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Afghanistan smother Netherlands with spin and sharp ground fielding
Afghanistan smothered Netherlands with spin and sharp ground fielding as the batting side folded for just 179 in the 47th over. As many as four batters were run out, including Sybrand Engelbrecht (58 off 86) and Max O’Dowd (42 off 40) – the only two who showed a semblance of resolve on a tough evening in Lucknow.
Netherlands’ decision to bat first was dented in the first over when Mujeeb Ur Rahman trapped new opener Wesley Barresi leg before with a wrong one and earned his 100th ODI wicket. Max O’Dowd however, got his team a swift move-on in the company of one-drop batter Colin Ackermann. The pair gave Netherlands what they’ve lacked all World Cup – a solid base provided by the top-order as they raced away to 66/1 at the end of the PowerPlay. O’Dowd was particularly fiery, hitting nine fours in this period by himself as Afghanistan lost control with the ball.
But an acrobatic effort from Azmatullah Omarzai pulled it back for Afghanistan as his direct hit from fine leg clipped O’Dowd’s wings and sent him packing in the 12th over. Just when Ackermann and Engelbrecht were starting to rebuild through the middle overs, a poor call for a run from the latter after hitting to mid-off led to the former’s run out, for 29. Afghanistan then dented the Dutch when captain Scott Edwards went for a sweep on the first ball he faced, underedged the ball and wandered out of the crease without realising where the ball had gone. Wicketkeeper Ikram Ali Khil, kept really busy for the entirety of the innings, ran the Netherlands captain out. Netherlands went from 66/1 in 10 overs to 97/4 in 20, and the curve continued to spiral downwards in the next 10 overs too.
It began when Nabi had Bas de Leede caught behind while trying to play a straight delivery down towards third man. While Netherlands batters were carefully trying to play out Rashid Khan, Hashmatullah Shahidi introduced his left-handed clone – Noor Ahmad in the 24th over. Saqib Zulfiqar became Noor’s first wicket in the evening when he nicked one to Ali Khil while trying to cut a straight delivery outside the off-stump.
Logan van Beek kept Engelbrecht company for five overs while the latter attempted to rescue his team out of the mess they were in, but Nabi came back to break the brief resistance. Van Beek gave the offie the charge for a big shot but missed completely and Ali Khil once again swung into action to take the bails off and leave Netherlands six down for 134. Engelbrecht brought up a gritty half-century but paid the price for another instance of poor decision-making while running between the wickets. Roelof van der Merwe nudged a ball to the leg side and set off for a tight single but Nabi fired a superb throw from midwicket and Ali Khil ran another batter out.
The only positive for Netherlands on the day was that they could render Rashid wicketless. But that didn’t make any difference to the bowling side as Netherlands folded in the 47th over for just 179 – the lowest-total Afghanistan have bowled out an opposition for in an ODI World Cup. A successful chase will take Afghanistan to fifth above Pakistan, and keep their hopes of sneaking into the semis alive.
Brief Scores:
Netherland 179 in 46.3 overs (Sybrand Engelbrecht 58, Max O’Dowd 42, Colin Ackerman 29; Mohammad Nabi 3-28, Noor Ahmad 2-31) vs Afghanistan
We are more than a week into this tour, and it feels like it’s barely begun. The first ODI went off without too much of a hitch, but the next two were washed out without a ball bowled, Kingston rains crashing the party. Unfortunately, the threat of rain hangs over this opening T20I too – with thunderstorms threatening on Thursday afternoon, which could affect the viability of the Sabina Park outfield later in the day (8.30pm local time is the start).
Unlike with ODIs, this is a format in which one of these teams is the favourite. West Indies were one victory away from knocking India out of their own home World Cup, while Sri Lanka spent much of the Super Eight in the recent global tournament fighting merely to prove they belonged. In India, West Indies showed their six-hitting strategy could still make waves. On top of which they have a much more successful franchise T20 product in the CPL than Sri Lanka has had with the LPL. Over many seasons, these sorts of advantages add up.
While West Indies clearly have the batting pedigree heading into this series, Sri Lanka will hope that their bowlers can make the contest more even. Wanidu Hasaranga has wreaked T20 havoc before in the Caribbean. In Dushmantha Chameera, they have a bowler who has shown he is in good rhythm on tour.
West Indies have excellent T20 bowlers too, Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein especially. But the kind of firepower they possess in the batting order Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder and the like – Sri Lanka have rarely ever had, even at their T20 pinnacle.
Shimron Hetmyer had a pretty abysmal IPL with Rajasthan Royals, hitting only 78 for them from his seven innings. This is strange, because in the T20 World Cup preceding the IPL, he had crashed 248 runs at a strike rate of 186, and was legitimately the batting star in the West Indies line-up as they threatened to make a deep run in the tournament. He had not been selected in the only ODI West Indies played against Sri Lanka, but coach Darren Sammy and Co. would be hoping he rediscovers some of his World Cup form in this series.
Wanindu Hasaranga remains one of Sri Lanka’s most prized white ball assets. But over the years, as the franchise contracts have piled up, so have the kilograms, and as a consequence, the injuries. He’s one of the few top spinners in the world, for example, who has recurring hamstring complaints. His bowling record in the West Indies is genuinely spectacular, though, but perhaps it’s getting to the stage of his career when he is required to produce the kinds of performances that remind fans – and selectors – what makes him a special white ball cricketer.
West Indies may revert to their preferred World Cup XI to get some momentum into this tour.
West Indies (possible): Shai Hope (capt, wk), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein Shamar Joseph
Sri Lanka may continue to trial Kamindu Mendis at the top of the order. Fast bowler Eshan Malinga is likely to get into the XI after a good IPL. Dasun Shanaka will probably reclaim a spot in the lower-middle order as well. The state of the surface may also determine whether they play a spin-bowling allrounder (likely Dunith Wellalage) or a seam-bowling allrounder (Milan Rathnayake).
Sri Lanka (possible): Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage/Milan Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara
Hosts England will take on Sri Lanka at Edgbaston. The match is set to begin at 6.30pm local time (5.30pm GMT).
England hold an advantage in this contest, having won 10 out of the 12 T20Is between the sides. Sri Lanka though will draw confidence from recent history, having won the last two T20Is against England in 2023. This will be just the fourth time these two sides meet in the T20 World Cup.
England arrive at the tournament having won four out of the six matches since the start of the year, while Sri Lanka come in with momentum on their side, riding on five consecutive T20I wins that include series wins against West Indies and Bangladesh.
England (probable): Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
Sri Lanka (probable): Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika de Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari, Kawya Kavindi/Chetana Vimukthi
Lauren Bell has been in spectacular form all year, starting with the WPL where she finished with 12 wickets in nine games and was often a handful with the new ball. After picking three wickets in two games against New Zealand, she bagged seven wickets in three matches in the T20I series win against India. She’s bowled at an economy of 7.4 this year, and the home conditions are likely to suit her perfectly.
All eyes will once again be on Chamari Athapaththu for Sri Lanka. In what will be her 10th T20 World Cup the 36-year old will be expected to do the heavy lifting for her side. She heads into the tournament in excellent touch, highlighted by a blistering 94 off 58 balls in the warm up against Pakistan. Her contributions with the ball could prove just as important – she picked up four wickets in three matches in the series against Bangladesh in May.
Weather and conditions
The forecast points to clear skies in Birmingham on Friday evening. There was however some rain in the area on the eve of the match.
[Cricinfo]
President Donald Trump says that the US will strike Iran “very hard tonight” in a new post on Truth Social.
Here’s what the president says:
“The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT
“At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America.”
Since the beginning of the conflict, Trump has repeatedly threatened to seize Kharg Island, a small island off the coast of Iran that is home to a major oil terminal.
[BBC]
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