Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea Prediction: Rashid to put PNG in a spin

Afghanistan have been one of the most impressive teams at this year’s T20 World Cup so far, beating Uganda comfortably before recording their first ever win over New Zealand in any format with another easy success over the Black Caps.

Now they face a Papua New Guinea side that have shown little in either of their two opening games and are destined to depart after the pool games. Read on for my Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea prediction.

Team News

Mujeeb Ur Rahman missed Afghanistan’s last game against New Zealand with an injury, with his replacement Noor Ahmad bowling just one over.

This may be an opportunity to get some match practice into Noor and the three unused players in the Afghan squad.

Papua New Guinea are likely to field a similar side to the one they put out last time out against Uganda.

Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea Odds

Afghanistan are heavy 1/20 favourites to get the victory in this clash, with Nepal trading at 11/1 for an upset success.

Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are joint 5/2 favourites to be Afghanistan’s top run scorer, while Sese Bau and Tony Ura are the 11/4 joint-favourites to be the top run scorer for Papua New Guinea.

Rashid Khan top Afghanistan wicket taker @ 5/2

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan was full of praise for his team after their 84-run success over New Zealand and, indeed, their bowling attack has been deadly at the tournament.

They bowled Uganda for 58 in the first game and followed that up by skittling New Zealand for just 75 in their second.

Leg-spinner Rashid himself has been a major part of that, taking 2/12 against Uganda and then 4/17 against New Zealand.

His record against associate teams, of which Papua New Guinea are one, also makes impressive reading.

The 25-year-old has featured in 16 T20Is against associate nations and has taken 29 wickets at an average of 10.9 runs and 12.7 balls per wicket.

Against an opposition batting line-up that is averaging collectively 11.83 across their two games at the tournament, Rashid looks likely to have plenty of success and is fancied to be top Afghanistan wicket taker.

Chad Soper top Papua New Guinea wicket taker @ 18/5

Chad Soper has been a model of consistency in Papua New Guinea’s bowling attack, taking at least one wicket in eight of his last nine T20Is.

It’s hard to see the PNG bowling attack in general having a great deal of success against a solid Afghanistan batting side, so it may not take many wickets to win top wicket taker for the associate nation and Soper is fancied to do so.

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