India just managing to snatch a victory from a clinical encounter on Tuesday against their neighbor nation Bangladesh to reserve a berth in semi-finals.
Match 42 will see bottom-placed teams and so-called survivors take on each other, as dejected Afghanistan take on West Indies.
Both the teams had their shorter moments of brilliance but have failed to consolidate on board and are lying in bottom two positions of the table.
However, the match won’t carry any importance in semi-final aspect, but significant importance in respective nations pride.
The two have never faced each other World Cup history, but of the five ODI meets Afghanistan has proven past of ascendancy over the Caribbean’s with three wins, with one match being abandoned.
Match Details
Afghanistan vs West Indies. Match 42
4 July, 3:00 PM IST
Headingley, Leeds
Pitch and Weather Report
Though the day will see some early brightness, it is something which is likely to disappear soon as the day progresses as clouds are expected to take over.
Westerly winds will render assistance to the pacers, and the toss is expected to play a vital role as batting might get difficult in second innings much like previous two games played here at Headingley.
Squads
Afghanistan
Gulbadin Naib (c), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah (wk), Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Ikram Ali Khil.
West Indies
Jason Holder (c), Chris Gayle, Kemar Roach, Darren Bravo, Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope, Sheldon Cottrell, Evin Lewis, Shannon Gabriel, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Shimron Hetmyer, Fabian Allen, Oshane Thomas, Nicholas Pooran.
Team News
Afghanistan
A team, which has just seen dejection, and are likely to return barehanded, unless they do something unique to finish their World Cup campaign on a high.
The turkey side felt like being close to snatching a win on two occasions, one of which came against India.
Considering Afghanistan’s performance this World Cup, their bowlers have done a decent job in almost all the games, whereas the batters have failed to contribute to the team’s cause.
However, Afghans will be a bit confident when they take the field on Thursday owing to past record against West Indies and will look to end their duck this tournament.
West Indies
A team that announced its arrival in England and Wales with a bang on the field terribly failed to continue the momentum after a win in the opener against Pakistan.
Injury has surely prevented them from living up to the expectation but isn’t the prime reason for failure.
Bowling department witnessed just a sole star performer, Sheldon Cottrell, though batting department can’t be totally termed as scrap, as batters have done a fair job in parts, but have failed to put significant totals owing to lack of partnerships.
Skipper Jason Holder will hope to inspire the side and play with full intensity to end the campaign in a somewhat similar fashion like opening game.
Fantasy Prediction
Nicholas Pooran, Shai Hope, Najibullah Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Sunil Ambris, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Carlos Braithwaite, Rashid Khan, Sheldon Cottrell, and Oshane Thomas. Captain: Nicolas Pooran, Vice Captain: Gulbadin Naib.
