ODI World Cup.
NZ win toss, bat. No overs lost.
cricinfo reminds us that "only once this tournament has a total above 250 been chased". Does that mean winning the toss and batting is giving too much advantage? (The line before the innings starts is way above 250.)
It looks like NZ are unchanged. (Pakistan too.) They are running out of time to experiment or give a run to some who haven't played. Southee comes to mind. Henry would want to improve on his last outing, I think. He may be the weak link in their bowling.
Odds: NZ 53%, Pakistan 47%.
Line: 274.5.
cricinfo reminds us that "only once this tournament has a total above 250 been chased". Does that mean winning the toss and batting is giving too much advantage? (The line before the innings starts is way above 250.)
It looks like NZ are unchanged. (Pakistan too.) They are running out of time to experiment or give a run to some who haven't played. Southee comes to mind. Henry would want to improve on his last outing, I think. He may be the weak link in their bowling.
Odds: NZ 53%, Pakistan 47%.
Line: 274.5.
The British commentator thinks NZ are two batsmen short, so they won't be able to beat Oz or India in a WC final. Munro, he says, is a "slogger".
Yeah, I agree they do look a bit thin in the batting. A lot rests with Williamson, and he can't succeed every innings. You need a wicket-keeper, of course, but Latham is batting at 5, which is really high. Well, his Test ave. is 42.71, so maybe they are sacrificing the wicket-keeping more than the batting in that spot. The wicket-keeping in this WC all round has been abysmal. They were calling Buttler "iron gloves" last game. And Carey's batting has arguably been better than Handscomb's would have been, but his keeping worse than Handscomb's would have been.
Yeah, I agree they do look a bit thin in the batting. A lot rests with Williamson, and he can't succeed every innings. You need a wicket-keeper, of course, but Latham is batting at 5, which is really high. Well, his Test ave. is 42.71, so maybe they are sacrificing the wicket-keeping more than the batting in that spot. The wicket-keeping in this WC all round has been abysmal. They were calling Buttler "iron gloves" last game. And Carey's batting has arguably been better than Handscomb's would have been, but his keeping worse than Handscomb's would have been.
Afridi 2/8 (3).
Amir 1/23 (4).
Sarfaraz took a very good tumbling catch in his right glove for the last dismissal.
Williamson is still there.
The British commentators openly mock Latham coming in at 5. But they don't look like they're interpreting the stats correctly. A top score of 13*, they chortle. Is that just for this WC, though? In 83 ODIs, he has a highest score of 137.
Odds: NZ 30%, Pakistan 70%.
Line: 237.5.
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NZ 3/43 (10). Williamson has half of the NZ total.
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cricinfo tells us NZ batsmen have been out of control for only 6 balls, but have lost three wickets, while the average in the first 10 overs is 14 not-in-control balls per wicket.
Amir 1/23 (4).
Sarfaraz took a very good tumbling catch in his right glove for the last dismissal.
Williamson is still there.
The British commentators openly mock Latham coming in at 5. But they don't look like they're interpreting the stats correctly. A top score of 13*, they chortle. Is that just for this WC, though? In 83 ODIs, he has a highest score of 137.
Odds: NZ 30%, Pakistan 70%.
Line: 237.5.
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NZ 3/43 (10). Williamson has half of the NZ total.
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cricinfo tells us NZ batsmen have been out of control for only 6 balls, but have lost three wickets, while the average in the first 10 overs is 14 not-in-control balls per wicket.
Shadab gets Williamson caught behind! The key wicket!
Sarfaraz is having a good match (and does not seem to have the keepers' disease afflicting this WC -- is that because he's a real keeper rather than a batsman with keeper's gloves shoved on?).
NZ 5/83 (26.2).
England must be worrying too.
cricinfo's forecast drops from 205 to 177 after the wicket.
Odds: NZ 16%, Pakistan 84%.
Line: 179.5.
Sarfaraz is having a good match (and does not seem to have the keepers' disease afflicting this WC -- is that because he's a real keeper rather than a batsman with keeper's gloves shoved on?).
NZ 5/83 (26.2).
England must be worrying too.
cricinfo's forecast drops from 205 to 177 after the wicket.
Odds: NZ 16%, Pakistan 84%.
Line: 179.5.
D. Rasool of cricinfo says "you can only touch the ball with the back of your bat to deflect it from the stumps. The front is not allowed".
This in response to Neesham stopping the ball going back on to the stumps from his defensive shot.
Certainly, the traditional rules (I haven't checked ICC's latest wording) of the game have a possible mode of dismissal called "hitting the ball twice", as well as "handling the ball" of course. And it's not so easy to kick the ball away if it's bouncing at stump height.
This in response to Neesham stopping the ball going back on to the stumps from his defensive shot.
Certainly, the traditional rules (I haven't checked ICC's latest wording) of the game have a possible mode of dismissal called "hitting the ball twice", as well as "handling the ball" of course. And it's not so easy to kick the ball away if it's bouncing at stump height.
NZ 5/166 (42).
The partnership between Neesham & CdG is approaching 100 and has held the innings together.
A total of 200 may be competitive.
In the 43rd over, cricinfo forecasts 229.
At the end of the over...
Odds: NZ 32%, Pakistan 68%.
Line: 226.5.
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In the 44th over, there's a huge delay as they try to decide whether Neesham is out. The British commentators are completely confused. cricinfo says the TV umpire said 'Can't use Ultra Edge'. In the end, confusion remains but so does Neesham. Officially, Pakistan reviewed... after the umpires' review. Huh?? cricinfo quotes Ian Smith on commentary saying that umpires cannot use Ultra Edge on their own reviews. That would explain things.
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In the 45th over, the 100 partnership comes up. This total might be hard to chase down.
The partnership between Neesham & CdG is approaching 100 and has held the innings together.
A total of 200 may be competitive.
In the 43rd over, cricinfo forecasts 229.
At the end of the over...
Odds: NZ 32%, Pakistan 68%.
Line: 226.5.
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In the 44th over, there's a huge delay as they try to decide whether Neesham is out. The British commentators are completely confused. cricinfo says the TV umpire said 'Can't use Ultra Edge'. In the end, confusion remains but so does Neesham. Officially, Pakistan reviewed... after the umpires' review. Huh?? cricinfo quotes Ian Smith on commentary saying that umpires cannot use Ultra Edge on their own reviews. That would explain things.
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In the 45th over, the 100 partnership comes up. This total might be hard to chase down.
CdG runs himself out. The end of a 132-run partnership.
NZ 6/215 (47.4).
Odds: NZ 34%, Pakistan 66%.
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Neesham hits the final ball for 6 and finishes 97* (112)!
NZ finish on 6/237 (50).
Great recovery job from Neesham & CdG.
Commentators think this total could well be good enough.
Odds at change of innings: NZ 34%, Pakistan 66%.
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cricinfo takes the opportunity to point to their interview with Neesham.
Neesham:
"I just had had enough basically. It wasn't a logical thought. I had just had enough of the grind of training and not getting anywhere, and yeah, I just made the decision I didn't want to play anymore. I think that's reasonably simple."
"I don't need to be playing to service my mortgage or to feel self-worth as a person. I think once you get a perspective and you realise that you will survive without the game, you will enjoy the game for what it is. And it is just a game."
NZ 6/215 (47.4).
Odds: NZ 34%, Pakistan 66%.
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Neesham hits the final ball for 6 and finishes 97* (112)!
NZ finish on 6/237 (50).
Great recovery job from Neesham & CdG.
Commentators think this total could well be good enough.
Odds at change of innings: NZ 34%, Pakistan 66%.
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cricinfo takes the opportunity to point to their interview with Neesham.
Neesham:
"I just had had enough basically. It wasn't a logical thought. I had just had enough of the grind of training and not getting anywhere, and yeah, I just made the decision I didn't want to play anymore. I think that's reasonably simple."
"I don't need to be playing to service my mortgage or to feel self-worth as a person. I think once you get a perspective and you realise that you will survive without the game, you will enjoy the game for what it is. And it is just a game."