Sharjah Warriors vs MI Emirates, ILT 2023, Today Match Prediction 17 January 2023

sw vs mie Match Prediction & Analysis

Sharjah Warriors have lost both of their games in the inaugural International League T20. They are 5th on the table with 0 points and a poor net run rate of -2.100. Their next assignment is against MI Emirates with whom they have already lost a match earlier in the season. MI Emirates are in 2nd place on the table with 2 points and a net run rate of +2.450.

 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Sharjah Warriors Preview

Sharjah Warriors were thumped by MI Emirates by 49 runs in their first match of the season. In their second match, they went down by 7 wickets to Desert Vipers. After being put on to bat, Sharjah Warriors could manage only 145-5 on a good wicket at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Desert Vipers cleared the target in just 16.4 overs.

Sharjah Warriors’ batting is yet to click. In their first match against MI Emirates, it was lower-order batter Chris Woakes who saved them from the blushes of a low total with an incredible counter-attacking knock of 62 off 29 balls. In the second match, only Joe Denly (36* off 33 balls) and Mohammad Nabi (34* off 23 balls) could make an impact. The failure of West Indian opener Evin Lewis, who has scored two ducks in a row, has hit them hard. He will be itching to make a big score. 

Afghanistan wicket-keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz looked good for his 43 off 31 balls in the first match, and we expect him to make a big score in this one.

On the bowling front, the team will again have to depend on England speedster Chris Woakes and spinner Mohammad Nabi to do the job. Naveen-ul-Haq also does a decent job, but they lack a genuine wicket-taking option.

 

Sharjah Warriors Predicted Playing XI:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Evin Lewis, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali (c), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Joe Denly, Mohammad Nabi, Chris Woakes, Junaid Siddique, Naveen-ul-Haq, Karthik Meiyappan

Sharjah Warriors Actual Playing XI:

Tom Kohler Cadmore, Paul Walter, Noor Ahmad, Junaid Siddique, Joe Denly, Mohammad Nabi, Naveen ul Haq, Moeen Ali, Dawid Malan, Alishan Sharafu, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

MI Emirates Preview

MI Emirates have played just one match so far – against Sharjah Warriors. After being asked to bat first on a great wicket at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Emirates plundered 204-5 and then restricted the Warriors to 155-9. It was a clinical performance where both the batting and bowling units clicked. 

Opener Muhammad Waseem top-scored with a knock of 71 off 39 balls in that match. Nicholas Pooran (49 off 30 balls) also shined while captain Kieron Pollard (22* off 13 balls) provided the finishing touches. We expect Pooran to continue his good form and play another special knock in this match. 

MI Emirates are spoilt for bowling choices. Kiwi speedster Trent Boult leads their attack, while the experienced leg-spinner Imran Tahir provides them with a reliable wicket-taking option in the middle overs. Tahir picked up 3-26 off his 4 overs in the previous match against Sharjah Warriors. Dwayne Bravo, one of the most successful T20 bowlers of all time, will be useful in the death overs.

 

MI Emirates Predicted Playing XI:

Muhammad Waseem, Will Smeed, Andre Fletcher, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Najibullah Zadran, Kieron Pollard (c), Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zahoor Khan, Trent Boult, Imran Tahir

MI Emirates Actual Playing XI:

Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir, Mohammad Waseem, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Trent Boult, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Zahoor Khan, Will Smeed, ADS Fletcher, Najibullah Zadran

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is typically dry and generally flat but does offer help to the spinners. This will be the first match of the season played at the venue, so the pitch should be hard and good for batting. Seam bowlers will get some help at the start, but once batters get used to it, scoring will be easy. With dew coming in later in the night, the ball will skid on and batting will easier in the second half.

The weather in Sharjah during the match will be dry but not too warm.

Venue Details

The average score batting first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is 155. The highest total posted here is 228/4 by Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Scores between150 to 189 have been achieved 23 times here in 66 T20 games. The team batting first should look to set a target of around 175-185 runs.

Toss: To Bowl

43 of the 66 matches played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium have been won by the team chasing. So it’s a no brainer that the team winning the toss is certain to field first.