To get back to this match, the very Australian run is precious to Pakistan, so C’mon Aussie, you don’t have to win, just drag it to within 100, could ya?
Done. The news of Maxwell’s demise was greatly exaggerated!
I’ll say. He might not walk for the next three days but I doubt he’ll mind if they get over the line…
6,6,4,6 = double century and the win. Bloody hell.
Absolutely astonishing innings by Maxwell. Awesome enough from someone fully fit, never mind barely able to walk.
Have to feel for the Afghans, hopefully they will in time be able to put this down as useful experience and come back even stronger next time.
So, after all that, Australia are through along with SA and India, with NZ looking strong favourites for the last spot. Assuming they win against Sri Lanka, Pakistan would have to beat England by significantly more than that to overtake them on NRR. Afghanistan have to beat SA and hope the other 2 both lose or draw. It’s New Zealand’s for the taking, I think.
I hope the Australia/SA semi-final is a good contest - both teams have been rather inconsistent of late, meaning it could easily be a mauling in either direction.
I’m watching a shortened replay, and this was just an astonishing game. Did anyone watch? On my replay, Maxwell just passed 50, and should have been out 3 times already, including the simplest of catches dropped. It’s been a comedy of errors by Afghanistan since the 7th wicket.
And now he just passed 100 and can barely walk.
Okay, a truly supernatural performance by Maxwell to cap off an innings that was already beyond belief. I need to watch that Australia innings in actual time. Legendary finish by Maxwell, after the early assistance by Afghanistan and Lady Luck.
England really put the screws to the Dutch today. Not going to finish last, no way!
Nice to see Woakes get some runs, and a Stokes ton is always good. Some more players extending worrying runs of form though - Bairstow and Buttler especially. Still, a win is a win, and there have been precious few of those here.
NZ stuff SL to all-but secure fourth spot - according to comments on Cricinfo, Pakistan would have to beat England by 300 runs to overtake NZ on NRR. Or if England bat first and score 150, they would need to chase in 3.4 overs. That seems to me to mean England can virtually knock out Pakistan by winning the toss and choosing to bat (as second innings batting collapses seem a lot more common than when up first, though this could be confirmation bias on my part, I’ve no idea about actual stats). Because as improbable as winning by 300 runs is, it still seems more likely than chasing 150 in 3.4 overs.
All the above also means England are likely to finish in the top 8 even if they lose to Pakistan, unless it is by that huge margin. No idea what Afghanistan theoretically need to do but their NRR is significantly lower than Pakistan so they may have reached the realm of “actually impossible”.
Shame that 2 more matches will effectively be dead rubbers but no way that could have been predicted beforehand, actually my suspicion is that we’ve had more ‘live’ games to a later stage than one might typically expect.
Still India’s cup to drop.
From Cricinfo user Anuj Kulkarni: “At 43.1 overs, Afghanistan will be officially knocked out, since they can’t get past 438 mark, even with a six off every ball. If they had got there somehow, they would have to bowl South Africa out under 5.”
They’re actually not in a bad position in the game, currently 197/7 with 5 overs to go. At least it’s something to bowl at. That drop of Maxwell is looking more and more costly, poor guy.
England peaking at the right time. Look unstoppable now!
A step back from the international stage … but everybody’s childhood dream.
The context Gold Coast third division 40 over game, Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts are defending their 178 all out. In reply the opposition team Surfers Paradise are 4/174 at the start of the 40th over.
With all reasonable hope gone, skipper Gareth Morgan grabs the ball and takes 6 wickets in one over to snatch the win from the very deepest bowels of defeat.
When I visualise this, I can’t help but see it in the illustration style of a Boy’s Own Comic.
Title: Skipper Saves The Day!
Indeed. Roll on next season!
File this one firmly under “If this were written in fiction, it would be dismissed as totally implausible” - in fact, it’s an unsurpassable example. Similar to this thread: Weird, strange coincidences that sound like fiction but happened in sport (albeit doesn’t quite fit as not a coincidence as such). Amazing, thanks for sharing. Imagine being the not out batsman at the other end!
Australia won all 12 in 2003. India looking good for 11 in this edition.
Well, if they keep picking the pitches they want and then doctoring them (ie shave everything off), they’ve go a good chance.
Regardless of the pitch controversy, the seamer Mohammed Shami has emerged as the star of this India team. No other seamer today had any success at all, including the more well-regarded Boult, Bumrah and Southee. Interesting that it required an injury to even get him into the mix. He’s been my favorite Indian bowler for years, so I’m happy for this success. But still more work to do,
By the way, just after Mitchell reached 100, and before the Williamson wicket, the odds must have been pretty close to 50:50. Wouldn’t be surprised if the WinViz favored NZ for a period.