Game 5 - South AfrIca v Pakistan - Edgbaston

Amazing atmosphere in the stadium, with 20k people, of which 97% must have been Pakistan supporters, v many with flags.

Steyn did some light warm-ups, but, was never going to play, and its dubious if we shall see him, sometime soon. A great shame.

The contest was billed as the side who can't bowl (S.Africa),v the sideshow can't bat (Pakistan), which is a trifle unfair on S.Africa,but spot -on, re Pakistan.

 

S.Africa won the toss, and De Villiers decided to bat. It's interesting his, alleged fitness, doesnt seem a worry.

Eng scored a pedestrian 270 on the same ground 2 days ago, and a similar score should be enough for S.Africa to win the game.

Pakistan bowled well, with a couple of chances missed, and finally got to 238, which made it an even game, and gave the home supporters, much to shout about.

Unfortunately, the Pakistan reply was v pedestrian .. Something like 50 off the first 20 overs, 135 off 40, and with a mounting run-rate, lost more wickets, and the game.

Chris Morris is a fun player to watch. (Bowler for SA). I watched a few of his games in the T20 Champions trophy, and he was clearly v nervous, with many wides .. A feature he hasn't as yet, managed to totally eradicate. He got a surprising $650k contract for the IPL, and he is quickly maturing. It was fun to watch his 1st ball called a wide, but equally fun, to see wkts cart-wheeling out the ground, when he hits them. If S.Africa have injury worries with their fast bowlers, he's a v decent alternative.

There are many players you could point the finger at.

Pak now have no pints from 2 games, and its highly unlikely they can progress out of the group.The game at the same stadium on Saturday, v India will have a great atmosphere, whatever .. But, maybe will have a little less intensity for Pakistan, if that's possible.

 

The tournament as a whole is going fairly well. I do like quick tournaments, thou the travelling between venues, can be tedious. Crowds have been generally v good, and the Crickekeers .. Volunteer helpers, v friendly. Prices are not cheap, especially for food etc at the ground, but tickets are fairly well priced, at about £40 for a decent seat.

Most games involving Pak/India/England are full, and the website selling the tickets, works well, which is a pleasant change. I have seen touts outside grounds, but, it's v hard to police.

The ICC seem overly strict on people using tablets in the ground, with all being asked to put them away, fairly quickly. Anyone who thinks about using a laptop, soon changes his mind, which is fair enough .. It's too busy.

 

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Game 3 - Champions Trophy - England v Australia - Edgbaston

Prelude to the Ashes, and one to saviour.

No Clarke for Aus, and England have Swann missing/rested/hidden and Finn dropped, or not the right balance.

Eng win the toss, and decide to bat.

It should have been a 325 pitch, but, after a great start, Eng miss opportunities to press on, and allowed Aus back into the game.

Bell scored 91, but,it was one of those innings, you ever knew if it was match winning, or losing.

Bopara added some much needs runs, quickly at the end, as England finished on 270. I though it was 40 light, but, Warner isn't in great nick, and once Watson was out, they folded pretty tamely.

Hard to see Aus winning this tourny, without Clarke.

I can't really see Eng winning it either, but, they have very decent bowlers.

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Game 2 - Pakistan v W.Indies - Oval

It will be hard to tell which side is at home here, as its reasonable to think both sides will get v strong support, and the atmosphere, is entitled to be electric.

Hoping for a decent contest. Pakistan have a really good bowling attack,but, their batting has a few holes, and they need to someone restrict the Windies to no more than 300.

If they happen to bat first, and score 320 or so, u would think they would definitely win - thou, Gayle/Pollard etc,can, make a mockery of that.

The bookies can't decide with team is favourite, but its probably a huge toss to win (and bat).

Well, W.Indies won the toss, and decided to have a bowl.

Pakistan batting holes, caused massive leaks, and despite a good effort by the captain, Misbah .. They crawled to a poor total of 170.

As we said, they bowl v well, but its not a score to exert any pressure, and it will take a monumental effort by W.Indies to lose this one.

Almost .. Pakistan bowlers would win the Tourny for the team, if only they had 4 solid batters, who could make 230+ per game.

Fine effort by them, and the usual nervy stuff from Windies. Need a strong stomach, to follow these guys over a cliff.

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Champions Trophy - S.Africa v India - Cardiff

Game 1 proper, of this lightening quick tournament.

Lotsa injury worries for S.Africa. With Steyn missing the match with a side strain, and De Villiers thought to be carrying a niggle.

Already depleted by the huge loss of Smith and Kallis, u have to feel. It's tournament is quickly getting beyond them.

S.Africa win the toss, and decide to field.

It was an overcast morning, and the market reacted sharply, moving India from 1.88 faves, to 2.24.

Once play started, only Morkel was threatening and India complied 331, which could have been far more ..Dhawan got a v decent 100, probably the 1st of many.

 

S.Africa had chances, but lost wickets at the wrong times, with some suicidal running, and once again, get tagged as chokers. This may not be totally fair, but, they do seem to lose games, u would expect them to win.

Spoke to a few Indian supporters, and many complained about the really high prices, for .. Hotels/Trains/Food/Tickets etc, they are paying, following the team around the country. It's not cheap .. Especially for a family to watch these games, and I do wonder, if some of the games, between .. Less well supported sides, will get decent ground support. Lets hope so.

 

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Warm-Up match - Champions Trophy - Aus v India - Cardiff

Another warm-up game, and nice weather.

India win the toss and decide to bat.

India name 15, and can choose as they go .. Aus have named 11, with no Clarke.

Was a decent toss to win, and after India were 65-5, the game looked like being a short one.

Dhoni, is a fantastic captain/batter, and quickly changed the complection of the match, scoring a vital 91, which, with Kartiks' 140, saw India get to 330 - a very decent score, on a smallish ground.

Aus completely folded, and have a few worries. Clarke was missed, but, it wasn't a 65 all-out pitch

The support for India is amazing, and most games, will feel like home ones for them. They can definitely win the whole thing.

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2nd ODI - England v N.Zealand - Southampton

England are 1-0 down, and need to win the last 2 games, to win the series.

Weather looks fine for the week, so, they have no excuses.

Presumably, Broad and Finn will still be missing, and they need Anderson/Swann to play well .. As they have been, to restrict, even a dubious looking N.Zealand batting team.

Think generally, England are a touch over-rated in this form, and N.Zealand have a chance.

 

N.Zealand win the toss, and decide to bat. Southee is not playing, which is a fairly big loss.

Eng 1.56

 

N.Zealand 2.76

 

N.Zealand finish on 359-3 ... Some total,especially at the Ageas Bowl, with a mighty impressive knock from Martin Guptil, of 189 not out.

Eng will have to bat, mightily well ..

 

At the break, N.Zealand big favs .. 1.16

 

Eng made a poor effort to get the runs, despite being 50-0, with a decent rate.

Big scores are gettable in the new format, with 2 balls etc, but, they went about it poorly.

Decent 100 from Trott.

 

N.Zealand win e series .. Last game on Wed, becomes a dead rubber.

 

 

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Champions trophy - warm-up - India v Sri Lanka - Edgbaston

So, after the 1st warm-up game was rained off, we have better weather in Birmingham.

Both sides are playing 15 man teams, so, not sure what a good score will be.

India win the toss, and elect to field, which, I suppose makes sense, given u wouldn't know how to pace your innings.

Not sure, how it really helps, to play a warm-up like this .. Conditions will be v different from the Tournament conditions, so ...

Sri Lanka off to a good start ..

48-0 after 6 overs, cold wind here, but some sunshine.

Sri Lanka liking the cold .. 68-0 after 8.3 overs .. This could be a decent score .. If I knew what one was, in these sort of games ..

Sri Lanka move to 82-0 after 12 overs .. Perera gets a 50

50 now for Dilshan

Sri Lanka 140-0 after 23 overs.

Sri Lanka 160-0 after 25 overs .. Fair crowd in .. About 6000

Perera retires . Gives someone else a chance ..Jayawardene comes in to bat

Not sure what a good score is .. Even now, and get the feeling, India cold chase it down, if they wanted to .

But, may play in a way, just to bat etc.

Sri Lanka 170-0 after 29 overs

Dilshan now retires ..

In the other warm-up, No Gayle/Pollard/Samuels etc .. So, what's the point ?

Sri Lanka 201-0 , after 33

Sri Lanka 221-1 after 37.1 .. With 2 men retired, and 15 men teams .. Dunno if it means anything, at all, and am rapidly losing interest.

Sri Lanka 272-1 after 43, .. Starting to push, to maybe 325

Sri Lanka 296-2 after 46 ..

Sri Lanka finish on 333-3 .. That has a nice ring to it ...

Will it be enough .. ? Does anyone care ? ,for answers to these vital questions, c u after lunch.

Here's the reply ..

India lose a quick-wkt .. Run out ..

India 5-1 after 1.3

Faltering a bit, now 70-3 after 7.2 .. Need another 264, 50 behind D/L par score.

India 128-4 after 25 overs..

Ruler of the World, won the Derby ...

Game has come alive ..

India 194-4 after 33 ..

This is set-up nicely , 15 overs to go, 206-4 ..need 127 off 90

Good game .. 10 overs left, they need 81, Kohli has 125 NO .. And hasn't retired

Sun has come out, not so cold ..

5 overs to go, and they don't this easily. Kohli gets a superb 144, and they need 29 from 30 balls, 5 wickets left.

3 overs to go, they need 16 runs .. Should be a cake-walk .. Dhoni .. And Karthik (93)

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