Afghanistan have had a mixed tournament. They could not match New Zealand’s discipline in the opener, but they bounced back against South Africa, taking that game to the wire before falling just short. The performances have been competitive, and now they need to turn them into wins to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The UAE have seen both highs and lows. A 10-wicket defeat to New Zealand was a hard start, but they responded with a hard-fought win over Canada, showing better composure with bat and ball. They will see this match as a chance to build on that and strengthen their position in the group.
The short square boundaries in Delhi encourage attacking play in the powerplay, and a fast start could take the total beyond 175. As the pitch wears, it may grip and slow, which would suit Afghanistan’s spinners between overs 7 and 15. If dew appears, chasing could get easier.
