IND have now been beaten, going down to ENG by 31 runs this morning.
Both captains agreed that the toss was very important, with ENG winning it and taking advantage of the flat pitch and short boundary on one side to post 7/337, with Jonny Bairstow hitting 111, including 6 sixes.
There was a bit of a controversial end to India’s chase, with Dhoni and Jadhav not appearing to really try and chase down the target, as when the last wicket fell, India still needed 71 of just 31 balls, Dhoni appeared to think was out of reach and they just knocked the ball around for singles and the odd boundary. Subsequently they were booed off the ground by their fans.
I am really surprised by this, usually India play more of a high style cut throat cricket. I watched it, it was not like I was watching the same team that I am used to watching. Not surprised by the fans booing. Honestly disappointing from India. I would be saying the same if Australia did this too.
Gamesmanship and points table manipulation have always been features of the World Cup. The classic example was Steve Waugh’s ‘go slow’ at the end of the group stage in 1999:
India have reached the World Cup semi-final after beating Bangladesh by 28 runs in Birmingham. Rohit Sharma scored 104 from 92 balls while Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets. Bangladesh were competitive but hindered by losing steady wickets during their run chase.
England are the third team to make it into the World Cup semi final after thrashing New Zealand by 119 runs in Durham. Johny Bairstow scored 106 for his home side. NZ was on the back foot after losing two wickets very early, and once they were reduced to 4/69, there was no way back.
Though NZ are still almost certain to make the final four to the semis.
The only way they can miss out is if PAK smash BAN by more than 300 runs (and if PAK have to bat second, there is no chance of making enough of a difference to their net run rate to get past NZ).
Thanks for this; I thought the NRR differential was insurmountable for Pakistan but its still theoretically possible. 400 has not been reached in the tournament thus far so it’s hard to see it happening.
Bangladesh have played pretty well so far and I reckon the contest is 50/50 given Pakistan’s mercurial nature.
Australia will need to beat South Africa to ensure it finishes #1 and avoid meeting a rejuvenated England in the SF (assuming India beats Sri Lanka).
I think losing to SA overnight has meant AUS faces an uphill battle to win the Cup now, also with Khawaja suffering a hamstring injury (which means he is most likely to miss the rest of the tournament).
As they now have to beat ENG and then (most likely) IND, both of which will get the most crowd support against AUS.
Untimely loss to South Africa (which ended its disappointing campaign on a high). Injuries to Khawaja and Shaun Marsh means Australia will have to make at least two changes for Thursday’s semi final against England.
India will face NZ in Tuesday’s first semi final.
Yeah, I don’t like our chances now. There are murmurings of rain having a say in Birmingham on Thursday and even for the reserve day on Friday, which would work in Australia’s favour since they finished higher on the table than England. That would be a delicious irony if it happened- England getting eliminated by its own dodgy weather.
India look the strongest team at this stage, though I’m hoping the Kiwis pull off an upset.
Ellyse Perry took 7 wickets for 22, the best bowling by an Australian woman in a one-day international, as Australia thrashed England in the third and final ODI in Canterbury. Chasing 270 to win, the home side was skittled for 75. The current Australian men’s record is held by Glenn McGrath, who grabbed 7/15 against Namibia in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.