T20 World Cup: Live Matches Discussion

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Please feel free to discuss every ball of the 2012 T20 World Cup here.

Who do you think will win?

England win the toss and bowl.

As expected Kieswetter is left out but surprisingly it's Bopara rather than Lumb who comes in. They also switch back Patel and Dernbach in for Bresnan and Briggs, which I'm not sure of.

Herath misses out for SL with that youngster whose name Sangakkara pronounced too quickly coming in.

Wright to open with Hales?

early wickets needed for England: SL's batting looks very top heavy, so if we can get a couple out early (Finn ) they can hopefully restrict SL to a low-ish total...

Surprised they've made two changes to what was their best bowling performance of the tournament though

I would have brought in Lumb for Kieswetter, and defo wouldnt have played Bopara!

Worried about chasing against, Mendis, J.Mendis and Danjanya

Bairstow down to bat at n°3, interesting. Mike reckons that's where he'll end up, so will be good to see how that goes. Collingwood reckons England need to keep SL to below 150 to give themselves a chance.

Well at least we know Sri Lanka is safe unless they were to suffer an overwhelming defeat...which is why I am a little surprised they are the only team no-one has voted for as cup winners. I see some one has picked Australia , who are also more or less certain semi finalists - earlier today they were also unwanted.
I still haven't a clue who will even make the finals , this format is just too ...variable ?
Makes it fun to watch but you'd be mad to put money on a result

Bit surprised at the changes. Thought they might try Bopara if they had lost faith in CK - he can hit , and gives a bowling option of sorts. But not happy with Dernbach back for Bresnan , and the addition of Patel and Bopara doesn't add a lot to the fielding.

Reckon they are going to have to bowl very well , and I admit to feeling less confident than yesterday. At least we know any sort of win will do...

What is this the SL's are singing- Random sounds..Sounds like a childrens tv show

Interesting suggestion on cricinfo:

While the Sri Lanka anthem pootles on, here is local journalist Rex Clementine, with thoughts on the SL captaincy: "Mahela and Angelo Mathews are both playing, but not captaining. Sanga is captaining. Wonder why? Mahela is under a warning and so is Angelo. The last time both of them captained they had slow over rate issues. So maybe that Sri Lanka trying to be smart here. Nothing official as yet. But maybe. Just maybe."

Clever if true

A range of interesting, a couple bordering on the bezarre. Seemingly its Sanga who's leading SL despite the regular captain playing. There are hints that that could because Mahela could avoid any serious punishment coming his way due to slow overrate!!.
Then Ravi Bopara for Kieswetter? Kieswetter's dropping can be understood, but Bopara and not Lumb? Strange indeed.
What has Tim Bresnan done wrong in the last match? Bowling a decent last over?
Patel for Briggs though, I think I would understand and support despite all the negativity that poor old Samit has received over these forums!. Not because Samit is a worldbeater with bat or ball, but because Briggs isn't a worldbeater with the ball, and Samit could offer better balance to that side.
Would be interesting to see how Bairstow would go about with the gloves.

Swann shells one

should really have clung onto that too, could be a big moment...

Could be a costly drop

On the other hand good to see Dernbach start with a very good over...not far away from a leg before too...some life in this pitch , at least for the new ball.

it's a decent start from both teams this. England's bowlers getting more out of the pitch than the previous teams did certainly.

we need a wicket to slow this down

Spoke too soon about Dernbach as his second over goes round the park

Need a wicket.

not so good from Dernbach here, wrong length, though Dilshan's six is only about half a meter over Wright's head at third man.

Bopara isn't a terrible move, although I hope he opens or bats three rather than six - I disagree with Mike about Bairstow being a top order player, particularly as SL are highly likely to use spin up from anyhow. Having said that I'd have stuck with CK.

They'll be hoping that Ravi's time in the nets has brought him back into some knick - at least better knick that he was in a few weeks ago.

Clearly they feel that they want the death bowler - Dernbach. I'd imagine that that decision led to Patel returning for the rather unfortunate Briggs, in order to have the extra batting. I like Dernbach at the death (less so up front; I think they should use Broad or Patel instead) so not too fussed about that.

Well bowled Finn

Needed that.

and Finn strikes, gets one to nip back, Dilshan has a whoosh and is struck on the back leg. height the only possible issue there, once again Finn has done the business

ermm bairstow!!! not the best start to your england wiket keeping carrer

Finn draws the edge but it doesn't carry, and Bairstow can't stop it on the second bounce, so it runs for four. lovely bowling from Finn, deserved better there.

great bolwing braod!! 3 dots then almost a wicket with a slow ball

Jayawardene getting a bit over excited and three dot balls for Broad ... and very nearly a wicket !

Pretty even first six overs ...advantage England at present at 44/1 , but the overs of spin are likely to be key here.

44/1, by a decent distance SL's lowest PP score in this tournament. England have bowled well, and are maybe unlucky to only have the one wicket to show for it.

here's Swann

good work from England to keep that to 2.

England's fielders in the ring need to be tighter, a couple of unnecessary singles there. Bit of turn for Swann.

So Bopara is indeed into the attack...if he can do a job here it will give Broad a bit of flexibility in the bowling changes...so far so good...

good over boppy

good over from Bopara, just 4 from it. England could do with a couple of wickets though, get into that weaker middle.

yet again, finny bowled well with good and bounce, i would have been tempted to bowl him out.

was that a drop from Bairstow? Swann's reaction suggests it was, but on the replay it's not obvious at all.

Some good England bowling here - and Jayawardene countering with deft use of the reverse sweep...

Now Patel

Replay seemed inconclusive but I just thought in 'live time' that Bairstow dropped Sanga off Swann.

Far from convinced by Bairstow behind the stumps and long before this apparent miss ....

Not able to watch the match - just following on Cricinfo.

How has Bairstow gone so far?

I dont think it hit bat, but either way he did fumble it

not great shelsey..

Serious turn for Patel ! But he concedes two boundaries.

Don't want to be chasing too many on this...Sri Lanka has several spin options.

not such a great over from Patel, and a slightly strange move by Broad to not keep Bopara on I think.

Morgan you beauty! fantastic fantastic catch

BIG WICKET!!!!!!!!

Bairstow has done about as well as could be expected I think Shelsey, he's not international standard yet by any stretch of the imagination, but it hasn't been Akmal-esque

gone! Bairstow clings on and Swann has the big two in two balls

Fine catch by Morgan and Swann gets the big break ! Jayawardene played really well and England will be relieved to see the back of him.

And Sangakkara next ball !!!!

Bairstow holds on when it counts

swanny= the cricketing Ian Poulter..

on a hatrick!!

Shelsey93 wrote:Not able to watch the match - just following on Cricinfo.

How has Bairstow gone so far?

Shelsey - Following on from my last post, he's certainly not been dreadful but he's looking what he is - a fill in. We need better than that if we're serious about winning any limited overs international tournament.

Standing back initially to Bopara's bowling gave an open invite to get down the track. Snick off Finn on the bounce went though him for four. Sure you get the picture.

not sure he hit that...

Bairstow was convinced though.

swanny!!!!!!!!!!

Two new batsmen...doesn't worry Mendis who is off the mark with a six and a four...

Try another Broad over here I reckon

wow! Mendis has a sighter and then slog sweeps and reverse sweeps consecutive fours. England need a big last 9 overs here.