Afghanistan vs Ireland, Afghanistan v Ireland in India, 2019, Today Match Prediction 02 Mar 2019

afg vs ire Match Prediction & Analysis

Afghanistan has looked like a formidable home team in their adopted home ground. They have beaten Ireland in all the four matches (3-0 in T20Is & first ODI) played so far in this series. Their team is performing like a champion side in all departments of the game.

The opening bowlers Dawlat Zadran and Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowled beautifully and restricted the Ireland team to dismal total of just 161 runs. They both had combined bowling figures of 20-5-49-6. Gulbadin Naib`s all-round performance earned him the MoM award last match. Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi performed his role to perfection in bowling. Keeper Mohammed Shahzad and Hazaratullah Zazai form a destructive opening pair for their team. They have host of batting stars in their middle order with Rahmat Shah, Skipper Ashgar Stanikzai and Najibullah Zadran. 

Ireland team has looked down and they have dominated by the Afghanistan players in every department of the game so far. They looked more competitive in the ODI format than the T20Is. Paul Sterling continued his form from the T20Is and scored an excellent 89 in the first match. No other batsmen supported him and it led the collapse of wickets early in the match.

Skipper William Porterfield, Kevin O brain and Andrew Balbirnie must step up their batting efforts. Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh and Tim Murtagh had decent outings with the ball but were left with too less a target to defend. George Dockrell had an off day with the ball leaking runs at a run rate over 6 RPO. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Afghanistan Preview

Key Players:

Mohammed Shahzad – Shahzad was left out of the T20Is and he returned to team in the ODIs. He scored an important 43 runs at the top last match to lead his team`s chase.     

Mohammed Nabi – Mohammed Nabi is an excellent all-rounder who can bat and bowl well. He had a quite first match and we can expect some fireworks from him this match.    

Stats from the series:

Gulbadin Naib  – 46 runs (61 balls) & bowling figures of 7.2-0-20-2

Mujeeb Ur Rahman – bowling figures of 10-3-14-3

Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI:

Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Asghar Afghan (c), Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Dawlat Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi.

Afghanistan Actual Playing XI:

Ikram Ali Khil, Asghar Afghan, Javed Ahmadi, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hazratullah Zazai, Rashid Khan, Sayed Shirzad, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmat Shah

Ireland Preview

Key Players:

Kevin O Brien – Kevin O Brien is an attacking batsman capable of taking the attack to the opposition. He needs to deliver with the bat to help his team`s total. 

Simi SIngh – Simi Singh had an excellent first match with the ball giving away runs an very good economy. He had bowling figures of 10- 1-19-1. 

Stats from the series:

Paul Stirling – 89runs (150 balls)

Boyd rankin – bowling figures of 9-2-48-2

Ireland Predicted Playing XI:

William Porterfield (c), Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Simi Singh, James McCollum, George Dockrell, Stuart Poynter (wk), Kevin O Brien, Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin, Barry McCarthy.

Ireland Actual Playing XI:

Kevin O'Brien, Simi Singh, Andy McBrine, George Dockrell, WTS Porterfield, Paul Stirling, WB Rankin, Stuart Poynter, Tim Murtagh, James Cameron, Andy Balbirnie

Weather Conditions

Dehradun pitch is an excellent batting track where batsmen find it easier to score as the ball comes on the bat. It also aids the spin bowlers when they put the ball in the right places. This is the Second ODI match here after the T20I series with full of high scores. We can expect scores of around 280-300 runs in this match.

Toss: WIN the toss, BAT First

Both teams will look to set the target for the opposition batsmen and they find themselves comfortable in it. Chasing under lights might become difficult and batsmen may succumb to the scoreboard pressure.