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Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the series with a comprehensive victory in the first ODI on Tuesday and will have the edge in the Afghanistan vs Pakistan Prediction for game two. The two teams will now lock horns in the second game at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota on Thursday, August 24. The bookmakers have Pakistan as favourites with odds of 1/5 (1.20) while Afghanistan have higher odds of 3/1 (4.00).
These odds from Ladbrokes were correct at the time of writing.
- Afghanistan vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI
- August 24, 2023 – 9:30 AM GMT
- Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Contents
The pitches at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota aren’t known to be good for batting. Expect bowlers to dominate as seen in the first game. As for the average first innings score, the number reads 247 from 25 ODIs played here.
The weather in Hambantota is expected to be sunny and clear on Thursday afternoon and windy in the evening. Rain shouldn’t be a factor with the temperature ranging between 25-30 degrees.
Afghanistan vs Pakistan – Match Predictions
Pakistan have not lost any of the five ODI matches against Afghanistan so far. They have an outstanding pace bowling attack, with which they bullied the opponents in the first game. Pakistan also have a better batting line-up on paper.
Our Prediction: Pakistan to win this match at 1/5 (1.20).
Top Run-scorer
Imam-ul-Haq is a good player of spin and is coming off a 61-run knock in the previous game. Bet on him to be the top batter for Pakistan at 11/4 (3.75). Ibrahim Zadran has scored 594 runs in the last 10 innings at an average of 66 and strike rate of 90. Back Zadran to be Afghanistan’s top batter at 11/4 (3.75).
Our Prediction: Imam-ul-Haq to be Pakistan’s top run-scorer at 11/4 (3.75).
Top Wicket-taker
Haris Rauf ran through the Afghanistan side with 5 for 18 in the first game. He has 44 wickets from 23 ODIs at 26.5 strike rate. Back Rauf to be Pakistan’s best bowler at 11/4 (3.75). Rashid Khan has 169 wickets in fifty-over cricket at a strike rate of 26.8. Bet on Rashid to be the top bowler for Afghanistan at 9/5 (2.80).
Our Prediction: Haris Rauf to be Pakistan’s top wicket-taker at 11/4 (3.75).
Man of the Match
Imam-ul-Haq has an excellent record in the ODI format with 2780 runs at an average of 51 with nine hundreds and 17 fifties. You can bet on Imam-ul-Haq to be the player of the match at 15/2 (8.50).
Our Prediction: Imam-ul-Haq to be the Man of the Match at 15/2 (8.50) odds.
Afghanistan vs Pakistan Preview
Pakistan claimed the first ODI by 142 runs to go 1-0 up in the series. Let’s take a look at two teams before they meet in the second ODI.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan spinners did an excellent job in the first ODI to bowl out the opponents for just 201. Mujeeb Ur Rahman bagged 3 for 33 while Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan picked two wickets each. However, the batting unit could not do much against the Pakistan pace unit, getting skittled out for 59.
Afghanistan could make one change to the playing XI with Najibullah Zadran coming in for Ikram Alikhil.
Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman
Pakistan
Imam-ul-Haq made 61 but most of the Pakistan batting unit had a rough time against Afghanistan spinners. Defending 201, Haris Rauf rattled the opponents with 5 for 18 while Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed two wickets.
Pakistan had a predictable line-up in the first game except for Usama Mir, who was preferred ahead of Mohammad Nawaz.
Squad: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
How to Watch Afghanistan vs Pakistan ODIs in the UK: Live Streaming & Channel List
The fans from the UK won’t be able to witness the three-match ODI series between Afghanistan and Pakistan on live television.
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