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]

yep, Marsh not hanging around for long...

[eirebilly_01]

A lot of Marsh's wicket has to go down to Finch being pedestrian. He obviously felt the need to push on.

[Duty281]

Australia look like they're going hard in this chase. Could lead to a quick win, could lead to them imploding at 95/5.

[alfie]

Think that Maxwell assault has changed things quite dramatically. Theekshana's two overs for three (!) are keeping Sri Lanka alive ; but with Hasaranga getting smashed and no Fernando they're really up against it now.

But Maxwell is in some trouble now : getting hit there at 140 k ain't much fun ! Carrying on though...

[eirebilly_01]

Bandara may have just saved Finch's career with that drop.

[Duty281]

Those two tight overs got SL right back in it, now Maxwell is out after being inches from another six. What an amazing catch that was.

This could still go either way.

[eirebilly_01]

But Maxwell gone now.

[alfie]

So need 70 off eight. With 8 wickets in hand should get that ; but it won't be the big NRR boost they would like.

Another dropped catch...tough one ...but you can't afford to miss too many.

But oh wow ...Maxwell held now right on the boundary ! Fine bit of balance there by the sub fielder

Stoinis up next. Aussies still have the hitters to do this but these wickets are keeping the game alive...

[Duty281]

Unfortunate for SL, Stoinis not at all sure but gets consecutive boundaries, one off an edge. Who'd be a bowler?

They need Hasaranga to take a couple.

[eirebilly_01]

Imagine how close the Aussies would be and how much better their NRR was if Finch was in form...

[alfie]

Unfortunately for Sri Lanka , Hasaranga has proved to be the Weakest Link tonight. Getting destroyed again now and this is all but done...

Stoinis on fire

[Duty281]

Yep, if Hasaranga had delivered they may have won this. But he served up the biggest rubbish I've ever seen from him, and Stoinis has been on fire.

Game's done now, despite Finch's best efforts! He has to be dropped for the next. Australia right back in the tournament, but they'll still need to beat England on Friday.

[alfie]

This is extraordinary from Stoinis. He's even going to get a bit of that NRR figure back here...just want Australia wanted.

Why I was always fairly confident Australia would chase this down : any of the first seven can go big ; and spin attacks aren't going to stop them on these pitches.

[alfie]

Yep, if Hasaranga had delivered they may have won this. But he served up the biggest rubbish I've ever seen from him, and Stoinis has been on fire.

Game's done now, despite Finch's best efforts! He has to be dropped for the next. Australia right back in the tournament, but they'll still need to beat England on Friday.

They won't drop Finch.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Well if Sri Lanka were to do anything they needed Hasaranga to come off...and he very much has not.

[Duty281]

Yep, if Hasaranga had delivered they may have won this. But he served up the biggest rubbish I've ever seen from him, and Stoinis has been on fire.

Game's done now, despite Finch's best efforts! He has to be dropped for the next. Australia right back in the tournament, but they'll still need to beat England on Friday.

They won't drop Finch.

Didn't they try Green at the top of the order not too long ago? Has to be better than Finch playing painful knocks.

[eirebilly_01]

Stoinis was immense, i never imagined that knock from him but still questions must be asked about Finch?

Loosing 19 balls off a mainstream bowler for Sri Lanka certainly helped the Aussies.

[alfie]

That's a massive boost for Australia . More than three overs to spare , after looking a little rocky at one point.

Stoinis the big hero , of course. But credit to Maxwell too - that huge onslaught that initially destroyed Hasaranga (and probably did his head in so he couldn't recover later ) got them a bit of a cushion around the middle overs.

Clear message to all teams playing matches on this ground : bring plenty of pace bowlers.

[Duty281]

Australia's NRR up to -1.555, which still puts it a fair bit behind England (+0.62), although Australia still have the games v Afghanistan and Ireland to come, where they'll be looking for big wins. Mind you, it'll all be academic anyway if Australia fail to down the old enemy on Friday.

England/Ireland and Afg/NZ tomorrow. Plenty of rain forecast tomorrow in Melbourne, though the forecast does look a bit better than yesterday, so it'll be a case of wait and see.

[alfie]

Yep, if Hasaranga had delivered they may have won this. But he served up the biggest rubbish I've ever seen from him, and Stoinis has been on fire.

Game's done now, despite Finch's best efforts! He has to be dropped for the next. Australia right back in the tournament, but they'll still need to beat England on Friday.

They won't drop Finch.

Didn't they try Green at the top of the order not too long ago? Has to be better than Finch playing painful knocks.

Oh I'm inclined to agree. But I just don't believe they will want to change horses in mid stream . If they'd lost tonight ... Well I guess then it would be irrelevant - but I'm sure they will be putting out the same team to play England. Just a question as to which spinner I guess.

After this one , they will probably feel beating England (with two presumably easy wins to follow) will be enough to get them through. Going to be a huge game - as long as the weather cooperates !

[KP_fan]

The Lanka-Aus game confirmed that the pitches on display in this world cup are not suited for spin.....you need 4 seamers for sure.

Lanka got to what I would say was a reasonable score...BUT
Did not have enuf seam overs
and do not show tightness & ability to raise the level of their game in a tense situation

I think Ind should dump Axar and bring in Hooda who is a batsman who can also bowl handy 2 to 3 overs of spin

[alfie]

Looking ahead to the games this afternoon and evening...pretty wet here this morning. Had a fair bit of rain overnight and with the Met Bureau saying probably more rain later wasn't looking too good. But no rain now for a couple of hours and skies currently grey but not a lot on the radar.

Fifty fifty for the games at present I'd say. Main threat being "a possible thunderstorm" this afternoon/evening.

[alfie]

The Lanka-Aus game confirmed that the pitches on display in this world cup are not suited for spin.....you need 4 seamers for sure.

Lanka got to what I would say was a reasonable score...BUT
Did not have enuf seam overs
and do not show tightness & ability to raise the level of their game in a tense situation

I think Ind should dump Axar and bring in Hooda who is a batsman who can also bowl handy 2 to 3 overs of spin

In fairness to Sri Lanka losing an opening bowler like that was a cruel blow. But it was always going to be hard to stop this Australian lineup : batting down to seven as they do they will generally be able to just keep swinging and if they get away with a few mishits - as they did last night - the bowling team is in trouble. Couple of (difficult) missed chances didn't help either.

Sri Lanka needed more early wickets to defend that score. They might do better away from Perth.

[alfie]

So start delayed for some minor drizzle - hopefully will only be for a few minutes. We haven't seen any serious rain for most of the day but being Melbourne no guarantee that will hold.
Conditions suggest Buttler will be pleased to have won the toss and be heading out to field - with the same XI as the other night. Not taking any chances with Ireland - who have been known to upset English white ball sides in the past

[alfie]

And away just twenty minutes late...with Stokes (the apparent plan A opening option now ) conceding three from the opening over...

[alfie]

But alas - halfway through Woakes' first over the rain is back and the players are off...

Might be one of those days.

[alfie]

Frustrating. Radar shows all the heavy stuff is passing well to the north...but these irritating light showers are hanging around. Wonder how many more on-off moments we are going to see ?

Trying to restart again as the rain "pauses". Few more covers to remove this time.

[alfie]

Anyway , going again. And Woakes has gone for a few...twelve off his over.

Time for Wood.

With immediate results...two slashes over third man : the first scoring six despite an acrobatic Sam Curran attempt to save ; the second nestling in the same man's hands without the need to move. Stirling departs and it's 26/1 after three.

[KP_fan]

The Irish are going spiritedly at England
155 is the minimum they need to test Eng
Outfield is slow and they have requisite seam bowling
A bit of slip from Eng batters and they could be staring at an upset.

Eng has to pull back. ...seamers should take pace off.

[alfie]

Despite the wicket this has been a bright start by Ireland.37 from four overs as Tucker has successfully thrown the bat at Woakes a couple of times.

Lots of dark clouds above. Should be playing down our way - just got a patch of blue overhead !

[eirebilly_01]

Important wicket there for England. If Stirling gets going he can score big.

Still, a decent start so far from Ireland.

[alfie]

The Irish are going spiritedly at England
155 is the minimum they need to test Eng
Outfield is slow and they have requisite seam bowling
A bit of slip from Eng batters and they could be staring at an upset.

Eng has to pull back. ...seamers should take pace off.

Not Wood's method : he's after wickets. Curran now which will be a bit of a change...

[alfie]

A good first six by Ireland . They went for their shots with the field up and are rewarded by 59/1. Good positive cricket

England will be hoping Rashid brings his A game now...

[KP_fan]

Eng seamers have not gotten the movement that we saw at MCG from Indians and even by Pak with new ball

[eirebilly_01]

This is all a bit nervy from England. Ireland have them on the back foot. England need wickets and soon.

[KP_fan]

Bowl slow, take pace off, bowl slow into the pitch
Outfield is very slow
And Ireland will struggle
Eng have to slow down and keep Ire below 160

[alfie]

No wickets yet ; but Rashid economical so far. Quiet patch since that frenetic power play.

Woakes back now after a horrible first couple of overs. He's really not got his lines anywhere near right today and I think Ireland will be hoping he gets a fourth over !

0/41 off three . Dreadful.

Ireland on top at the halfway mark.

[eirebilly_01]

I am shocked by this performance from Ireland so far but in fairness, England have been tactically inept so far today.

[alfie]

I am shocked by this performance from Ireland so far but in fairness, England have been tactically inept so far today.

Indeed. Looks like they went out there with "plan A" in mind and just kept mindlessly to it ... Hasn't worked. But Woakes in particular has just bowled rubbish and tactics mean little when you do that.

Livingstone has been introduced now but maybe a bit late.

And talk about bad luck ! The excellent Tucker falls in the most unfortunate way - a deflected drive runs him out as the non-striker !

103/2 after twelve and Ireland will be after 180 here.

[alfie]

Tector not getting any. Feathers Wood behind ...103/3.

Handy double strike for England.

[eirebilly_01]

Well, 1 leads to 2 wickets. England really needed those.

[eirebilly_01]

Is anybody else a bit worried about Rashid's wicket taking ability? Sure he is economical but he was such a prolific wicket taker in the past. He could be a concern later in the tournament should he not get his wicket taking mojo back.

[alfie]

Fifty for Balburnie . A splendid knock.

Rashid completes his four for just 24. But now England need a good spell from Curran or they're going to be chasing plenty...

[KP_fan]

IRE should nor crumble for 150 trying to get 180
A safe 160+ give Ire a fighting chance

[alfie]

Is anybody else a bit worried about Rashid's wicket taking ability? Sure he is economical but he was such a prolific wicket taker in the past. He could be a concern later in the tournament should he not get his wicket taking mojo back.

I've been concerned about him for some time . One of the reasons I've not been overconfident of England's chances in this event as their other spinners don't seem to be taken seriously - even by England.

Having said that , Buttler is turning to Livingstone again now. I think he might regret not using him earlier...and indeed he gets the break . Balburnie gone for an excellent 62

[eirebilly_01]

Is anybody else a bit worried about Rashid's wicket taking ability? Sure he is economical but he was such a prolific wicket taker in the past. He could be a concern later in the tournament should he not get his wicket taking mojo back.

I've been concerned about him for some time . One of the reasons I've not been overconfident of England's chances in this event as their other spinners don't seem to be taken seriously - even by England.

Having said that , Buttler is turning to Livingstone again now. I think he might regret not using him earlier...and indeed he gets the break . Balburnie gone for an excellent 62

Yep, who needs Rashid when ye have Livingston

[alfie]

Two in two ! Dockrell bowled and Livingstone on a hat trick...

[eirebilly_01]

Ireland crumbling, just what England needed.

[alfie]

Fine leg side take from Buttler and Wood has his third...

Ireland on for a very good score but running out of batsmen. Reckon they'll keep going for everything anyway.

[KP_fan]

Pace on the bat is giving IRE the opportunity to overcome the slowness of Outfield
The only other way has been ramps using pace of the ball
Eng should take pace off and bowl outside off

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