CWC 19 : Sri Lanka V South Africa

[Sarge]

decent maiden over from Malinga

 

[Sarge]

de Silva's off spin bowling back into the 'attack'

 

[Sarge]

25 overs gone, 130-1 .... 74 for the win required

 

[Sarge]

been a couple of low/ no scoring overs ... a tad worrying for SA (& England), required run rate has risen to .... about 3 an over

 

[Sarge]

Comedy moment as Umpire Ravi momentarily forgets hes given a wide and almost ends the 27th over 1 ball early

 

[Foley]

It does make me angry that England have been so good for such an extended period of time in this form of the game, but now - the only time when it really counts in a four-year cycle - they're screwing it up. If they don't beat India on Sunday, and do crash out of the tournament, then it's time for a mass cull of the one day leadership...….heads must roll!

I agree that the Sri Lanka debacle could stop us getting to the Semis and it really isnt good enough.
I just wonder if Engkand are flat track bullies. Certainly in this WC, there has at times been some brainless cricket. It is all well and good attacking and saying 'this is the way that we play', but on slow wickets against some decent bowlers, sometimes it is best just to win even if it does mean being a little conservative.
From being rightly favourites to in all likelihood going out before the semis (let's hope not) England have been a massive disappointment.
As for Bairstow's comments about people waiting for England to fail. Ridiculous. Almost everybody in England wants to see England do well.

 

[Sarge]

Amla survives a 3rd umpire review for lbw .... 19 overs to go .... 38 runs required

 

[Foley]

invasion of the killer bees?

Just seen a clip of this.
Very funny.

 

[Sarge]

15 overs left .... 13 runs needed

 

[Sarge]

8 runs required .... 14 overs to get them , with 9 wickets in their pocket ... not even SA can mess this up...can they?

 

[Sarge]

3 needed from 13 overs... neither du Plessis or Amla will manage to quite get an individual 100

 

[Sarge]

All over ... SA did England a huge favour

 

[tonyw]

All over ... SA did England a huge favour

Honestly, I'm not sure that Sri Lanka were ever really the threat. It's Pakistan we should be worried about (or Bangladesh, in the unlikely event that they beat India).

 

[Sarge]

Honestly, I'm not sure that Sri Lanka were ever really the threat. It's Pakistan we should be worried about (or Bangladesh, in the unlikely event that they beat India).

SL wouldve gone level on points, with the same number of games played as England if theyd won today ... that said, Englands run rate ( or the CWC equivilant of goal difference in football) is better than SL (currently) , SL a minor threat to England... biggest threat to England is, IMO, the England WC squad themselves .... beat India and/ or beat NZ and England should make the semi finals

 

[Gary Baldi]

Speaking of India, I did wonder if they would not put 100% effort in against England to spite PAK and lose.

 

[Foley]

Speaking of India, I did wonder if they would not put 100% effort in against England to spite PAK and lose.

Let's hope so!!
Cant see it though. Indua look a terrific side with all bases covered.

 

[Gary Baldi]

Let's hope so!!
Cant see it though. Indua look a terrific side with all bases covered.

Absolutely, but with all of the ? flying between both countries in recent months, I wouldn't be that surprised.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Nah - we can't think that way. The England cricket team have got themselves in this mess and now they have to get themselves out of it. Besides, I get the feeling that India wouldn't mind Pakistan being in the semi's - it would just be another chance to beat them!

 

[tonyw]

Plus, I would've thought India would be more likely to mail it in against Bangladesh.

Get rid of England and Pakistan and have their friendly neighbors in the semis!