30.01.2021, 17:30 IST
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Once again, we’d like to declare that mistakes were made about the Bangla Tigers lineup due to misinformation on the internet, and corrections will be made herein. It wasn’t quite the kind of start the Bangla Tigers would have fancied for their Abu Dhabi TCL Season 4 campaign, but it is what it is and they currently lie at the bottom of Group A. With Delhi Bulls looking like the most likely candidate to lead the group, however, they shouldn’t feel that bad at having lost to them. Two matches are still left, and they still have a chance to get to the top two. Next up, they face the Maratha Arabians, who got off to a much better start, but then faltered horribly. They’re still in second place as far as the group is concerned, but their net run rate has been mangled badly, and quite possibly beyond repair. Both teams will be equally desperate to win this match, and before it gets under way, let’s take a look at how the teams have done lately.
Bangla Tigers
Predicted XI
Andre Fletcher (c), Afif Hossain, Qais Ahmad, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chirag Suri, Mohammad Irfan, Karim Janat, George Garton, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Tom Moores (wk).
Preview and form
As far as the Tigers’ lineup corrections go, Isuru Udana and David Wiese are not, in fact, on the team, while Ravinderpal Singh, George Garton, Rameez Shahzad, and Matheesha Pathirana are in. The Tigers look like a pretty good squad, but their bowling needs to improve if they are to make a dent in this tournament. In the previous game, the Tigers batted first against the Delhi Bulls, and got off to a fantastic start with a 100-run partnership coming up in just 7 overs. However, they couldn’t do as much in the last 3 overs, and despite Johnson Charles’ 73 off 35 and Andre Fletcher’s 32 off 16, the Tigers only managed to score 128 in the end. Their defense was much, much worse than their batting, with Karim Janat being the most incisive with 2 scalps, but only George Garton managing to bowl at less than 14 per over. Before the 10th over was reached, they had lost by 7 wickets.
BT Key players
- Andre Fletcher: The West Indian seems to like T10 more than T20, and this tournament will be pretty interesting for him.
Johnson Charles: After his fantastic 73 went in vain, it’ll be interesting to see how Charles does in the matches to come.
- Karim Janat: The Emirati bowler picked up two important wickets, and is looking in pretty good shape for the tournament.
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman: He may have been slapped around the park in the last match, but Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s potential is not something to overlook.
Maratha Arabians
Predicted XI
Mosaddek Hossain (c), Abdul Shakoor (wk), Muktar Ali, Laurie Evans, Amjad Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Yamin Ahmadzai, Sompal Kami, Ishan Malhotra, Sohag Gazi, Pravin Tambe.
Preview and form
After the kind of start they had, defending champions Arabians would have thought they would do better against the Bulls, but they, like the Tigers before them, were absolutely destroyed. Batting first, last match’s heroes couldn’t do much, and Javed Ahmadi’s 24 and Mosaddek Hossain’s 35 looked like mere tokens in the context of the ridiculously aggressive T10s, with their first innings total settling at a miserable 87. If their start was bad, their defense was worse. The bowlers were absolutely pummelled, with only Yamin Ahmadzai managing to pick up a wicket. With 33 taken off just one of poor Muktar Ali’s overs, their total was overtaken in just a ridiculous 5 overs.
MA Key players
- Laurie Evans: Evans hasn’t exactly been able to click with the bat yet, but he needs to in the next match if his team are to achieve much in this tournament.
- Mosaddek Hossain: The Bangladeshi all-rounder played well, but needs to be far more impactful.
- Yamin Ahmadzai: This Afghan pacer showed promise in the first match, and he’ll be counted upon for wickets.
- Sohag Gazi: Once he gets used to the conditions in the UAE, Gazi will be one to watch out for.
BT vs MA weather conditions and pitch report
As usual, the skies over Abu Dhabi are predicted to be clear, and with a cool breeze blowing and average temperatures, it should be a great time for cricket.
The pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium is still offering plenty for batsmen, but today it also showed glimpses of having a little something more in it for the bowlers. Expect scores of 120+ to be scary from now on.
Can the Tigers claw their way back into the tournament? Or will the Arabians manage to win their second match of the tournament? Find out if our
Bangla Tigers versus Maratha Arabians predictions come true on Saturday!
