Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Match Prediction: The Sportsrush present before you Match Prediction of 2019 World Cup Match 31 between BAN and AFG.
Advertisement
They might have been put down by India, but the skirmish they had India in saw the Afghanistan cricket team finally showcase their understated skill set at the Cricket World Cup. It took time coming, but when the team came together to deliver a complete performance, they managed to give India a jittery time.
Now up against Bangladesh with just a day to cool down in between, Afghanistan need to build on a perfromance that is bound to have buoyed them. Things won’t be easy from them though against Bangladesh, a side who have regaled us with some terrific batting performances.
Scoring in excess of 300 against the likes of Australia, South Africa and West Indies in the tournament, Bangladesh have shown that they are more than just a bits and pieces team.
Having managed to defeat South Africa and West Indies, the team will be looking to make a push for the top 4 slots which have been opened up after Sri Lanka pulled off the biggest upset of this tournament against England.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – What numbers suggest?
If there is one team in world cricket against whom Afghanistan have held their own ever since their foray in the cricketing fraternity its Bangladesh. They’ve managed to defeat them three times in the seven matches the two countries have contested in with Bangladesh just about leading the fixture with the 4 wins.
The last time the two teams met was at the Asia Cup with both the teams winning the one match apiece. At the ODI Cricket World Cup, we have seen just the one fixture being rummaged between the two teams with Bangladesh winning that encounter.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – Key Battles
Mushfiqur Rahim vs Mujeeb Ur Rahman
In a match where Shakib failed to cross the 50-run mark, Mushfiqur Rahim stepped in to score a century and take them past the symbolic milestone of 300 against Australia. He’s someone who holds together the middle-order for his side, coming in at a time when it’s important to hold the fort and craft out an intelligent knock.
The one bowler who can cause him problems though is Mujeeb Ur Rahman. At a time when Rashid Khan has returned with dismal numbers, Rahman has stepped up to bowl a restricted line and length. He is someone who uses his stock delivery, the carom and the wrong turner extremely well, keeping the bowling wicket to wicket.
If he can do the same against Rahim in his early part of the innings, the batsman will struggle. The off-side channel is the one to target, getting the ball to nib back into him and leave him caught out while getting under the ball.
Mustafizur Rahman vs Gulbadin Naib
With Afghanistan’s captain being elevated up the order, his battle against Mustafizur Rahman promises to make for a riveting watch. Gulbadin Naib offers his side the opportunity to make the most of the powerplay overs, playing a fearless brand of cricket in the opening role.
On a wicket which should serve well for the pacers, it’s high time for Rahman to come good for his side and put up a stellar performance, something he has failed to deliver till now. The one area where Naib has massive problems is his lack of footwork with him relying too much on his hands to get to the pitch of the ball.
Rahman needs to generate swing on this surface and get the ball to frisk away from Naib with the all-rounder way too prone to lash out whenever he’s given room.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – Match Prediction
The CWC has finally lit up with four edge of the seat thrillers and in today’s opponents we have two sides responsible for this. They both have punched above their weight, showing the valour and resolve needed on the grandest stage of them all and up against each other, they’ll only up the ante further.
At the Rose Bowl, we have a surface which has played unconventionally. Despite appearing to be a sluggish and flat pitch, the ball has moved around, making things tough for the batsmen along with seeing the spinners extract spin as well.
This match is going to be all about Afghanistan’s spin trip against Bangladesh’s top 4 and we see Bangladesh just about outweighing the scales in their favour. The extra runs will serve them well and see them win this and come back in the reckoning for a place in the semi-finals.
