Champions Trophy - England and Wales 2013

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Jayawardene does bugger all but scratch around for 18 balls looking horribly out of form, then comes down the track and smacks the bowler straight over his head for a six. Class!

Ball again. Jesus umpires, get on with it

Voges seems to think McKay is going to win it all by himself. Since McKay reached the middle, he took strike for 10 out of the 12 balls bowled.

Australia need to go at just under 3.5 to win this one from here on, 180-8 after 28.

Malinga has 4 more overs to go. He hasn't been at his best today, but think Angelo should try and finish this off as early as possible, no need to give the Australians any sniff, an over or 2 from Malinga could be handy here.

Malinga is back but his first ball goes for 4. Sri Lanka not really through as yet, there is some work to do. The Australians could still take them out along with them.

Australia are out officially, by the way!.

Australia need 62 more in 20 overs to knock Sri Lanka out.

If Australia aren't bowled out, surely Sri Lanka are going out. The RR isn't a problem at all for the Australians. This match still has some life left in it.

Only saw highlights of the England game, so tough to comment too much, but lower middle-order failing to fire again - that's a concern.

Thought the Broad ball to Williamson was just ok - on the HD view it looked like his boot had deformed just about enough. In any case, when it's that tight, my view is the benefit goes to the bowler/umpire.

Not sure what the issue with Taylor is: hit on the back-leg, looked out to me all the way.

Australia let Sri Lanka get a few too many to mount a genuine challenge for qualification. Rightly they had a bash, although probably should have bailed and concentrated on the win once Wade got out. Needed either Maxwell or Watson to play a significant innings - Maxwell has plenty of talent, but needs to think a bit more, having just creamed Malinga to the boundary, he should have taken the rest of the over easy.

Voges gave it away, holding out to long-on, a ball after he just managed to survive on a stumping appeal.

No idea what Voges was thinking of there...

That's probably that for NZ.

Will SL top the group if they win????

Can Australia produce one of those lower order resistance after a horrer batting show that was a feature of their test series loss in India to deny Lanka here?

NickisBHAFC wrote:Will SL top the group if they win????

No, not after Australia went pass 164.

Australia 210-9. Need another 44 of 93. It could all end in tears for Sri Lanka.

Clinton McKay is playing some fine shots to keep Australia going. Just 38 more in 15 overs.

The Kiwis must be on tenterhooks. Or maybe they just want to go home.

Another 34 of 76, this might just get to Sri Lanka here.

The Australian last wicket partnership is still alive. They are 226-9 after 40. Another 28 of 60. McKay and Doherty have added 34 so far.

Direct hit from Thirimanne but Doherty is alright. Australia 232-9. Hold on, New Zealand!!.

And if's it a tie, I presume the Kiwis will go through, yes?

Oh doesn't matter now, Sri Lanka win.

Feel a bit sorry for Aussie.  So near and yet so far.

The nerves on those SL fans faces turn to elation.

So India versus SL it is.

England v South Africa, London, Wednesday
India v Sri Lanka, Cardiff, Thursday

That was a great catch by Dilshan.

SL were somewhat fortunate that the circumstances meant Australia had to go so hard at the start, because they sure looked nervous at the end. Still, they have a shot against India if their star batsmen can perform (again).

India's batting has been a cut above the rest so far though, so I think they're overall favourites.

An India-Eng final on cards now...and inspite of Eng's somewhat flaky bowling these two have looked like the top 2 sides ion the tournament so far

So the Aussies have done it again, breaking NZ hearts!. A fine return catch from Tillakaratne Dilshan doing the trick for the Sri Lankans.
So yet another India-Sri Lanka game, and Sri Lanka have given up on most of their test engagements to play India in Tri-nation tournaments throughout the year!. No bloody chance of a break!.

msp83 wrote:So yet another India-Sri Lanka game, and Sri Lanka have given up on most of their test engagements to play India in Tri-nation tournaments throughout the year!. No bloody chance of a break!.

 Yeah...that's the most boring contest in intenrational cricket.....Ind-SL
and Lanka will duly lose......wathc out for Kohli.....is a Lanka basher and due for a big inning

South Africa vs India final then.

joke doing rounds...after yesterdays game
 
Sri Lanka will meet India in the semis and Australia will meet New Zealand at the airport..

KP_fan wrote:joke doing rounds...after yesterdays game
 
Sri Lanka will meet India in the semis and Australia will meet New Zealand at the airport..

Reminds me of the joke after the 2007 rugby world cup quarterfinals about the NZ team dropping the aussies off on the way home

England to beat South Africa
Sri Lanka to shock India

South africa to win

India to win

India to win the tournament.

It'll be an England-India final

Guts saying SA-SL

One poor game that's all it takes now for any side to go out. India, by far played the better cricket among the 4 sides, but that won't matter a great deal on the day of the semi. I feel India on top of their game could beat Sri Lanka, but Lanka do have a few impact players, the likes of Malinga, Mahela and Sangakkara. If the Indians have a bad day in office and if Sri Lanka peak at the right time, it is not far fetched to see the islanders in the final.
The England SA match is an even more close one. South Africa's bowling unit does have a problem or 2 to sort out. They are missing Morne Morkel, and Dale Steyn is not entirely fit, although its more than likely that he'll take the field. The SA batting hasn't really found form as yet although Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers did show their class without going on to play a real big innings. England's top order, as we all know, is quite solid. Alastair Cook, the one player in that top order who can pace his innings very well, is coming into some form. If the middle order of Morgan, Buttler and Bopara also get their act together, England can create problems for South Africa. Hopefully they play their best 11. James Tredwell is a pretty decent bowler, but Graeme Swann is of a different class and his experience would be needed in such a crucial game, hopefully he'll be fit and ready to go. More importantly, they should be wise enough to control the controllable. Playing your 2nd best seamer ahead of the 4th best could be a start.

A full-strength SA team might have been favourites.  Not sure this team will be.

England to beat SA and India to beat SL.

England to beat India, but I hope the result isn't unduly influenced one way or the other by whoever wins the toss.

You'd figure Finn would play with the bounce at the Oval

I'd say it's very unlikely Swann will play. Finn has to, surely?

India are strong favourites against SL. England marginally so against SA.

Mike Selig wrote:I'd say it's very unlikely Swann will play. Finn has to, surely?

India are strong favourites against SL. England marginally so against SA.

Tredwell is a more than capable replacement, but I think England will certainly miss Graeme Swann if he's unavailable.
Agree India are favorites against Sri Lanka, but not by all that much, and I think the England SA one is pretty much 50-50.

The noise about not risking Swann suggests hes done for the tournament I think.

GSC wrote:The noise about not risking Swann suggests hes done for the tournament I think.

Unfortunate for England if Swann's not there, but Tredwell can do a job.
Has Bresnan had his baby? He's not as good as Finn with the ball anyways, and the family situation might not be helping his focus either. Can't understand the nonsense going on with Finn. I seriously hope they haven't shot the Lad's confidence. Why on earth does continuity in selection not apply to him? Or are they keeping him fresh for the ashes?

I hope Swann isn't playing tomorrow. Keep him fresh for the far more important Ashes series that's coming up. The weather doesn't look too promising for either semi-final I have to say.

Duty281 wrote:I hope Swann isn't playing tomorrow. Keep him fresh for the far more important Ashes series that's coming up. The weather doesn't look too promising for either semi-final I have to say.

The 2002 Champion's trophy had to be shared between India and Sri Lanka following the rain having its say. That time there was even a reserve day for the final. Will it turn out to be an even greater disaster this time round?

The rules are total rubbish with not scheduling reserve days for a tournament in England....

Mike Selig wrote:I'd say it's very unlikely Swann will play. Finn has to, surely?

India are strong favourites against SL. England marginally so against SA.

I agree.

Finn should never be out...but whenever Englnad get greedy about adding ther notional batting strength of Bresnan....they falter

Duty281 wrote:I hope Swann isn't playing tomorrow. Keep him fresh for the far more important Ashes series that's coming up. The weather doesn't look too promising for either semi-final I have to say.

what if he slips on the wet  in his bathroom 
Keep him safe for Ashes and let him sponge clean himself until ashes finishes

I'd imagine England will play Finn for Bresnan. I think the theory with Bresnan is that he is a fine exponent of reverse swing - it is true that every now and then he seems to find something special. But if we're going to go down the Bopara route (and on balance we probably have to) I'd still play Finn ahead of him.

Even if he's fit I doubt Swann will play. Tredwell's stats are excellent and England will be keen to make sure Swann's fit for the Ashes. I wouldn't actually be entirely surprised if Swann's played his last ODI.

I pray that England are the ones doing the chasing tomorrow.

Yeah there's no point risking Swann if he's got a niggle. I'd rather he missed this, than play and pick up an injury that meant he missed some tests. I'm more confident in Tredwell replacing him ODI's, than I am Panesar replacing him in Tests. If that makes sense