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

[alfie]

Fine over from Shami to cap an excellent spell. But SA need just six off the last...

Bhuvi with the Weight on his shoulders.

[Duty281]

Six off the last over. This is where the great change around batsmen swapping the strike through a dismissal comes in.

Parnell could have had a free swing under the old rules - 6 and you win, out and you get Miller back on strike - but he can't under the new rules.

[alfie]

Made heavy weather of it really...but SA take the game and look nailed on for the knockouts

Top knocks from Miller and Markram. India will regret some fielding errors.

[Pal Joey]

Healthy run rate still at the top of the table now. Might have been even better for them if that game wasn't washed out.

[KP_fan]

defeat is never good....but this one India can afford to swallow...and look at the positives
that even with 3 dead loads and a low total they ran SA close...and in the end better catching by SA saw them thru IMO
they gave 3 boundaries due to WK not standing deep enuf & Ashwin gamable could have been held back a bit

India definitely will bring Pant in......and DK might have done his back so Rahul might survive

[Duty281]

Miller gets the winning run, very fitting. Another great game, with some wonderful innings from Yadav, Markram and Miller, a beautiful exhibition of pace and swing bowling, plus some havoc in the field. What more could you want?

This result effectively puts SA in the semi-finals. They're up to 5 points. They've got a 99.9% chance of taking two more from the Netherlands, which is their last game, and 7 puts them through. The bonus game is the next one v Pakistan - win that and they'll take 9 points and top the group for definite. Saffers are the favourites to win this, you know...

India should still get through, but there's an interesting dimension remaining - the very last game of this group stage is India v Zimbabwe and that's currently set to be a winner-takes all QF as, presuming India beat Bangladesh in their next game, and Zimbabwe beat the Dutch, India will be on 6 and Zimbabwe on 5, leaving a fantastic game to round off the Super 12s. You'd expect India to win it, but pressure and the short-format can do strange things.

Bangladesh could, of course, gatecrash everything if they beat India next time, but I don't expect that!

Back to Group 1 tomorrow for Australia v Ireland. England fans praying Ireland cause another almighty upset.

Current forecast for Brisbane on Tuesday - The rain will cease around 1-2 hours before England and New Zealand play. Whether the outfield will manage to dry up in time, after taking up to ten hours of rainfall (some of it heavy), is another matter entirely. Does look as though Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will be washed out, which would be unbelievable for Afghanistan as it would make 3 NRs in 4 games!

[alfie]

Yeah I don't think India is in too much danger

Barring major shocks , the favoured two are going through from this group.

[alfie]

Intriguing position after three rounds : washouts and upsets have contrived to see only Netherlands out of all twelve teams actually eliminated from a chance of the knockouts ; though it is difficult to make a case for any of the teams still on two points as they all really need several things to go their way quite apart from their own efforts.

I had thought India and SA were almost locked in , as surely India are not going to slip up twice : but as the spirited Zimbabwe are likely to reach 5 points after accounting for Netherlands , they are just about guaranteed a last round shoot out with India for a spot. Of course Bangladesh can trump them by winning both theirs but if they can beat India and Pakistan they will certainly deserve a spot ! Pakistan have a nice NRR but need favours from others - and I really don't like their chances against the impressive SA.

The other group is complicated by the strong threat of more wash outs. Serious possibility England could be effectively eliminated without playing another game as they really need two wins to fend off a probable Australian charge - and if the NZ match results in 1 point each then NRR won't even be a factor. If it does go ahead then nothing less than a win will do ... but a win would put them in the handy position of playing the disappointing Sri Lanka as the last match knowing exactly what they need to qualify. And of course either Ireland or Australia could finish with 7 points so even NZ isn't yet assured of progress. Sri Lanka and Afghanistan need miracles.

I'd be betting on NZ , SA and India being three semi finalists. But currently reckon the fourth is impossible to predict with any confidence. Whoever it is , you'd have to say it is still hard to pick a favourite to win the whole thing as all have shown us both strong qualities and distinct weaknesses just in these early rounds. All makes for an interesting event and one that won't be decided by the toss like the last one - just hope it isn't messed up by too much more bad weather !

[alfie]

Australia 34/1 off the first six. Finch was really stepping up the rate until a very good sixth over from Delaney. They seem to prefer attacking the seamers...

...confirmed as Marsh launches Hand twice for big sixes. Big over...53/1

[alfie]

Marsh gone edging an attempted cut...60/2 in the ninth. Maxwell will be hoping to do some damage here and he's started briskly with some sharp running.

Decent platform for Australia at 68/2 after nine completed.

[alfie]

Thought Maxwell was on for a good one today but he fell for 13. Australia still quite well poised at 92/3 after 13. Expect Stoinis to cut loose now he's seen a few.

Ireland have been pretty tidy so far but they'd like another wicket or two.

Bit quiet on here : think eirebilly must have forgotten to set his alarm clock ?.

[alfie]

Yes Stoinis is monstering them now...took to the previously economical Delany and now gone after Adair : he has 27 off 14 and the bowlers are getting a bit rattled with a lot of wides creeping in. Adair has lost control completely...26 off the over !

Up to 134/3 now after 15 and this could end up a pretty hefty total...

[alfie]

Got called away and missed the rest of that innings but 179 is actually a little less than I was expecting.

Reckon it will be plenty though as Ireland have lost both Balburnie and Stirling in the first three overs ...going a bit too hard early I think. 24 runs already but wickets...and here's a third !

Tector gives Maxwell his second for the over hacking a filthy long hop to mid wicket...

24/3 after three and Ireland are in total disarray .

[alfie]

Four now ! Starc bowls Campher and this is becoming a massacre...

Australia will be delighted as they are likely to achieve a huge lift in NRR which will make them a very strong chance to progress if two or more teams end up tied on points.

Ireland seem to have left their magic behind in Melbourne...

[alfie]

And now five gone for 25 ... Bad to worse for Ireland !

Eirebilly might be glad he forgot to set his alarm clock

[Duty281]

This is just about the worst possible result for England, as if Australia bowl Ireland out for 104 or below then England's current NRR advantage is eliminated entirely. England's road to the semis getting all that steeper.

Forecast for Brisbane hasn't changed much. The BBC reckoning about 16 hours of rainfall to hit Brisbane overnight, in the morning and early afternoon. It should stop by 16:00 local time, England/NZ is scheduled to start at 18:00, so it'll be a race against time to get the outfield prepared and sorted. Hoping the drainage at the Gabba is up to scratch!

[alfie]

This is just about the worst possible result for England, as if Australia bowl Ireland out for 104 or below then England's current NRR advantage is eliminated entirely. England's road to the semis getting all that steeper.

Forecast for Brisbane hasn't changed much. The BBC reckoning about 16 hours of rainfall to hit Brisbane overnight, in the morning and early afternoon. It should stop by 16:00 local time, England/NZ is scheduled to start at 18:00, so it'll be a race against time to get the outfield prepared and sorted. Hoping the drainage at the Gabba is up to scratch!

Forecast I saw was all "light" rain , so not quite hopeless. Pretty fraught , though.

[Duty281]

Fair play to Tucker, this has been some innings. Made the margin of defeat smaller and ensured England retain their NRR advantage.

[Duty281]

Job done for Australia. But Tucker's efforts have ensured Australia's NRR has only moved to -0.304, rather than leapfrogging England as it looked earlier. Could be crucial when we look back in a week's time? Might be some concern about Warner who has only amassed 19 runs in three innings so far at this tournament.

Presuming Australia beat Afghanistan, the Aussies will (at worst) be in a three-way tie at the top and will have to hope their NRR carries them through. At best, England won't win both of their final two games, and Australia will breeze through without needing the NRR headache. I can't see a rusty Afghanistan getting anywhere close to Australia.

On to tomorrow then, we hope. I think Afghanistan and Sri Lanka's game will be washed out by the aforementioned Brisbane rain. Would be incredible for Afghanistan to get three washed-out games in succession...must be some kind of record? England v NZ will depend on the state of the outfield. The rain should have eased by the time the game is due to start, but it could be puddles on the outfield by then and lots of soft, dangerous turf.

I don't think NZ will be massively eager to play if there is even the slightest chance of injury to their players. A NR tomorrow would ensure they're 99% through, and if they beat Ireland in the final game they'd top the group. So that could be a factor.

[Pal Joey]

This is just about the worst possible result for England, as if Australia bowl Ireland out for 104 or below then England's current NRR advantage is eliminated entirely. England's road to the semis getting all that steeper.

Forecast for Brisbane hasn't changed much. The BBC reckoning about 16 hours of rainfall to hit Brisbane overnight, in the morning and early afternoon. It should stop by 16:00 local time, England/NZ is scheduled to start at 18:00, so it'll be a race against time to get the outfield prepared and sorted. Hoping the drainage at the Gabba is up to scratch!

Forecast I saw was all "light" rain , so not quite hopeless. Pretty fraught , though.

I saw a satellite prediction for the rainfall. It's an absolute monster of a front (it passed over here in the afternoon and it was almost like a tornado... shredding trees and causing some snowfall along the Great Divide) but it looked as though - at the speed it is travelling - it will pass over the ground around 6pm as Duty says. There's excellent drainage there at the Gabba and with a stiff breeze behind the front it should dry out rather quickly (one would hope) and be ready for play after some mopping up. Fingers crossed for you guys. Don't want to see any more matches abandoned.

Australia making a meal of it closing out this one. At 25/5 they needed to show a bit more desperation to bundle Ireland out. Some really wayward and sloppy bowling at times. Huge credit to Tucker though. He did a great job sticking around and scoring 71*. Australia's NRR has improved again but it's still below England's but they are at least now on 5 points and in second place on the table.

Injury worries for Finch, David and maybe Stoinis as well (just hearing Finch saying they're "not too bad and should be OK". If not, then perhaps a chance for Smith and Green to have a run in Adelaide against Afghanistan on Friday. Feel really sorry for the Afghans. It surely looks like their match against Sri Lanka will cop the brunt of the storm and the match will be abandoned, which in turn, could motivate them to spoil Australia's chances a few days later.

[alfie]

Hmm. As you say , Duty , Ireland's late innings revival has cut back the Aussie NRR a bit. Still leaves everything pretty open , though I suppose that's it for Ireland.

You would expect Australia to beat Afghanistan fairly comfortably ; but if England were able to get any kind of win over New Zealand they would be left with at least a decent chance of getting what they need in their last round against Sri Lanka. So unless they actually get washed away tomorrow, their fate remains basically in their own hands.

Big obstacles though : get past the weather issues and they are still up against a NZ side that is arguably - along with SA - the most impressive team we've seen in the competition so far. Will need a hugely improved performance after their first two efforts...

[alfie]

It is rotten luck for the Afghans if they get washed out again : they had no realistic expectations of making the finals so they'd really have been itching to just get out and compete with the top teams. Getting three points without taking the field doesn't really compensate !

Australia has collected a few injuries I see...but as long as they don't lose Stoinis for an extended period it might not hurt giving Smith and Green a run. Still feel Smith is someone I'd want in the team in a potential knockout contest with , say , SA...

[Duty281]

All hail the drainage at the Gabba, which has defeated the onslaught of rain.

Toss done on time for Afg-SL, so should see two full games of cricket as the rain appears to have entirely passed through.

[Pal Joey]

Yes, great news about the rain passing through already. I told you it was fast moving.  

Afghanistan have made a decent start after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
They are currently 89/2 after 12 overs. They'd be looking for a total of at least 160 runs... hopefully 170+

[Pal Joey]

Jinxed them badly. The wheels came off as Afghanistan is bundled out for 144.

[Duty281]

England have learnt to bat first upon winning the toss, let's see if they can make the most out of it.

[Duty281]

Brilliant PowerPlay for England. Hales nearly bowled very early on, narrowly escaped, and has smashed the Kiwi bowling around since.

Williamson surely knew he didn't take that catch? Giving Santner two in the PP was a little too clever. Didn't do much damage, but deprived the seamers of taking greater advantage of the swing.

Can Buttler get going?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

108-1 off 13 overs - Buttler dropped in the deep by Mitchell in that over. England should be getting 180 from this position

[alfie]

Late home for this . Looks a decent start for England. Burned Malan again I see, .,,hope that pays off.

[alfie]

Not quite monstering the last few overs...would like a big twentieth...

[KP_fan]

Good to see Eng get a full game.
Even though Eng looked like having an upper-hand with the bat most times....they did not finish with a very BIG score.
BUT
we have seen score of 179 has been unassailable.
Money on Eng

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

108-1 off 13 overs - Buttler dropped in the deep by Mitchell in that over. England should be getting 180 from this position

Got themselves to NZ chasing 180 - think that is slightly above par, there seems to be some grip in the surface and as we know big boundaries at the Gabba square of the wicket. Not an unassailable total though for NZ!

[Mind the windows Tino.]

That is a decent score. Need to bowl the correct bowlers from the correct end (obviously) but you'd take 179 at the outset against a good NZ attack.

[alfie]

179. Is that going to be enough ?

I sense they left a few runs out there - haven't actually seen a ball yet. Might be interesting.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Some grip for Moeen - suspect we'll see a fair bit of him and Livingstone once the powerplay is done, alongside Rashid.

[alfie]

Interesting choice to have Moeen open ! Wasn't a bad first over.

I think 179 might be good. Woakes gets Conway ...nice catch Buttler ..

[alfie]

England varying their power play tactics...good to see. Going to leave them options as they progress.

NZ not exactly brisk at the start...but who knows what they can do later...

But two gone as Finn Allen holes out !

[KP_fan]

spin and take pace off by seamers will do it for Eng who look like headed into a comfortable win

[KP_fan]

Eng can give Wood a rest today...take pace off is the need of the hour

[alfie]

Excellent start from Livingstone...spoiled a bit by last ball boundary. 47/2 off seven.

Not calling this yet. England on top ; but things can change quickly in t20.

[KP_fan]

This mirrors Kohli's drop off Ashwin

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Poor Rashid can't buy a wicket can he - Moeen drops a dolly off him, and it's the dangerous Phillips. Potentially huge moment in the game

[alfie]

How TF did Moeen drop that ?!



England still on top at half way but they'd have liked another wicket or two. Still pretty open , I reckon.

[Pal Joey]

That was Atherton's fault. Called the catch too early.
Mo looked as though he was squinting at the wrong moment... obviously the lights blinded him.
Should have still swallowed it with eyes closed though.

[JDizzle]

Poor Rashid can't buy a wicket can he - Moeen drops a dolly off him, and it's the dangerous Phillips. Potentially huge moment in the game

Can only think he thought it was Williamson that hit it.

[alfie]

Phillips looking dangerous. Think England need to get him or this is going to be close.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Wood is bowling terribly here - into the pitch Mark for christ sake!

[alfie]

That was a lovely shot from Phillips ! He is the man for NZ. (Sorry, Moeen)

Eight to get 93. This could go either way.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

England so sloppy in the field here so far

[alfie]

Bloody overthrows

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