There were sorta-kinda games like that through the 70s up to the 90s when national competitions had ‘Bonus Point’ systems. Basically, you earned points for how many runs you made (as the batting team) and how many wickets you took (as the bowling team) during the first 100 overs of each team’s first innings (there were minor local variants, but essentially that was how they worked - runs made and wickets taken).
The innings could go longer than 100 overs, but there were definitely quite a few games where each side would declare after 100 overs of their first innings, bank the bonus points and then set about trying to win the game.
The County Championship awards bonus points for runs scored and wickets taken in the first 110 overs of the first innings.
Sheffield Shield awards points for runs scored and wickets taken in the first 100 overs.
The key is that neither innings is limited in overs. And as far as I can tell, there aren’t a lot of declarations at the 110 or 100 over mark.
Lots of cricket today. The US got waxed by Zimbabwe in the T20 WC qualifier by 46 runs. That puts us in 2nd place in the group and probably out of the World Cup since, as near as I can tell, only 1 team from each group moves on the next stage. Not that I think we would have had a snowball’s chance of actually making the actual WC, but still.
Meanwhile, England have been bowled out in 49 overs by India, putting up 246 to set the chase. The online consensus seems to be that India shouldn’t have too much trouble running that down.
246 turned out to plenty.
Old school ODI, really. Well played Topley, who I’ve never really rated, but showed today he’s got a future with the squad.
Yeah, the pundits were really, really wrong on that one. It seems like the pitch went bowler-friendly pretty quickly (or Topley was just good enough to make it that way) and, of course, once India got behind the pace they needed, they had to start taking chances and England was good enough to make them pay.
Ireland//New Zealand - what a finish!
New Zealand 360/6
Ireland 359/9
It came down to the final ball (a 1b) with Ireland needing 2 to tie, 3 to win. Heartbreak for Ireland as they almost pulled off a valiant chase. Would’ve wished a better finish, Ireland certainly left it all on the the field although they were helped by Williams for NZ dropping either 3 or 4 down the stretch.
Pakistan looking good to chase down 342 in Galle. Without any Bazball.
Well, not so fast there. Pak lost a wicket there toward the end that might be important. Apparently they lack experience in the middle part of the order and still need 120 to win (with 7 wickets in hand). I still like Pak’s chances, but if the pitch is bowler-friendly in the morning, this match could turn against them quick. But you’re right that it’s about as far from bazball as you can get.
Meanwhile, England thumped by 62 in Stokes’ last ODI. Stokes managed 5 overs bowling and 5 runs batting. Numbers that hardly equal a glorious ride into the sunset.
He gave an interview before the match where he said that the pace of cricket matches is too much for anyone to play all 3 formats for a long career. His new plan is to focus on Test, but play T20 as well.
Just checked the scorecard and it looks like England were cruising to a successful chase. Must’ve been quite a collapse.
Love the fact that in SL v AUS Galle was bowler friendly in 1st Test thae produces over 1,000 runs in 4 days in the 2nd. Obviously depends on whether the curator can find the hose so as to apply some water to the pitch.
We never really looked in it, to be honest. An unusually slow start, and then never really got going. A surprisingly tame batting performance, perhaps Morgan was worth keeping in the side for more than his scores.
I think the heat must have been a factor.
I got tickets for this match for my son and I last year. It was to be a highlight of the 2022 summer holidays. Even a couple of days ago the forecast for Durham was 30/31 - hot but manageable.
We were on the train south from Edinburgh when I checked the forecast again and it was 38 for most of the afternoon. Hemmed and hawed over it but ultimately decided to do the sensible grown-up thing and break my child’s heart, so we jumped off the train at the next stop and headed back. He was rightfully upset but reading the reports today even he agrees it was the right call. BBC says:
Queues for water fountains longer than for the bar
Stadium staff went to the nearest cash and carry to bulk buy water to hand out for free
Spectators leaving the ground to find shade where they couldn’t see the match but could cool down
Emergency ‘cool rooms’ opened at the ground to help victims of heat exhaustion
Discussions half way through about cancelling the match because of the impact on spectators
And of course both Potts and Van der Dussen having to be treated for heat exhaustion - Potts after just 4 overs. I can’t even imagine facing one over in full batting kit under that kind of sun - Van der Dussen was out there for just under 3 hours.
England are playing a pretty intense summer schedule - the last match against India was on Sunday - and I’m not at all surprised if that plus the heat left them flat.
There’s a meme here about mad dogs and Englishmen but if you have no experience of coping in those conditions it can be seriously dangerous.
What sort of humidity are you xperiencing.
A couple of years ago Australian Cricket brought in an Extreme Heat Policy which is invoked when the apparent or “feels like” temp exceeds 43C. The apparent temp modifies the ambient temperature with humidity. Dry heat feels cooler than moist heat.
43C @ 10% humidity feels like 40C which I can live with
43C @ 30% humidity feels like 49C and bloody unpleasant
43C @ 50% humidity feels like 65C and is lethal
Truth is we are so bad at this that we don’t typically report humidity!
But we’re a small island so I don’t think it ever gets very dry. Digging around it looks like relative humidity was c.50% which makes things pretty uncomfortable.
A month ago this chase by Pakistan would be a Big Deal. Now it looks routine. Ugh!
Well done Abdullah Shafique!
Yeah, I guess you have to watch, but to me a 1st partnership of 103 runs of 115 balls looks like a team well on ots way to chasing down 330.
It is amazing what we expect now. Great innings though.
I guess this isn’t international cricket, but not making a thread for the bloody County Championship.
Statisticians are still working to confirm that 584 is the highest ever first innings score to lead to an innings defeat.
Leicestershire 584 (Wiaan Mulder 150) & 183
Glamorgan 795/5 (Sam Northeast 410*, Chris Cooke 191*)
Don’t know whether there is an aspect of climate change working here, but pommie ground staff really have got their shit together recently.