Tag: USA

Looking Ahead to the Super Eights

A brief look ahead to the Super Eights stage of the world T20 Cup and a large photo gallery.

This post looks at the next stage of the T20 World Cup. Although some group games remain to be played the eight qualifiers for the next stage are already known and they have been put into two groups of four.

GROUP ONE

This group contains Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh and India – all three remaining Asian sides (Pakistan and Sri Lanka having failed to qualify) plus the only side from Oceania to have reached this stage of the competition. The expectation would be that the two titans, Australia and India, would progress to the semi-finals, at which stage the tournament becomes pure knock out. However Afghanistan have a 100% record to date, and will play their final group game against West Indies in the small hours of tomorrow, and I reckon they are certainly capable of springing a surprise. Afghanistan have batted as well as anyone on pitches that have generally been tricky, and they have a varied array of a fine bowlers. Bangladesh I suspect will be bringing up the rear in this group – they were less than convincing in their last group game against Nepal.

GROUP TWO

This group comprises England, South Africa, The USA and West Indies. The USA have been the surprise package of this tournament. I would not be surprised were they to add to their scalp bag, and maybe even making the semis – as will be seen there is reason to doubt two of the four sides in this group. The West Indies have been impressive this tournament, and as hosts they know the conditions better than anyone else. South Africa dominated their group, but they have never yet reached a semi-final of a men’s world cup in either ODIs or T20Is. I will believe in their ability to lay this particular ghost when I see it and not before. That leaves England who were definitely somewhat fortunate to make it through – they destroyed Oman and were impressive against Namibia, but Australia beat them with ease, and in the rain ruined match against Scotland the latter were 90-0 after 10 overs when it was abandoned, and this has been a low scoring tournament. Further, Scotland were a lot more impressive against Australia than their southern neighbours – Australia’s winning hit against them came from the penultimate ball of the match.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

Men’s T20 World Cup in Full Swing

A look at developments in the ongoing men’s T20 world cup and a large photo gallery.

Things have moved on at the men’s T20 world cup since the USA’s great victory over Pakistan. There have been several more upsets since then, and more than one of the big name teams is in danger of falling at the first hurdle. In this post I look at some of the more significant developments.

IRELAND v CANADA

The day after the USA downed Pakistan in a match that went to a super over full member nation Ireland took on associate member nation Canada. Canada not only won the match, they did so without the need for a super over, and indeed without any result other than a win for Canada ever looking very likely.

ENGLAND IN JEOPARDY

England started their world cup with a match against neighbours Scotland. This match was ruined by rain, but England cannot claim to have been robbed of the points since in the ten overs that were possible Scotland amassed 90-0, and this in a tournament in which big scores have been very much the exception rather than the rule. In England’s second match of the tournament they faced Australia, and at no stage of that match did any result other than a comfortable Australian victory look likely. That result duly eventuated. Scotland, having had a potential big day out ruined by rain now faced Oman, and although Oman fared respectably with the bat, scoring 150 in their 20 overs, Scotland left no doubt as to their intentions in the run chase. George Munsey gave them a flying start with 41 off 21 balls, Brandon McMullen continued the good work with 61 not out in 31 balls and Matthew Cross weighed win 15 not out off 8 balls to see Scotland to an eight wicket victory with 6.5 overs to spare, which gave them a massive net run rate boost. England cannot now do more than equal Scotland’s points tally, which since the two countries would in that event have identical win/ loss records would mean that it comes down to net run rate. My own opinion based on what England have done in the tournament so far is that they do not deserve to qualify for the next stage of the competition. If cricketing justice is done and England do indeed fall at the first hurdle that should see the end of Matthew Mott as white ball coach and of Jos Buttler as white ball captain.

PAKISTAN IN TROUBLE

In many ways it would have been typical of Pakistan to come off the back of a loss to the USA and beat India a few days later, and when India could do no better than 119 from their 20 overs it looked on. However Pakistan messed up the run chase appallingly, and India won by 12 runs, meaning that Pakistan are looking at an early exit.

NEW ZEALAND THRASHED

I cannot say much about this match as I missed it due to the fact that it happened between 1:30AM and 4:30AM my time. However, Afghanistan won it comfortably, and New Zealand at least for the present must be a trifle worried.

SOUTH AFRICA TOP ORDER WOES

South Africa are not in danger of failing to qualify, but they have not been entirely convincing either – they took 17 overs to chase 77 in their first match, almost the full 20 to chase 103 in their second – at one stage of that pursuit they were 12-4 before David Miller rescued them. They are currently in action against Bangladesh, batting first this time, and they are 23-4 in the fifth over, having just lost the fourth wicket as I was typing this – a third successive top order collapse.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

The Biggest Upset In Men’s Cricket History

My view on USA’s amazing victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Also a large photo gallery.

Yesterday the Men’s T20 World Cup being co-hosted by the United States of America and the West indies got a massive story, which could just end up being very important indeed in cricket history. This post looks back at an extraordinary match.

THE USA v PAKISTAN

The USA were taking part in a world cup tournament for the first time, while Pakistan have played every world cup, and are former winners, and they would certainly have come to this tournament with hopes of adding to their list of successes. The USA had won the opening match of the tournament, against neighbours Canada, in a reprise of the first ever international cricket match, played in 1844, but this time they were facing opponents of much greater stature. I missed the start of the match because yesterday was a work day for me. I joined the coverage with Pakistan endeavouring to recover from a poor start. They did so to the extent of reaching 159 -7 from their 20 overs. Nothush Kenjige had figures of 3-30 for the USA, Saurabh Netravalkar a remarkable 2-18 from his four overs. He will reappear later in this story. Babar Azam top scored for Pakistan with 44, but took 43 balls to score them – an ODI type innings in a T20I, not for the first time in his career. Shadab Khan had 40 off 25 balls, a better innings in this type of match. Still Pakistan’s bowling is their greatest strength, and 159 should have been enough for them defend. However the USA came out fighting, and were never out of the running. Pakistan had their best period with the ball from overs 12-19 of the USA innings. USA needed 16 when the final over began and got 15 of them, levelling the scores and causing the match to go to a super over. The USA batted first for this, and sensibly sent Aaron Jones, their most explosive batter, in, accompanied by the left handed Harmeet Singh. Pakistan chose Mohammad Amir to bowl the over – which turned out to be a very poor choice – he was all over the place, bowling nine deliveries in total to get through the over, and all three of the wides yielded extra runs. Helped by this the USA tallied 18 from the over, a stiff ask for Pakistan. Pakistan correctly sent Ifitkhar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman in to bat for them, while Saurabh Netravalkar who had been so economical earlier was trusted with the ball for the USA. Pakistan were 5-0 after two balls, but then Iftikhar was caught off the third, and suddenly the target was 14 off the last three balls. The first two of those balls yielded seven, including a wide, and Pakistan needed six off the final ball to force a second super over. This was too big an ask, and the greatest upset in men’s international cricket had happened. Monank Patel, scorer of a 35 ball 50 for the USA, was named Player of the Match. This win for the USA over one of the top sides in the world should give the game there a massive boost. With two wins out of two they are now well placed to qualify, while Pakistan are in serious jeopardy. A full scorecard of the match is available here.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Here are some recent photographs of mine…