Afghanistan vs Netherlands, 3rd ODI Match Prediction – Who will win the match?

Afghanistan and Netherlands will be locking horns in the dead-rubber third ODI at West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on January 25. The Afghans have already sealed the series having won the opening two games by 36 and 48 runs respectively.

Afghanistan had won the toss in the second ODI and elected to bat first and posted 237/6 from their 50 overs with opener and wicketkeeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring a century and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi scoring a half-century. While Gurbaz top-scored with a 127-ball 103, Shahidi scored 54 off 80 deliveries. Fred Klaassen and Phillipe Boissevain picked up two wickets each of the Netherlands.

In reply, the Dutch could only manage to score 189 runs and were bundled out in 47-4 overs to fall short in the run chase. Opener Scott Edwards who had scored 68 in the first game was yet again the top-scorer for the Netherlands scoring 86 runs off 120 deliveries. Nonetheless, he did not receive any support from the other end barring middle-order batter Bas de Leede who scored 34 off 83 balls which did not prove to be enough in the end.

Match Details

Afghanistan vs Netherlands, 3rd ODI

Venue: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha

Date & Time: January 25th at 12:30 PM IST and 10 AM Local Time

Where to Watch: Fancode

Pitch Report

It is a very difficult surface to bat with spinners getting the necessary assistance to bamboozle the batters at regular intervals. Therefore, the team winning the toss would be looking to bat first and a total of under 250 could prove to be a match-winning one. In case the Netherlands have to chase in the third ODI, then they will need to counter the Afghan spinners really well especially the likes of star leggie Rashid Khan and mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Probable Playing XIs for AFG vs NED

Afghanistan

Usman Ghani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Najibullah Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai

Netherlands

Colin Ackermann, Pieter Seelaar (c), Fred Klaassen, Scott Edwards (wk), Bas de Leede, Brandon Glover, Saqib Zulfiqar, Philippe Boissevain, Boris Gorlee, Vivian Kingma, Musa Ahmed

Afghanistan vs Netherlands Head-to-Head

Played – 8, Afghanistan – 6, Netherlands – 2

Probable Top Performers

Rashid Khan – Afghanistan

The spin sensation has made a great impact with the ball in hand and has picked up four wickets in two matches. While he could only register a solitary scalp in the second ODI, Khan picked up three wickets in the series-opener. Rashid has taken 144 wickets in 76 ODIs at an average of 18.40, an economy of 4.17, and a strike rate of 26.4.

Scott Edwards – Netherlands

The opening batter has been the Netherlands’ highest-scorer in the last two games having amassed 154 runs in this series with scores of 68 and 86. He made his ODI debut in August 2018 and has made 309 runs in 12 games.

Today’s match prediction: Afghanistan to win the match

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.