Cricket

The T20 World Cup Group 1 race for the final semi-final spot reaches its climax on Tuesday as Afghanistan and Bangladesh face off in a virtual quarter-final at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, Saint Vincent.With India securing their semi-final berth after defeating Australia, Afghanistan's fate now rests on their encounter with Bangladesh. A victory for the Afghans would propel them into the semis alongside Group 2 toppers South Africa. India, meanwhile, will face defending champions England in Thursday's semi-final in Guyana.Weather conditions are expected to play a crucial role in the high-stakes match. AccuWeather forecasts severe thunderstorms and a 41% chance of rain, with temperatures ranging from 25-32 degrees Celsius. The sky is anticipated to be obscured by clouds approximately 58% of the time, adding to the challenging conditions for the players.In the event of a washout, Afghanistan would qualify for the semis as the second-placed team in Group 2 with three points, eliminating Australia from the tournament. However, if Bangladesh emerges victorious, all three teams (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia) would finish on two points, with net run rate (NRR) becoming the deciding factor. Bangladesh would need a significant margin of victory to have any chance of reaching the semis, while Australia's fate hangs in the balance.Group 2 has already seen South Africa and England qualify for the semi-finals, while the co-hosts West Indies and USA have been eliminated.

New Zealand and Uganda will face off in a crucial match in the ongoing tournament. New Zealand, currently ranked fifth with no points, will be eager to secure a victory to improve their standings. Uganda, on the other hand, sits third with two points and will aim to maintain their momentum.In their previous match, New Zealand suffered a narrow 13-run defeat to West Indies. Trent Boult emerged as their top fantasy performer, scoring 126 points. Uganda also faced a setback in their last encounter against West Indies, losing by a significant margin of 134 runs. Brian Masaba was their standout player, accumulating 63 fantasy points.The pitch at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy is expected to provide a balanced surface for both teams. The average first-innings score at this venue is 118 runs, suggesting that chasing a target may be the preferred option. Both pacers and spinners are likely to find success on this pitch.Weather conditions are expected to be favorable for the match, with temperatures hovering around 25 degrees Celsius and humidity levels at 89%. Winds of 3.06 m/s are anticipated, which could aid pacers in generating movement.

India and Canada will face off in a highly anticipated match in the ongoing tournament. India has been in impressive form, winning all three of their matches so far and securing six points. Canada, on the other hand, has played three matches and sits fourth on the points table with two points.In their previous match, India dominated the USA, securing a seven-wicket victory. Arshdeep Singh emerged as the top fantasy player for India, scoring 126 fantasy points. Canada, meanwhile, suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Pakistan. Aaron Johnson was the top fantasy performer for Canada, earning 76 fantasy points.The match will be played at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. The pitch is balanced, with an average first-innings score of 133 runs in the last 20 matches. The team batting first has won 37% of matches at this venue.Both pacers and spinners are expected to find success on this pitch. The weather forecast predicts a temperature of around 29 degrees Celsius, 66% humidity, and 5.43 m/s winds. Cloudy conditions may assist pacers in generating movement.For your Fantasy XI team, consider the following top captain and vice-captain picks:* Kaleem Sana (CAN): A high-risk, high-returns player with an average of 68 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Axar Patel (IND): A consistent performer with an average of 64 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Arshdeep Singh (IND): A reliable fantasy option with an average of 57 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Nicholas Kirton (CAN): A safe bet with an average of 51 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Suryakumar Yadav (IND): A punt player with an average of 48 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Jasprit Bumrah (IND): A good pick with an average of 47 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Saad Bin Zafar (CAN): A safe bet with an average of 46 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Rohit Sharma (IND): A differential player with an average of 31 fantasy points in the last 10 games.

West Indies and New Zealand are set to face off in a highly anticipated match in the ongoing tournament. West Indies, currently ranked second on the points table, will be looking to continue their winning streak after a convincing victory against Uganda. New Zealand, on the other hand, will be eager to bounce back from their defeat against Afghanistan.The pitch at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, is expected to be balanced, with an average first innings score of 116 runs. Chasing a target has been the preferred option at this venue, with teams batting first winning only 35% of matches.Both pacers and spinners are expected to find success on this pitch. The weather forecast predicts a cloudy day with temperatures around 23.91 degrees Celsius and 91% humidity. Winds are expected to be around 1.84 m/s, which could provide some assistance to pacers.Fantasy XI Top Captain and Vice-Captain Picks:* Captain: Akeal Hosein (WI) - A consistent performer with an average of 55 match fantasy points and a fantasy rating of 9.6.* Vice-Captain: Michael Bracewell (NZ) - An all-rounder with an average of 53 match fantasy points and a fantasy rating of 8.Fantasy XI Team:* Wicket-Keepers: Johnson Charles (WI), Finn Allen (NZ), Devon Conway (NZ)* Batters: Rovman Powell (WI)* All-Rounders: Roston Chase (WI), Michael Bracewell (NZ)* Bowlers: Akeal Hosein (WI), Gudakesh Motie (WI), Lockie Ferguson (NZ), Matt Henry (NZ), Obed McCoy (WI)

New Zealand vs Afghanistan: Preview, Pitch Report, Weather Conditions, and Fantasy PicksPreview:Afghanistan and New Zealand will face off in their first match of the tournament. Afghanistan has won their only match so far, while New Zealand is playing their first game. New Zealand has a 2-2 record in their last four games.Pitch Report and Weather Conditions:The average first-innings score at the Guyana National Stadium is 149 runs. The pitch is balanced, offering assistance to both batters and bowlers. The temperature is expected to be around 26 degrees Celsius, with high humidity and light rain forecasted.Head-to-Head:New Zealand has won the only match played between these two teams.Fantasy Picks:Top Captain and Vice-Captain Picks:* Finn Allen (NZ): Top-order batter with an average of 71 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Ibrahim Zadran (AFG): Consistent batter with an average of 63 fantasy points in the last 10 games.Other Top Picks:* Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG): Left-arm fast-medium bowler with an average of 60 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Timothy Southee (NZ): Right-arm medium-fast bowler with an average of 61 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Michael Bracewell (NZ): All-rounder with an average of 58 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* James Neesham (NZ): All-rounder with an average of 54 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Rashid Khan (AFG): Leg-break googly bowler with an average of 49 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG): All-rounder with an average of 43 fantasy points in the last 10 games.* Mark Chapman (NZ): Left-handed batter with an average of 27 fantasy points in the last 10 games.Fantasy 11 Team:* Wicket-Keeper: Finn Allen* Batters: Ibrahim Zadran, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra* All-Rounders: Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat* Bowlers: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen ul Haq, Mitchell Santner* Captain: Rachin Ravindra* Vice-Captain: Naveen ul HaqConclusion:The match between New Zealand and Afghanistan is expected to be a close contest. Both teams have strengths and weaknesses, and the weather conditions could play a factor. Fantasy players should consider the pitch conditions and weather forecast when making their selections.