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CricBattle Daily Fantasy Cricket League Tips

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan on February 21

As in the first match, Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat on a warm, partly cloudy morning, with rain expected later during the day. However, there was more grass left on the pitch for this match, but the tourists evidently decided to risk it giving help to the seam bowlers and put their trust in Duckworth-Lewis, which had served them so well on Thursday. The weather may have permitted, but the Zimbabwe middle-order batsmen did not. They were in command until the fall of their fourth wicket, when they needed 100 more runs with seven batsmen still in hand. Yet again, though, a lack of cricketing wisdom and fight betrayed the home side, who slid steadily downhill to another defeat, this one by 54 runs. The third match in the five-match series will take place at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

·         Best economical pick – Najibullah Zadran attacked the Zimbabwean bowling in the 2^nd ODI in fine style, hitting Mpofu and Chatara for sixes in quick succession, but he was not so good against the short ball, and skyed a catch into the covers off a short one from Chatara off the penultimate ball of the innings. He scored 45 off 46 balls and gave Afghanistan the impetus they needed in the final overs.

·         Top captains & vice captains – The antagonistic opening batsman and wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad, was more restrained than usual, and the bowlers did well to keep him relatively quiet in 2^nd ODI. Shahzad went to 50 off 68 balls and the team hundred came up after 23 overs, with just one wicket down. When Solomon Mire was hammering the Afghan bowlers for a superb fifty at the start of the Zimbabwe innings at Harare Sports Club today, it seemed that the home side may have been on course for a fine victory, weather permitting. The weather may have permitted, but the Zimbabwe middle-order batsmen did not.

·         Smart pick – Zimbabwean skipper Graeme Cremer put up a good fight with the bat, and the last wicket added a plucky but futile 16 together before Ngarava was caught at long-off for 10, leaving Cremer not out with 14.

·         Cautions Pick – Asghar Stanikzai, who had done so well on Thursday, this time struggled to six off 20 balls, when he tried to hit Cremer for six over long-off, and Musakanda held the ball well on the boundary; 139 for three in the 33rd over.

My XI – Mohammad Shahzad (Captain), Solomon Mire (Vice-Captain), Najibullah Zadran, Graeme Cremer, Hashmatullah Shanwari, Dawlat Zadran, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Hamilton Masakadza, Sikandar Raza, Rahmat Shah