T20 World Cup: Cricket

[Jack the Stripper]

It’s been very unseasonal rain we’ve been having in Melbourne. We just went through one of our wettest winters in years and now wettest springs. We’ve had flooding in parts of Melbourne I’ve never seen flood before in my lifetime.

It’s been like England usually is over here 

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

^^^
Shhh! I was keeping quiet about the English weather comparisons!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Comfortable win for Australia today. They set a good total of 179 which Ireland were never really looking like getting.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

The Real England showed up today with a 20 run win over table toppers New Zealand. England set NZ a target of 180 (at one point I thought they might have made 200), New Zealand were never on the required run rate but were close enough that a few big hits could have turned things around, they closed on 159.

[Jack the Stripper]

Australia is gonna need a very big win over Afghanistan to get through to the finals. That poor performance against NZ in the first game that fucked their net run rate is gonna come back to bite them. They also let Ireland make 137 when Australia had them 25/5. Only got themselves to blame for being in this position.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

If they're going to beat anyone by a big amount it is going to be Afghanistan.

But to be honest a win could be all you need, I'm not convinced England will beat Sri Lanka (who can still qualify if other results go their way). I also presume a washout isn't out of the question either.

[Jack the Stripper]

This World Cup is anyone’s to win. Been no standout team at all. Even India were lucky to beat Bangladesh yesterday. The bangers were on target to win before the rain came and when play resumed they were given more runs to get in less overs by the DLS and fell 5 runs short.

I still like England though. I think their batters are capable of doing the most damage.

I’m tipping and England v New Zealand final

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Jack, I think the Afghans gave you one heck of a scare! Getting to within 4 runs was so close! I thought the 168 was a solid total for Australia but not what I suspect you were hoping for....

New Zealand duly beat Ireland and are through to the next stage, but the Irish haven't been embarrassed in this tournament

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

England beat Sri Lanka. SL could only mke 141 after making a quick start (50 off 5 overs). England seemed to coast it but only got to the total with 2 balls to spare.

Anyhow, that means England and New Zealand progress from group 1 and Australia lose out on run rate as Jack feared. The last round of matches in Group 2 take place tomorrow with India, South Africa, Pakistan and at least mathematically Bangladesh fighting for the two places.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

The first semi-final is taking place today (just started in fact). It is between New Zealand and Pakistan, not a great start for NZ with only 60 or so after 10 overs.

The second semi-final takes place to tomorrow between England and India.

EDIT: NZ recovered a little to reach 152 for 4. Pakistan have started strong passing 60 in the 7th over not having lost a wicket.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Pakistan won, reaching the target with an over to spare.

Depending on which England shows up tomorrow it could easily be an India / Pakistan final. That'll be noisy!

[Zzzptm]

Oh my gosh, the globe will wobble if there's an Indo-Pak final!

[Jack the Stripper]

Looking like India is gonna struggle to get to 150 the way they’re travelling. England have bowled really well so far. Also the last 11 international T20 games at the Adelaide Oval have been won by the team batting 2nd.

I backed England to win the tournament but wouldn’t be so bad if it’s a Pakistan India final at a packed MCG.

[Jack the Stripper]

India fought back really well, in particular Kartik went nuts in the last 4 overs to get India to 168. Slightly above par score.

I think Buttler holds the key to this game. If India can get him out early before he causes too much damage it’s gonna put England batters to follow under a lot of pressure.

Game on

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I'm a little worried about that total, like you I thought India were too slow in the first 14 overs, but those final 6 overs really changed the game dramatically, that's a decent total.