It was an absolute nightmare yesterday. Baddest of bad days. Your captain not only gets run-out for the second time in a row but injures one of your other scoring options as well. This, in turn, leads to the fantasy-favourite but out-of-form player you left out, finding enough time at the crease to get his groove back.
And out of all the bowlers Scotland’s promoted pinch-hitting option faced, he finds the exact same player to gift him his only wicket. At this point, I had absolutely no idea that it was about to get worse, a lot worse.
In the next match, Hong Kong lose 4 wickets to one of the most innocuous spells of spin bowling, and the beneficiary, again, happens to be the player you left out after a series of no-shows. What made me more furious was such a spineless batting performance didn’t see a single wicket go to two of the best associate death bowlers in Hamid Hassan and Dawlat Zadran. Also Rashid Khan, the best spinner on show, had to be content with just a single victim.
The finishing touch was apparently yet to come. The same beneficiary gets promoted to No.3 in the batting order to rub salt into the wounds.
Happens in every tournament. Fantasy doesn’t always follow logic, especially with associates. It’s easy for me to accept I did a mistake by leaving them out, but look at their last 20 matches (In Mohammad Nabi’s case, after his demotion to No.6), you will understand the reason for me doing what I did.
If you are going to take a blow like that, it’s better to take this early in a tournament, as there is ample time to recover. Alright then. I will move on to the upcoming matches.
Oman vs Netherlands
Transfers made – 2 (1); Transfers remaining – 11 (12)
Players in – Stephan Myrburgh and Munis Ansari (the latter, only if Oman bowl first)
Captain – Stephan Myrburgh
With Tom Cooper and Peter Borren’s bowling skills not being used much and the unpredictability surrounding their batting positions, not to mention the Munis Ansari-threat at the death and Oman’s possible ‘bat first-screw fantasy potential’ scenario, I would like to have only Stephan Myrburgh from the Dutch team for this encounter.
The left-handed opening batsman has averaged 30 in 45 matches with 11 50s to his name and is known for playing absolutely freakish knocks; Dharamsala would be an ideal venue for that to happen.
I already have Zeeshan Maqsood in my team, so the only other player who will get in is Munis Ansari – and this change happens only if the Netherlands bat first. I was quite impressed with the Dutch bowling attack in the first match, and I back them to restrict Oman for a modest score if they bowl first, which will mean Ansari's death bowling skills wouldn’t come into play. I can’t risk the likelihood of that happening.
Khawar Ali, Amir Ali, Paul van Meekeren, Timm van der Gugten were all amongst the points in the last match, but it’s anyone’s guess who among them will click again. Amir Ali, in particular, would be a bad choice as he bats lower down the order and doesn’t bowl his full quota regularly.
Bangladesh vs Ireland
Transfers made – 3; Transfers remaining – 8 (9)
Players in – William Porterfield, Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien
Captain – Tamim Iqbal
I didn’t transfer out Al-Amin Hossain; instead, it was Vusi Sibanda who made his way out of my team, because of the injury concerns surrounding him after the clash with Hamilton Masakadza last game. And this means I currently have 4 Bangladesh players in my team – Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan and Al-Amin. It will stay that away, despite Taskin Ahmed’s potential scoring opportunities.
Both William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien will walk back into my team, in addition to Paul Stirling. Stirling showed signs of good touch in the match against Oman; while he will always be unpredictable, a true batting deck will always be worth a shot.
The likely return of Andy Balbirnie could demote Gary Wilson to No.4 and reduce his fantasy potential. Even otherwise, he is hardly an exciting option, especially when he is not keeping wickets.
If Mustafizur Rahman returns, he plays – as simple as that.
I will stick to Tamim Iqbal as captain, as Ireland are not known to play brainless cricket that can gift wickets to Shakib.
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