Big image: Semi-finals and Champions Trophy to play for
England – examine, Pakistan – examine, Sri Lanka – examine, Netherlands – subsequent?
Coming into this match, Afghanistan had only one win – in 2015 – to indicate for his or her earlier two World Cup campaigns. Now, they’ve overwhelmed three earlier World Cup winners on this version alone, and are gunning for 2 essential factors towards Netherlands to show up the warmth within the race for the semi-finals.
Lucknow was Afghanistan’s adopted residence turf again in 2019, after they confronted West Indies in a single Test, three T20Is and three ODIs. While they didn’t have a lot success within the ODIs again then, the familiarity with the venue might give them an edge on this contest.
And they’ve been medical – not mercurial – of their victories. After dismantling England comfortably throughout their defence in Delhi, they chased down targets towards Pakistan and Sri Lanka with a calmness that confirmed they belonged on the World Cup. Another victory will take Afghanistan to eight factors, degree with Australia and New Zealand who’re in third and fourth place.
Afghanistan, nevertheless, are up towards a workforce that additionally has a lot to play for. Netherlands are nonetheless within the operating for the semi-finals, although their likelihood is slim, however they’ve an actual shot at qualifying for the 2025 Champions Trophy. To do this, they should end within the prime eight at this World Cup, and taking two factors off Afghanistan will open a four-point lead over the 2 groups presently beneath them (Bangladesh and England).
Having taken down South Africa earlier within the match, Netherlands come into Friday’s fixture recent off a win towards Bangladesh. Their bowling – other than the thumping towards Australia – has been constant however their batting has lacked firepower. Netherlands have scored 250-plus simply as soon as on this high-scoring match and have wanted their center and decrease order to come back to their rescue a number of instances.
At a venue the place run-scoring hasn’t been as simple, Netherlands might want to discover a approach to succeed towards an Afghanistan assault that’s rather more than the distinctive Rashid Khan.
Form information
Afghanistan: LWLWW (final 5 ODIs, most up-to-date first)
Netherlands: LWLLW
In the highlight: Azmatullah Omarzai and Aryan Dutt
Team news
Afghanistan (attainable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Azmatullah Omarzai, 6 Ikram Alikhil (wk)/Najibullah Zadran, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq/Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
Netherlands are unlikely to make modifications to the XI that beat Bangladesh.
Netherlands (attainable): 1 Max O’Dowd, 2 Vikramjit Singh, 3 Wesley Barresi, 4 Colin Ackermann, 5 Scott Edwards (capt & wk), 6 Bas de Leede, 7 Sybrand Engelbrecht, 8 Logan van Beek, 9 Shariz Ahmad, 10 Aryan Dutt, 11 Paul van Meekeren
Pitch and situations: Another sluggish burner?
Stats and trivia: Mujeeb on the cusp of 100
Quotes
“We are here at a World Cup, we’re not playing the Champions Trophy. The focus is the semi-final for us. We’re not interested in what’s happening in two years’ time. We’ve got a game to win tomorrow.”
Colin Ackermann says Netherlands have unfinished enterprise in India
“We’re not going to make the semis by just talking about it. We have to play good cricket. How well we start tomorrow is going to be crucial and how well we finish.”
Jonathan Trott desires a medical present from Afghanistan
Ashish Pant is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo
Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com
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