Stuart's 20/20 World Cup Series: 11 - Group Match Report 5

Game One: Papua New Guinea 77 all out v Uganda 78/7 - Uganda WIN

After a heavy loss to Afghanistan in game one Uganda may have been trepidatious about game two, even as they were thankful it was against PNG and not WI or NZ.

Their bowling show no such trepidation. Over nineteen overs and 1 ball they kept a tight lid on a PNG team who lost two batters to ducks, only had three reach double figures, and managed to score only five boundaries.

T20's are, by design, a version of cricket where the batters have an upper hand. Not in this game. While Uganda knocked off the 78 runs required for victory it took until the nineteenth over to get there, they were seven wickets down, and only scored two boundaries.

A top score of 33 is hardly a massive plaudit for either side, but bowling wise they can all be happy with their efforts however special mention must go to Uganda's Frank Nsubuga who bowled his full four overs, two of them for maidens, and took 2 wickets for only 4 runs. It is the most parsimonious T20 bowling spell on record.

Game Two: Australia 164/5 v Oman 125/9 - Australia WIN
When Australia were 50/3 in the ninth over Oman must have had an eye on one of the biggest upsets in history of the tournament. Marcus Stoinis joined David Warner at this point and steadied the ship. The next 11 overs added 114 runs to their score, and gave the bowling team something to attack.

And attack they did. Oman were unable to piece together the type of partnership Stoinis did with Warner. And, not content with being the top scorer in both innings, Stoinis was the top bowler taking 3 wickets for 19 runs in his 3 overs.

To Oman's credit they were able to bat out their full allotment of overs, although in either of their remaining games would be an achievement.

Game Three: Pakistan 159/7 (13/1) v (18/1) 159/3 USA - USA WIN
In every tournament there is a shock, a surprise, and by their nature they are difficult to forecast. Watching the Pakistan batting innings suggested a team who, at any moment, would catch fire and humiliate the attack who had the temerity to reduce the former trophy holders to 26/3 inside five overs.

Shadab Khan looked to be hitting his stride and be the batter to do it, hitting three lusty sixes, but it was a spark and not a flame and he fell in the thirteenth wicket for 40 runs. Another 3 wickets fell and Pakistan were never able to build the head of steam required for an explosive finish to the innings. instead of 170-180 they were held to 159 which felt below par but, surely, enough to see off the worlds 19th ranked team.

And it was. Despite USA only losing three wickets they hadn't scored more than 11 in one over, and Pakistan could afford to concede 13 to still win. Fourteen runs were conceded, and the game was into the second super over of the tournament.

Surely this would be where Pakistan's experience would show.

Mohammad Amir bowled 7 wides, Aaron Jones scored 11 runs and holed out on the last ball. Pakistan required 18 runs. Two wides and four leg byes almost matched the runs given to USA, but with only 6 runs coming from the bat, a score of 13 handed USA a glorious victory

Game Four: Namibia 155/9 v Scotland / - ** WIN**
In a patchy innings Namibia made a score which was in the liminal zone of good, but not good enough. Three early wickets put them on the back foot but Merwe Erasmus took the fight to Scotland's bowlers and looked set to be making an anchor innings.

When he was stumped on 52 the charge faltered and two wickets in the 18th over, one in the 19th, and one in the 20th, kept the lid on any potential charge to the end.

Having not bowled in their first match Scotland will have been pleased with this first outing. Going into the batting there would be confidence from a very good display against the current champions and this was reflected losing only 2 wickets in the first 9 overs.

Two further wickets fell in the next 2 overs, and the match was poised on a knife edge.

Berrington and Leask tilted the odds in Scotland's favor and with 9 required from 14 balls things were looking settled. Then Leask thumped a ball down field where a thankful David Wiese snatched up the catch.

But, it was too little too late and, while it is no where near the shock of the USA victory, this is Scotland's first win against Namibia in the 4 games they have played together.

A second competent batting show will give Scotland confidence going into Saturday's match against Oman, and hoping Australia defeat England the day before.

Game	4's	6's	Total
Papua New Guinea v Uganda	6	1	7
Australia v Oman	22	12	34
Pakistan v USA	26	13	39
Namibia v Scotland	19	12	31
Tournament	214	98	312

Check back tomorrow for updated boundary totals and a review of the only game of the day, Canada v Ireland.

text by stuartcturnbull. graphic by Mir Rammez Raja & edited by stuartcturnbull via postermywall