Stuart's 20/20 World Cup Series: 22 Group Match Report 16
Game One - Bangladesh 106 all out v 85 all out Nepal Bangladesh WIN
All Bangladesh needed to do was beat the lowest ranked team in the group and they were guaranteed to be into the Super Eight part of the tournament.
Losing their first wicket from the first ball of the match, two wickets to run outs, the top scorer getting 17, and being all out in the last over was definitely not in the script.
Nepal were presented with an opportunity for final match glory.
Losing four wickets in the power play was not the way to start. Then Malla and Airee both scored quarter centuries and, just maybe, it was back on. In the sixteenth over they got above the run rate required. It was as close as they got.
Three wickets fell for ducks and like Bangladesh they were all out in the final over, but 22 runs short of the target needed.
The win confirmed Bangladesh in the Super Eights
Game Two - Sri Lanka 201/6 out v 118 all out Netherlands Sri Lanka WIN
With both teams out only honour could be played for. Sri Lanka took the opportunity to score the joint highest score of the tournament.
Despite losing an opener in the first over, and a second wicket before the end of the power play, Sri Lanka put on a steady batting display without anyone really lashing out. Mendis and Asalanka both scored 46, but they were the top scorers.
Netherlands have had a disappointing tournament and being bowled out for 118 will not have added any cheer for the Association team.
The thing is, for the first 8 overs, they were not only in the game, but ahead of Sri Lanka's run rate. They slipped behind in the ninth and then wickets dribbled away and they were all out in the 17th over.
Game Three - Papua New Guinea 78 all out v 79/3 New Zealand New Zealand WIN
New Zealand's too little too late finish to the tournament continued with a commanding bowling display which limited Papua New Guinea to just 78 runs. To be picky the question of why it took until the final over to dispatch the third lowest ranked team could be asked.
Only 3 Papua New Guinea players got to double figures and Lockie Ferguson bowling four maiden overs and taking 3 wickets shows the pressure the batting team were under. His spell is the best ever in a T20 match.
In response Finn Allen fell to the 2nd ball of the innings and for the briefest of moments Papua New Guinea could hope. The hope disappeared when New Zealand moved above the run rate in the 4th over and then kept climbing until the 13th over when Daryl Mitchell lifted the ball into mid on just out of the reach of the fielder, and ran the two required to win the game.
Game | 4's | 6's | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh v Nepal | 18 | 3 | 21 |
Sri Lanka v Netherlands | 17 | 17 | 34 |
Papua New Guinea v New Zealand | 14 | 4 | 18 |
Tournament | 611 | 314 | 925 |
Tomorrow, my time, the final game of the first round happens. USA opened the Group Stage, West Indies close it.
And, while both West Indies and Bangladesh are already qualified, this match will decide who tops the group, and who is second, which will decide who plays against whom in the next round.
Check back tomorrow for the review & updated boundary totals, and then later in the day for a review of some stats from the first 40 games, and a pre-view of what to look for in the next 12.
text by stuartcturnbull. graphic by Mir Rammez Raja & edited by stuartcturnbull via postermywall
Oh, baseball world Cup right! Baseball is not a common game in my country, but I do watch it on TV sometimes. Congratulations to the teams that made it to the final game.
#dreemerforlife
you must have accidentally cross commented on someone elses post.
this isn't about baseball or teams at a final
No, Sir! I commented on YOUR post. MY BAD: I thought the image is about baseball, as I didn't know which game you were writing about even though you said it was a world cup. So sorry.