Netherlands vs Afghanistan Prediction: Dutch skipper could shine against Afghans

The Netherlands and Afghanistan have both exceeded expectations at the Cricket World Cup and they meet in Lucknow at 8.30am on Friday, 3rd November.

Afghanistan’s wins over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have boosted their hopes of a shock semi-final spot while the Dutch, who upset South Africa earlier in the tournament, beat Bangladesh in their last outing.

Team News

The Netherlands are unlikely to make many changes after their impressive win over Bangladesh last time out. Young leg-spinner Shariz Ahmed bowled only two overs in his first appearance of the tournament but may get another chance to shine on Friday.

Afghanistan brought in Fazalhaq Farooqi instead of Noor Ahmad for Monday’s game against Sri Lanka and the fast bowler should retain his place after taking four wickets in a man-of-the-match performance.

Match Odds

Afghanistan have won their last four ODIs against the Netherlands and they are 1/3 to extend that run against the 23/10 Dutch in Lucknow.

Ace spinner Rashid Khan is 11/5 favourite to be Afghanistan’s Top Wicket Taker. He won that heat in the games against India and England but has taken only two wickets in his last three matches.

Scott Edwards Netherlands Top Run Scorer @ 9/2

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards has played starring roles in both of his side’s World Cup wins, scoring an unbeaten 78 against in-form South Africa and 68 against Bangladesh on Saturday.

As skipper and wicketkeeper, Edwards is not shy of taking on responsibility and his promotion to bat at number five paid off against the Tigers in Kolkata.

The Tonga-born batter is a reliable runscorer in the middle-order, making 72 not out, 78 and 64 in an ODI series against England last year.

He scored 83, 67 not out, 67 and 67 not out in his first four innings at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in June and is worth backing to top-score for the Netherlands in Lucknow.

Edwards was the leading runscorer in last year’s three-match ODI series between these teams in Qatar and he can cause more problems for the Afghan bowlers on Friday.

Afghanistan Highest 15 Overs Score @ 4/6

Afghanistan’s destructive opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was bowled for a duck in the first over of Monday’s run-chase against Sri Lanka but his side still managed to outscore their opponents 67-66 over the first 15 overs.

They look a solid bet to repeat the feat against a Netherlands batting unit who have struggled against the new ball at this tournament.

Opener Max O’Dowd has scored only 61 runs in six innings while his partner Vikramjit Singh has been dismissed for 12, two, four, 25 and three in his last five appearances and early wickets could hamper the Dutch again.

Afghanistan have also outscored Bangladesh 83-74, England 106-72 and Pakistan 98-78 in the first 15 overs at this tournament and they should make a stronger start than their opponents on Friday.

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