Preview: Ind v Afg – Match 3, ICC World T20
First Published : 18 Sep 2012, 19:44
Last Modified : 18 Sep 2012, 19:54
What
The third match of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, which is between India and Afghanistan.
When
September 19, 2012. The game begins at 7:30 pm, IST.
Where
The R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Although India were beaten by Pakistan in their second warm-up fixture at the venue, their batsmen would have enjoyed the conditions in a match that saw more than 370 runs scored between both teams. The challenge though is for the Indian bowlers to find the right areas to bowl.
The Teams
The only time these two sides have clashed in a T20 International was also in the ICC World T20. In 2010, India and Afghanistan clashed in the third game of that tournament as well. Back then the Indians trounced Afghanistan with only two of Afghanistan’s batsmen posting double-digit scores. Ashish Nehra took three for 19 and Murali Vijay scored 48 off 46 balls as India cruised to the victory target of 116 in 14.5 overs.
Things haven’t changed much since that encounter, with India continuing to be the stronger team. Their batting, with the likes of MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli in the side, gives them the edge against any team in the world, let alone Afghanistan. Also, their recent tour to Sri Lanka in July-August 2012 would have given the team a fair idea about the conditions on offer.
Key Players
Rohit Sharma had a forgettable tour of Sri Lanka a couple of months ago when he scored just 13 runs from five appearances in the ODI series against the hosts. Although Rohit seemed to have found form with a couple of decent outings (where he posted scores of 37 and 56) in the warm-up fixtures, a good showing in the tournament will help him win over his recent detractors.
Asghar Stanikzai is the man in form for Afghanistan. The 24-year-old middle-order batsman struck a couple of half-centuries in both the warm-up games for Afghanistan. His unbeaten 34 (off 30 deliveries) also steered Afghanistan to victory against Barbados in the Trinidad Quadrangular T20 before the start of the ICC World T20.
Trivia:
-
India have the second highest run-rate (8.10) in ICC World T20 after Australia’s 8.37
-
Rohit Sharma has the highest batting average among all batsmen who have played at least 10 innings in ICC World T20. In 10 innings, Rohit has aggregated 303 runs at an average of 60.60
- Afghanistan have the best economy rate (7.32) in ICC World T20 along with South Africa. They have played only two matches though.
Venue Stats:
India – played - 1, won - 1, lost – 0, tied – 0, no result – 0
Afghanistan – played – 0, won - 0, lost – 0, tied – 0, no result – 0
Highest total in an innings: India 174/7 in 20.0 overs v Sri Lanka - February 10, 2009
Lowest total in an innings: Sri Lanka 120/10 in 18.1 overs v Pakistan - August 12, 2009
Best individual score in an innings: Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 69 v New Zealand - September 4, 2009
Best bowling figures in an innings: Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) – 4.0-0-18-3 v Sri Lanka - August 12, 2009
Average first innings score at R.Premadasa Stadium in T20Is: 164
Result summary at R.Premadasa Stadium in T20Is:
|
Matches |
Side batting 1st won |
Side batting 2nd won |
No result |
Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Head-to-head:
|
Matches |
Played |
India won |
Afg won |
No result |
Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
In Sri Lanka |
0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
India’s last T20I encounter at R.Premadasa Stadium: February 10, 2009 vs Sri Lanka
Brief scores: India (174-7) beat Sri Lanka (171-4) by three wickets
ICC World Twenty20 record:
|
Country |
Played |
Won |
Lost |
No result |
Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
India |
17 |
8 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
|
Afghanistan |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Form guide (most recent listed first):
India: Lost, Won, Lost, Won, Lost (2 wins, 3 losses)
Afghanistan: Lost, Won, Won, Lost, Lost (2 wins, 3 losses)
The Squads:
India: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Gautam Gambhir, R Ashwin, L Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Ashok Dinda, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, SK Raina, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Yuvraj Singh
Afghanistan: Nawroz Mangal (c), Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbodin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Izatullah Dawlatzai, Javed Ahmadi, Karim Sadiq, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nasim Baras, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah, Shapoor Zadran
All stats are as on September 18, 2012
