Australia is all set to take on the Afghanistan in Match 39 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Tuesday, November 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both the teams have a star-studded squad that can change the course of the game with their abilities. Australia is the favourite to win this encounter against Afghanistan.
Australia and Afghanistan have a fierce rivalry in the format. Both teams have played 3 ODI matches, with Australia winning 3 games and Afghanistan winning 0 games so far in the head to head encounters. In this article, we will take a look at the key player battles to watch out for in the match 39 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between Australia and Afghanistan.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Australia vs Afghanistan Top 3 Players Expected to Perform in Today Match
Here are three player battles to watch out for during AUS vs AFG match:
1) Marnus Labuschagne vs Mohammad Nabi
Marnus Labuschagne displayed his prowess with a notable performance against England in the last game, notching up 71 runs off 83 deliveries, including seven boundaries. In the tournament, Labuschagne has accumulated 272 runs at an average of 38.86. He will confront Mohammad Nabi, who earned the Player of the Match award for Afghanistan in their previous game. Nabi secured a three-wicket haul in that match, taking his total wickets to six in the competition.
2) Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Adam Zampa
Afghanistan’s skipper, Hashmatullah Shahidi, anticipates a showdown with Adam Zampa. These two have crossed paths once in ODIs, with Zampa dismissing Shahidi in that encounter. Shahidi’s tournament performance has been impressive, amassing 282 runs at an average of 70.50. In contrast, Zampa is the second-highest wicket-taker with 19 scalps from seven games, setting the stage for an intriguing battle.
3) David Warner vs Rashid Khan
David Warner is in exceptional form in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, emerging as Australia’s top run-scorer and ranking fifth overall in the tournament. With 428 runs in seven matches at an average of 61.14, which includes two centuries and a half-century, Warner has been a force to reckon with. In the upcoming match, he will be pitted against the spin maestro, Rashid Khan. Although Rashid Khan hasn’t had a stellar tournament thus far, claiming seven wickets in as many games, he will be eager to turn the tide against Australia.