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.