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

[alfie]

Not the start NZ wanted ! Plenty of action early...boundary , lbw overturned , and then an lbw upheld ...Allen is a big loss so early.
Afridi on the money first over ...

[eirebilly_01]

Big wicket that for Pakistan. Afridi is really coming into some dangerous form.

[eirebilly_01]

Somewhat of a recovery process that after loosing a wicket in the opening over but only 4 boundaries in the power play is not a great return and then Conway is run out on the last ball of the power play. Very much advantage Pakistan.

[alfie]

A dramatic end to the power play ! I was dissing the Pakistan fielding earlier , but that piece of work was brilliant and has seen NZ losing Conway ...

38/2 advantage Pakistan.

[VTR]

This is the danger of batting first in such a huge match. The onus is on the batting side to assess risk/reward, and can lead to situations like this where its all very tentative. Too early to call it, but not a good start got NZ

[eirebilly_01]

The onus is very much on Williamson here to do what he does best in anchoring the innings.

[alfie]

Well Pakistan bossed that first half...NZ look about 15 runs and one wicket away from what they'd have hoped for at this point. Don't think it is a devilish pitch so they'll need a good second ten overs.

Williamson and some free stroke makers still there though so a long way to go.

[alfie]

And I do think , even apart from the run out , Pakistan fielding has been way better than previous games. Some possible boundaries well cut off ...though couldn't do much to stop Mitchell that latest over...

[eirebilly_01]

As ye say alfie, still a ways to go but New Zealand are very much up against it here.

[alfie]

They're free to waste their reviews ...but it is annoying the way these silly ones waste time.

[alfie]

As ye say alfie, still a ways to go but New Zealand are very much up against it here.

Getting moving a bit now but they're starting from a low base...the last five overs are often very telling in these matches : they'd surely want to be seriously over 100 before they get to that point though. So work to do .

[eirebilly_01]

Williamson will hopefully kick on. From here, I think 160 - 165 is a realistic target.

[alfie]

Williamson will hopefully kick on. From here, I think 160 - 165 is a realistic target.

Requires a big last four ! I'm expecting 150 plus but wickets could still wreck that...

[eirebilly_01]

And there is that wicket alfie, Williamson gone.

[alfie]

...and there goes Williamson ! Got a bit too cute there against the excellent Afridi...

Neesham probably the last real hope for a NZ late blitz.

[alfie]

Pakistan have impressed me with their discipline today : no wides , no no balls...and the fielding has been good. Boundaries hard to come by . Possibly not the easiest pitch for stroke play ?

Difficult to say if this score is going to be enough to pressure their bats...last few balls here are important. Probably the best pair for NZ for the situation...

[Soul Requiem]

I can't help but feel that Williamson holds New Zealand back a bit in T20, he invariably starts slowly and doesn't have the ability to push on. 46 off 42 is fine but if you want to win these tournaments you need a bit more, i'll no doubt be proved wrong come this weekend.

[eirebilly_01]

I would say that New Zealand are about 15 - 20 runs short myself.
That said, its runs on the board and a defendable total given the pressure of the situation.

[alfie]

The fact that even these two haven't been able to get many clean strikes away tells me that this pitch is not the easiest for batting. So 152 may yet be enough. Reckon this could be a tight one.

Mitchell did a great job for NZ ; Afridi excellent for Pakistan but well backed up by the other seamers

[Duty281]

Excellent final over from Naseem and an all-round tidy effort from both teams.

NZ are ahead at halfway, for my money, but only narrowly. Williamson anchored the innings well and, although no one really exploded at the other end, Mitchell's contribution was top-dollar.

This is a steep and difficult chase for an inconsistent Pakistani batting order. Their openers haven't got going this tournament. This time?

[VTR]

Well this is going to be interesting. 3 big overs will probably win it for Pakistan. Easier to write that than deliver it on the pitch!

[eirebilly_01]

Oh dear, Conway drops what he should have taken. Babar gets let off.

[alfie]

Nearly ! Tough low chance for the keeper but NZ really wanted that to stick...

Think Rizwan in particular reckons power play runs might be the easiest ? He's started very positively.

[Duty281]

Dreadful start from Boult.

[alfie]

Boult having a bit of a 'mare... Pakistan fans confident with this start.

Both batsmen look rather assured so far...NZ maybe less so.

Way to go yet though.

[Duty281]

This one's done. Utterly horrific from NZ with the ball. Talk about setting a tone.

[alfie]

Pakistan flying. And at the moment , NZ have no answer ...actually look a bit shell shocked.

It is early but I will stick my neck out and say Pakistan have got this. May get harder after the power play , and if these two get out ; but they won't really have to hurry , so sensible batting should see them home.

Could still make a mess of it , I suppose. But I reckon it's theirs to lose now.

[alfie]

This one's done. Utterly horrific from NZ with the ball. Talk about setting a tone.

And very unlike them ! Generally can rely on the Kiwis to be at least steady. But tonight ...

Nerves ?

[Duty281]

This one's done. Utterly horrific from NZ with the ball. Talk about setting a tone.

And very unlike them ! Generally can rely on the Kiwis to be at least steady. But tonight ...

Nerves ?

Nerves would also be unlike them - they're semi-final specialists!

[GSC]

Pakistan came in as the side who had to scrap to make it this far while NZ largely cruised after the opening game. So far looks like Pakistan are the side summoning urgency.

Still, one wicket can induce some panic. NZ have to find something

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Pretty sure if New Zealand and South Africa somehow made their way to playing each other in the final of an ICC event, they'd contrive to find a way to both lose

[Duty281]

Pathetic from New Zealand's bowlers in all honesty. One of the worst bowling performances I've seen at this tournament. This score was very defendable.

Fair play to the Pakistani openers, though they haven't had to work at all for this chase. It's been a monumental comeback from Pakistan - lost their first two to India and Zimbabwe, but thrashed South Africa and got the boost they needed from the Dutch. When you see things like that, and see what they've come up against here, you wonder if it's destiny for them.

Wicket for New Zealand comes about 10 overs too late.

[eirebilly_01]

A wicket but the damage is well and truly done. I feel sorry for New Zealand, I really do but Pakistan are just too good today, Scary the momentum they are building going into the final.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Used wicket...Pakistan through to the final...I wonder how "neutral" some umpiring decisions might be tomorrow....

[Duty281]

Used wicket...Pakistan through to the final...I wonder how "neutral" some umpiring decisions might be tomorrow....

ICC will do their utmost to get an India-Pakistan final, a rematch of the amazing group game, and net over 1 billion TV viewers for a global showpiece.

Pressure on the umpires will be gargantuan.

[GSC]

Dropped and New Zealand are heading out very meekly

[eirebilly_01]

All very disappointing really. I did have Pakistan as my favourites for the tournament.

Making the Dutch to be the team that had the biggest impact on the CWC for beating SA and getting Pakistan through...

[GSC]

Haris deciding that's close enough

[eirebilly_01]

I did feel that New Zealand left 15 - 20 runs out there.

[GSC]

Think they've left more on the field through their bowling.

Just haven't turned up. But doesn't detract from Pakistan's performance. Theyve dominated the game

[eirebilly_01]

Yeah Pakistand really have dominated this match. Just hope England can do so tomorrow now.

[GSC]

Rather sums up the NZ performance that defending 2 they bowl a wide.

[Duty281]

I think NZ's batting effort was fine. 152 will win you more games than it loses at this competition. Williamson would have been pleased. But then Boult set the tone for a woeful effort in the field and it all unravelled very swiftly.

Think Pakistan did well, but are getting a little too much credit. Their effort in the field was decent, it wasn't 'BRILLIANT' or a 'clinic' as the Cricinfo commentator stated. And with the bowling NZ served up something would have been very wrong had Pakistan not chased it down.

More a case of NZ losing it than Pakistan winning it.

Tomorrow might be closer?

[alfie]

Took longer than they really needed to finish that...but wasn't in doubt after those early overs. NZ just didn't turn up tonight. Unlike them to have such a poor performance in the field - almost as if that dropped catch in the first over sucked the life out of them.

Pakistan will be ecstatic after having to accept a gift from the Dutch to even qualify...they were very good today Was a good time for Babar to find his mojo too.

Can they go one more step ? I wrote them off ages ago (!) so am not game to discount them now ; but given their usual ...inconsistency...it is asking a lot for them to win five t20 games in a row...

[eirebilly_01]

Peaking at the right time. That's how you win the big ones...

[KP_fan]

How do ye all see the NZ - Pakistan game going? I had Pakistan as my favourites prior to the tournament but they have not really fired. NZ had one very good game and have been stable the rest.

If Babar and Rizwan fire then it could be a very difficult for NZ but same goes for NZ with Allen and Conway.

I would say though, on recent form, NZ will be favourites to win.

Pak ate favourites in my books
They are a team that ride on momentum and passion and rhythm and quite dangerous when they hit such a rythimc wave.....as they have now
Babar not in form but they have  another 7 guys who are getting runs
And  their pacers are in good rhythm....and they have wicket taking spinners
They might scramble/scrap a bit with the bat but will.blow away , NZ with the ball

Pak were favorites and now they are rank favorites to win for same reasons as stated in my post above ( in bold now)
It's incidental whether they will beat Ind or Eng in the final.
I am in Dubai and missed the NZ inning......and by the tome i started watching , Pak batting they were cantering to a win
Their easiest & most clinical show came in the semis and against NZ

There is a growing voice among Indians in Dubai and not completely in jest
"Its better to lose to Eng in s.f to avoid ignominy of defeat vs Pak in final"

I hope thought we can overcome Eng tomm...it will be a tight game and the one batting first holds the advantage in my view

[eirebilly_01]

Fair play to ye KP_fan, ye called it correctly

[Duty281]

Possible teams for tomorrow, according to Cricinfo:

India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Dinesh Karthik/Rishabh Pant (wk), 7 Axar Patel, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Arshdeep Singh.

Cricinfo seem to think, judging by Karthik participating in keeper drills at training today and Pant not doing so, that Karthik will be favoured over Pant. Baffles me. Karthik has managed 1, 6 and 7 at this competition so far, while Pant can be one of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket.

England (possible): 1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Dawid Malan/Phil Salt, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Adil Rashid.

Wood is almost 100% certainly out, and it seems Jordan is the man England have lined up to replace him. Losing Wood is a mammoth loss to England's bowling. He's probably a doubt for the final, should England get there. And it seems Salt will come in for Malan - Malan barely batted in the nets today, while Salt did so for a 'long period'. Brook will retain his place despite, so far, doing nothing of note. Pressure to deliver?

[KP_fan]

Cricinfo seem to think, judging by Karthik participating in keeper drills at training today and Pant not doing so, that Karthik will be favoured over Pant. Baffles me. Karthik has managed 1, 6 and 7 at this competition so far, while Pant can be one of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket.

I think it could be to bluff Eng or cover for Rohit as batsman if injured
BuT
Who knows ....Ind could act stupid also

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Possible teams for tomorrow, according to Cricinfo:

India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Dinesh Karthik/Rishabh Pant (wk), 7 Axar Patel, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Arshdeep Singh.

Cricinfo seem to think, judging by Karthik participating in keeper drills at training today and Pant not doing so, that Karthik will be favoured over Pant. Baffles me. Karthik has managed 1, 6 and 7 at this competition so far, while Pant can be one of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket.

England (possible): 1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Dawid Malan/Phil Salt, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Adil Rashid.

Wood is almost 100% certainly out, and it seems Jordan is the man England have lined up to replace him. Losing Wood is a mammoth loss to England's bowling. He's probably a doubt for the final, should England get there. And it seems Salt will come in for Malan - Malan barely batted in the nets today, while Salt did so for a 'long period'. Brook will retain his place despite, so far, doing nothing of note. Pressure to deliver?

Really not sure we can overcome the loss of Wood - that's essentially our entire frontline seam attack (Jof, Topley, Wood) out. Guess the only positive is Jordan's yorkers are probably the way to go with long straight boundaries and short square at Adelaide - maybe Wood's into the pitch tactics might have got pumped a bit with cuts/hooks there. And Jordan does bring better fielding, and the batting depth is ludicrous now haha as he can whack a six or two!

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