ICC World T-20,Live Cricket Score:Afghanistan vs England Preview

New Delhi: In warm conditions of the national capital, England and Afghanistan will indulge in a tussle, on Wednesday (March 23), that could be separated by the impact and form of their two identically-ballsy batting mindset. 

While England have played both their Super 10 fixtures at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, where batsmen have run the show, Afghanistan have had the chance to experience two contrasting conditions - the slow burner at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the run-churner in Mumbai.
 
Early signs from both the teams suggest the Delhi crowd are in for a batting spectacle in a stadium that is relatively smaller and hence, better suited for the big-hitting mentality that both sets of batsmen seem to possess.

On paper, England's ability to bat deep puts them in good stead but if the track offers a bit of grip and turn, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan - the Afghanistan spin duo - can make life difficult. In a mammoth run-chase against South Africa a couple of days ago, England batsmen put their side's best strength on display - of outscoring the opponent - but situations will not always be tailor-made for them to go hammer and tongs in pursuit of a target. Adaptability, not just to the conditions, but also the match situation will be of utmost importance for Morgan's team.

Afghanistan are languishing at the bottom of the Group 1 points table but those numbers hardly justify what they've brought to the competition. Asghar Stanikzai and Inzamam ul Haq, the captain and coach duo, has repeatedly stressed that they weren't here to just make up the numbers and have their eyes firmly set on recording at least one win in their next two fixtures. With the support they've got in India, and their acclimatisation to Delhi after having practised in Noida, indicates a growing sense of belief within the unit about causing an upset.

England's campaign is back on track with a stunning win over South Africa, a resurgent England would be looking to plug their bowling loopholes when they take on an ever-improving Afghanistan in a Super 10 Group 1 match of the ICC World Twenty20.

After being bruised and battered by Chris Gayle in the six-wicket defeat to West Indies in their tournament-opener, England, facing a must-win situation, rode on Joe Root's class act to register a close two-wicket win against South Africa in a high-scoring encounter to keep their hopes alive.

Chasing a mammoth 230-run target, Root single-handedly got England over the line with a thundering 83 off 44 balls. If not for Root's heroics, England would have been virtually out of the tournament after their bowling department leaked runs for a second consecutive match.

And even though they start as favourites against Afghanistan, England would be aware that their bowlers would have to put up an improved performance. The 2010 champions' under-fire bowlers and fielders will be up against a potent if not marauding Afghanistan batting line-up that gave Australia a scare in their last match.

The performance of England's opening pace duo of David Willey and Reece Topley can be termed horrendous against South Africa the other day as they sprayed the ball on both sides of the wicket to concede huge runs. The likes of Chris Jordan and Ben Stokes too were very expensive.

The spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid looked good even though they too went for runs and the key for England would be how effectively this pair performs.

If England want to alter their pace combination they have Liam Plunkett, a late replacement for the injured Steve Finn, to call upon. England's batting has been satisfactory so far in the tournament with Root leading from the front.

However, they need a collective batting effort from the likes of Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Stokes, Jos Buttler and skipper Eoin Morgan to make themselves a potent force in the tournament.



PTI

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