Sco v Afg, 1st ODI Preview: Associates battle for bragging rights

The first ODI of the AFG v SCO series will take place at the iconic Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh between Afghanistan and Scotland. While both associate nations are hoping to retain the bragging rights for themselves, it must be highlighted that Afghanistan has the slight upper hand in the contest. However, despite this, the 1st Scotland v Afghanistan ODI is widely anticipated to be an exciting encounter between two extremely good sides.

Pitch Conditions

Although the Grange Cricket club in Edinburgh opened its gates all those years ago in 1999, it has seen just 14 ODIs played. It is expected to be a chilly evening at Edinburgh as the temperature is expected to go below 10-degree centigrade, something that is expected to keep the swing bowlers interested. With the average batting score hovering in and around 250, a mouthwatering encounter is certainly on the cards.

Team Analysis

Scotland

With a massive hue and cry to the ICC for more cricket, Scotland has got what they have wished for with an ODI against Afghanistan. Although they are playing against a fellow associate nation, Afghanistan is becoming a dangerous team. Evidence of the aforementioned statement can be found in the fact that they beat the West Indies in the group stages of the 2016 edition of the World T20.

Apart from the fact that the 1000-run mark beckons for Richie Berrington and Kyle Coetzer, they will be the key for the home team. Both players will be expected to lay the foundation for Scotland early on in the innings. Apart from that, Scottish skipper Preston Mommsen and Matthew Cross will be expected to play a major role in proceedings as Ruaidhri Smith looks to make an appearance in the first ODI of the series.

Afghanistan

After having made waves with their performances in international tournaments, Afghanistan is taking the next big step. The tour to Scotland will provide the Afghan players with the solid grounding, something they have been hoping for in a long time.

While there are a plethora of players to watch out for, this will also be a test for the newly appointed Afghan coach Lalchand Rajput. The latter has been successful in the coaching stints he has had in the past, especially when the Indians clinched a massive win in the inaugural edition of the World T20. Rashid Khan, the young leg-spinner starlet will be hoping to make an impression.

Match details: 

4th July: 15:15 IST, 10:45 AM Local

Probable XI-

Scotland:

Preston Mommsen (C), Matthew Cross (wk), Kyle Coetzer, Richie Berrington, Con de Lange, Alasdair Evans, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan  Sharif, Ruaidhri Smith, Mark Watt

Afghanistan:

Asghar Stanikzai (C), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran, Rashid Khan, Hamid Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Mirwais Ashraf

StAttack:

1. Afghanistan leads the head-to-head against Scotland having won 6 out of 9 encounters between the two.

2. Noor Ali Zadran requires 76 runs to complete 1000 runs in ODI cricket.

3. Southpaw Mohammad Nabi is the leading run-getter for Afghanistan in ODI cricket with 1469 runs to his name. Moreover, he is the second highest wicket-taker with 55 wickets, making him one of the most important players for the Afghans.

4. Only two Scotland players have been privileged enough to cross the 1000 run mark in ODIs. However, the likes of Kyle Coetzer and Richie Berrington are on the verge of doing the same with 977 and 968 ODI runs to their name respectively.

5. Of the 14 matches played at Edinburgh, Scotland has featured in 13 matches. However, despite this, they have been victorious on just one occasion in July 2011 against Ireland.