A rest day in the World Cup yesterday allows us to catch up and deliver our weekly wrap up of what has happened in the last week of the World Cup.
This week saw Australia’s momentum halted as their batsmen choked, but nearly pulled off an amazing win they would not have deserved. Talking of momentum, all of the good from Chris Gayle’s swashbuckling double hundred dissolved with an innings of less runs but more spectacle courtesy of AB de Villers.
Plenty of other stuff happened including a first win for Afghanistan and Ireland made it 2/2 at the Gabba.
Plenty of this and not much more in our wrap up below. We’ll give you just enough to stay ahead of the watercooler talk.
POOL A
|
Pos |
Team | Matches | Won | Lost | N/R | Net RR | Points |
| 1 | New Zealand | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3.59 | 8 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.13 | 6 |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.13 | 3 |
| 4 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -0.31 | 3 |
| 5 | Afghanistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -0.76 | 2 |
| 6 | England | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -1.20 | 2 |
| 7 | Scotland | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -1.74 | 0 |
POOL B
|
Pos |
Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Net RR | Points |
| 1 | India | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.63 | 6 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.26 | 4 |
| 3 | Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.34 | 4 |
| 4 | West Indies | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.31 | 4 |
| 5 | Zimbabwe | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -0.72 | 2 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -1.37 | 2 |
| 7 | UAE | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -1.33 | 0 |
PAKISTAN 7/235 (50) def ZIMBABWE 214 (49.4)
STAR MAN: MOHAMMAD IRFAN 4/30 (10)
The big fella set the platform for Pakistan to defend a terribly low score.
This was probably seen as a lost opportunity for Zimbabwe who did very well to restrict Pakistan to just 235. At one stage in the middle of the innings Pakistan were travelling at less than 3 an over and looking unlikely to break 200 and wake up the crowd.
Zimbabwe in reply looked like possible winners until the 4th wicket fell and a steady rain after that cost them 2 points that would have also condemned to an early exit, and lord knows what punishment back at home. Thankfully for them they play in the UAE.
SRI LANKA 1/312 (47.2) def ENGLAND 6/309 (50)
STAR MAN: KUMAR SANGAKARRA 117 off 86
Sure he didn’t score more than Thirimanne, but with our bet on him for most runs for the Cup, and consecutive centuries must count for more.
Just when things looked like going England’s way – scored 309 for 6 in 50 overs, and made the Sri Lanka attack looked a little ordinary – and the day after Australia were almost embarrassed as badly by New Zealand, they came crashing back to earth with a masterclass of one day batting from Sri Lanka.
It always looked under control for Sri Lanka, and England now face some kind of battle to make it past the first round. Only upside is a few more weeks break for the Ashes.
INDIA 1/104 (18.5) def UAE 102
STAR MAN: RAVI ASHWIN 4/25 (10)
With not many runs to chase it was always going to be the pick of the bowlers to nab star ma. Not a bad effort on the WACA pitch.
UAE became instantly unpopular when they won the toss and elected to bat thereby costing the loyal fans in Perth at least half a day – on paper. And so it proved as the UAE were bundled out for the tournament’s lowest score thus far, and India did it as easy as they pleased. The game little more than a practice match for the Indians, who look interested in cricket again, and building nicely into the tournament.
NZ 9/152 (23.1) d AUS 151 (32.2)
STAR MAN: TRENT BOULT – 5/27
Destroyed the Australian middle order with a spell of 5/1 at one stage, ripping the heart out of Australia, and viewers in Australia who were settled in for the day/night, not just the day.
You could see the NZ win coming given their great form thus far and the home advantage, but one couldn’t see the manner of the victory. Especially with Australia at 1/90 and cruising. Then, the Emperor of disappointment Shane Watson started the collapse which at the end saw Australia only adding another 16 runs for 8 wickets, with an array of superb bowling and some ordinary batting. Like last summer against England, Brad Haddin gave Australia some hope of posting a score that would take the game into the night section of the day/night fixture. As it eventuated, it was almost enough.
Some typical swash-buckling from Brendon McCallum made the NZ win look a mere formality, but wickets either side of the half time break gave the Australians hope. No more were forthcoming until Anderson left with the score 5/131, and even then with only 21 to get it still seemed no problem. Mitchell Starc stepped up and got the Aussies within a sniff, and then a fully blown snort of victory with NZ 9/146. It was however only a 6 away from victory, and that is exactly what happened and the Kiwis took victory.
It leaves NZ in a great position to top the group, and Australia walking a tight rope with England with any more losses relegating them to a lower rank for the knockouts and the possibility of missing it all together.
Special mention for Glenn Maxwell’s choke towards the crowd. It may have been funny if Australia won. Pot kettle from the man whose 1 wicket matched his total of runs.
SAF 5/408 (50) d WI 151 (33.1)
STAR MAN – A B de VILLIERS 162 (66)
Not the hardest pick with the fastest 150 of all time. Further ramming home the quality is the fact that the last 50 came off just 12 balls. unreal.
The Jekyll & Hyde of cricket – West Indies – were handed the equal biggest World Cup loss of all time on the back of the masterclass of batting from AB de Villiers. Sure it’s hard to stay motivated after being pasted like that, but with the Windies unlikely to win all their remaining games and already losing to Ireland, the Net Run Rate may be important to make the knockout stage.
Special mention to spinner Tahir whose 5 wickets may have got more gloss on another day, and helped South Africa contain their opponents to a total score less than their best batsman’s.
SL 1/332 (50) d BAN 240 (47)
STAR MAN: DILSHAN 161 (140) & 2/35
As good a haul as you could hope from an opening batsman.
Doesn’t get much more comprehensive against one of thestronger nations than Sri Lanka’s easy win. Combine their two most recent games and Sri Lanka are 2/644, a score more likely to be seen a dusty sub continent test match against India.
AFG 9/211 (49.3) d SCO 210 (50)
STAR MAN: SHENWARI 96 (147)
So close to a deserved 100, who at least got the win as a second prize.
A guaranteed first time World Cup winner from this game, and the minnows didn’t disappoint. The spoils could have gone either throughout, and as it was Afghanistan snuck home with 3 balls to spare and on their last wicket.
Scotland will see it as a lost opportunity as they had the Afghans 7/97 and 8/132, but couldn’t close it out.
IRE 8/279 (49.2) d UAE 9/278 (50)
STAR MAN: SHAIMAN ANWAR 106 (83)
Any UAE who scores a 100 at better than a run a ball deserves more than our Star Man award, but he can still have it.
Another minnows battle that went down to the wire and looked to go either way throughout. A star innings from UAE star man set Ireland a total that would require the second biggest chase ever at the Gabba.
And for the hearty yet small Gabba crowd for one of their two World Cup games, this is exactly what the Irish did, giving backbone to their upset win over the Windies.
WI 2/372 (50) d ZIM 289 (44.3)
STAR MAN: CHRIS GAYLE 215 (147)
With a first World Cup double hundred Chris Gayle fulfilled his contractual obligation of one decent performance per tournament. Hopefully for the Windies, he may go for extra credit with a second.
When the West Indies lost their first wicket on 0 it looked like another glass of vintage Windies choke would be poured. Even at 150 in the 31st over few could have seen the hurricane that arrived soon after from Chris Gayle.
Zimbabwe did well to get within a hundred, but it was never likely.
Special mention to captain Jason Holder who looks like the only West indian trying every match.
