International Cricket Thread

[Diable Rouge]

Results carry over to phase two, so while defeat to the Windies might hurt Ireland, securing the second qualification berth would prove somewhat easier if HK hang on today.

[ursus arctos]

Scotland are the first team to qualify for the Super Sixes

[Etienne]

And the Afghans are in deep doo-doo.

[ad hoc]

Australia have just had a very Englandish collapse from 161/3 to 170/6.

[Etienne]

And Mohammed Shami has been accused of attempted murder.

[ad hoc]

First ball after tea also takes a wicket. 170/7 now

[ad hoc]

An annoying tenth wicket partnership of 31 gets Australia to 243 all out

[Tubby Isaacs]

Mitchell Marsh is apparently not very well. Odd that he played. Out for 4.

[E10 Rifle]

Rabada and Ngidi are great aren't they? It's weird, this 'basically liking the South Africa cricket team' thing but I love watching this attack

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Ireland v Windies live on Sky Sports Mix if anyone can receive it. WI batting first - 39/2 off 11.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

45/3 off 12. Gayle, Lewis and Samuels gone.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

58/4 - Shai Hope gone. Strangled leg side off McBrine

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

83/5 - Hetmyer caught hitting out off McBrine for 36

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Holder goes one ball after his 50 - 169/6. Ten overs to go.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

WI total 257/8. thanks to a ton from Powell.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Ireland 30/2 off 8

[Diable Rouge]

Ireland now 160/4 with 15 overs remaining - WI still current favourites, but the required run rate seems attainable.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

172/6 off 38

[Tubby Isaacs]

Good partnership between Dockerell and Wilson.

196-6 off 43.

[Etienne]

Both gone, game over.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

All out 205

[Etienne]

The Afghans need to hope that Nepal beat Hong Kong, which would get them into the Super Sixes, but with no points to carry over and the West Indies and Ireland still to play it's a huge challenge even then. Scotland and Zimbabwe are through but their game could be crucial for the overall qualification.

In the other pool, the Dutch have to beat the West Indies, and then hope that Ireland vs UAE is a one-sided mismatch (it doesn't matter which wins as long as the loser takes a big NRR hit). Otherwise both them and the Windies go through. PNG are eliminated without a win.

[Etienne]

Meanwhile South Africa have inched ahead with seven wickets down as De Villiers and Philander stabilise after a middle order collapse following 50s from Elgar and Amla.

[Satchmo Distel]

The Afghans are victims of the format. 10% ahead of Zimbabwe in the rankings but likely to finish below them in a tournament staged in Zimbabwe.

OTOH for West Indies it may be a useful way to get some 50 over form, and the Super Six format protects them from the occasional bad day at the office which might have sunk them in a knock-out tournament.

[Etienne]

Nah, I'm not having that. Like you say, the Super Six format protects against an off day or bad weather. The Afghans lost to Scotland and Hong Kong as well as Zimbabwe. If they go out, they've no-one to blame but themselves.