Toss: Namibia won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
Umpires: Paul Reiffel & Paul Wilson
What Actually Happened
Winner: New Zealand won by 52 runs
Scores: New Zealand163/4Scotland 111/7
Player of the Match:Jimmy Neesham 35* (23) & 1-0-6-1
Best Figures
Bernard Schotlz (3-0-15-1)
Tim Southee (4-0-15-2)
Most Runs
Glenn Phillips 39* (21)
Michael Van Lingen 25 (25)
Moments of The Day: Phillips, Neesham Solidify NZ’s Case
NZ’s openers started well with a 30 run partnership in 4 overs before Guptill was caught out. In general, every batter in the NZ side contributed but at a slow SR.
It was Glenn Phillips (SR 185.71) & Jimmy Neesham (152.17) with a 76* (36) partnership that made sure NZ finished strongly.
Tim Southee is not the first bowler you think of for T20s. However, he manages to take wickets somehow (only one of few bowlers with 100+ Tests, ODI, & T20I wickets). A 4-0-15-2 set the tone with a slow powerplay and Namibia could not recover the finishing margin.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Namibia Lose the Plot Again
Just like their last game Pakistan Vs Namibia, Namibia had strangled their opposition for most of the innings. At the end of the 16th, NZ were going at a snail’s pace with only 96/4 runs on the board. Last 4 overs yielded 67 runs.
In comparison, Namibia were 92/4 at the end of the 16th. They only added 19 runs in the last 4. The finishing between the teams was the difference.
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: West Indies won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Umpires: Aleem Dar & Langton Rusere
What Actually Happened
Winner: Sri Lanka won by 20 runs
Scores: Sri Lanka 189/3West Indies 169/8
Player of the Match:Charith Asalanka 68 (41)
Best Figures
Andre Russell (4-0-33-2)
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-0-19-2)
Most Runs
Charith Asalanka 68 (44)
Shimron Hetmyer 81* (54)
Moments of The Day: Sri Lanka Batted Better, Fielded Better, Bowled Better
Everyone from Sri Lanka contributed today. Kusal Perera 29 (21) & Pathum Nissanka 51 (41) gave them yet another bright start, but it was Asalanka’a clinical timing and Shanaka’s finishing 25* (14) that gave SL an above-par sore.
In every one of these quick summaries, we have mentioned Hasaranga. Sometimes he has contributed with the bat, sometimes with the ball, and sometimes both. Oh and the fielding is pretty good as well. Here is how he fared in the tournament, definitely a player of the tournament contender:
2/24
71 & 1/12
3/9
6 & 0/29
4 & 2/22
4 & 3/20
34 & 3/21
2/19
In a must win crunch game, 8 out of the 10 West Indian batters, most of them legends, scored in the single digits. Only the young guns, Nicholas Pooran (age 26) scored 46 (34) and Shimron Hetmyer (age 24) made sure West Indies at least competed. Hetmyer did not give up till the very end, bringing the target down to 35 in 6 balls.
Honorable Mention: Rajapaksa’s diving catch to dismiss Roston Chase & Karunatne’s running catch to dismiss Holder were outstanding
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: The Sun Sets For the Legends
Darren Sammy had repeatedly set on air that these group of West Indian players were aware that this tournament would define their legacies, especially Chris Gayle & Dwayne Bravo. However, Gayle went out for 1 & Bravo for 2 (and only one wicket at an economy rate of 10.50). Bravo is officially retiring from international duty after this World Cup and one can only assume the same with Chris Gayle.
Pollard is still staying although his captaincy status depends on the board. With Pooran, Hetmyer, & Holder (only 29 years old), the leadership group for the next generation is there but rebuilding needs to start now.
In any case, thank you Legends. We love you for all you have given this sport. They have defined the T20 format and made it their own.
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Australia won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena & Nitin Menon
What Actually Happened
Winner: Australia won by 8 wickets
Scores: Bangladesh 73/10Australia 78/2
Player of the Match:Adam Zampa 5/19
Best Figures
Adam Zampa (4-0-19-5)
Shoriful Islam (1-0-9-1)
Most Runs
Shamim Hossain 19 (18)
Aaron Finch 40 (20)
Moments of The Day: All-Round Australia Boost Their NRR
Starc set the tone for Australia with a full ball to dismiss Liton Das. Bat and bowled, played on. Next over, Hazelwood to Soumya Sarkar. Played on. Mushfiqur missed a straight one from Maxwell. Then came Zampa and ate up the rest of the middle order. Wicket first ball and then toppled Bangladesh from 62/5 to 73/10.
Australia knew that to topple South Africa, they had to boost their NRR. Bowling out Bangladesh was 73 was just the first part (South Africa had bowled Bangladesh for 84). However, Finch’s 40 (20) & Mitchell Marsh’s 16 (5), including a last ball six ensured Australia jump ahead of South Africa.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: One Time An Mistake, Twice An Issue
When West Indies were bowled out for 55, we knew it was an aberration, although it showed their weaknesses.
Bangladesh’s 84/10 against South Africa could have been brushed aside as an aberration. Last game, no Shakib, I thought we would see a different, more positive Bangladesh. Clearly that was not the case. 73/10 – larger issue is at play. Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar have not flourished despite numerous opportunities. No replacement for the seniors Fab Four either. Where does Bangladesh go from here?
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Afghanistan won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Umpires: Paul Reiffel & Richard Kettleborough
What Actually Happened
Winner: Pakistan won by 45 runs
Scores: India 210/2Afghanistan144/7
Player of the Match:Rohit Sharma 74 (47)
Best Figures
Gulbadin Naib (4-0-39-1)
Mohammad Shami (4-0-32-3), R Ashwin (4-0-14-2)
Most Runs
Rohit Sharma 74 (47)
Karim Janat 42* (22)
Moments of The Day: Rahul-Rohit & India’s Positive Intent
KL Rahul & Rohit Sharma set the tone for India. Hitting 5 sixes and 14 fours between them, they carried India to 140 in about 14 overs. Strong platform meant India could promote Rishabh Pant & Hardik Pandya ahead of Kohli. 27* (13) & 35* (13) was quite the finishing touch.
The bowling stories of the day were of Shami & Ashwin. I am happy for Shami, who had received a lot of social media hate after the game against Pakistan. Today he was India’s highest wicket taker and dented Afghanistan’s chase at the top. Ashwin playing his first T20I since 2016 showed why is still the best off-spinner in India. An economy of 3.5 with wickets of dangerous Najib & Gulbadin ensured India would win by a large margin.
At the end, Janat’s quickfire 42 (including a last ball six) and intelligent batting by Mohammad Nabi 35 (31) made sure NRR margin between the two countries was still far
Honorable Mention: Pandya’s difficult boundary catch to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was looking really good
If only they had restricted Pakistan earlier….
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: The Toss
Till this game, Afghanistan was winning the toss and choosing to bat first – Their template, bat first, score high, unleash the spinners. With Mujeeb’s injury & dew factor, Afghanistan went with bowling first and were never in the game. Without a target, Rashid’s guile (conceded 36) & Naveen-ul-Haq’s slower deliveries (conceded 59) were not potent.
Another broken dream was suggestions in social media that the match was fixed due Afghanistan’s lack of intensity. This sort of rhetoric just isn’t called for and is actually detrimental to the game.
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Scotland won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE
Umpires: Marais Erasmus & Ahsan Raza
What Actually Happened
Winner: New Zealand won by 16 runs
Scores: New Zealand172/5Scotland 156/6
Player of the Match:Martin Guptill 93 (56)
Best Figures
Safyaan Sharif (4-0-28-2), Mark Watt (4-0-13-1)
Trent Boult (4-0-29-2)
Most Runs
Martin Guptill 93 (56)
Michael Leask 42* (20)
Moments of The Day: Martin Guptill The Difference Between The Two Sides
Sharif’s over put Scotland in the front. First was an LBW to dismiss Mitchell. Then was a brilliant captaincy ploy that you will not see in the highlights. Scotland placed a fielder over short third man. First ball, Williamson hit the ball right to the fielder with his release shot – dab to third man. Four dots later, Sharif bowled down the leg side, and Williamson edged it to the keeper.
Martin Guptill finally played the innings we were waiting for. At the end of the 10th over, NZ were tied down by Mark Watt & Chris Greaves at 70/3. Phillips was struggling at 6 (12). After the break, Leask was introduced and Phillips broke lose. 102 runs came in the last 10. Scotland was right in the battle till the end. Munsey especially was looking good with his two sixes before getting out on a full toss. Every batter scored crucial runs and Michael Leask’s 42* (20) got Scotland very close to the target.
New Zealand escaped, barely.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: The Heat
In the afternoon game, the UAE heat was evident and affected several players. Guptill, who had batted most of the first innings, was physically strained and holed out for 93. He did not field for a few overs either.
Keeper Commentary of the Day: Cross
Matthew Cross has been pretty vocal behind the stumps in this tournament, but he took it to the next level when Glenn Phillips was batting. With India & NZ competing for that elusive 2nd qualifying spot, Cross remarked to Chris Greaves, “Come on Greavo, whole of India is behind you.” Here is the video.
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Umpires: Chris Brown & Chris Gaffaney
What Actually Happened
Winner: Pakistan won by 45 runs
Scores: Pakistan 189/2Namibia144/5
Player of the Match:Mohammad Rizwan 79* (50)
Best Figures
David Wiese (4-0-30-1)
Imad Wasim (3-0-13-1)
Most Runs
Mohammad Rizwan 79* (50)
David Wiese 43* (31)
Moments of The Day:
Rizwan & Babar rise again. A 113-run partnership. They are now establishing an iconic T20I opening partnership.
Pakistan took more positives – Hafeez finished with 32* (16) & Hasan Ali returned with spells of 4-0-22-1.
David Wiese’s 43* ensured Namibia did not collapse for a low score and got 144.
If only they had restricted Pakistan earlier….
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Namibia Fail To Take Advantage
Pakistan had an uncharacteristically slow start. At the end of the Powerplay, Pakistan were 29/0, the fourth lowest of all time in T20Is, without losing a wicket. By the end of the 8th over, Pakistan were 45/0 with Babar Azam 33 (27) & Rizwan 12 (21).
T20 World Cup Points Table, Most Runs, Wickets, Catches, Dismissals
No need to go elsewhere for thePoints Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
