These are interesting times in the World Cup with the business end of the competition fast approaching. Matches assume a lot of significance as they determine the top four teams, with the race now being given a fillip following New Zealand’s three straight losses. Pakistan have certainly benefited from this as there is a possibility of them making the semis cut. But there’s another side very much in the reckoning. Afghanistan, possibly the second best Asian team now in this tournament, will be hoping to take major strides towards the semifinals, having beaten three former champions already.
With three wins and as many losses, Afghanistan have six points at the moment and are currently placed sixth. But they have played one game less than the fifth-placed Pakistan who also have the same number of points. Although their net run rate is in the negative, Afghanistan will be on level pegging with New Zealand should they win the match in Lucknow on Friday (November 3). But the Netherlands aren’t a team to be written off. Having registered victories against South Africa and Bangladesh, they will be eyeing more success and prove yet again why they are not in this World Cup to just make the numbers.
Afghanistan’s back-to-back success against Pakistan and Sri Lanka came in clinical run-chases while the Netherlands have been far more comfortable defending totals, which adds another layer of interest to this contest. Breaking down the target into slabs on the whiteboard won’t work if Afghanistan happen to bat first. Their top five have got the job done with minimum fuss, employing the old-school methods approaching a chase. But if they are to chase big totals, or need to set one, they need to get their strike rate up higher than their current 81.72, which is the eighth lowest among the participating teams in this World Cup.
Speaking about top orders and strike rates, the Netherlands numbers aren’t too encouraging. Their top five have contributed the least runs among all teams in this competition – 582 at an average of 19.40 with a combined strike rate of 71.14. They were 91/6 against Sri Lanka, bowled out for 90 by Australia, and even in their wins against South Africa and Bangladesh, the Dutch needed their middle order, led by skipper Scott Edwards, to bail them out and help them post challenging totals. The Netherlands will be hoping for a better showing from the top order as they look to add more intrigue to the race for the final four.
When:Afghanistan vs Netherlands, November 3, 14:00 IST
Where: BRSABVE Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
What to expect: This will be the fifth and final game that Lucknow will host in this World Cup. South Africa posted 311 against Australia in the opening game here and defended it. But the first innings totals have been middling otherwise, with the pitches offering the bowlers a lot more help. In the previous game here, India defended 229 against a struggling England team, thanks to their pacers. The Netherlands have played here before, albeit in a day game against Sri Lanka who chased down 263 with 1.2 overs to spare. Weather wise, it won’t be too harsh on the teams with afternoon temperatures expected to be around 30-31 degree Celsius.
Team news
Netherlands
Considering the pacers have had some success in Lucknow in the recent matches, the Netherlands could consider bringing in Ryan Klein in place of Shariz Ahmad.
Probable XI: Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Wesley Barresi, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Bas de Leede, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Logan van Beek, Ryan Klein, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren
Tactics & strategy
Scott Edwards has an average of 65.92 against spin in ODIs, with 791 runs off 794 balls. He will be key for the Netherlands going up against Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan.
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz had to take over the wicket-keeping duties early in the previous game after Ikram Alikhil injured the little finger on his right hand trying to collect the ball. Head coach Jonathan Trott confirmed that Ikram is fit to play.
Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Tactics & strategy
Left-arm quicks have troubled the Netherlands batters in recent years. Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh have been dismissed by left-arm pacers six times each since 2021 while Bas de Leede and Teja Nidamanuru have fallen prey five times. Wesley Barresi has also been dismissed by left-arm pace three times, with all these players having an average of below 30 against southpaw quicks. Hence, the in-form Fazalhaq Farooqi, who bagged the player of the match award in the last game, will be a key bowler against the Netherlands top order.
Did you know?
– Of the 10 venues used at the CWC 2023, Lucknow’s average runs per wicket (28.32) for pace and spin combined is the second lowest after Kolkata’s 24.81. Pacers have had more success here, bagging 39 wickets compared to 23 for spin.
– There have been three 50-plus scores from No.7 or below for Netherlands in this World Cup. All other teams have combined to score three.
– Afghanistan and Netherlands are the only two teams with no individual hundred in this World Cup so far.
What they said
“We haven’t formed the foundation that we would have liked as a batting unit so far this tournament, but I suppose we have to look individually at how we’re getting out. We haven’t played the perfect game yet with the bat. We know that our middle order and our lower order are very capable of scoring runs towards the back end. So, I think if we can set the game up as a top order, top 3- 4 batters…It just takes two guys to form a good partnership and we’ll set up a very good score.” – Colin Ackermann on the average showing of the Netherlands top order.
