Big image – Teams look to capitalise on momentum
While this World Cup has solely belatedly began providing up some nail-biters, it has been somewhat extra beneficiant by way of surprising outcomes. As a outcome, regardless of the perimeters presently occupying the top-four spots within the factors desk being the likeliest to make it via to the knockouts, there is a cluster of groups just under them able to capitalise on any potential slip-ups.
For Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, three wins from their remaining 4 video games within the league stage will depart them on ten factors, which might give them a real shot at a semi-final berth. But of these 4 video games, Afghanistan will face Australia and South Africa, whereas Sri Lanka nonetheless need to tackle India and New Zealand.
This is what makes Monday’s sport in Pune all of the extra spicy; a win for both facet leaves a margin for error in no less than a kind of “tougher” video games, lose and people fledgling semi-final hopes turn into significantly dimmer.
Both sides additionally come into this fixture with some type. Well, as a lot type as sides which have misplaced three of their 5 video games might be in.
Form information
Afghanistan WLWLL (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)
Sri Lanka WWLLL
In the highlight – Rashid Khan and Pathum Nissanka
It’s no secret that Rashid Khan‘s effectiveness in ODIs has not fairly been on the similar stage as that in T20Is. So far, throughout 5 video games, he is picked up six wickets, not precisely stats to set the world alight, however then once more, this has been predominantly a batters’ event to this point.
However his report in opposition to Sri Lanka supplies extra trigger for optimism. His 11 wickets throughout six innings at a mean of 18.54 is just bettered by his report in opposition to Zimbabwe and Ireland amongst Full-Member nations; in these six innings, he is gone wicketless simply as soon as. Sri Lanka even have a delicate underbelly, one which Afghanistan exploited as soon as already within the warm-ups, and Rashid can be key to testing that brittle center and decrease order as soon as extra.
Masking these middle-order jitters for Sri Lanka has been a somewhat extra constant high order, with Pathum Nissanka rising as an unlikely chief. Indeed, if there was an award for many improved cricketer within the Sri Lankan ranks, you would not need to look a lot past Nissanka.
Having debuted as a Test grafter in 2021, he was fast-tracked into the white-ball setup throughout a interval when SLC was within the midst of a youth-driven overhaul and have been taking a extra long-term method to squad constructing. This meant the selectors caught with him via his lean begin to ODIs – he scored 86 runs throughout his first 9 innings – however he has paid that religion again in spades. It was on the finish of that barren run that he was promoted to common opener, and his 36 innings since have introduced 13 fifties and three centuries. His common in ODIs now stands at 39.97, and on this World Cup he is kicked that up a notch, racking up 4 consecutive fifties at 60.75. More importantly, he has begun to point out indicators of creating a extra aggressive method – his strike fee within the event is 91.35, up from 83.64 previous to the beginning.
Team news
Afghanistan have had a six-day break since their final sport and are properly rested. Fazalhaq Farooqi is more likely to come again in for Noor Ahmad.
Afghanistan (doable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Azmatullah Omarzai, 6 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
Sri Lanka have been dealt one more damage blow, after Player of the Match in opposition to England, Lahiru Kumara, was dominated out of the event with a thigh damage. He has been changed within the squad by Dushmantha Chameera, himself coming back from damage, and it’s seemingly he’ll come straight into the facet. Kusal Perera’s type in the meantime has been a priority of late, and there have been murmurs of Dimuth Karunaratne changing him on the high of the order.
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera/Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk) 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Angelo Mathews 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Kasun Rajitha, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
Pitch and situations
The Pune floor in current instances has proven a propensity for prime scores, however there’s additionally been some help for the spinners – one thing each side may benefit from. That mentioned, dew may come into play within the night, so the toss will show essential as normal.
Stats and trivia
Quotes
“I think this break is good for us because we had back-to-back games before that and when you play too many games in short time, so the players get like tired. So that was good – after a good win when you are having rest and think about other games also that give you time and also give rest for the bodies and I can say that was good for us.”
Hashmatullah Shahidi feels the six-day relaxation since their final sport will maintain them in good stead
Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com
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