ICC Cricket World Cup - Part 4

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Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

alfie wrote:Good to see Morgan handling the short ball.  Has seen Behrend - orff...now taking to Lyon.

Keep the foot down lads I fancy an "early" night

Alfie I'm afraid this is the worst thing I have seen posted all World Cup.

I do my best

Stokes and Buttler showing the top four batsmen how you bat on this wicket. Steady rotation and accumulation. The rate isn't a problem. But if England are to pull this off, they'll probably need contributions from the likes of Plunkett/Woakes/Rashid.

Mitchell Santner on at last. How would Stokes and Buttler handle him? Will they go after him as there is not much in the track for the left-armer to work with? Santner is a tricky customer though, doesn't bowl too many hit me balls.

Butler has brought calm stroke-play and put game back in balance.
Eng's two most organized players now in the middle and batting well

Both these batsmen now set with 100 balls to go. If one, or indeed both, bats through then England will win. Very tense.

My god, I don't want to get positive or excited...

Good grief, nearly a run-out. Thank goodness for an erratic throw.

NZ throw away their review on a desperate appeal.

Well it is pleasing to see that Jos and Ben are using their heads...

The annoying thing is that Root is normally the man to do just the same - and had the chance to do so today in that important early part of the innings. Was really shocked to see him implode in that way after being tied down...because it was from that moment that this really started to unravel.

Hopeful NZ review then against Buttler...Dharmasena gets one right

nerves? pressure ? hmmmm

alfie wrote:Well it is pleasing to see that Jos and Ben are using their heads...

Assuming you wrote that before the near run out!

Only one half-century in this final so far.

Buttler squeezes one down to the short square boundary.

This partnership has done it for England. The RRR is a bit high, but that shouldn't really be an issue the way they are going about.

Ferguson has 5 more to bowl, but Henry is nearly done and Boult too isn't left with much. There is another 3 to come from Santner/Neesham. England just need to keep their calm, this is in the bag.

86 of 72 with these 2 out in the middle, pretty much England's game to lose.

msp83 wrote:Ferguson has 5 more to bowl, but Henry is nearly done and Boult too isn't left with much. There is another 3 to come from Santner/Neesham. England just need to keep their calm, this is in the bag.

If this weren't a World Cup Final, I'd agree! Safely in the bag. As it is...could still be problematic.

Eng ahead now.. butler he key...he needs to be around for 5 more overs at least

Without a wicket in the next 2 overs, New Zealand will be done.
It has been a good fight from them, but they seem to have run out of steam. If only that Bairstow catch was taken, if only Guptill not wasted that review so that Taylor could have survived that horrendous umpiring call, if only the Roy LBW umpire's call had gone in their favour. But New Zealand would know cricket matches are not won on ifs and buts.

Henry bowling his last. Williamson attacking, searching for that wicket. He should have done it when these 2 had come together. Think the bus has gone.

Jos Buttler scoops Henry's last ball for four. Ballsy as you like.

Come on, England, come on. 72 more.

So 72 of the last 10. With Buttler and Stokes well set. With Neesham and Santner to bowl a 3rd of those overs! For the 3rd World Cup in a row, the cup is going to the host team.

Indian fans seem very sure of an England win

The luxury of not really caring ? Although you probably haven't forgiven the Kiwis for knocking your fellows out...

Or maybe KP_fan is just attempting a Reverse Curse

Most of the World Cup finals I watched have been rather 1 sided. 96, 99, 2003, 2007 and 2015. he 2011 final was a bit close particularly early on in the India innings. But this has been the closest so far. England's early struggles helped. But World's current best number 5 batsman, in the company of one of the most explosive batsman around currently, is taking charge and leading England on.

alfie wrote:Indian fans seem very sure of an England win

The luxury of not really caring ? Although you probably haven't forgiven the Kiwis for knocking your fellows out...

Or maybe KP_fan is just attempting a Reverse Curse

There used to be a fella on here who would post dreary predictions about England test matches beginning from morning till stumps in the hope of reverse cursing Engalnd into victory, trebbs? Where has he gone?

Top over from Ferguson just to let everyone know this final's still got life in it.

69 off 54 for glory.

Excellent over from Ferguson

Just three from it. Puts a bit of pressure back on England. Will need to attack Neesham now...

Williamson trying to slip in another over from Neesham. Perhaps he should attack, bring Boult back and bowl him out. If these 2 are there even at the end of his spell, it would not matter who bowls those 2 overs.

ShahenshahG wrote:

alfie wrote:Indian fans seem very sure of an England win

The luxury of not really caring ? Although you probably haven't forgiven the Kiwis for knocking your fellows out...

Or maybe KP_fan is just attempting a Reverse Curse

There used to be a fella on here who would post dreary predictions about England test matches beginning from morning till stumps in the hope of reverse cursing Engalnd into victory, trebbs? Where has he gone?

I really miss Trebell ! Saw him on BBC recently but he seems to have abandoned this board , alas.

For all the talk of England's fearless gung-ho cricket, this has been a proper old-school grind - as it needed to be.

Wow, what defence from Stokes there. Neesham a whisker away. RRR going north.

England need one big over. But Stokes and Buttler seem to have read from the Dhoni book and are not in any hurry. Even when Williamson issued the invite with that Neesham over. Think that's the right thing to do, one big over will surely come if they are there, even without one, they can get close, and then go in the last 3.

alfie wrote:Indian fans seem very sure of an England win

The luxury of not really caring ? Although you probably haven't forgiven the Kiwis for knocking your fellows out...

Or maybe KP_fan is just attempting a Reverse Curse

KPF s got $100 on Erasmus moving the stands and DRS being lucky again

alfie wrote:

ShahenshahG wrote:

alfie wrote:Indian fans seem very sure of an England win

The luxury of not really caring ? Although you probably haven't forgiven the Kiwis for knocking your fellows out...

Or maybe KP_fan is just attempting a Reverse Curse

There used to be a fella on here who would post dreary predictions about England test matches beginning from morning till stumps in the hope of reverse cursing Engalnd into victory, trebbs? Where has he gone?

I really miss Trebell !  Saw him on BBC recently but he seems to have abandoned this board , alas.

That's a shame, really enjoyed following along and watching some of his predictions. Particularly enjoyed casual visitors to this section getting really angry at him for being so negative about the England team.

59 of 42. Ferguson not giving away much again. Stokes and Buttler rightly not taking a chance against him.

59 from 42. RRR going past 8 and towards 9...but England have two powerful batsmen set and some very decent ball strikers still to come.

Advantage England, but I can't help but think about the 2013 CT final where England lost a flurry of wickets at the end which cost them the trophy.

Gooseberry wrote:

alfie wrote:Indian fans seem very sure of an England win

The luxury of not really caring ? Although you probably haven't forgiven the Kiwis for knocking your fellows out...

Or maybe KP_fan is just attempting a Reverse Curse

KPF s got $100 on Erasmus moving the stands and DRS being lucky again

Fifty for Buttler. His best ever fifty.

Brilliant 50 for Jos Buttler. Boult back on, last throw of the dice for New Zealand, but the England batsmen seem to have decided this is the over to go.

And Stokes joins him. What a stupendous partnership to take England to the brink.

So 53 of 36. Both batsmen reaching their 50s. Will they go now? Buttler showed signs in the last over though Boult was good enough to keep him in check.

Can't imagine what's been going through Woakes' mind for the past hour or so. Buttler lifts another full toss to the boundary rope.

Still no sixes.

Brilliant boundary fielding from NZ at third man...

And now Jos holes out to deep cover ! Oh dear...is that the game ?

Ooof, the twist. Buttler goes for the maximum but doesn't get anywhere near the fence.

Woakes, this is your moment!

Very timely boundary from Stokes to keep England in touch.

39 off 24. But Boult has 12 of those.

That's it then, so close

Fair play to Woakes - he had to go for it. Still some hitters to come.

Think we are nearly gone...

Need sixes now and sixes just aren't coming. If Stokes gets enough strike and cashes in , possible still. But the odds are against it.

Woakes gone Should have looked for a single but I guess he thought that one was there to hit...

NZ has more than one hand on the Cup

Oh my! Didn't see that coming. Ferguson has brought his side back into the game. Plunkett can smash them, and Rashid and Archer could too. But this a massive, pressure situation! What a brilliant final we are having!

34 off 18. England should probably focus on getting 33 for the super over!

Duty281 wrote:And Stokes joins him. What a stupendous partnership to take England to the brink.

Kiss of death!

So 34 of 18. Pretty much manageable, but in a World Cup final, with 6 down? Stokes has his chance to move on from 2016!

Rubbish over from Boult there, got his lengths totally wrong. Stokes looks exhausted.

24 from 12. 23 to force a super over. Neesham probably wouldn't have anticipated bowling at this stage!