World Cup 2019, Days 29-31: New Zealand and England at Risk

 

 

 

World Cup 2019

Days 29-31: New Zealand and England at Risk

June 29^th 2019

 

Odd events at Headingley. Very odd.

At 17:29, UK time, Pakistan’s World Cup hopes were hanging by a thread. The Afghan spinners had an absolute stranglehold on the batsmen. The Required Run Rate was climbing. The difference between balls to come and runs was increasing alarmingly. Afghanistan were on the point of a famous victory. At 17:34, Pakistan were back on the brink of victory themselves after a single, catastrophic over for Afghan hopes.

In one of the most inexplicable tactical decisions of the tournament, Gulbadin Naib, who had been leaking runs, brought himself back, in place of a spinner. Samiullah Shinwari had just bowled a superb over for just two runs, racking-up the tension. When one more, economical over would have effectively sealed the match, Naib bowled an over of the most incredible dross. It went for 18 runs and 46 wanted from 30 became 28 from 24. The dynamic had changed.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman brought it back with another great over. 6 needed from the last over. Who did Naib entrust with that last over? Two full tosses, a ball down leg and a freebie outside off later, Afghanistan, or maybe just the team’s captain, had managed, somehow, to lose. The universal comment was “what was Gulbadin Naib thinking”? Did he want to be the hero? If Pakistan qualify for the Semi-Finals thanks to this result, he may face some interesting questions.

It was a strange day. Incidents between fans before the match. A pitch invasion and fighting on the terraces.

The bottom line is that Pakistan are now probably in the best position to qualify for the Semi-Finals. They must beat Bangladesh in their last game and hope that England do not win their two remaining fixtures.

Before this, India duly eliminated the minimal mathematical chance that the West Indies had of qualification. The West Indies opened the tournament with a demolition of Pakistan and were highly competitive against South Africa and Australia, but have since fallen apart. After batting steadily, a strong finish took India to a testing score. Kemar Roach’s figures were exceptional, but Oshane Thomas and Carlos Bathwaite went for a combined 10-0-96-0, which rather undid his efforts.

After Shami torpedoed the top order, the Indian bowling was relentless. Shami and Bumrah combined for 12.2-1-25-6. You had to be impressed.

Meanwhile, the outside chance that Sri Lanka had of qualifying, despite their limp performances, was almost extinguished by South Africa. Eliminated and with no pressure on them, they produced the sort of performance that had been expected before the tournament. It was as one-sided as any game so far. After losing a wicket first ball, the next eight batsmen got a start, but none passed 30. South Africa went off like a pack of stampeding Wildebeest and won at a canter. Sri Lanka must now win their last two games and rely on Pakistan losing their last match, England losing their last two and Bangladesh losing to India before beating Pakistan. It is not going to happen, is it?

And then, Australia annihilated New Zealand. It is a result that gives England hope and should alarm New Zealand, because they could yet miss out on the Semi-Finals. It is unlikely, but not quite impossible. If England beat India tomorrow and then New Zealand and Pakistan beat Bangladesh or, even more so, if Bangladesh win their last two matches, New Zealand could go out on NRR.

Australia’s score, topped and tailed by collapses, looked short. At 46-3 and 92-5 New Zealand had the chance to go for the throat. A century partnership for the sixth wicket against the change bowlers changed the momentum and 44 for the seventh maintained it, even if a Trent Boult hat-trick – bowled, bowled, LBW – did, briefly, even things up. At half way New Zealand were in with a chance, but the Australian attack looks so better balanced now than it did two weeks ago. 5-26 for Starc, 1-14 for Cummins and even Steve Smith took his first wicket in ODIs for nearly 5 years. New Zealand’s NRR has taken a big hit and a heavy defeat in their last game might yet prove fatal. The New Zealand bowling attack has been excellent, but the batting is far too dependent on Kane Williamson.

Seven matches remain. India play three of them and have the fate of England and Bangladesh in their hands. If India beat England tomorrow, the hosts will have to rely on other results falling their way. It is not a cheering thought for Eoin Morgan’s men, beset with injury and other doubts. An England win though would set up a grandstand finale to qualifying and all but eliminate Sri Lanka.

 

World Cup 2019, Days 26-28: Seven Brides for Four Places

 

World Cup 2019

Days 26-28: Seven Brides for Seven Four Places

June 26^th 2019

 

For an Englishman of a certain age, the words “They think that it’s all over. It is now”, bring back memories of grainy footage in black and white of the one occasion when their football team did not make a mess of a World Cup campaign. The BBC commentator was the legendary Kenneth Wolstenholme. Mr Wolstenhome went to a better place in 2002, but may well be watching from above and allow himself a chuckle. England fans thought that it was all over after Afghanistan and Bangladesh were obliterated. Unfortunately, it is not. The vultures are circling and, suddenly, England’s games against New Zealand and India are becoming authentic heart-attack affairs, with most of the world desperate to see England lose and the very real possibility that they will.

So, what on Earth has happened?

Remember how Pakistan were effectively all but eliminated after losing to India?

Not any longer!

All those people who were remembering 1992 and saying that Pakistan would come back and win are suddenly getting VERY excited. Pakistan are suddenly and unexpectedly very much alive again in the tournament. But, there again, thanks to various twists of fate, so are Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

England are still favourites to snatch fourth place, but now must beat at least one of New Zealand and India to do so. India continue unbeaten, with two games in hand and probably need to win just one of their four remaining games to go through. That India top the table and give whoever finishes fourth the dubious honour of playing them in the Semi-Final, is not in much doubt by anyone. Pakistan fans with amnesia are licking their lips at the prospect that it will be them.

First, Pakistan rode over the dead body of South African cricket. Fair enough that South Africa have been awful and barely made a game of it, but the win was never in doubt, even if South Africa did manage, just, to bat out 50 overs. Pakistan dropped chances, lost one of their opening bowlers after just two overs and still strangled the life out of their opponents. Six catches dropped and a lot of shoddy fielding and still Pakistan were never threatened. What will they be capable of if they get it right one day?

Then, Bangladesh gave Afghanistan another lesson in chasing a target. 263 should have been, just about, within Afghanistan’s reach but, every time that they have got themselves into a good position in a chase, wickets have fallen. 104-2 from 28 overs, they were behind, but not hopelessly so. Three wickets fell for thirteen runs. End of. Samiullah Shinwari tried to hold the Afghan tail together, but Shakib Al Hasan turned-in arguably the performance of the tournament: 51 and 10-1-29-5 – he was unstoppable.

Bangladesh climb to 3 wins (that’s the first tie-breaker if points are equal) and 7 points, just one point behind England after the same number of games. However, Bangladesh must now play India and Pakistan and probably need to win both games to progress. Not easy.

Sri Lanka, having made England look foolish, were watching the England v Australia game with interest… as were Pakistan, Bangladesh and a few others. Unfortunately, only one side turned up. Bowling conditions. Win Toss. Bowl. 3 or 4 quick wickets and, “thanks for the game”. Unfortunately, it did not quite work out that way. Joffra Archer choose this moment to have one of his most innocuous new ball spells. Edges flew. False shots fell safe. Half-chances (and the odd genuine chance) went begging. Australia had a tournament’s-worth of luck in the first twenty overs. 173-1 could easily have become 350, or even more, with wickets in hand and forcing batting to come. England finally came to the party and the final total was boosted only by a late flourish but, the result was determined twenty over earlier. 285 should have been a straightforward chase until Behrendorff and Starc reduced England to 26-3 and, every time that it seemed that a recovery was coming, England lost a wicket. 177-5 with Stokes and Woakes starting to accelerate? England marginal favourites. 202-8? All over.

England utterly dismantled and now have to play India and New Zealand. Sri Lanka just two points behind, with a game in hand but, behind both on wins and on NRR. Even if Sri Lanka beat both South Africa and West Indies, they can only equal England’s four wins and they are far behind on NRR, the second tie-breaker. That said, if Sri Lanka beat South Africa, things will start to get very tight because they will then be level on points with England.

And then, the “et tu, Brute”. New Zealand. Unbeaten. Just needing a win to qualify. Pakistan in front. Wild, unreliable, undisciplined Pakistan. Pakistan who drop catches and give away runs in the field for fun. Pakistan who were going to be found out by better sides, as they had been against India and Australia. Pakistan who reduced New Zealand to 46-4. At 30 overs, it was 94-5 and New Zealand were struggling to get past 180 and any realistically defensible total. Neesham and de Grandhomme (frequently labelled CDG by the wags and, today, flying, himself) gave their bowlers something to bowl at, but Pakistan were irresistible. A century for Babar Azam. A stylish fifty for Haris Sohail. It was never seriously in doubt. The bad news though is that Pakistan took the chase into the final over, so their NRR continues to be seriously anaemic. They also have a point fewer and a win fewer from the same number of games as England and a far inferior NRR to Bangladesh, who have the same points and same number of wins.

Tomorrow, India play the West Indies, knowing that a win will all but seal their place in the Semi-Final. The West Indies need a mathematical miracle to qualify but, technically, are not quite dead if they win tomorrow. That is followed by two, MUST NOT LOSE games for Sri Lanka and Pakistan on Friday and Saturday. If either loses, they follow Afghanistan, South Africa and, almost certainly, the West Indies, out of the tournament. The World Cup is very much alive thanks to two, shoddy England defeats. England are still masters of their own fate and their rivals have to do everything right and have results fall their way but, seven sides are now chasing four qualifying places.

World Cup 2019, Days 24-25: Afghanistan Trip on the Finishing Line, the West Indies conform to type and Pakistan Can’t Catch a Cold, but Send South Africa Home

 

 

World Cup 2019

Days 24-25: Afghanistan Trip on the Finishing Line, the West Indies conform to type and Pakistan Can’t Catch a Cold, but Send South Africa Home

June 23^rd 2019

 

When, in 1996, Kenya beat a West Indian side that, if no longer at the height of its powers, was still a most formidable opponent, it was regarded as the greatest cricketing shock of all time. Afghanistan, who have gone from richer to poorer the longer they have been in England, came agonisingly close to producing an even greater shock result.

The final margin was 11 runs. You felt that if Afghanistan could bat out 50 overs, they would win. In fact, thanks to a last over hat-trick, they failed by just one ball and, duly lost. While Mohammad Nabi was still at the crease, the target was just about with reach, but a middle-order collapse left him just too much to do. The margins, though, were so fine that, had Pandya missed Nabi on the boundary to the second ball of that over and the ball had gone for the six that it so nearly was, surely Afghanistan would have won. Nabi was that close to pulling-off a quite extraordinary victory for his team.

Neither side found scoring easy and Kohli was the only player on either side to score at a run-a-ball. Still, at 192-4, with almost six overs to go, it was still a surprise to see that they could only stagger to 224-8. The Afghan bowlers were magnificent and Rashid Khan, who only a few days earlier, had had a nightmare match, took 1-42 (Dhoni was his wicket) and tied the batsmen in knots, while Mohammad Nabi took 2-33. Had Nabi and Rahmat Shah been allowed to bowl out their overs instead of the expensive Aftab Alam, perhaps the result might have been different. However, “what might have been” wins no matches.

Player of the match went to Bumrah when, perhaps, on mature reflection, it should have been Nabi, who scored a 50 and took the same number of wickets, more economically than Bumrah.

However, the bottom line was, even when put under the most terrific pressure, India were able to defend a small target and win.

So far, they are the only side in the tournament not to have shown significant weakness. You have to be impressed. Previous Indian sides would have been overwhelmed by imaginary demons: deliberately underprepared, green pitches; rigged DRS; biased umpiring; global anti-India conspiracies. This Indian side just gets on with it and wins.

Elsewhere, it was New Zealand’s turn to show resilience under extraordinary pressure and, again, the West Indies impressed, but fell short.

The match had the most extraordinary possible start. Sheldon Cottrell bowled the first over, which went:

W 4 . 3 W 3

Both openers out for a golden duck, Guptill after a review for LBW, Munro bowled by inswinging torpedo. Three maidens in the first eight overs. New Zealand limping to 36-2 from 12 overs. However, Kane Williamson was still there and, by the time that Saluting Sheldon got him too, it was the 47^th over, Williamson had 148 and New Zealand had a total that they could defend. Williamson has faced 390 balls and scored 333 runs since his previous dismissal in the tournament. Impressive.

The West Indies start was little better than New Zealand’s had been but they were ahead on run rate for almost the entire innings. With Gayle and Hetmyer sharing a century partnership at the best part of 8-an-over, it looked for all the world as if the West Indians would stroll to victory but, as they had done against Australia, they lost their way when it seemed easier to win. 142-2 became 164-7. Brilliant, but appallingly inconsistent and ready to supply a Calypso Collapso at the drop of a steel drum. Their utter destruction of Pakistan in their first fixture is the biggest single reason why there will not be an India v Pakistan Semi-Final but, since then, they have swung between brilliant and dire, often in the same game.

Here it happened again. 211-8, needing 81 from 71 balls, with a tail that has few pretensions to batting ability, the match looked all over. Ten overs later, the West Indies needed just 8 from 12 balls. Jimmy Neesham beat the bat three time in five balls, although Carlos Brathwaite was able to get the runs that he needed to reach the unlikeliest of centuries. The last ball of the penultimate over was short and inviting. Brathwaite pulled. The ball flew towards Long-On. The fielder, Trent Boult, had already shelled two catches. Leap. Stick out hand. And he hung on.

Brathwaite was just inches from winning the match with a six.

It has summed-up the West Indies’ tournament: close, but no cigar. They are now mathematically eliminated.

It comes to something when a team drops no fewer than six chances, some of them easy and still blows the opposition away. South Africa had to beat Pakistan to conserve any illusion that they could still reach the Semi-Finals, but simply succumbed meekly. With the Required Run Rate rising steadily. With the fielders spilling chances for fun. With death or glory the only possible aim… South Africa seemed to have no other plan than to bat out their overs, a task that they managed to achieve… just. There was no serious intent until the RRR reached 14 and, even then, it was brief.

Pakistan have been their own worst enemy at times but, when you can drop so many chances and still win without breaking sweat, there is something special in your side.

South Africa have been dreadful, but Pakistan stay just about alive in the tournament although, realistically, both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are better placed. Sri Lanka have one point more and a slightly better NRR, while Bangladesh, level on points, have a massively better NRR and face Afghanistan next. Pakistan face New Zealand and need to win and win big to keep their hopes alive and, even then, need other results to go their way.

 

World Cup 2019, Days 20-23: Oh, England! Sri Lanka blow qualification wide open

 

World Cup 2019

Days 20-23: Oh, England! Sri Lanka blow qualification wide open

June 22^nd 2019

Just when you thought that this World Cup had no surprises to offer. Just when you thought that the Big Four would navigate calmly into the Semi-Final. Just when you thought that England had got rid of their brainstorm day against Pakistan and were looking frightening, enter the dragon… or, in this case, the Lion.

Most pundits had written-off Sri Lanka, who have looked pretty awful so far. Their route to qualification still looks difficult, but two of their veterans have shown that there is life yet in the side.

Four days. Four matches. And the Big Four suffering a bit more than anyone expected apart, of course, from India, whose serene progress should continue today, against Afghanistan.

It is interesting that, with two games in hand now over most of their rivals, India should play the side destined to finish bottom, with a perfect, losing record. How much damage was done to Afghanistan on Monday when, after a slow start, England hammered their bowlers to such brutal effect, that it was a surprise that that last ball of the innings failed to go for the boundary that would have brought up the 400?

The England innings can be summed-up by a few numbers:

·       England were 46-1 after 10 overs, but scored 142-4 from the last 10.

·       England were 106-1 after 20 overs, but scored 233-4 from the last 20.

·       Eoin Morgan’s World Cup record 17, 6s meant that he scored 102 of his 148 runs in 6s.

·       Moeen Ali, who has been in poor form with the bat, scored 30 from his first 8 balls at the death, before only being able to dig out the last ball for a single, to finish with 31 from 9.

·       Rashid Khan, the Afghan spin wizard, went for 9-0-110-0 and would have taken the record for the most expensive figures ever in an ODI had he bowled his full 10 [Mick Lewis, of Australia, got his 10^th over v South Africa, in 2006 and finished with 10-0-113-0].

When Jofra Archer removed Noor Ali Zadran quickly, the sense of embarrassment was palpable. Gulbadin Naib added some defiance and, although Afghanistan never made a real effort to chase (strangely, they were actually ahead of England after 10 overs), they batted out their overs for their best-ever World Cup total.

There was little in a 150-run margin to suggest the disaster to come.

New Zealand then played a low-scoring cliff-hanger against South Africa. Certain traditions were observed. South Africa lost one of their openers quickly – in this case, de Kock. Although #2-6 all got starts, no one could push on. And 241-6 from 49 overs looked like being an interesting chase given that New Zealand’s largest, so far in the tournament, was the 245 to win against Bangladesh, which ended in the closest finish to a match so far. New Zealand were ahead of the chase for most of the innings, although some tight overs around over 30 actually led to South Africa having their noses in front. The difference, though, was that Kane Williamson was still there and, in partnership with Jimmie Neesham, chipped away and chipped away at the target. When Neesham fell, had Williamson followed, surely South Africa would have won.

Eight to win from the last over.  Phehlukwayo to bowl. Single first up. Williamson on strike. Phehlukwayo tries a variation. Williamson sees it and dumps the ball into the stands to bring up his century with his first six. Another boundary, third ball – 11 from 3 deliveries in a low-scoring match – and Williamson was the difference between the two sides.

The question is: if they are faced with chasing 320, or 340 instead of 240, how will New Zealand do? We do not yet know.

Then, we had Australia against a re-vitalised Bangladesh. The fans expected a blood-bath and got it, but not the way that they had expected. At 30 overs Australia were going along at 5.6, showing little sign of what was to come. Crucially, though, there were wickets in hand and a set batsman. 168-1 from 30 overs suggested 330-340, but Australia had obviously been watching England’s methods: 213 from the last 20 overs, 131 from the last 10 overs. The third highest score of the World Cup so far. Far too many, one thought.

Bangladesh, though, are beginning to believe in their ability. Even though wickets fell regularly, they kept chasing hard and, at half way, were 177-4 and 9 ahead of Australia at the same stage. Mushifiqur and Mahmudullah came together and put together a big partnership although, critically, slipped further and further behind the asking rate.

With 5 overs to go and 82 wanted, Australia just needed to keep calm but, at 300-4, Bangladesh were just in the match still.

One big over? It was the 46^th.

Nathan Coulter-Nile conceded just four runs and took wickets with consecutive balls. That over killed-off Bangladesh and the only remaining interest was Mushifiqur’s century, which he duly obtained in the penultimate over. Australia won and won well, putting down a big marker, but the suggestion remains that their support bowling is vulnerable.

Can Australia defend 340 against a good batting line-up?

And then, the one that hurts for the hosts. Literally. And metaphorically. A body blow in the gut.

Sri Lanka batted and, after 14 balls, were 3-2: one each for Archer and Woakes. The track looked like a belter. The pundits were suggesting that Sri Lanka would need 350+ to have some hope of defending. When Angelo Matthews came in, he could hardly get bat to ball. At 30 overs it was 133-5 and one wondered if Sri Lanka could get to 220. Would England take 20? 25? 30 overs to seal the win?

However, Sri Lanka never folded. Matthews started to get a little more fluent. 180 was passed. Then 200. Then 220. 232 looked way short, but the momentum had shifted slightly because it was quite a lot more than Sri Lanka would have expected half an hour earlier.

James Vince, stand-in stuntman for Jason Roy takes a single off the first ball. Jonny Bairstow faces. Straight. Bairstow hits across the line. 1-1 and, suddenly, the butterflies are fluttering. James Vince doesn’t last long. 26-2 and the World Cup is awake. This was England’s nightmare scenario: chasing a small total on a pitch that, despite the opinion of the pundits, is proving hard to score on fluently.

Root and Morgan together. Surely order will be restored. England to win by eight wickets? They bedded-in carefully, always below 4-an-over. In other sides this would be a bad sign, after the Afghanistan game it was simply the promise of a rain of sixes to come, but they never did.

73-2: everything under control.

127-3: everything under control. Root and Stokes batting nicely.

And then the innings disintegrated. Ben Stokes played sensibly and tried to guide the tail towards the target. Even at 170-5, with Moeen looking in the mood, the target seemed trivial. Sri Lanka kept the pressure on. The RRR passed a run-a-ball and wickets fell. The bowlers were magnificent. The fielders backed them up. Stokes and Wood put on 26 for the last wicket and one wondered if there might yet be a last twist. Pradeep bowled a quick one. Wood edged. Perera pouched. And the great upset was sealed.

It looked for all the world as if, with a small target and England always up with the Sri Lanka score at the same stage, the batsmen just relaxed too much.

However, Lashith Malinga, with 10-1-43-4, showed that he can still be a potent force. It was the wonderful performance that toppled the pre-tournament favourites by making his team-mates believe in what seemed impossible.

Sri Lanka now play South Africa, West Indies and India. If they win those first two matches, their last game, against India, the penultimate qualifier of the tournament, will become a possible Semi-Final eliminator. How it would set things up!

How much damage has this defeat done England, who are now faced with most-likely having to beat at least two and possibly all three of New Zealand, Australia and India to qualify?

World Cup 2019, Days 18-19: Pakistani Pain, Indian Joy, Bangladeshi Ecstasy

 

World Cup 2019

Days 18-19: Pakistani Pain, Indian Joy, Bangladeshi Ecstasy

June 17^th 2019

Historians tend to classify events around a war as: before the war, the war, after the war. So too the World Cup. We have had two and a half weeks of “Phony War” before the main event and now, we have the aftermath.

First and most important: India and Pakistan got a game in at Manchester, despite the best efforts of the Manchester weather and it was friendly both on and off the pitch. Appeals to fans to keep things peaceful and to enjoy the day, worked, with a fabulous atmosphere in the stands. The game was played in the best possible spirit, helped by the fact that the majority of the crowd went home happy after seeing a complete performance from their heroes.

Pakistan, won the Toss, had a couple of real opportunities to get on top, made a decent start to a chase that was tough but, by no means impossible, but ultimately folded just when it seemed as if they might push India to the limit. The Indians, with the backing of the majority of the crowd, had much greater squad depth and the confidence that comes with being unbeaten and of having a winning record against their opponents. It was an unbeatable combination and, now, surely only England stand before them and undefeated run to the Semi-Finals.

Pakistan had several urgent tasks in this match. First and foremost, get the win points. And then, nearly as important, deny them to India, to give the chasing pack some hope. Finally, there was the small matter of improving their severely negative NRR, which could yet be the deciding factor in qualification if one of the Big Four falter and of trying to get some much-needed momentum behind their faltering campaign. Unfortunately for them, they failed in all of these. Pakistan can now reach only 11 points, maximum. India, with five games left, are on 7 and have a far superior NRR. Thus India knew that even a narrow defeat would serve their interests, but set out to make a big statement of intent anyway.

For Pakistan to win, they had to be aggressive and take their chances. They won the Toss, saw some moisture and decided to chase. Newly-elected Prime Minister, Imran Khan, who has held aloft the World Cup, gave his team five pieces of advice, none of which included giving the opposition century-maker a life on 42, or on spraying the new ball around in conditions that should have been perfect for seam bowling. By the time the openers were separated, the century partnership was long past and the scoring rate 5.7 per over. India were set up for a total anywhere in the range from 350-380, so 336 actually represented a decent effort from the bowlers, albeit helped by the extraordinary decision of Virat Kohli to walk when he had not actually hit that ball from Mohammad Amir that a gleeful Sarwaz threw up. Although Mohammed Amir finished with the excellent figures of 3-47, the truth is that his wickets were too little, too late. His opening spell of 4-1-8-0 was economical, but largely unthreatening and came with two warnings attached for running on the pitch. Similarly, India saw off a second, brief burst from him (2-0-10-0) around the thirtieth over but, tellingly, that second spell was not when Kohli had just arrived at the wicket, which would have been the aggressive tactic. Amir’s 3-29 from his last four overs were a tale of wickets when it was too late to stop the Indian juggernaut. To have had a chance, Pakistan needed Mohammad Amir to get at least one of the openers in his new ball spell, but he received scant support from Hasan Ali, whose initial spell was loose and whose final figures were truly eye-watering, although the fact that he did not bowl his full allotment at least saved him from the very real danger of a century of his own.

India were just too good. Apart from Rahul, who took on the sheet anchor role and the very brief intervention of MS Dhoni, all the batsmen scored at, or well over, a run-a-ball. In contrast, Pakistan were always behind the chase from the end of the third over. No one scored at a run-a-ball until defeat was certain and when Bhuveneshwar – Bhuvi – slipped awkwardly in his follow-through, half way through the fifth over of the innings and left the match and, at least for now, the tournament (he is not expected to return until near the end of qualifying), Vijay Shankar came on to complete the over and, removed Imam-ul-Haq with his first delivery. Even Indian misfortune was turned into success for the boys in blue.

Despite the century partnership for the second wicket, the bowling was tight, the fielding tighter and Pakistan just slipped further and further behind the asking rate. At 117-1 they had a chance to build some kind of position for an assault, but a disastrous collapse of four wickets in nineteen balls ended any hope of an exciting finish, as Yadav and Pandya squeezed the life out of the chase in a way that the Pakistani bowlers had singularly failed to do.

In the end, though, not for the first time, a major ICC match in England ended in farce as the drizzle descended. Pakistan had been drowning for a considerable time and this seemed an appropriate simile for their innings. The crowd dispersed as the cut-off time approached and then, unexpectedly, the rain stopped, the covers came off and the umpires decreed, to everyone’s amazement and to not a little horror from broadcasters, that five overs remained, when it was believed that there was time for just four at the very most. Pakistan were left to score 136 from 30 balls: 22x6 + 1x4 would do it. Several of the Indian players had to change back into their uniforms to come back out and the half-empty stands were treated to some slap-stick cricket as Pakistan accumulated enough runs against a unsurprisingly apathetic opponent, to make the DL margin look slightly more respectable, without ever changing the end result of a massive win for India.

India know that three wins from their last five games will see them safely into the Semi-Finals. Pakistan know that they need a miracle, starting with a win for Afghanistan against England tomorrow. Good luck to them on that one.

Who remembers the West Indian side who destroyed Pakistan in their first match and then gave the Australians a considerable fright, before falling just short in the chase? Or the West Indians who had South Africa on the rack when the rain arrived?

Since then, they have been destroyed by England and, now, by Bangladesh. There was a curious symmetry in that, in both defeats, the West Indies were 8-1 after 5 overs. Against England, they never really recovered. Against Bangladesh, despite a scarcely believable 13-ball duck from Chris Gayle, explosive innings from Hetmyer and Holder took them to 321-8. The match though turned in the 40^th over. In it, Mustafizur Rahman removed the destructive Hetmyer and then Andre Russell. Suddenly, Bangladeshi heads, which were beginning to drop, rose visibly and the team had a spring in their step. Although Shai Hope remained, his scoring rate was nothing special, putting pressure on his partner and costing his side some 15-20 vital runs.

Bangladesh started positively and were never behind the asking rate. They could even afford their own mini-collapse and still push on for victory. In fact, losing two, quick wickets barely slowed their charge. Just when the win-predictor showed that the West Indies were marginal favourites again, they seemed to give up on the match. Yes, Shakhib scored a wonderful century and Liton Das fell just short of his own, but the West Indians were woeful. In the end, 321-8 was not 15-20 short; it was at least 70-80 short of providing the joyous Bangladeshis a testing chase. Victory was achieved with eight and a half overs to spare and was a humongous pummelling to mark passing the half-way point in qualifying. Yes, we have got through 23 of the 45 games.

Bangladesh now lead the chasing pack, but have a far inferior NRR to any of the top four. Worse, they still have to play Australia and India and, realistically, they need to take a minimum of 3 points from those two games to have a chance to snatch that final qualifying spot, as well as beating convincingly both Afghanistan and Pakistan, but they are still very much alive in the competition, which is something that South Africa, the West Indies and Pakistan will envy.

Before that, Afghanistan should become the first side eliminated mathematically from the World Cup if they lose to England tomorrow. England will be without Jason Roy for the Aghanistan and Sri Lanka matches, at least and, intriguingly, although James Vince is expected to replace him tomorrow, have not ruled-out an unexpected late call-up for Alex Hales. To err is human (and boy is Alex Hales showing himself to be human), but to forgive is divine (and it seems that a certain red-haired Irishman is showing his potential, extraordinary divinity, here). England go into the match massive favourites and nothing less than a big win will suffice, which would elevate the hosts to the top of the World Cup table and put them close to a Semi-Final spot.

 

World Cup 2019, Days 14-17: The Semi-Finalists Become Clear

 

World Cup 2019

Days 14-17: The Semi-Finalists Become Clear

June 15^th 2019

We are still not half way through the qualifying matches but, already, the four Semi-Finalists seem to be almost decided. Barring a major meltdown, which is still possible at this stage, they will be, in some order:

·       Australia,

·       England,

·       India

·       New Zealand

It is hard to see any other side coming out of the chasing pack. One uses the word “chasing” in its broadest sense, because it implies some sort of momentum, which none of the other six teams have. At one point it looked as if the West Indies might be powerful contenders, but two defeats – one that should have been a comfortable win and the other by a huge margin, have slowed their progress to a crawl.

In theory, with four teams on 3 points and another on 4, tucked-in behind India on 5 points, mid-table is as tight as it could be, but one cannot help thinking that this is a tournament of two divisions: the big four disputing the Semi-Final crosses and the other six, playing to be best of the rest. It was the danger of this tediously long format in which there will be a lot of meaningless games in the last week before the Semi-Final pairings are decided.

A lot of matches now are becoming the last-chance saloon. Tomorrow, India v Pakistan will have a lot more riding on it than just national pride, as a defeat will all-but-seal Pakistan’s fate. A win for Pakistan would not be fatal for India’s chances, but would at least keep some interest open, putting both on 5 points, although India would have a game in hand and a much-superior Net Run Rate. This is what “last chance saloon” means for Pakistan: they would, most likely, still have to win three of their last four group matches at very least, by big margins and, quite likely, all four to gate-crash the Semi-Final party. However, if Pakistan lose, it is hard to see a way back for them. If they were to win though, failure to qualify for the Semi-Finals would become secondary: they will have won their own Final.

Even if defeat for India would not stop them on their serene path to the Semi-Finals, it would though be a severe blow to national pride. If you are not from the sub-continent, the game is just one more but, even for the neutrals, the hype surrounding this contest becomes infectious: green versus blue, Islam versus Hindu (forgetting, of course, the other substantial minorities in both countries), two nuclear-armed states in a permanent, low-level war. If you are in Indian or a Pakistani, it is more than just a cricket match. If you are a neutral, it is hard not to chuckle at the Pakistani parody of captured pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, although Indians have found it distinctly un-funny, while Pakistan have been less-than-amused by the war of Dhoni’s gloves. To us, such things are imaginative one-upmanship of the kind that England and Australia revel in, but if you are an Indian or a Pakistani, such things have become almost casus belli. It is not a simple cricket match. It is a war between two great nations, two identities, two ways of life.

Back to the recent action, such as it has been.

India’s match with New Zealand, at Trent Bridge, became the fourth casualty of the weather. A share of the points was a good result for both sides, as long as both continue to defeat lesser opposition in their other matches. New Zealand’s next match is against South Africa and, if they will it, as they should, the Black Caps will have one foot in the Semi-Final.

The good West Indian start to the tournament, though, came to a crashing halt against the buffers at Southampton. Once England broke an 89-run fourth wicket stand, the batting had little more to offer. 202-6 became 212ao and, although both Roy and Morgan were unable to bat, the former with a hamstring problem, the latter with a back spasm, England cruised to their target, despite needing an emergency opener and an emergency first drop.

Truth be told, the win was not quite as good as it looked. Joe Root’s occasional off-spin was required in mid-innings at the West Indies threatened to post a substantial total, more catches went down and, as the target approached, England slowed in the chase, but it was still pretty convincing, with the target reached with almost twenty overs to spare. Joe Root took 2-27 and then added an unbeaten century. Chris Woakes showed that he could bat in the top order, if necessary and added a composed 40 to his 1-16 and Mark Wood and Jofra Archer took 3, cheap wickets apiece and bowled with enormous venom, being far too much for the tail (none of the last three scored a run). As a warning to other sides it was a pretty good shot across the bows. England have not played at more than 90% of their ability since the opening win against South Africa and yet still knock over opponents and now have possibly their two easiest games to come against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Speaking of not playing to potential, but still winning, Australia have done it themselves a fair bit so far but, today, after a slow start, the Australian war machine was brutal.

Australia started circumspectly. Finch and Warner went off at under 5-an-over, little hinting at the mayhem to come and Sri Lanka must have been justifiably proud of their efforts. The opposition were 100-2 after 23 overs and there were real hopes of keeping them to 260-280. David Warner looks a shadow of the destructive batsman that he was – the runs are coming, but at a gentle pace: today, 26 from 48 balls. However, Australia had wickets in hand and Finch and Smith used them. The acceleration was breath-taking. Suddenly, a total of 280 tops, was transformed into a likely 350+. When Finch and Smith were out in quick succession, Glenn Maxwell came in and marmalised the bowling. Australia’s batting though seems still to be characterised by mini-collapses and only a final flourish took them to 334. Still, you thought, far too many for Sri Lanka and so it proved, although Sri Lanka’s openers gave the Australians some anxious moments. A partnership of 115 from 93 balls, set up the chase and put Sri Lanka in pole position and, after 30 overs, Sri Lanka were comfortably ahead, with plenty of wickets in hand and, apparently cruising to victory. By this time though the run rate was flagging fast and the batting imploded spectacularly. From 206-3, Cummins, Starc and Richardson blew away the middle and lower order to the tune of 247ao. As they had done against West Indies, when Australia saw an opening, they poured through it and overwhelmed their opponents. It has become a pattern and is definitely a warning to other sides, although Australia were well-beaten by India: the England v Australia clash on June 25^th takes on a new importance.

The day’s other game was a dire affair. After a slow, but steady start, Afghanistan disintegrated horribly to 125ao, while the South African batsmen inched their way to the target, taking nearly thirty overs over it and treating the chase as an extended net. The only real, good news was that they had not fallen to 20-3 before winning.

South Africa rise to seventh in the table, just two points behind India and have improved considerably their Net Run Rate but, with just four games to play, need to win all four and hope that results fall for them. Their Waterloo may come on Wednesday, at the hands of New Zealand. Australia, in contrast, top the table, although that may be short-lived, as England will expect to replace them when they play the ever-more cowed Afghans, on Tuesday and, on the way, give their own NRR a boost.

World Cup 2019, Days 11-13: Rain and Australia the Winners

 

World Cup 2019

Days 11-13: Rain and Australia the Winners

June 12^th 2019

The relief was palpable. After two days that were drowned in the storm system that is affecting north-western Europe and whose effects have spread further south – the Pyrenees have enjoyed heavy snowfalls and good skiing conditions… in mid-June!!! – despite the virtual wipe-out of cricket elsewhere in England, Taunton stayed miraculously dry.

On Monday, South Africa and the West Indies got onto the pitch, albeit briefly. The little play reinforced the suspicion that the West Indies pace attack is going to be an important factor in this tournament and that South Africa have major problems. The point for a rained-off match keeps South Africa alive for one more match: if they win their last five games, they will qualify for the Semi-Finals however, there will not be many takers for bets on South Africa’s chances; indeed, Afghanistan may well be looking at the encounter in Cardiff, on Saturday, as an opportunity to open their account. It is not hard to see where the South African problems lie: Hasim Amla has 25 runs from 3 innings, Aiden Markram has 61, of which 45 came in a single innings, there have been just 3x50, with a highest score of 68 – in other words, poor starts and no punch lower down the order. In contrast, the West Indies bristled with threat and surely would not have let a second opponent off the hook. In Saluting Sheldon Cottrell, the West Indies also surely have the most popular player in the tournament, at least with the neutrals!

No such luck for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Bristol is a lovely city, but the weather was just awful. Even though the radar showed that the heavy rain was clearing, the drizzle never really stopped and the match was, fortunately, put out of its misery early. With their very negative Net Run Rate, Sri Lanka desperately need some middle time and a couple of wins.

So, Australia v Pakistan. Even if the expectation was for an Australian win, drama was expected on the way and, even if the scorecard says that Australia won comfortably in the end, it was thanks to the bowlers pulling the chestnuts out of the fire once again just when things started to look difficult. With the openers scoring at almost 7-an-over and Australia 189-1 after 28.3 overs, Pakistan would have been resigned to chasing 400. What happened though was another sign to the Australia-watchers that the balance of the side is not quite right: they will get to the Semi-Final, but need to do much better if they are to go further. The scoring slowed. David Warner holed out and 277-4 with 8 overs to go should still have become 350 but, Australia did not even see out their overs, losing 6 wickets for 30 runs in seven overs of Mohammed Amir-inspired mayhem.

Even so, 308 to win was a decent target against a fiery new ball attack. Pakistan fans will reflect that, had they taken their chances, it could have been a lot fewer, this though was a day when their team veered erratically between brilliant and bumbling, with not much in between. The chase seemed well under control. The Required Run Rate was not large. There were plenty of wickets in hand. “Don’t Panic, Mr. Mainwaring!” might have shouted the Pakistan coach, fearing what was to come. All it required was more, steady pursuit of the target. Pakistan though, do not seem to do steady. 136-2 became 160-6 and it looked all over as a contest. 200-7? Chance to get back to the hotel for an early evening exploring the Wild West, Taunton style. However, Australia’s support bowling has already looked like their Achilles Heel in the tournament and here too, it blinked: Sarfaraz Ahmed and Wahab Riaz went after the bowlers and the unthinkable began to look all too possible. An increasingly nervous Aaron Finch had to bring back Mitch Starc, staking everything on getting a wicket and Starc obliged with two in three, legal deliveries, while Glenn Maxwell, who had come in for some rough treatment, finished the Pakistan innings with a brilliant run out.

And breathe.

Six Pakistan batsmen reached 30. The highest score was 53. In contrast, Australia’s openers scored 82 and 107 respectively. In the end, that was the difference between the sides; with big runs in the bank, the collapse, when it came, was not so critical.

So, Pakistan go into Sunday’s match against India knowing that they can ill-afford another defeat. Before then, we have two, high-stakes matches: India take on New Zealand and England play the West Indies. One of those four sides is likely to miss out to Australia for a Semi-Final place and these two matches will give a strong indicator which it may be. India have two games in hand over a number of their rivals and will play them in quick succession: two wins and they will have one foot in the Semi-Final.

Barring a Lazarus-like revival from Pakistan, those Semi-Finalists look almost certain to come from Australia, England, India, New Zealand and West Indies.