Match Details
The match is scheduled for Sunday, 15th October, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
Match Preview
England, the reigning World Cup champions, seemed to find their footing in the tournament during their second match in Dharamsala. Following a crushing defeat by New Zealand in Ahmedabad, they bounced back with a commanding 137-run victory over Bangladesh.
Under the leadership of Jos Buttler, the English side will be looking to maintain this momentum in Delhi. The pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium has been conducive to batting, which could play into the hands of England’s aggressive batting lineup.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan will be eager to find their rhythm in the World Cup. Despite showing promise in parts, they have struggled to perform consistently as a team. They will be relying on experienced players like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi to step up in the upcoming matches.
Team Lineups
Afghanistan:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.
England:
Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
Players to Watch
Afghanistan – Mohammad Nabi
Despite not having won an ODI since July, Afghanistan nearly pulled off a shock victory against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, largely thanks to Mohammad Nabi’s explosive 65 off 32 balls.
Nabi, a seasoned campaigner for Afghanistan, continues to make valuable contributions both on and off the field. Although he hasn’t made a significant impact in the first two games of the tournament, England would be wise not to underestimate him.
Known for his powerful lower-order batting and clever bowling, Afghanistan will be hoping for Nabi to deliver in both areas.
England – Reece Topley
England’s bowling attack, which had been lackluster in Ahmedabad, was revitalized in Dharamsala, largely due to Reece Topley’s impressive 4/43, which included the crucial wickets of Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mushfiqur Rahim.
England will be hoping to pair their aggressive batting strategy with a bowler who can provide early breakthroughs in the tournament. Topley’s performance in Dharamsala was encouraging, and a repeat performance in Delhi would be a significant boost for England.