World T20

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The ICC have run some poor events in yesteryear but this is already taking the biscuit


No tickets on sale still, reports Delhi are pulling out as a host and Pakistan might not even be allowed to play. Oh and Australia have already announced their squad

But everything is "progressing smoothly" according to the latest ICC press release...

That was a wonderful shot for six by Root. I bet that feels fantastic when you hit a flowing shot like that.

Moeen whack it ffs

Root always stays calm.

This is getting closer by the minute with the RRR down to nine - normally you'd fancy the batting team from here. But another wicket and nerves would be a big factor...

Olly wrote:Moeen whack it ffs

Nah. Just keep putting Root back on strike.

Man of the Match could be interesting but let's wait a bit for that. Not too long though - Mrs Bat wants Neighbours at 5.30!

Roooooot!

Handy over for England

Less than run-a-ball needed from the last two now.

Is there a twist left ?

Under a run a ball. SA need something truly special

Root caught in the deep. Very late twist?

Root caught inches from another six...inches from a certain England win

Now need eleven from ten ...Jordan ?

Moeen swings, 7 from 9...

Only this game can you get a 230 target under run a ball and still be nervous

There's four of them

Go on Moeen...come on lads ...singles will do now

Four for Jordan...it's in the bag now

Yep, that one should kill it.

Bowling needs some work, but when this batting lineup fires they can match anyone.

Jordan caught in the deep. So we continue.

Jordan falls with scores level. Could do with another wide!

Willey run out. SA fielding superbly to keep this going

New record chase...going to finish with balls to spare...

And Mrs Bat can watch Neighbours

Glad I sat up . Although . Wait . Jordan has holed out with scores level so Moeen will have the honour... And now Willey has been run out.......

You couldn't make this up

Willey run out first ball!

3 balls, 1 needed

Moeen finishes it in style...

Never in doubt

guildfordbat wrote:Man of the Match could be interesting but let's wait a bit for that. Not too long though - Mrs Bat wants Neighbours at 5.30!

With admitted and unashamed bias, I would actually give it to Jason Roy. It was his innings and approach that turned the game on its head.

Moeen smacks it to the boundary. What a win

Well batted, England. Joe Root is the undisputed number one batsman in all the world.

guildfordbat wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Man of the Match could be interesting but let's wait a bit for that. Not too long though - Mrs Bat wants Neighbours at 5.30!

With admitted and unashamed bias, I would actually give it to Jason Roy. It was his innings and approach that turned the game on its head.

While I agree Roy - with help from Hales - turned the game in the first two overs ; I do think Root has to be MoTM.
That innings provided the bulk of the scoring , at speed , and the control needed to win it. Really deserved a century - not that he will mind.

Hear Hear Duty!

That was awesome - my nerves couldn't stand that last over

Guildford I could run to wherever you are and hug you

Strings - a cyber hug is more than sufficient.

well well well

how about that? Fantastic from Roy to make an impossible chase seem possible, and what a beautiful innings from Root

England well and truly alive with a wonderful chase.

Duty281 wrote:Well batted, England. Joe Root is the undisputed number one batsman in all the world.

Well I'd agree...though not with "undisputed" . There are too many Australian (Smith) SA (ABDV) NZ (Williamson) and , of course , Indian (Kohli) fans out there

But I reckon young Joe has them all covered with his mastery of all situations and formats at the moment.

Oh man this England batting line up is just the bomb.

We've just chased down 230 and Jos Buttler didn't even come off!!

Root 83 off 44, just 4 dot balls. I've never seen a more talented England batsman in my lifetime, what a player

Well played England. The fielding is still bad but they truly have s works class batting unit. now they can go home with great memories no matter what happens

What an astonishing chase...bit like that SA chase down of Australia's 430 all those years ago in 50 over.

In truth once the England openers had taken 44 from the first two overs the target was just "tough" rather than impossible. I think England played it very well from there - even to not going OTT against Tahir and Duminy : the rate never got away from them and they kept vital wickets in hand. Really well done and if they can avoid losing to Afghanistan they may yet continue in the tournament after all

Seriously they still have to look at the bowling. Plunkett - or Dawson - must replace Topley. I'd retain Jordan ( yes , I did type that) as they need the best fielding unit as well . But if he bowls like a drain again he's got to go...

Alfie I'd agree Plunkett for Topley has to happen

I would reserve to choice of Dawson or Jordan depending on the wicket in Delhi. If it's a turner you go Dawson, if not Jordan.

Nasser speaks a lot of sense doesn't he? Talking in his post match analysis there, Root is easily the best player across all formats England have ever had, and he is also right in the last decade the batting and fielding has moved onto another level, bowling hasn't quite done that yet

You just know we'll go and lose to Afghanistan on Wednesday now!!

well yes, I think Plunkett has to come in, seamers haven't been good enough so far, and Topley is the obvious choice to make way. Not really many other options if England want to keep the balance at 4 seamers and 2 spinners. I would keep Jordan, but maybe tempted to bowl him only at the death, as SA did with Morris today. Let the other three seamers bowl in the PP, with maybe one over of spin.

Yes , Olly , pitch conditions will come into it. Not sure they'd make two changes though : England tend to err on the side of conservative selection ; and there is something to be said for continuity.

I would really have been kicking myself had I bailed at the change of innings : just had a flickering hope the batsmen might bring it home. But I have to admit your 133 in 17 overs prediction was playing on my mind for a while...

Time to crash now ...good night all.

alfie wrote:Yes , Olly , pitch conditions will come into it.  Not sure they'd make two changes though : England tend to err on the side of conservative selection ; and there is something to be said for continuity.

I would really have been kicking myself had I bailed at the change of innings : just had a flickering hope the batsmen might bring it home.  But I have to admit your 133 in 17 overs prediction was playing on my mind for a while...

Time to crash now ...good night all.

Alfie I'm glad you've realised not to take a blind bit of notice about anything I ever predict...

Great win, hope the management do see what we all see and try to do something with the bowling given the limited options we have. This was a one I'm fifty chase, can't rely on the batsmen entirely

Root's T20 international strike rate is now 140.8 - higher than Warner, yuvraj, buttler, De Villiers and what McCullum's was

Incredible player

Never in doubt was it?

Next game, Plunkett and Dawson in for Topley and Jordan.

Really excited for this next game. As if the match didn't mean enough already - India can't have been expecting it to be a must-win situation too. Should be intense. Hope the rain doesn't write too much of it off.

an amazingly unexpected win from Eng

b.loody rain stopped in Kolkata, can't get the ground dry fast enough now

Ind bowl first.....pitch likely to offer some seam

There's a little bit of turn out there...

it's turning SQUARE inspite of the wet conditions and new ball......will be hard to chase even 120
ball turning and even stopping off the pitch.......hard to pick up slow deliveries of fast bowlers

Crazy pitch

Think Pakistan have done well to accumulate a score with pretty consistent singles here

Could be a very tough chase. Have Pakistan shot themselves in the foot with selection though?

it's not just spinners, but seamers are also are hard to score of . The ball is stopping a bit after pitching , getting stuck in the pitch

Pak has a decent total on board

So much for home advantage...

India must be furious with the pitches they've been given