Cricket T20 World Cup

[Neilster]

It was a very creditable fighting loss by the US against tournament favourites India in New York in front of a big crowd. They had their chances but ultimately a star-studded India were too good.

The US plays an out-of-form Ireland in Florida at 10:30 (local time) Friday. Ireland are slight favourites but if the US wins, they go through to the Super Eights (the next round), which would be an astonishing performance.

There are several permutations and the weather may play a role as the forecast is a bit dodgy and if the game is washed out, the US also goes through.

Most of the other top teams like India, Australia, West Indies, South Africa and England should progress.

[warspite1]

Most of the other top teams like India, Australia, West Indies, South Africa and England should progress.

warspite1

Genuine question: how tempted will Australia be to lose to Scotland to knock England out? Personally I can't believe they would do that but......

[Neilster]

Most of the other top teams like India, Australia, West Indies, South Africa and England should progress.

warspite1

Genuine question: how tempted will Australia be to lose to Scotland to knock England out? Personally I can't believe they would do that but......

A go-slow against Scotland is no longer an option after England's big win and Pat Cummins has stated they wouldn't have considered it anyway. Deliberately losing is flirting with form and tempting fate. Of course we could always lose if we play badly and the Scots play well. They've had a good tournament so far. Expect some Aussie players to be rested but their replacements won't be shabby.

The weather in Lauderhill, Florida is not looking good and the outfield is very wet. It's looking like the game will be abandoned and that the US will progress to the Super Eights, which is an almost unprecedented result.

[Neilster]

It happened. Well done USA and much deserved. Making the second round of a world cup at your first attempt is extremely creditable.

Details here...

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/14/spor ... index.html

[warspite1]

Well that was insane!! Australia beat Scotland with just two balls to spare

I must confess I thought the worst there for much of that match…..

[Neilster]

Well that was insane!! Australia beat Scotland with just two balls to spare

I must confess I thought the worst there for much of that match…..

Australia were outplayed by a very gallant Scotland for most of the game. Actually, we should probably stop calling them "gallant" and "gritty" etc because these guys can seriously play.

After batting very well and Australia dropping several (admittedly difficult) catches, Scotland should have scored 200. Oz pulled them back to 180 but then started poorly in the chase and after 13 overs required 89 runs from 42 balls, which for the uninitiated is about the limit of what's possible against a good side. Australia's power hitters like Head, Stoinis and Tim David have the ability to plunder any bowling though...and they did.

Scotland still had a chance with three runs to get with four balls to go but dropped a catch. It was a tough one, having re-entered from low Earth orbit but Australia scored two from that ball and then sealed it with a huge six.

Had Scotland won or tied they would have progressed to the Super Eights at the expense of England. So in this game there was the curious situation where the English players and fans were supporting Australia.

Still, great tournament from Scotland. Hopefully it grows the game there. The really big losers so far have been the normally formidable New Zealand, who had a shocker, and Sri Lanka, who are woeful at the moment.

[Neilster]

A fighting loss for the US against the always strong South Africans. They held S.A. to 194 but fell 18 runs short in the chase. It's not all over for the US though, as the Super Eights is a round robin format. They play the West Indies in a few days.

The West Indies have just started playing England in what should be an interesting game and have started well with the bat.

If games are not broadcast in your area, they seem to be available on icc.tv

[warspite1]

The West Indies have just started playing England in what should be an interesting game and have started well with the bat.

warspite1

England finally wake up and show something like what they are capable of. A solid start to the Super 8's for England.

[Neilster]

The West Indies have just started playing England in what should be an interesting game and have started well with the bat.

warspite1

England finally wake up and show something like what they are capable of. A solid start to the Super 8's for England.

Yes. They looked...dare I say it...imperious with the bat

Australia playing the dangerous Bangladesh now...

[warspite1]

….. and back to normal. A close match though.

South Africa beat England by 7 runs

[warspite1]

Afghanistan pull off a shock victory over the Aussies to liven up their group.

[warspite1]

England reach the semi-finals. I was a little concerned when USA hit 48 in the power play. But England removed USA for 115 (helped by 4 wickets in one over (including a hat-trick) for Jordan) then destroyed the opposition in less than 10 overs largely due to Jos Buttler’s 83 off 38 balls.

South Africa or West Indies will join them.

[warspite1]

India get their revenge on Australia for the last World Cup, and in doing so, put the Aussies in danger of missing out on the semi finals.

Over to you Afghanistan or Bangladesh……

[warspite1]

Incredible finish in St Vincent!!

Afghanistan reach the semi finals of the T20 World Cup!!

Both Afghanistan and Bangladesh had a chance of making the semis - but so did Australia. Bangladesh couldn’t get the run rate required so it came down in the end to one simple requirement - the Afghans HAD to beat Bangladesh and if they didn’t then Australia would take the final semi spot.

It came down to the last two overs and Bangladesh needed a run a ball. Two wickets in the penultimate over got Afghanistan over the line.

This summary doesn’t tell the half of it - there was rain delays too.

Sport - it’s bonkers.

[Neilster]

I thought Australia were a bit arrogant against Afghanistan and got shown up. Afghanistan look like a boy on a man's errand against South Africa today though. The England vs India game will be interesting.

I'm not too disappointed as I'm not a big fan of T20. I'm a traditionalist and prefer Test Cricket (which can go for five days). It often incorporates periods of very rapid scoring, depending on the tactical situation but is generally far more subtle. If anything the proliferation of T20 has giving me a new appreciation of One Day Cricket, as in a 50 over game there is time for comebacks. T20 games can get very one sided, with little hope of the team that's down getting back into it.

[Neilster]

Well, India defeated England easily on a dodgy pitch. It's tough to beat the most populous nation on Earth when they are basically all cricket mad. Plus their kids actually play cricket at every opportunity; like my generation did (in Summer. Various forms of football in Winter). Now, Australian kids mostly sit on their fat arses doing something moronic on a device.

It's India vs South Africa in the final at Bridgetown, Barbados.

[warspite1]

Well done to India, England were always going to be up against it against this quality Indian team - and so it proved.