2022 T20 World Cup thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

We're now just over a fortnight out from the qualifying round, and team news is ever changing around the teams in the tournament.

Unfortunately today Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the tournament (and a while after) with a back injury. Big blow to India that one, and a World Cup with no Archer/Bumrah (arguably the two best t20 fast bowlers in the world) is a huge shame

[eirebilly_01]

Well, its is going to take some effort with the ball to defend this.

Still have hope

[alfie]

Nearly 130 then...

Disappointing total. After those two big overs at 14 and 15 I was hopeful they might get up nearer 150 but the last five brought wickets more than runs. Can't see that being enough but hey this is t20 so anything can happen

[eirebilly_01]

Desperate this is from Ireland. I had actually thought that they may push Sri Lanka but this is being closed out beautifully by them.

Its actually a very good chase, they are approaching this with calmness personified.

Oh wait, Delany with a wicket

[alfie]

Sri Lanka cantering towards the target... Halfway home in eight overs. I'm afraid this one is gone , despite that wicket , eirebilly...

But you never know : Irelamd might still have a better NRR than Australia after one game

[eirebilly_01]

Ah sure alfie, in my mind i knew Ireland would not beat Sri Lanka but there was that hope

Having a better NRR than the Aussies is a pretty good second best

[eirebilly_01]

Oh dear, horrible drop.

[alfie]

Oh dear...dropping catches like that doesn't help. Delaney really should have a second wicket...

[KP_fan]

SL brush aside IRE with more than 5 overs and 9 wickets to spare
that's a big win that will give them a big +NRR
Lanka has come by route of qualification but is a world cup winner and always in contention

One thing that is clear....160 on these pitches from what In have seen so far would be a very good total
and that makes the 200 that NZ did a mountainous Outlier....and won't be matched when two big sides play each other

[alfie]

All too easy for Sri Lanka... Olly's Dark Horses are on the board !

Ireland will need to regroup for the clash with England ; which should be a fun game anyway.

Meanwhile , here a mile or two south of the MCG , the skies are still blue an hour or so before India and Pakistan are set to meet . Though the wind is picking up so keeping fingers crossed that threatened rain stays away...

[eirebilly_01]

Ah well, it was all too easy in the end for Sri Lanka and they cruise home.

Ireland will get better, certainly in time to beat the Aussies

[KP_fan]

Aus would have to maul IRE and AFG to make up their NRR for tit will come down to NRR in that group

news channels are reporting "MCG bathed in sunshine" as Ind-pak ready in our group
Pak are favorites they are a well oiled machine

Ind paralyses by
Too Much experimentation
Not drawing the right conclusions from the experimentation
top 3 batters are not the best batters available in India
Bumrah and Jadeja's injury materially distorts the balance

BUT
these are T20s ...anyone can win if the other side as an off day or even bad patch of a few overs
or about 2 guys in your side deliver an extraordinaire performance

[eirebilly_01]

So, nearly time for the big one. Such an amazing ground.

India win and send Pakistan in, not sure i would have done that.

Come on Pakistan.

[Pal Joey]

Enjoy your Masala fast-food today, KP_fan.
You won the toss... are you going to open the bowling with some dosa or chai?

[eirebilly_01]

Not sure how this one is going play out but I do believe that Pakistan have the better bowling attack. Pakistan's batting can be a worry if they lose Babar or Rizwan early.

India, probably the more balanced side all round.

[eirebilly_01]

At proper speed, that looked absolutely plumb...

Not sure why the review. Massive wicket for India.

[Pal Joey]

Perfect first ball from Arshdeep! What a way for him to start.

[eirebilly_01]

Pakistan have hit the panic button already. Only a poor miss from Kholi keeping them at 1 wicket...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

The crowd and atmosphere looks absolutely incredible

[KP_fan]

There is seam movment with new bal...there is bounce off a length when someone bends his back and the grounds are BIG...and all of that makes slogging out of the park very difficlt

If Pak gets 160 today....we will struggle...and most likely lose.......Ind need to restrict them to around 140 and by no means more than 150

Bhuvi has brought out his A+ game today...although Arshdeep is taking all the wickets

[eirebilly_01]

Stunning, simply stunning bowling from India, especially Ashdeep.

Pakistan look beaten already.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah this one is over

[Duty281]

Has been a virtually unplayable start from the Indian new ball bowlers. Pakistan's strategy is to accumulate with the openers, so with them out of the way they're going to have to find a different method.

Didn't see it, but thought Ireland/Sri Lanka would be closer.

[eirebilly_01]

Pakistan starting to fight back now. Must not forget just how good their bowlers are as well...

[eirebilly_01]

That looked short.

And it is, surely he knew he did not catch that?

[KP_fan]

yes that looked to have bounced...I am only surprised how the onfield Umps gave a soft signal of out

Ind cannot relax and take their foot off the pedal

[alfie]

Got lucky with the weather for this one...but Pakistan losing both their big batting guns for nothing wasn't in the script...

Time for the rest of their bats to put in a shift. They do have some dangerous bowlers but I reckon they will need a BIG second half to the innings if they are going to set a defendable target.

[Duty281]

140 could be defendable, if Shaheen can produce the same swing at the start and knock over a couple early, but getting there won't be easy.

[Pal Joey]

This is nicely building up to the game of the tournament so far.

These two have stabilised things nicely since the two early wickets. There's plenty of space out there to score runs and India need to maintain the bowling pressure which seems to have eased off slightly despite a few near chances... like that one right there.

I wonder if Imran Khan is watching this? He must have great memories of playing in that big game here 30 years ago.

[alfie]

Not a great start for Axar

Pakistan starting to motor...

[Duty281]

Hah, 21 from the Axar over, maybe 140 won't be so difficult!

[eirebilly_01]

What more can you say about Shami. He really is just so good. Turns things India's way again just as Pakistan started to motor.

Great captaincy I may add as well

[Pal Joey]

Hah, 21 from the Axar over, maybe 140 won't be so difficult!

He's gone now but yeah... maybe par score is 170 but anything over 150 runs will be a challenge you'd think.

I'll go 162. What do you think Duty and alfie?

[Duty281]

168.

[eirebilly_01]

147

[KP_fan]

This is not a spinner's pitch and Ind need to restrict 2 spinners to 4 overs combined
that's the benefit of having 6 bowlers

Shami and Pandya pulling it back

[KP_fan]

second bout of choking that Pak are exuding
2 runs and 2 wickets in this Pandya over

[Duty281]

Oh dear, Pakistan are Pakistaning.

[Pal Joey]

Hah, 21 from the Axar over, maybe 140 won't be so difficult!

Maybe they'd take that 140 now.

We've jinxed them... Billy's 147 might be closest to the mark if anyone's still left.

[KP_fan]

Pandya raises his bowling game in top matches......he might be India's fastest today having touched 144kph ( 90mph) as I saw a few times

[KP_fan]

arshdeep can bowl a bit faster than he has today...
and when he adds some muscle mass and trains at the top level, he will add a yard or two of pace and will play test cricket also for India

[alfie]

Apart from that understandable but ill-advised decision to try an over from Axar Patel , India have done everything right. Their pace men have been excellent

Might be struggling to get much past 135.

[Duty281]

Pakistan have played with zero care with regards to wickets remaining.

[eirebilly_01]

If Pakistan do pass 150, they would feel reasonably confident given their bowling attack...

[KP_fan]

Pak too has 6 bowlers but only 3 seamers

with a 150ish chase the top 3 of India who I don't believe are best for T20......might juts be appropriate for test match styled organized batting today

[eirebilly_01]

Ye may get the prediction right just yet PJ

[Pal Joey]

Ye may get the prediction right just yet PJ

To go with my 111, yeah?

[eirebilly_01]

Ye may get the prediction right just yet PJ

To go with my 111, yeah?

yeah, that was quality

[Duty281]

Fair play to Shaheen, he's a proper tailender but here he's played a proper decent hand to get his side past 150.

[Pal Joey]

Ye may get the prediction right just yet PJ

To go with my 111, yeah?

yeah, that was quality

That's easy for you to say!

So 160 runs for India to win. Not an easy chase in such a big match.

[eirebilly_01]

Its been some recovery from Pakistan. India need 160.

I would have to say that i think Pakistan may have the slight mental advantage now. Shaheen's knock was brilliant but also gave him a good look at the track.

Game very much on.

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