Blame that on Hales. I think the tournament is too soon for Archer, heās raw, get wickets but is expensive. He can be a game changer but also leaks runs with his paceā¦
I think the biggest disappointment, this World Cup, has been our fielding which has been ordinary at best.
72-3 11.3 overs
Pretorius to MDKJ Perera, OUT , chopped on! Another mistake! It was back of a length, but too close to off stump to try and run to third man, Perera tried the shot anyway, got a bottom edge that ricocheted onto his back pad and went onto the stumps!
MDKJ Perera b Pretorius 30 (34b 4x4 0x6) SR: 88.23
Like I was saying rankings mean fuck all if itās not backed up. No one gives a shit about them, the team weāve had should have done better than what weāre currently achieving and thatās mental weakness not talent thatās causing it.
Hales being sacked in disgrace turned out to be a blessing in disguise though, because Roy seized his chance and was scoring shit loads of runs in his place. A real shame he did his hamstring just when he was in the form of his life, a cruel blow. Absolutely agree regarding Archer and Englandās fielding, some of it has been downright amateur hour stuff.
Archer ironically named is about as accurate as Devon Malcom and Mitchell Johnson at the moment, needs to stop trying so hard and relax and simply put the ball on off stump, not those fucking attempted bouncers.
Sri Lanka 100-4 after 22 overs
Morris to Mathews, OUT , but heās gone now! Using his feet worked for Mathews at the start of the over, but when he tries to do so again, he plays on and is bowled. Did Morris see him coming? He definitely pulled the length back a little shorter with this one, and Mathews was much too early on the pull as the ball stopped on him. Bat meets ball in the wrong place, and a thick bottom edge flies straight into the stumps
AD Mathews b Morris 11 (29b 1x4 0x6) SR: 37.93
Oy vey!
203 all out, 49.3 overs, good for England is the Saffers can win this oneā¦
Gut feel though, Pakistan are going to finish 4th, England arenāt.
You think! On the cards after the Sri Lanka debacle, mentally weak.
Not mentally weak at all, basics
England have India and New Zealand, I expect them to beat New Zealand, India unsure of.
Pakistan have Afghanistan and Bangladesh, I expect them to win both of those improving their NRR
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Meanwhile :-
Saffers 31-1 from 5 overs
Malinga to de Kock, OUT , yorker! Malinga is devastating when he gets it right, and he does so with this swerving, dipping toe-crusher. De Kock does well to keep his foot out of the way, but his bat canāt come down quickly enough and the timber is disturbed
Q de Kock b Malinga 15 (16b 3x4 0x6) SR: 93.75
When it matters we fail.
I see NZ are keeping Australia in check? Are they a more talented team than us? No, are they more intelligent in game management? Yes indeed. Do they have more character? Fucking right they do.
Pakistan are batting in response to Afghanistanās 227-9
They are curently 89-3 off of 21 overs. Afghanistanās game management and heart have been evident here.
Australia are currently 156-5 after 34 overs, current partnership off 66 runs.
2 superb catches by NZ to remove Smith and Maxwell but they have also dropped Khawaja twice. Australianās guilty of playing some rash shots for their other wickets.
Seeing as they have space to breathe they arenāt really arsed concerning the Aussies, job done. Its the Kiwiās Iām talking about, are you confident for tomorrow? At best Iām 50/50 and thats at best.
If we played India WHEN it mattered itād go to 10/90 against us.
Pakistan 121-4 from 29.1 overs
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT , straight to point! soft, soft dismissal for Hafeez. A bit on the shorter side, carrom ball I think, and he just slices it tamely into pointās waiting hands. Heās distraught, Afghanistan are back to smiling
Mohammad Hafeez c Hashmatullah Shahidi b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 19 (35b 1x4 0x6) SR: 54.28
Australia 199-6 43 overs
Williamson to Carey, OUT , OUT THIS TIME! A terrific hand from Alex Carey comes to an end, as he looks to go inside out over cover but cannot clear Martin Guptill. Smart work, too, from KW, as he continues to get some purchase and grip from this surface. Nonetheless, this partnership has brought Australia right back into this contest
AT Carey c Guptill b Williamson 71 (72b 11x4 0x6) SR: 98.61
Ohh, Pakistan 142-5 35 overs
Rashid Khan to Haris Sohail, OUT , Rashidās wicket drought is over! Beaten going onto the back foot and given leg before! Good length ball, touch more air, goes back to defend and misses, struck on the knee roll well inside the crease. Only real question for Paul Wilson was did this pitch in line with leg stump. He says yes. Haris is on his way!
Haris Sohail lbw b Rashid Khan 27 (57b 2x4 0x6) SR: 47.36
Australi 243-7, 4balls lefts
Khawaja playing around the ball, 88
243-8, Starc goes first ball (right back at you)
Boult on a hat-trick
Behrendorff gone LBW first ball, or has heā¦reviewed and heās plumbā¦
Boult hat-trick confirmed.
1 ball left, one batsman leftā¦