Scotland vs Afghanistan, Afghanistan tour of Scotland 2019, Today Match Prediction 10 May 2019

n/a vs afg Match Prediction & Analysis

Scotland would surely not forget Afghanistan’s last visit. They had lost the series after losing just second ODI as the first match was rain-washed. However, their recent performance could be alarming, for the visitors. Scotland has defeated the number one ODI ranked team England after posting their highest ODI total batting first. If they play likewise, Afghanistan could get a juddering.

It would be a good opportunity for Afghanistan to play here before the ICC 2019 World Cup. Their last series against Ireland in India resulted in a draw, but it could have been in their favour as they had already scored 250 before the 50th over, but then rain interrupted the match only to abandon it later. With the return of Hamid Hassan, Afghanistan’s strengthened pace attack can confound the hosts.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Scotland Preview

Scotland has shown amazing progress recently in white-ball format. They have won the T20 tri-series in the Netherlands, against Ireland and the Dutch last summer. They also clinched the T20 quadrangular-series in Oman in February this year. 

In the ODIs, Scotland must be hopeful with players like MacLeod, George Munsey and Richie Berrington, the captain Kyle Coetzer and Matthew Cross. The Saltires have created history by beating England in June-2018, thanks to Calum MacLeod’s match-winning century. Against Afghanistan in their last encounter, the Saltires were the victors at the 2018 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, with MacLeod and Berrington stitching astounding 208 runs partnership.

George Munsey too played a key role in the historic match against England, by posting his ODI career-best 55 off 51 balls. In T20Is he made 302 runs in his last seven innings at an average of 43.14 and strike rate of 189.94. In the List-A match against Oman, he scored 43 balls 96.

Scotland must be disappointed for not getting the entry in the ICC World Cup 2019, but they are determined to perform consistently and beat the good sides and win big matches.

Scotland Predicted Playing XI:

Kyle Coetzer (c), Matthew Cross (wk), Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington, George Munsey, Craig Wallace, Michael Leask, Mark Watt, Tom Sole, Safyaan Sharif, Brad Wheal

Scotland Actual Playing XI:

Tom Sole, Calum MacLeod, Kyle Coetzer, Matthew Cross, Craig Wallace, Bradley Wheal, Mark Watt, Safyaan Sharif, George Munsey, Alasdair Evans, Richie Berrington

Afghanistan Preview

Afghanistan had created history by winning the first test match in March 2019 against Ireland. By qualifying for the ICC World Cup 2019, they are showing how good they are in the white-ball format too. The visitors have conquered the last ODI series here by 1-0.

Out of 13 bilateral ODI series that Afghanistan played in past four years, they have won 8 and drawn 3, losing only to two series, to Bangladesh and Ireland. Even their West Indies tour was a success as the ODI series ended in the 1-1 draw. It shows they are a good team both in the home and the away conditions. After Sunrisers Hyderabad’s exit from the IPL, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan are expected to join the team at Scotland bolstering the team.

The star player Mohamand Nabi – have more than 2500 ODI runs with one century and 13 half-centuries. Also, Mohammad Shahzad, Asghar Afghan and Rahmat Shah are the key run scorers for Afghanistan with close to 9000 runs together. Dawlat Zadran, Rashid Khan and Nabi each have more than 100 wickets to boast-off. Zardan’s recent form has been pretty good with 11 wickets in past 5 games.

Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI:

Gulbadin Naib (capt), Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Rashid Khan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan

Afghanistan Actual Playing XI:

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Hazratullah Zazai, N Zadran, M Shahzad, Rahmat Shah, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran

Weather Conditions

The venue for this match is Grange Cricket Club, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh. The pitch here mostly produced high scoring matches. The highest total posted on this ground is 371 by the hosts in June 2018 against England while the lowest total is 101, again by the hosts against Sri Lanka in 2011. 

Toss: To Bat

The team batting first has won 10 times out of 16 matches in which we have got the results. The team winning the toss should go for batting first.