Rest of the World

First topic message reminder :

I figure a thread for cricket stuff from around the world that doesn't warrant a series-thread is useful

It is 3 down now. Hope not coming to bat anytime soon, but he may join soon. 7 wickets in 70 overs are achievable and here it is obvious looking at extra defensive batting of WI batsmen.

Gooseberry wrote:Gabriel's taken 13 for 111 in the match ....pretty incredible stuff!
Stiff target of 293 and 2 down for 30 as I type. Sri Lanka are in a winning position here despite West Indies making a habit of scoring lower order runs

If SL can force a win, Gabriel’s match figures will be the best ever in Test cricket in a losing cause! Some effort.

42 overs left, but Sri Lanka still need 6 wickets.

5 wikets in hand 35 overs to go & its raining
I think WI would have survived the 35 overs, but that might be a moot point now

Might have been a lot closer had Sri Lanka not sulked off the pitch for two hours.

Means windies have failed again to win two tests in a row. Shame about the rain, that was pretty much how test matches are suppossed to be with all 3 results a possibility into the final day. Not sure about the overall quality of cricket mind, but at least theres been some level of interest and a highly comeptitive series.
Sri Lanka need to learn how to cope with pace. West Indies need at least one more proper batsman, Bishoo to switch back on.

Duty281 wrote:Might have been a lot closer had Sri Lanka not sulked off the pitch for two hours.

They may not have gelled and fought the way they did had it not been for the perceived injustice........ for which they walked away in defiance
and would lost the game in the extra time for WI to chase a smaller target
Or alternatively
There are no iffs and buts....it is what it is

Twists and turns the the third test.
West Indies salvaged something after a terrible start and now have Sri Lanka 99 5.
Talk of it being a traditional fast bouncy wicket seems correct. Gabriel's continuing his fine run.
Just as well it's a low scorer as rain has seriously curtailed play both days.

Very open game still .

SL all out.
Reading the press the West Indies quicks have really turned up...aside from a continuing problem with no balls. No shock the Lankans can't cope with them.

Aussie T20 opening partnership smash 221, with Finch getting 172. Admittedly against Zimbabwe.  

Finch record highest t20 international score

Zim off to a good start in reply, 26-0 in the 3rd

Roach off to a decent start...4 wickets for 6 against bangladesh so far.

38-9!

All out 43 Roach 5 for 8.
Ouch.

Windies currenty 127-1 ...not a great advert for tests

I remember SA bowling Zimbabwe out for 54 and making 340/3 by the close of the first day, 3 SA batsmen equalling or bettering Zimbabwe's score by stumps.
There's a chance now that every single WI batsman to bat on the opening could beat Bangladesh's total by the end of the first day. Unless I've gone and cursed it of course.

194/1 currently and all 3 batsmen have bettered the Bangladesh total. The rate things are going extras will too

B0llocks.

Pakistan currently adding to Australias woes ..80/1 in the 11th over.

Yes, West Indies' demolition of Bangladesh is another blow for Test Cricket. Bangladesh on course to lose by an innings and 200 odd.

Shame, really, I thought Bangladesh had turned a corner with recent test victories over England/Sri Lanka/Australia in the last couple of years.

Jeez its an absolute massacre isnt it.

Duty281 wrote:Yes, West Indies' demolition of Bangladesh is another blow for Test Cricket. Bangladesh on course to lose by an innings and 200 odd.

Shame, really, I thought Bangladesh had turned a corner with recent test victories over England/Sri Lanka/Australia in the last couple of years.

The problem for Bangladesh is always going to be seam bowling - both facing it and bowling it overseas. Rubel Hossain might well be the worst seamer to consistently play international cricket ever

I see Aus struggled to a narrow win over Zimbabwe.
Things on the up for them at last *eyeroll*

Bangladesh tail rallied a bit and they "only" lost by an innings and 216 runs.

In Australia's defence they did hammer both Pakistan and Zimbabwe prior to losing to Pakistan earlier in the week.

...and appear to be doing so again

Pakistan have rallied. Pakistan being Pakistan.

2/2 to 125/3.

Yeah just saw . . .zaman is destroying Australias part time bowlers. Brave cricket and its put them well ahead of the rate

SA bowled out for 126 in a test match by Lanka

& this after Lanka batted first and got 287 all built around Karunaratne carrying the bat thru with 158* in what looks like the inning of his life

In the other test match Bangladesh continue to baffle - they won the toss and elected to bowl first, and proceeded to open with spin.

Surely if the pitch is taking spin on day one session one you bat first? And why would you also play two seamers, if Kamrul is going to bowl the same amount of overs as Mahmudullah on day one? Surely play another spinner or batsman?

Infuriating!

what a bashing SL handed out to sA in SA

KP_fan wrote:what a bashing SL handed out to sA in SA

?

It was in SL which may explain some of it.
Another part may be that SA cant pick a balanced side with 5 bowlers / 2 spinners.

Du Plesis has raised the issue of doing away with the toss again to give visiting teams a small advantage.

Is the Pakistan ODI series against Zimbabwe now the most pointless series ever?

So far Zimbabwe have been bowled out for 107, 194 & 67 as Pakistan win by 201 runs, 9 wickest (14 overs remaining) and 9 wickets (40 overs remaining).

Sri Lanka taking control of this second Test against SA.

Last wicket pair of Dananjaya and Herath have added an extra 58 this morning and look in no trouble. Partnership (now 72) the best since the opening stand...and 336 already looks threatening for the tourists after Maharaj has taken eight of their own nine wickets...

By the way it is good to see Steyn back on the park but he's labouring a bit with 0/60 from 17.

Has Maharaj taken his ninth ? Given , but reviewed...yes , out : innings closes at 338

Maharaj 41.1. 10 . 129. 9.

As a spinner , his record is second only to Tayfield.

Having tormented them with the bat , Dananjaya and Herath proceeded to demolish the SA top order...17/3 at lunch.

Rapidly becoming the tour from hell for SA...not saying it will be over in two days but you wouldn't want tickets for the fourth...

alfie wrote:Having tormented them with the bat , Dananjaya and Herath proceeded to demolish the SA top order...17/3 at lunch.

Rapidly becoming the tour from hell for SA...not saying it will be over in two days but you wouldn't want tickets for the fourth...

Do think SA have got their team selection wrong in these tests - don't need three seamers in Sri Lanka, need spin - as shown by their XI. I hope England don't make the same mistake in the winter

Think England have enough potential spinners now they will probably at least try to set up with an attack balanced to suit the conditions in Sri Lanka.

Problem is - as it was in India - those spinners may not be good enough. At least England are better equipped with all rounders which should make selection a little easier ; but looking at this current series I wouldn't be taking Sri Lanka for granted despite their fairly modest standing in the game.

Du Plessis and Amla staging a bit of a comeback since lunch : taking the bowlers on and - so far - surviving ...64/3

Perera taking over as the destroyer now...you feel for Bavuma somewhat as he is caught by Mendis at (very) short leg off the full face of the bat - amazing reaction but those rarely stick like that. Three for Perera and follow on looms , SA 116/6

Victory target 490

Pakistan completed a 5-0 minnow bashing of Zimbabwe whom lost their best player with what I’d label as racism

Fakhar
Imam ul Haq
Babar

Filled their boots and boosted their averages

Commendable resistance from De Bruyn and Bavuma this morning ...seemingly untroubled as they put on 120 for the sixth wicket until Herath had Bavuma edging behind just before lunch. De Kock came and went quickly though and I doubt the bowlers will hold up Sri Lanka for too long after the interval. 246/7.
Hope De Bruyn gets his hundred - he deserves it.

Marvellous innings by de Bruyn upstaging his big names teammates. The likes of Elgar, Markram, Amla and de Kock been absolutely clueless.

Sandpit king herath gets de Bruyn for his 34th five wicket haul. The South African losing concentration after reaching his century

Glad he got the hundred

Showed this pitch was far from unplayable...SA really not good against spin generally. 280/8

Fat lady warming up...

Gary Stead has taken over as NZ coach

Mohammad Irfan.

24 balls bowled. One run conceded. Two wickets. In a T20!!!

Duty281 wrote:Mohammad Irfan.

24 balls bowled. One run conceded. Two wickets. In a T20!!!

Just had a look at that, the only run scored was a mis-hit off the final ball of his 4th over.

And his team still lost the game (Steve Smith conceding 28 off of one over didn't help matters!).