2022 T20 World Cup thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Marsh put down, Aus right on the edge

Might have been the turning point of this one

[Duty281]

158 for the Dutch, actually have a game on here with the Netherlands striking 31 off the last two overs!

Not a good day for the South African quicks, with the obvious exception of Nortje who stopped it being 170+.

[Duty281]

SA 39/2 after the PowerPlay, both openers removed.

In the balance.

[alfie]

Dutch making a good battle of this...surely not going to cause an upset but they are ensuring SA have to work for the points.

Although most of the usual suspects are going to play the finals , several of the less heralded teams have put up very respectable performances - and scared or even beaten the Big Boys. A tick for the structure of the tournament , I think : the initial two qualifying groups and these two round robin groups have given us both opportunities for a good number of teams and plenty of interesting matches. Without having to run for a ridiculous number of weeks - the brevity of this format makes a condensed schedule possible. Only some weather-spoiled games a negative ; and you can't really legislate for that.

Roussow gone now ! SA 64/3 in the tenth : they really do have some work to do after the break , eh ?

[Duty281]

Four down! Tidy catch to snare Markram.

Get Miller in the next couple of overs and they'll be favourites.

[alfie]

RRR up to nine plus...and with Markram departing SA will be hoping Miller can just about bat through...

Still got others who can handle a bat so I reckon they'll get there ; but sA fans won't be relaxing any time soon.

Good to see that Klaassen got a chance to bowl at Klaasen , even though he couldn't get him out

[alfie]

Klaasen has got off to a brisk start...looks confident , and a couple more of those strong hits would calm any nerves in the SA dressing room.

Need another 48 off five overs : if these two stay in they should be fine ; but another wicket now could bring a very tricky finish...

[Duty281]

Oh my, Miller's gone, a brilliant take.

It's on. The Dutch couldn't, could they?

[alfie]

Miller gone ! Great catch van der Merwe

Parnell entering under considerable pressure. Pakistan will be eyeing all this with intense excitement...

[Duty281]

Unbelievable. This tournament never ceases to excite.

Netherlands have got this.

[alfie]

Parnell gone for a duck and Glover has 3/7

Can hardly believe what I'm seeing...

Pretty much all up to Klaasen now - though Maharaj is no mug.

[alfie]

Unbelievable. This tournament never ceases to excite.

Netherlands have got this.

Haven't got it yet. A lot can happen in four overs. But they have their tails up at the moment...

[alfie]

Excellent from van Beek...just three from the 17th. Just picking up singles : Klaasen has to find those boundaries - and soon.

Did not expect this

Klaasen gone !

[Duty281]

It's over now. This is amazing. I didn't see this upset coming in a million years, didn't think the Dutch had a chance, but they're going to pull if off. Incredible.

Pakistan/Bangladesh becomes a straight QF.

[alfie]

Blimey...thought England had made a bit of a meal of chasing yesterday ; but this SA effort has really fallen apart. Credit some fine Dutch bowling and catching but you'd have expected the favourites to be better than this.

Maharaj can't run twos so it's sixes or nothing now. There's one at least !

Twenty six off the last over ? Might need to borrow Carlos Brathwaite...

[alfie]

Haha... Dropped catch , wide , no ball and free hit...

Pressure telling on the bowler but he has enough of a cushion. And gets the wicket to wrap it all up neatly .

Amazing performance by Netherlands

[alfie]

That has to be the biggest shock of the WC ...and at the most significant time too.

What a contrast in emotions as Netherlands rejoice while the South Africans face complete desolation. And another chapter is written in the rather cruel "choker" narrative .

I am more inclined to blame you , Duty : you put the jinx firmly on SA with your relentless touting them as tournament favourites and the tag was just too much to bear

[Duty281]

I'm in disbelief. Well done to the Netherlands, a real team effort all the way through to land the biggest upset of this tournament. If Bangladesh and Zimbabwe go on to lose today, I think this result puts the Netherlands straight in the Super 12s in 2024.

SA are out. They may point to some bad luck during the Zimbabwe game with the rain, the only no result in this group and had the rain held off they may still have gone through, but they've lost the last two and are deservedly on the way home, I think. Maybe it's a South African masterstroke - can't choke a knockout game if they're not in it, hmmm?

Makes Bangladesh and Pakistan a winner takes all game. Bangladesh will be astonished, the door has really opened for them now. They were about 300/1 to win the competition a couple of hours ago, now they're just one win from the semis.

And India are definitely through even if they lose. Just group placings and qualification places to sort in their game v Zimbabwe.

As Alex Ferguson may have said if he were English - cricket, bloody hell.

[KP_fan]

While I slept SA out of world.cup
India thru with a game in hand

BD falling apart and Pak looking favorite win and hence qualify and may top thr group if Ind lose.to Zim

India losing to Zim less likely......and Ind Pak final trajectory opened up

[KP_fan]

Pak are looking dangerous now coming back from the dead like 1992
Or could.it be a repeat.of 92....Pak v Eng final

[alfie]

Bangladesh innings sort of imploded late...wouldn't think 128 is enough . But after that earlier match I guess anything is possible !

I am sure an India/Pakistan final would draw a big audience. But surely this is fated to end in another England /NZ clash - and a super over

[KP_fan]

SA fell today chasing 159
Is there any team in this competition that chased 160+

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Even by Saffer standards that is a ridiculous choke

[KP_fan]

I am sure an India/Pakistan final would draw a big audience. But surely this is fated to end in another England /NZ clash - and a super over  

PAK are looking dangerous and in this form and momentum are unstoppable in the semis
So if you are an Eng supporter pray Ind.do not lose to Zim
Else Pak will.top the group and Eng's semifinal opponent

[alfie]

SA fell today chasing 159
Is there any team in this competition that chased 160+

Only Kohli for India and Stoinis for Australia have managed to bring off chases around 160 so far. Really has been the complete opposite of the last WC , with chasing even fairly modest targets proving difficult for everyone.

Presume we will see fresh pitches for the finals , which might change things a bit ?

[alfie]

Pakistan taking their time ; "Pacing" their innings cleverly ? Or struggling to score quickly ? Lot of dot balls.

But their best bats are still together so plenty of scope to accelerate if needed...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Also to note for the Dutch, if Pakistan beat Bangladesh here they’d finish in a spot which would secure automatic qualification to the next t20 World Cup. Much deserved it would be too

[KP_fan]

72 off 10 with 10 in hand
Pak in control but need to shift up a gear and not leave too much for too late

[alfie]

So 56/0 at halfway. 72 needed which really ought to be pretty straightforward.

Meanwhile I see social media is still in uproar over that dreadful third umpire decision against Shakib earlier. Done is done ; but Bangladesh are going to feel very hard done by - especially if they lose narrowly.

[KP_fan]

After "eating up" so many balls
Babar needed to score another 20 in 10 balls
A bit of pressure on Pak now

[KP_fan]

That always looked like outside the offside line
Review wasted
Cricket must move forward from historic legacy rules that are illogical
Cannot be LBW if pitched outside leg and strikes outside th line of Off

[alfie]

Well well well ... two down now and the RRR creeping up...

Can this one turn around after all ?

[eirebilly_01]

Morning all, bit of a heavy head after watching Ireland beat South Africa yesterday in the Rugby.

Uitsetekend van Nederlands van morgen

I cannot believe that they beat SA, seriously cannot. Had to read it 3 times before i believed it.

My favourites from the outset (Pakistan) may yet get through...

[alfie]

Nawaz run out ... just as Pakistan seemed to have taken command. But only need 34 , with five overs to come so surely they won't fall short...

Think Bangladesh needed to get Haris rather than Nawaz.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Haris showing the value of having someone just go out and attack from ball one in these low chases

[alfie]

Haris can't quite see it through but he's done the job for Pakistan. Unlikely semi finalists after two games but things have fallen their way and NZ will be wary of them - though I'd have the Kiwis strong favourites ; for their superior fielding as much as anything.

[KP_fan]

some flutters and excitement...but all well in the world for Pak in the end...they win comfortably

Babar's form is the only BIG worry they would have going into the K.Os

[alfie]

On another matter : latest Melbourne weather forecast looking very threatening for next Sunday...

Forecasts a week in advance can be a bit dodgy ; but I really don't like the look of what I'm reading , particularly in terms of the % likelihood of rain - and the possible volume.

Really don't want to see the final become a DLS event...

[KP_fan]

MCG Pitch is true with bounce and outfield slow and big

160 will be enuf

[alfie]

MCG Pitch is true with bounce and outfield slow and big

160 will be enuf

160 would likely be ample against Zimbabwe. Reckon their strength is in their bowling. And India are travelling pretty well after that slow first couple of overs. Not sensing any real prospect of a surprise in this one.

[alfie]

Kohli gone ; but India on course for plenty , with 87/2 off twelve.

Fifty for Rahul

[eirebilly_01]

Zimbabwe coming back into this...

[alfie]

...ha... Fifty and out.

Three down now but no need to worry with Pant (in the side at last !) coming in to join SKY...

[eirebilly_01]

Oh what a catch to get Pant...

[alfie]

Oh ...not a day for Pant after all...wonderful catch by Burl to see him out : Williams 2/7 and India stumbling a bit ...

That is up there with the best catches of this WC

[KP_fan]

Ind umabl to get to the next gear.....boundaries HUGE and taking pace off is making it dificult to clear boundaires
and Zim catching well

160 is the score to get

[KP_fan]

Zim bring seamer who is whacked for 18 runs...pace on the ball is easier to get away

[alfie]

Disastrous over from Muzarabani then ...plundered ! A lot of good work by Williams and Raza undone rather quickly.

[alfie]

Zim bring seamer who is whacked for 18 runs...pace on the ball is easier to get away

Yeah. Wasn't a good idea at all. Strange choice , I thought even as he came on.

[alfie]

You will get your 160 easily , KP_fan. Might be a bit more now...

[KP_fan]

SKY is game's first 360deg player

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