ICC Cricket World Cup - Part 4

First topic message reminder :

Yes, England expected to be unchanged. Long boundaries apparently, which will suit England's excellent running ability!

If there were a decent replacement in the wings, I think Rashid's place would be under severe threat. He's got figures of 7/403 from 69 overs in the World Cup so far, which is hardly illuminating stuff.

India review off the first ball. An emotional appeal and they lose their sole review for the rest of the innings.

Pal Joey wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Guptill is the man that needs to fire for NZ today. I agree with KP_fan that NZ cannot solely rely on Williamson. Guptill is a very good batsman normally but he needs to be there at the 40 over stage if NZ are to post a competitive total.

I was just thinking exactly the same thing, Billy.

They can't lose more than one wicket (preferably none of course) in the 1st powerplay. Guppy and Nicholls will have to do more than just see it through... they'll need to keep the scoreboard ticking along. If they're 2 or 3 down for not much after 10 overs; then it's pretty much game over you would think.

I just think India will have their measure. Then again maybe NZ are due a bit of luck?

That may be the luck required. They are saying it was a bad review but in full speed it looked out to me so I would have reviewed as well.

Just looking at that first over reaffirms my thoughts that bowling first was the better option.

I agree Billy - if the overheads stay the same all day then maybe batting first was fine, but Boult in these conditions would've been deadly and the chance to rip through the top order of India.

India coming proverbially "One the money"...with intensity and control

And there it is. Guptill, the man that I felt had to stand up today is gone...

What a great toss for India to lose.

Guptill goes, bowled Bumrah caught Kohli. Williamson out there at 1-1 with the ball doing all sorts. You feel the semi-final is already on the line for New Zealand.

Guptil Gone. Wow Wow Wow

310 will be a genuine score here batting first. India need to stop NZ below 280.

Not one boundary in 6 overs yet. This is very difficult for NZ.

What is the lowest powerplay score in the WC? I think it was 28 scored by India vs England.

Has any team failed to score a boundary in the opening power play yet?

This is pressure bowling at its best, this is what NZ should have been doing to India after winning the toss.

I think NZ have done immensely well to get out of that incredibly tough opening period with only one wicket down. Starting to score now.

India needs to pull the length back a bit......ball swinging less now

Rum sort of start...must be the slowest first 8 overs of he whole event !

Ball has done plenty...good toss to lose ?

Agree somewhat with PJ and Eirebilly that NZ needed something from Guptill. But he's had a total shocker so it was probably too much to ask - especially in these bowler friendly conditions . If I'd known before the tournament that Guptill would be such a non-contributor , I'd have likely revised my confident assertion that they were almost certain semi finalists ! (In fact considering Guptill ; Taylor not having a fantastic tournament ; and the usually efficient Southee messed up by injuries ...NZ have done well to get as far as they have.)
They've owed a lot to Williamson of course ; and they are going to need him to produce some magic today if they're to turn this battling start into a defendable total...

Looking at the predictor about 3-4 overs back it had 275 runs and me scratching my head a little.
But then again; with these two starting to get settled somewhat, 27/1 is better than say 21/3 after 10 overs.
The most interesting part coming up... overs 11-40.

Geez... it looks a little cold around Manchester. My weather app says 60% chance of rain around 4 pm.
Not the easiest of conditions to bat in later if that prediction is near the mark.

20 overs of spin to come from India in this innings, unless Kohli brings himself on. Jadeja's first went for 7 - it's one area New Zealand will have to attack.

120 from the spinners at 6rpo and 150 from the seamers at 5rpo gets 270. Seamers have already bowled very well to start, so NZ will have to catch up against them as well. It will be hard against Bumrah, but if they can get in maybe they can get at Kumar and Pandya. Although he's a big wicket threat, England targeted Shami at the death when they beat India but he's not involved today.

Pitch is very flat....nothing in it after the overcast swing stopped.....and outfield lightening fast.

If Ind restrict them to 270-290 its imminently chasable.

Pandya struggling... India has no option.

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Pandya struggling... India has no option.

struggling with at most a cramp on top of his right thigh....he will be back soon with some strectching and massage

KP_fan wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Pandya struggling... India has no option.

struggling with at most a cramp on top of his right thing....he will be back soon with some strectching and massage

Hope so. Else Kohli would have to do the 2008 thing

Spin wins as Nicholls goes for 28, bowled

Man that was right through the defence. Jadeja doing the trick.

NZ best pair in on the field.

That last one from Jadeja, turn and bounce. If this continues, jadeja would be lethal.

Bit out of the blue that wicket ...NZ had settled nicely so you could say India needed that.

Not sure you can say what is a good score on this yet. As PJ observes there might be some rain later - well what else ? this is Manchester
So chasing could be a dull and damp business...

Chalal's economy - or lack of - today could be significant. He's certainly getting some turn !

Ganguly and Steve waugh in the commentry box. India's best captain and World Best captain. Interesting to hear from them together.

pitch gripping for spinners....Pandya should bowl slow cutters when back

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Pandya struggling... India has no option.

struggling with at most a cramp on top of his right thing....he will be back soon with some strectching and massage

Hope so. Else Kohli would have to do the 2008 thing

so Pandya is back.....often times 80% stress for viewers is because of half backed commentators creating stress
Many time i put TV on mute when Bhogle or Manjrekar are on air esp

KP_fan wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Pandya struggling... India has no option.

struggling with at most a cramp on top of his right thing....he will be back soon with some strectching and massage

Hope so. Else Kohli would have to do the 2008 thing

so Pandya is back.....often times 80% stress for viewers is because of half backed commentators creating stress
Many time i put TV on mute when Bhogle or Manjrekar are on air esp

hahahah Yeah true for me. I can listen to Bhogle but Manjrekar is clear garbase for ears.

Harsha(in the box) :- Steve I want nostalgia. Please go through the 1999 campaign.

Steve (be like) :- Focus here mate, we won that long back.

I used to be like that, KP_f but now I have no trouble listening to either of them. They are what they are and I simply accept it. Esp. Harsha... nothing wrong with being exuberant at times.

Must say I'm not a huge fan of Isa Guha though... I'm trying not to find her annoying. Something about the tone of her voice when she makes certain comments I find a little too smug.

As opposed to Mel Jones; less of a player but she's better at explaining the nuances of the game situation. She does have to stop using "early doors" and "for mine" though.

I think the best revelation has been Sangakkara - he's just so 'on the mark' with every comment he makes. Keeps focused and has a more subtle sense of humour.

Michael Slater is awful though. I bet Bishop wanted to wring his neck the other day. Slats is a two-faced smartarse in the comm box, imo.

83 after 25 overs. Tough start or not, Kiwis are going to have to attack soon otherwise the game will be gone. 7 an over from here sees them just past 250, which I don't think will be enough.

I fear New Zealand are leaving themselves too much to do in the latter portion of the innings.

It might be one of those "damned if they do, damned if they don't" scenarios where if they went hard now they'd lose too many wickets and be unable to even try and accelerate later. But 82 runs from 24 and allowing India to sneak through 11 overs of spin for 40 is not good enough. Even if they made 30 from the next 6 and then doubled they'd be looking at 220. If they do a bit more then they could be reach 240/250, but that probably won't be enough.

With Pandya carrying a niggle they have to have a go at one of these spinners. Make Kohli bring Bumrah or Kumar back on and it will make things easier in overs 30 to 40 as then he won't be able to bring those two back.

Pal Joey wrote:
Must say I'm not a huge fan of Isa Guha though... I'm trying not to find her annoying. Something about the tone of her voice when she makes certain comments I find a little too smug.

As opposed to Mel Jones; less of a player but she's better at explaining the nuances of the game situation. She does have to stop using "early doors" and "for mine" though.

I think the best revelation has been Sangakkara - he's just so 'on the mark' with every comment he makes. Keeps focused and has a more subtle sense of humour.

Michael Slater is awful though. I bet Bishop wanted to wring his neck the other day. Slats is a two-faced smartarse in the comm box, imo.

I agree Sangkarra is the best....Mark Nicholoas & Hussain are OK too, when commentating upon Non-English games and situations.

Isa Guha...there is something about her accent that puts people off

250 from here would be an achievement. Can't see it , myself.

Mind you if they did get up to that I reckon they might make India sweat a bit for the chase - especially if they could make an early strike.

But that's all off in the future. For now , the Kiwis need to get motoring...at least the hundred is up

For the last 10 over :- Commentators are busy discussing their 1999 memories.

Please come in present.

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Ganguly and Steve waugh in the commentry box. India's best captain and World Best captain. Interesting to hear from them together.

Although Steve Waugh was an excellent captain, I would not say he is the best. For me, that goes to Allan Border. He was the first Captain to really drag a team into being consummate professionals. He was the bench mark leader for me.

Here we go...  Isa on cue

Have a friend who played in the local comp against the Waugh twins at Bankstown Oval when they were about 17? or so. Steve was so aggressive and competitive... treated the opposition like dirt.

After the toss he stuck his head into their change room and said something like "you ****s can have a bat".
They were quickly bowled out. Then the twins batted for a couple of days... and won by an innings and plenty of runs.

time to bring Bumrah in for 2 overs

I don't mind Isa Guha. She doesn't really say anything very illuminating ; but equally she doesn't rabbit on like some of them... And she isn't Shane Warne

Actually that is an unfair sledge on my part : Warne is capable of really clever comments - as you'd expect from such a genius of the game. Unfortunately he is incapable of realizing when "less is more" . Obviously didn't study Benaud enough...

Truth is commentators are largely a matter of taste. They don't much bother me as you can always press "mute"

NZs problem is that they rely almost every game on Wiliamson to score a high percentage of their runs. He can only do that by batting sensibly (slowly).

They can still get a total that keeps them in the game but India wont be too bothered by the lack of wickets at all.
Having picked a much deeper batting line up too they really shouldnt get overly worried about becoming bogged down.

I'm struggling to see how India lose the game from here tbh

But I like to hear the crowd in the background, alf. I can't watch cricket in a cone of silence.

Warne is too much like Vaughn for my liking, says things for controversy and to massage his own ego.

121/2 in the 32nd...

If these two stay in maybe they can get this up around 240 ? Not easy as Bumrah still has five up his sleeve. But Jadeja is nearly done and they might fancy attacking the others.

India still on top but I think Kohli wants a wicket...

Bet365 has a lovely stream where you can watch the game without any commentary. Albeit, on a very small screen. But it's such a beautiful thing.

NZ need to engage T20 mode right now. Limping tamely to 230 is highly unlikely to be enough.

Pal Joey wrote:But I like to hear the crowd in the background, alf. I can't watch cricket in a cone of silence.

Fair point. They do change every twenty minutes though , don't they ?

I like Michael Vaughan...but he's not on TV commentators panel

122/2 with 17 to go at drinks. NZ has not lost wickets, which would give them a licence to go for hitting later in this match. However they have to start now. 8 run an over from here would take them close to 260. I think NZ will finish with 275 on board.