Tag: England

Cricket World Cup: Day 16 Recap

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Day 16 Results

1. Sri Lanka v England

Being better but still losing by ten wickets is wonderfully bittersweet.  Especially when you’re the England skipper and your own form is horrendous, your getting grief for not singing the side’s national anthem, and if you’re out of the Cricket World Cup if you don’t beat Afghanistan and Bangladesh in your last two games.

That’s what Eoin Morgan’s going through. Piling on three hundred he would’ve gone to lunch pretty satisfied with his teams work.  Joe Root laid the platform with a well controlled hundred, and Jos Buttler finished it off with the death over impetus that the situation demanded.  Lunch would have gone down well, with Morgan assuming his band of quicks would have no trouble defending the huge total.

But they couldn’t.  They were never a chance as Sri Lanka waltzed to an imperious victory – by nine wickets and with 16 balls remaining.  Centuries to Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne suddenly making Morgan’s position as captain looking shaky.  Sangakkara was particularly masterful.  His hundred coming from just 70 balls and upping the ante just when required.  In fact, the hundred was Sangakkara’s quickest ever, and outlines the ominous form he is currently in (near his very best).  Thirimanne also enjoyed the flat pitch as he looks more assured in his role at the tope of the order.  His hundred means all of Sri Lanka’s top four have crossed the hundred mark in this Cricket World Cup.

England’s bowlers look dreadfully off the pace and are unlikely to worry any opposition batsman on these surfaces.  Their two best bowlers (over a long period of time), Stuart Broad and James Anderson are averaging 92 and 91 respectively with the ball in the four games they have completed in the Cricket World Cup.  They need to get the Kookaburra ball swinging and quickly if they are any chance to make the quarterfinals and then surprise someone in them.

A batting order change around is probably necessary too.  We’d have Ali, Hales, Bell, Root, Buttler, Taylor, Morgan…

Sri Lanka 312 for 1 (Thirimanne 139*, Sangakkara 117*) beat England 309 for 6 (Root 121, Bell 49) by nine wickets

2. Pakistan v Zimbabwe

Pakistan finally got on the board at the Cricket World Cup with a gritty win over underdogs Zimbabwe in Canberra.  Zimbabwe’s known achilles heal – their inability to contain run rates at the death – and their Betcirca predicted second achilles heal – inability to handle the bounce of Mohammed Irfan – ultimately cost them the game, despite being competitive throughout.

Pakistan are developing some fragilities of their own.  The batting unit look well below par, and they were indebted to Misbah-ul-Haq and Wahab Riaz for bringing some respectability to the total and ensuring the bowlers had something to defend.  At 127/5 and 155/6 Pakistan looked to be sliding towards another World Cup defeat, and their place in the knockout stages was looking dicey.  However, the ever patient ul-Haq and Riaz managed to put together a partnership of 47, and Riaz was able to continue the momentum in the final overs to help his team post 235.  Zimbabwe conceded 73 from the last ten overs and put down two of the easiest outfield catches you’ll ever see, in a further example of the reason they can’t quite get wins at this level.

Zimbabwe’s chase started poorly.  They lost three early wickets to Mohammed Irfan which derailed any chance of early momentum and meant they would always be chasing the game.  Brendon Taylor did his best to hold the innings together, and Elton Chigumbura batted bravely in the face of a significant injury concern, but they still fell 20 runs short.  Irfan added a fourth wicket, and Riaz matched his haul, while Umar Akmal had a hand in six dismissals.

Pakistan 235 for 7 (Misbah 73, Wahab 54*, Chatara 3-35) beat Zimbabwe 215 (Taylor 50, Irfan 4-30, Wahab 4-45) by 20 runs

Cricket World Cup: Day 16 Preview

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The Three Big Questions

What does New Zealand’s win mean for the World Cup?

The Black Caps win was highly entertaining but doesn’t mean all that much for the rest of the World Cup.  They will probably top Pool A now and have a home quarterfinal and semifinal if they get that far.  It makes  Australia’s road slightly harder and they may face the difficult prospect of South Africa in the semi-final; possibly a little earlier than anticipated.  The win proves low totals are defendable, showcases swing bowling as a very serious weapon against the power hitting approach, but also shows New Zealand’s susceptibility to quality pace bowling.  Taylor, Elliot and Anderson all looked vulnerable to real pace, and their form will be a concern.

How will Australia respond?

By dominating all of their opponents in the lead up to the semifinals.  It was certainly a wake up call and we expect them to bounce back with huge performances against Scotland, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.  Big wins against the raining Pool companions will return them to confidence and remove any demons from their Eden Park performance – they won’t bat this badly again in the tournament.

What did the win do to the tournament winner odds?

Australia – $2.90, South Africa – $4.00, New Zealand – $4.25.

No change to the outright market after the unexpected win.  While New Zealand may shorten over the next few days, there was no flurry of money on New Zealand after their nervy batting performance.  Australia still big favourites (as expected).

Today’s Matchups

1. England v Sri Lanka, Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington – mostly sunny), starts 11:00am local time

England – $1.85

Sri Lanka – $1.95

Bookies are having a hard time separating two evenly matched teams in the day’s first encounter in Wellington.  Both teams have had their share of disappointment in the tournament thus far, but both are coming off big wins against Scotland and Bangladesh respectively.  This game should give a good indication of the merits of each teams Cricket World Cup chances.

Look for plenty of runs on a quick Wellington surface and expect this one to go deep into the last overs to find a winner.

2. Pakistan v Zimbabwe, The Gabba (Brisbane – parlty cloudy), starts 1:30pm local time

Pakistan – $1.25

Zimbabwe – $4.00

Pakistan have the chance to ease the nerves of their entire nation, and in the process save a few effigies from the predictable burning.  Their easiest matchup of the World Cup thus far gives them an opportunity to build confidence, find some form, and settle on the combinations that will hopefully compete in the knockout stages.  Zimbabwe haven’t played a bad game yet so they’ll target this one as a genuine upset chance.  How they handle the uncomfortable bounce of Mohammed Irfan will ultimately determine how they go.  Oh and their death bowling needs to improve too.

Today’s Multi

The Sexual Innuendo Multi

Joe Root to Top Score – $5.00 + ‘Boom Boom’ Afridi to Win Man of the Match Award – $12.00

Pays – $60.00

Odds from BetEasy.

Cricket World Cup: Day 10 Recap

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England finally got out of the World Cup dungeon but plenty of cobwebs remain after a comfortable win over Scotland in Christchurch on Day 10.  Facing the embarrassing indignity of bowing out before the knockout round after two opening defeats (including a remarkably one sided one to New Zealand on Friday), England just about managed to turn their campaign around thanks to Moeen Ali’s powerful hundred.  England are now all but assured a quarter-final spot if they can get passed Afghanistan and Bangladesh.  Here’s what transpired:

Day 10 Results

England v Scotland

The overcast Hagely Oval conditions encouraged Scotland to bowl first, but they were soon made to regret that decision as England’s openers Ian Bell and Ali piled on a rapid partnership of 172.  The partnership was completely dominated by Ali, who had brought up his second one day hundred just one ball after Bell had fifty to his name.  Ali’s leg side dominant masterclass outlined just how free his mind is compared to those of his colleagues.  He played with confidence, belief and a lack of fear that resulted in quick scoring domination of the opposition attack.  The difference in approach was on display a short time later, after Bell and Ali had both been removed.  Root, Ballance, Morgan and Taylor all struggled for momentum in the powerplay – presumably, fear of being subject to media scrutiny again getting in the way of their natural games (as did the cobwebs).  England did manage to get to 300, Jos Buttler, who should have been promoted once Bell was out, was crucial in helping them get there.

The bowlers did what they needed to.  They didn’t bowl particularly well, but Scotland’s batting efforts have been the most disappointing of the associate nations in this World Cup so far given their strong warm up form. Scotland were all out for 184.  The wickets were share amongst all of the bowlers, with Moeen Ali showing off his all round prowess with a useful two wickets to complete his man of the match display.

Steven Finn’s display will probably ease some concerns over his form.  His three wickets will help block the memories of the two overs he bowled to Brendon McCullum (0-49 if you need reminding).

England 303 for 8 (Moeen 128, Bell 54, Davey 4-68) beat Scotland 184 (Coetzer 71, Finn 3-26, Moeen 2-47) by 119 runs

Cricket World Cup: Day 10 Preview

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The minnows have all held their own in World Cup matches thus far without quite getting over the line (aside from Ireland against the West Indies, which was arguably predicted).  Today, Scotland are the minnow trying to overcome a more senior test playing side.  However, the English are reeling, so this could be the magic minnow moment of the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Today’s Matchup

England v Scotland, Hagley Oval (Christchurch – fine but cloudy), starts 11:00am local time

England – $1.06

Scotland – $9.30

“Of all the feeble World Cup displays that England have turned on – a whole raft since 1992 – this defeat by New Zealand, who knocked off their target in 12.2 overs, has to be the most ignominious” – Scyld Berry writing for The Telegraph.

Berry’s phrase pretty much sums up the shambolic England performance that dominated Twitter on Friday night.  England were woefully inept against New Zealand and now need to find the inspiration, the belief and the right team mix that will deliver a much needed win – and with it, a chance of making the World Cup quarter finals – when the play Scotland today.

England would never have expected this much pressure on a game against Scotland, but thankfully, the bookies still have them as unbackable favourites.  England are expected to make changes to the side that crumbled to Tim Southee, with Ravi Bopara and Alex Hales the ones likely to slot in.

Scotland bowled nicely against New Zealand when defending their paltry 162.  Thus, therein lies their main chance of sneaking a win against their more heavily fancied neighbours.  Wardlaw and Davey both swing it, and with Christchurch already looking overcast at the time of writing, England could be in for another test against the swinging ball.

Today’s Bet

We don’t even know if he’ll play, but he should, and because he should we’re backing him no matter what.  Even if he doesn’t play he’ll still score the same amount of runs as some that do.

Therefore, we’re on Alex Hales to top score at $6.00.

Hales was left out…again.  New bet needed.  England batting first so runs on offer if they get past the new ball.  Odds are not worthwhile on Root or Bell.  We’re going against the grain.  Morgan (if he continues to bat 5) to top score at the great odds of $8.50.

Odds from Palmerbet.

Cricket World Cup: Day 7 Recap

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We genuinely thought New Zealand’s third pool game against England could be a nervy one.  Then we started watching and 55 minutes later (including 40 for a ridiculous tea break) it was over.  It wasn’t nervy. The confidence of the English batsman was shot, even before this game, we just didn’t realise.  Hopefully you disregarded our advice to back England (or at the least also backed Joe Root to top score and came out even).  See a quick review of the action below – and it has to be quick because the game didn’t even last 50 overs.

Day 7 Result

A day night match finished before the lights came on.

An England bowler who went for 0-49 from two overs (including half of his balls going for six).  Compare that with New Zealand’s man of the match who took 7-33.  Those points highlight the gulf between the two sides in what was arguably one of the most one sided World Cup contests of all time.  The scorers were kept unbelievably busy filling in wickets and recording sixes, mainly in the columns of Tim Southee and Brendon McCullum.

After winning the toss on a nice looking Wellington surface England’s under fire captain, Eoin Morgan, opted to set New Zealand a total.  What he didn’t account for was Southee and the late movement he was able to generate that perplexed the England batsman and eventually saw them shot out for just 123.  Southee was a marvel, especially in his second spell of 5-10, where he used the crease to excellent effect to take regular wickets.  His 7-33 was the third best bowling figures at a Cricket World cup and he was on track for becoming the first man to take 8 World Cup wickets in an innings before Adam Milne joined the party and took the wicket of Joe Root, for 46, to finish things off.

For the second game in a row New Zealand had to come out and bat before the tea break.  Brendon McCullum was clearly fine with that and even threatened to finish the entire match before the 40-minute break, despite only having time for 9 overs.  McCullum smashed it to all parts and scored his 77 off just 25 balls.  He cut, slashed and ramped his way to the fastest World Cup fifty (breaking his own record in the process).  McCullum dented pride, sponsors cars that were on display and the plans for hundreds of fans that hadn’t even left work to get down to the game.

We mentioned that the English media have a story angle in Eoin Morgan’s poor form – they have a new one now.

New Zealand 125 for 2 (McCullum 77) beat England 123 (Root 46, Southee 7-33) by eight wickets

Cricket World Cup: Day 7 Preview

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Crunch game at the World Cup today with New Zealand hosting England in a Wellington day-nighter.  Fans are craving a close game and this one has all the trappings of being so.

The Three Big Questions

Is Adam Milne New Zealand’s best third seam option?

New Zealand are going with an unchanged lineup for today’s match which means Adam Milne will again keep Kyle Mills out (and to a lesser extent Mitchell McClenaghan).  Milne shades the only contentious position presumably because of his extra pace.  The English batsman have struggled against other express quicks such as Mitchell Starc and Johnson over the past few weeks, and the Black Caps are obviously keen to keep testing their appetite for the quick, short stuff.  Milne’s returns have been modest so far – 2/56 and 0/32 at an economy of 5.17 runs per over.  But, in the eye of the New Zealand selectors, the RPO is clearly offset by the wicket-taking threat.  Mills would contain with his accurate cross seamers gripping on the Westpac surface, without any real danger.  Milne’s the right call.

When will Eoin Morgan return to form?

He has to doesn’t he.  How long can someone be “due” without ever scoring runs?  Morgan is providing the English journalists with an almighty angle for their pre-match reporting, and 4 ducks in 5 matches is the type of banter club players love (something about an Audi for a few ducks in a row).  Morgan is quality though; he will jump at the chance of a change of scenery and we expect the drought to end today.  We would bat him at 6 though and let James Taylor occupy 5.  This will give Taylor more time in the middle, while also handing the important closing role to Morgan with less pressure on him the score runs.

Is the World Cup too long?  Will we run out of questions to answer in our daily previews? 

Yes and yes.

Today’s Match

New Zealand v England, Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington – partly cloudy), starts 2:00pm local time

New Zealand – $1.51

England – $2.56

New Zealand are riding high on a wave of game generated momentum and public admiration, and now face a humiliated England side who were a bit gun-shy in their World Cup opener in Melbourne.  While the Black Caps are strong favourites at the bookies, we think this will be considerably closer than the odds suggest.  Why?  Because New Zealand haven’t faced quality opening bowlers for some time.  Having time and time again dined out on Sri Lanka and Pakistan military medium’s and only had a small dose of imperious quicks when they warmed up against South Africa, they now face Stuart Broad and James Anderson.  Two quality seamers with equally promising backups in Steven Finn and Chris Woakes. Eoin Morgan’s due too (even though he’s battling the captaincy curse).

New Zealand have name an unchanged side from the one that has come out on top in their first two efforts.  They need to shake it off, shake it off the poor chase they nearly threw away of just 160 odd against Scotland three days ago.  We’re anxious for New Zealand in this one.

Today’s Bet

We like outsiders, so think about lumping on England on a straight head to head here.  If you’re really confident, back England win by 50 Runs or 6-10 Wickets at $7.00.  If you need a player to back, pick Joe Root to top score at $5.50 (he averages 58.4 against NZ in 7 ODI’s).

Odds from Palmerbet.