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

KP_fan wrote:question deemed unimaginable at the end of session-1 of the day creeping in now
When will NZ consider declaring

by the end of today...they will lead by 225....so I guess.....at most they will bat 10 overs tomm & set Pak 275 to win or survive in 80 overs

NZ almost finished with my perfect script with the bat
and now with the ball also going also like I would like 50-4......I am counting a few dollars

On a spinning pitch when you get to the 4th inning & that too by 5th day...you don't need mystery spinners.....the moderate spinners just need to "put it there" & it will spin....and occasionally explode.....and if the spinner has an odd variation it will stand out too making life further difficult for batters.

And These 2 are doing it perfectly.......both have one variant arm ball and using that to good effect

55/5. Could be all over by tea. Should be. Probably New Zealand's greatest ever test series win.

Never count out Pakistan's utter lack of spirit and professionalism. Agree this would be NZs greatest ever series win

NZ into the tail now. Bilal Asif, batting at 8 with a Malcolmian Test average of 8.3 will have to play out of his skin here!

almost a repeat of Tendulkar LBW b. Bucknor averted .......as Bilal asif gets helmet almost in front of wickets

Thirty more overs for the rabbits to hang in with Babar...not impossible , but NZ will fancy their chances.
NZ wasting one of their reviews on an optimistic attempt to win a "head before wicket" decision. He did duck low ; but really...

Some impressive resistance, then, from the Pakistani middle order.

New Zealand will be thinking one will bring two, but it's getting tighter.

VTR wrote:Never count out Pakistan's utter lack of spirit and professionalism. Agree this would be NZs greatest ever series win

They did lose one test by an innings, but away wins for NZ against decent test sides are very rare.


30 overs is a huge ask

Bilal gone to Southee... NZ closing in now.

Sweet relief for NZ.

NZ will get thru.....when you have only 2.5 seesions....it likely go into the last hour

Duty281 wrote:New Zealand will be thinking one will bring two, but it's getting tighter.

And it did!

Tame exit for Yasir...not sure what he was thinking !

Babar can't save this on his own...reckon it will be all over very soon

Its a Friday, so they took an hour long lunch during the afternoon prayer time
so it seems no tea

KP_fan wrote:Its a Friday, so they took an hour long lunch during the afternoon prayer time
so it seems no tea

Actually a tea break is scheduled but they aren't going to need it ...Babar gone and just one wicket away from NZ doing what no one else can...winning in UAE . Congratulations Kiwi

All done...open the drinks lads.

Well bloody done New Zealand.

Kane Williamson is in the same category as Kohli, Root and Smith.

alfie wrote:Tame exit for Yasir...not sure what he was thinking !

Babar can't save this on his own...reckon it will be all over very soon

Tbf the tails probably done better than its collective ability would suggest it had been likely to do.

Thats not saying a lot though

Pakistan need to look at that tail. You can't have four rabbits from 8 onwards nowadays, it's arguably cost them the two defeats here. They need to look more at the combination and maybe compromise on the bowling a little to get more batting in there.

Duty281 wrote:Well bloody done New Zealand.

Kane Williamson is in the same category as Kohli, Root and Smith.

In the past half decade, Kane Williamson averages 65 in the 2nd innings (for his team, so either 3rd or 4th innings of the match). The next highest average is 51 (Angelo Mathews), with Kohli, Root and Smith in the mid 40's.

An exceptional player

The Akmal blood runs true through Babar's veins. Azam is the next Pakistan 'superstar' batsman, I don't see it, but the brainless batting with the tail shows he's far from understanding his role. Why on earth did he keep taking singles of the first balls of the over to expose Yasir and the other tailenders?

So how did P lose this series, but full marks to NZ. Who'd be a Pakistan fan? Brilliant one minute, hopeless the next. Disagree about the importance of second-innings batting stats (see above) as it's first-innings knocks that tend to shape matches. But completely agree about just how good Williamson is.

Short odds, yes, but I really like the 1/4 available on New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka in the upcoming test series. Should be about 1/20, considering Sri Lanka play like a village team outside of Asia.

Duty281 wrote:Short odds, yes, but I really like the 1/4 available on New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka in the upcoming test series. Should be about 1/20, considering Sri Lanka play like a village team outside of Asia.

bet365 offers 2/7 on NZ & 13/2 on Lanka.......or in decimals 1.28 times on NZ and a whopping 7.5 times on Lanka

How I look at betting its a bad gamble on NZ...you win too little and lose a lot
for eg a 100$ on NZ....wins you 28$ and lose 100...even if there is a draw/ rained out/ inspired performance from someone


instead a mere 4$ on Lanka wins you 26$ and you lose only 4$

from my perspective...its better to see pitch / toss / team composition and sneak in a smaller gamble on Lanka
for eg. If its a dry pitch and Lanka won the toss and NZ batting last.....it worth a small calculated gamble

Sri Lanka 9/3 after four overs. Tough for them to lose the toss, yet, but this is a poor way to fold.

I did put $6 on Lanka after i wrote my post

Three batsmen blocked, what could have been one of the finest collapse for the Asian Team. SL captain need to put his bat in line of the ball. He is a good batsman. I think it is a good score and if SL pacers bowl well, we could see a good contest.

NZ totally dominant on day two...nearly up with the Sri Lankan score and just two down , the excellent Williamson for 91 and Latham unconquered at 98 with Taylor also nearing fifty...

I think your six pounds is a goner , KP_fan

...and Latham completes his hundred as they draw level...

alfie wrote:NZ totally dominant on day two...nearly up with the Sri Lankan score and just two down , the excellent Williamson for 91 and Latham unconquered at 98 with Taylor also nearing fifty...

I think your six pounds is a goner , KP_fan

Watched the first session of day two - my, my, Sri Lanka's bowling was pathetic. Only thing that can save them now is rain.

Somehow missed Lathams record breaking innings.
Sri Lanka are pretty woeful, the one light for them seems to be Mathews has turned a corner on his form and put together his best run of scores for over 3 years and ability to hang around. Its highly unlikely to make any difference to the result in this one but looking forward they desperately need someone to stand up and fight if they are going to be competitive at all against any teams.

Well colour me amazed its turned into an absolute monster stand between Mendis and Mathews now.
13/3 to 259/3 at close....thats quite some turnaround. They now have a chance of salvaging a draw, which is really quite incredible. Still behind by 37 runs though which sums up the enormity of the deficit they shipped first up.

what a Patta of a pitch

Simply phenomenal from Mendis and Mathews. Such a rarity. Such fortitude. Such grit.

Will it be enough, though? Some rain is forecast, which may just save them.

Lanka earn a magnificent draw

Limp end with it being forced by rain, but indications were that they were odds on to make it anyway with only 3 down and almost being at parity score wise. Flat pitch or not that was a hell of stand to save the match.

Renegades beat Scorchers in a tight game in the big bash this morning

The standard of umpiring in this Bangladesh vs West Indies series has been awful, and I would say no coincidence that West Indies have been on the receiving end of the bad decisions everytime...#dodgyhomeumpire

Big bash up and running, as is New Zealand's Super Smash league

3 fantastic test Boxing day test matches start tonight......NZ's draw has breathed life in the series
very good returns on Pak & SL wins of 5 and 6 times the amount
worth a calculated gamble

You watch Sri Lanka and wonder what the point is. They choose to field in seaming conditions, but then only bowl one full ball in the first four overs! If you're not going to back yourself, bat first!

Stone me, there is a point to Sri Lanka. 22/3!

Sri Lanka had the hosts in all sorts of trouble at 64/6 but some enterprising counterattacking from Southee saw them to a slightly more respectable 178.
Bit in the pitch still so NZ won't be giving up hope yet ; but Sri Lanka have a chance to set themselves up for a serious first innings advantage - if they can negotiate the opening burst from Boult and Southee. Which might not be easy...

...and they couldn't. Southee following his batting heroics with two early wickets : 20/2.

Three gone now ...every time I switch over Southee gets another one.

All up to Mendis and Matthews (again ) now... 21/3

Steyn breaks Pollocks's record, and Pak in all sorts at 89-5

Tom Curran had an exceptional game today in big bash, 50 and 3 wickets

Pakistan lack heart and courage against quick bowling. Naturally Steyn and Rabada are extraordinary but even against fringe Protea Olivier they can’t get on top of him. Considering Philander will return in the next game Pakistan’s woes will get worst.