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.