The lion-hearted Afghans will look to prey on the Dutch when the two teams meet in Lucknow on Friday.
With victories over three former champions, Afghanistan have stunned the cricket fraternity and has earned respect from rivals like never before. The Netherlands too have punched above their weight, with victories over South Africa and Bangladesh, but the Afghans have simply been outstanding.
It would be unfair to dismiss Afghanistan’s wins so far in this World Cup as surprises. They have thoroughly outplayed much stronger rivals to register confident wins.
With a quality spin attack at their disposal and a pack of gritty batters, Afghanistan will surely go for their fourth win as they dream of a semi-final spot. They will also want to win big to boost their net run rate, which might prove decisive on the road ahead.
Coach Jonathan Trott has done a wonderful job with the Rashid Khans, giving them the belief that they can win against any team.
With games against Australia (November 7) and South Africa (November 10) line-up next, Afghanistan would surely want another comprehensive win under their belt to be ready for the tougher tests.
The Dutch though are capable enough to spoil the Afghans’ dreams. Scott Edwards leads a disciplined team of fine cricketers. They are dangerous on their day.
