Well I know that this is not everyone favourite form of the game, but hey its the main event for the next month. Might even be fun, although the pool stages seem mostly superfluous (I hope I don’t end up regretting saying that).
Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe opening match.
SL look on for a big total here. Only 3 down with 6 overs left, means that they should be able to really let fly with the bat in the closing stages.
T20 is, I think, an inherently unpredictable form of the game. Only a fool would try to pick a winner at this juncture.
Pakistan will probably win it.
9 and a bit an over is going to be too much for Zimbabwe. Good start for Sri Lanka - this should be a comfortable win.
82 run victory for the Lankans. Good show. Next up Ireland v Australia.
Australia defeat Ireland handily. India reach 159 v Afghanistan.
Well Afghanistan must be kicking themselves for letting India recover from 79/5. They only ended up losing by 23 runs.
I think I like the format, with just 3 teams in each group the minnows only get 2 games to play, but it means we get onto the more significant match-ups more quickly. Of course this could spell doom for New Zealand, as I can easily see us dropping the match against Bangladesh and going home early…
After getting a thrashing from South Africa Zimbabwe are heading home before several teams have even played their first match!
Tonight sees the first close match up, with Bangladesh playing New Zealand. I really think the Bangladeshis are a good chance.
England versus Afghanistan would have to be more one sided, but I’d love to see the Aghanis win just for the hell of it.
Good start by the Kiwis against Bangladesh.
I’m wondering how much attention the T20 WC is getting in Afghanistan. Any one read anything?
England dominating Afghanistan. McCallum makes lisisate’s fears groundless.
Pakistan just about defeats New Zealand. And Saeed Ajmal displays why the ICC is made up of idiots.
Well, England got the shit kicked out of them yesterday and no mistake. At least it was basically a dead rubber, with both sides guaranteed to go through. The phony war is almost over - the next round should be where the games get a bit more interesting.
Still, not a great batting performance yesterday from England. Bit early to say that they are regretting the KP absence/debacle - but the warning signs are there.
I was hoping for some upsets from Ireland or Afghanistan but Australia are the only minnows to go through to the Super Eights.
Can anyone explain the reasoning behind the groups? Why are the four winning sides from the Group Stage in the same Super Eight group? It seems that England have been massively rewarded for dropping their game against India - they’re now competing with New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka for a spot while India are up against South Africa, Pakistan and Australia.
What a match. Kiwi v Sri Lanka. What a last over and now a super over.
Chris Gayle has just smashed 58 against England - a knock that might be enough to make WI’s total too much for England to chase. They’re definitely going to have to bat a load better than they did against India.
SL won by 6 runs in the Super Over in their game.
Today has been a pretty good advert for T20 cricket. I still don’t like it as much as “proper” cricket - but I guess opinions such as mine will ultimately go the way of the dodo. T20 is where the money is at and its rise seems inexorable.
I still maintain it was gust of wind knocked down the bail, that last delivery, I did not see the fielders hands or legs anywhere near the stumps or the ball for that matter.
England need 9 an over and get off to the best possible start by losing 2 wickets in the opening over for no runs.
Aren’t we meant to be the defending champions?
Did anyone spot Gayle doing the Gangnam style moves? I had a friend call me about them, so ended up watching the match.
Pakistan look in very good nick in the field here. Thus far with 6 overs left, SA have only managed 75 runs and are going to have to go on a blitz to set a decent target. Will be interesting to see how Pakistan bat (as SA are good with the ball) but maybe my Pakistan shout higher up the thread is not that bad.
Well, they nearly made a right pig’s ear of that run chase but Pakistan get home by 2 wickets. Turns out they really needed that bowling performance. Some shambolic walking down the wicket to get stumped in the early part of the Pakistan innings.
The side that can clump spin bowling is going to win this T20.