Afghanistan Eye Redemption Against Australia in Spin-Friendly Kingstown
Kingstown, June 22, 2024 – The last time Australia faced Afghanistan, history was made. A cramping Glenn Maxwell pulled off a miraculous double-century to lead Australia to victory, leaving Afghanistan on the brink of elimination. Now, as the two teams meet again in the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan will be looking to redeem themselves and prove their standing in the global game.
The match will be played against the backdrop of tension between the two cricket boards, with Cricket Australia refusing to engage in bilateral series with Afghanistan due to political reasons. Afghanistan’s players will be determined to make a statement on the field.
Afghanistan’s middle-order batting has struggled in the tournament so far, striking at less than 100 – the lowest among all Full-Member teams. In contrast, Australia’s middle order has been in excellent form, striking at 168.09, the best among all 20 teams. The spin-friendly conditions in Kingstown could make life even more difficult for the Afghan batters, with Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar potentially posing a significant threat.
“Naveen-ul-Haq has been Afghanistan’s best bet to counter Australia’s power-packed lineup at the death, with his ability to bowl yorkers and variations like the knuckle ball. However, he will have to be wary of the in-form Tim David, who has a good head-to-head record against Rashid Khan.”
The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the world’s best T20 wristspinners, Rashid Khan and Adam Zampa, on a pitch that has been conducive to spin. With low chances of rain, the stage is set for a captivating battle that will have a significant impact on both teams’ semi-final aspirations.
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