Venue Details & Pitch Report - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Average First Innings Score at Ahmedabad in ODIs since 2022: 239

Batting First vs Batting Second in ODIs since 2022: Win Bat 1st - 50%, Win Bat 2nd - 50% 

AFG-SA Players in the top 10 leading run-scorers list in ODIs since 2022: None

AFG-SA Players in the top 10 leading wicket-takers list in ODIs since 2022:  None

Ground Dimensions: The venue has long straight boundaries (77m) and square boundaries (67m, 74m). Third Man (59m) & Deep Mid Wicket (80m) and FineLeg (62m) & Deep Cover (75m).

Pitch Report: The wicket at Ahmedabad is considered to be flat with some assistance for new ball bowlers especially under lights. As the match progresses, the wicket tends to wear down which can bring spinners into play. 

A major factor of the pitch behavior will depend on whether it is a red soil or black soil pitch. If it is a red soil pitch, there will be pace and bounce along with a free-flowing advantage for run scoring. On the other hand, black soil pitch might assist spinners and pacers with variations, and batters will have to settle at the crease before they can score runs in the middle.

Predicted Playing XI - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Match 42, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Prediction

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq

        Bench: Najibullah Zadran, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Rahman

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (WK), Temba Bavuma (C), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee

        Bench: Reeza Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lizaad Williams

Fantasy Notes (AFGHANISTAN) - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Match 42, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Prediction Prediction

STATS & NUMBERS

Relevant Numbers of Afghanistan players in World Cup 2023:

PLAYERBAT INNSRUNSAVG/SR50s/100sBOWL INNSWICKETSBOWL AVG/ECO
Ibrahim Zadran836151/781/1N/AN/AN/A
Hashmatullah Shahidi830862/743/0N/AN/AN/A
Rahmat Shah829442/793/0N/AN/AN/A
Azmatullah Omarzai725651/1012/08737/7
Rahmanullah Gurbaz825532/982/0N/AN/AN/A
Rashid Khan59123/1120/08939/4.5
Ikram Alikhil27777/881/0N/AN/AN/A
Mohammad Nabi55311/730/08636/4.2
Mujeeb Ur Rahman    8758/5.7
Naveen ul Haq    7837/6.3
Najibullah Zadran       
Fazalhaq Farooqi    6638/5.7
Noor Ahmad    3527/4.6
Riaz Hassan       
Abdul Rehman       

Points to Consider

  • The last time these two sides met in an ODI was back in the 2019 World Cup, where South Africa beat Afghanistan by 9 wickets.
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Left Arm Orthodox Spin in ODIs since 2022: Outs - 4, Balls - 121, Avg/SR - 20/66; The Afghan batter will be expected to do most of the damage during the powerplay as the spin threat of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi (if he plays) awaits him after that. Additionally, the quality of the Proteas new ball attack makes him a slightly vulnerable pick but he is still worth considering for your risky leagues due to his aggressive style of batting.
  • Among the batters who have scored at least 300 runs in this World Cup, Hashmatullah Shahidi (74) and Ibrahim Zadran (74) have two of the lowest strike rates. They are the kind of batters who are capable of accumulating runs and rewarding fantasy managers.
  • If Afghanistan bowls first, Naveen ul Haq should be a good differential pick at 25% selection due to his value at the death overs with his pace variations and potential for junk wickets. At the same time, South Africans are known to falter more often in the chase - make combinations with Afghanistan successfully defending totals as well.

Fantasy Notes (SOUTH AFRICA) - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Match 42, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Prediction Prediction

STATS & NUMBERS

Relevant Numbers of South Africa players in World Cup 2023:

PLAYERBAT INNSRUNSAVG/SR50s/100sBOWL INNSWICKETSBOWL AVG/ECO
Quinton de Kock855069/1110/4N/AN/AN/A
Aiden Markram837153/1183/1   
Rassie van der Dussen836646/901/2N/AN/AN/A
Heinirch Klaasen831645/1441/1N/AN/AN/A
David Miller823138/1281/0N/AN/AN/A
Marco Jansen715739/1111/081724/6.4
Temba Bavuma612220/740/0N/AN/AN/A
Reeza Hendricks29748/1031/0N/AN/AN/A
Keshav Maharaj    81227/4.6
Gerald Coetzee    61422/6.8
Kagiso Rabada    71223/4.9
Lungi Ngidi    7836/5.5
Tabraiz Shamsi    3724/6.1
Lizaad Williams    12 
Andile Phehlukwayo       

Points to Consider

  • Afghanistan are in the bottom 2 for batting averages against left-arm orthodox spin in ODIs in 2023 among WC teams and in this World Cup (9 Outs, 21.1 Avg). With this in mind, Keshav Maharaj becomes an important pick bowling in the middle overs.
  • Rassie van der Dussen vs Spin in WC 2023: Inns - 8, Runs - 162, Balls - 157, Avg/SR - 27/103; If Afghanistan continues to play Noor Ahmad at Ahmedabad, they will have four spin options threatening South Africa's Number 3 batter's fantasy potential. It makes for an interesting matchup especially if there is additional assistance for spin on the pitch.
  • We might see the return of Gerald Coetzee at Ahmedabad, likely in place of Tabraiz Shamsi. Regardless of who plays, both are fantastic differential picks for you to consider in your fantasy team as Afghanistan can be countered by both express pace and left arm spin.
  • If South Africa bats first, consider backing David Miller as a differential - he is selected in just 24% of the teams. Moreover, he has plenty of experience of conditions at Ahmedabad having represented the IPL home team, Gujarat Titans in recent years where he has enjoyed success.

Fantasy XI - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Match 42, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Prediction

WK: Quinton de Kock, Heinirch Klaasen

BAT: Rassie van der Dussen, Hashmatullah Shahidi

AR: Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aiden Markram

BOWL: Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee

C/VC: Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen

Differentials: Gerald Coetzee (20.1%), David Miller (24%), Mohammad Nabi (22%)

C/VC Alternatives: Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada

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Stats Credit: Cricinfo, Cricmetric

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