United States of America vs Namibia, ICCCWCLT, Today Match Prediction

USA vs NAM Match Prediction & Analysis

With the top tier of men's international cricket about to do battle in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE over the coming weeks, the second tier get back to business in the Cricket World Cup League 2.

USA currently lead the table but they are by no means dominating the league as the top five teams are separated by only two points with Oman in fifth and Canada level on points with USA at the top.

Namibia loiter only four points behind so a victory for them in this game would see them go only four points behind their opponent. However, victory for the USA will see them pull clear of the chasing pack.

TEAMS PREVIEW

United States of America Preview

Although USA have not been as dominant as they would have liked across this Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign so far, they are still sitting at the top of the table and will arrive for this game in the knowledge that if their best players perform on the day then they will be very hard to stop in their tracks!

With the bat, we can expect captain Monank Patel along with Aaron Jones to carry the biggest threat to Namibia's bowlers although Harmeet Singh showed plenty of ability and class of his own with 59 runs from 44 balls at nunmber six in the batting order in their last game against Nepal.

The bowling attack will be led by the superb left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar who made a big name for himself during the 2024 T20 World Cup and also returned figures of 4/47 in USA's last ODI. Backing him up will be the reliable Jasdeep Singh, Shadley van Schalkwyk and Nosthush Kunjige.

United States of America Predicted Playing XI:

Shayan Jahangir (wk), Monank Patel (c), Aaron Jones, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Uktarsh Srinivastava, Shadley van Shalkwyk, Jasdeep Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar

Namibia Preview

Namibia have been a consistent international side for much of the last decade but they have struggled to take the final step with only a handful of giant-killing acts in recent years.

Despite that, they have plenty of experience and should come into this game with enough self-belief to cause the USA a good deal of problems.

The top three batting line up of Michael van Lingen, JP Kotze and captain Gerhard Erasmus put on 147 for the first two wickets in their last game and Namibia will need more of the same if they are to build a solid foundation with the bat in this game. Lower down the order, expect Bernard Scholtz and Ben Shikongo to play with freedom if required to come to the middle.

With the ball, Scholtz, Tangeni Lungameni and Shaun Fouche are likely to be the key, but all will need to be tight with their line and length if they are to beat the table toppers.

Namibia Predicted Playing XI:

Michael van Lingen, JP Kotze, Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green (wk), Dylan Leicher, JJ Smit, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Bernard Scholtz, Tangeni Lungameni, Ben Shikongo, Shaun Fouche

Weather Conditions

This game is going to be played under hot, sunny and cloudless skies on Friday in Al Amerat! The temperature will be up at 26 degrees for the first ball and is likely to be only two or three degrees less by the close.

USA vs NAM Pitch Report

The pitch will not be full of demons but will also not be a batters paradise! Expect the ball to turn for the spinners and for the pace bowlers with well disguised cutters to also succeed. If one side makes 250 when batting first then they will be well in the game.

Toss: To Bowl

On a pitch which is likely to get slower as the game progresses, we expect both teams to want to get first use of the strip with the bat in hand. Therefore we predict that both captains will choose to bat first should they win the toss.