I’d like to see someone beat India to dent the sense of invulnerability and inevitability, but I don’t think it’s going to be England’s day.
Netherlands might have a better chance.
I was hoping to see them lose too, as I always feel a perfect record leads to higher probability of losing in the semis or finals. But Bumrah and Shami are on a rampage at the moment.
England desperately trying to get the margin below 100 for once!
ETA: I’ve put the mockers on again!
As a tournament, this is flat. As a screwball comedy, it’s got its moments.
Turns out they went for this option.
Anyone think the top 4 won’t be SA, NZ, Aus, and Ind at this point (not necessarily in that order, of course)?
Still 15 matches to go after this one, but I’d say it’s 90% that it will be those four.
Whoever wins this match will have most of the remaining 10%.
Not in the end, all that funny, except for afficionados of the sad trombone.
Hard to see past those favourites - I think the second tier teams who are mathematically in with a shout have to get past at least two of those four.
Not quite - the four teams currently on 4 points are:
Afghanistan: playing SL (now), Netherlands, Australia, South Africa
Sri Lanka: Playing Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand
Netherlands: Playing Afghanistan, England, India
Pakistan: playing Bangladesh, New Zealand, England
AFghanistan have got a decent chance right now of getting to 8 points, but they’d need to beat Australia (currently on 8) to get to 10, and hope that Oz or NZ (also on 8) drop points elsewhere
If SL win today they can also get to 8 by beating Bangladesh too, but would also need to beat NZ to get 10 and, like Afghanistan, hope for a break.
Pakistan could get to 10 with all results in their favour, but still need someone else to beat NZ or Aus.
Ditto Netherlands, except they have India to get through and that’s an even longer shot.
So I think if two teams from this tier beat NZ, or two beat Aus then things open up. One upset maybe possible, two feels like a lot.
Just coming back to this briefly because I saw a bit of commentary about England’s reply last night that they started well, but then the ball started moving all over the place, precipitating their collapse. Was this the exception that proves the rule, or was it simply the Indian bowlers made the most of a short spell in which moisture in the air produced helpful conditions before the ball became too wet to make use of them?
IND were 4/131 with Gil, Kholi and Iyer out for a combined 13 so I’d think it was helpful conditions from the start. ENG won the toss and bowled, so any suggestion the pitch was benign and developed demons is (IMHO) fanciful.
Afghanistan cruising - 28 needed from 8 overs, only 3 wickets down.
They’re a properly competent team nowadays - the batting has caught up with the bowling and they don’t lose their nerve. Favourites against Netherlands (but not complacent!); I wouldn’t be shocked if they beat one of Australia and South Africa, but I would be surprised.
They pretty much have to beat Australia to progress.
I think they’ve been stealth-good for a little while now, or at least able to pull the odd upset. They’ve been quite a find in this tournament, though.
SA have absolutely mullered NZ. 190 runs, my god.
Which I think means if Pakistan beat New Zealand, they’ll definitely be in with a shout at making the semis.
Indeed, South Africa had more supporters in Pakistan today than in South Africa.
I think this is aldo good for Sri Lanka’s chances.
Apparently Sri Lanka decided they wanted none of that.
I mean, I knew they would struggle against India, but that scorecard is almost binary.
Just seen a new (to me) feature on Cricinfo: “Cricinfo’s most valuable players of the match”. Top of the list this time was Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka, for his 5 runs from 6 balls and bowling figures of 5/80. That is a decent average, to be fair - but didn’t really have an impact on the result!
Still better than their win % indicator
Sri Lanka’s top five contributed 2 runs, a (low) record.
Thanks for including the clarifying parenthetical.
For AUS Maxwell is out of the game vs ENG.
Apparently got sufficiently hurt when he fell out of the back of a golf buggy.
There is, of course no truth in the rumour that he was pissed as a newt from celebrations after a run of victories.
Also Marsh has gone home for “personal reason” with no indication when/if he will return.
There is, of course no truth in the rumour that he was driving the golf buggy a now sober and seriously ticked off Maxwell fell out of.
What goes on tour, stays on tour. 