International Cricket Thread

[ad hoc]

They started to speed up and then a needless run out has slowed them right down again.

I hope DR won't mind that i am supporting Afghanistan. (I still think Ireland are the more likely winners)

[Satchmo Distel]

Warner's last 6 balls: 4-4-4-6-4-OUT

[ad hoc]

Meanwhile Rabada has just got Warner after he hit 5 consecutive boundaries from him. Wonder if both of them have managed to get through all that in some silence?

Edit: beaten by Satchmo. Though I think it was actually 4-4-4-6-4-W (and now Satchmo has edited to make it seem like I am correcting something which was already correct)

[ad hoc]

Ireland 143/4 after 40 overs.

Could still go either way, though they will have to speed up soon

[Satchmo Distel]

Niall O'Brien is the only Irish batsman who got his runs at a good strike rate. Ireland will do well to get to 200 from here.

OTOH how good are Afghanistan at chasing under pressure?

[Etienne]

Afghanistan's strength is definitely their bowling, and it's been a low scoring tournament. Ireland definitely not out of this yet. Singh scoring 15 off 30 balls was not what they needed though. Assume Joyce must be injured.

[ad hoc]

Ireland get 209/7 from their 50 overs.

Afghanistan probably slight favourites, but still very open

[ad hoc]

Smith out in Cape Town, Australia 72/3

[Satchmo Distel]

Elgar's knock becomes more impressive with each Australian wicket that falls. If it proves decisive (the only century in the game), it will become an all-time great Test innings given how such innings are always judged in the context of matches and series.

[Etienne]

Afghanistan looking very solid so far. It'd be an amazing qualification given how many other results they needed to go their way, as well as winning their last three matches.

[Ray de Galles]

Is anyone else trying to watch Ireland v Afghanistan on Sky Sports online or Sky Go and they're not working?

[Diable Rouge]

Appears to be low-scoring on the Afghan part also - would still be a surprise if they fell short, but Ireland seem to be limiting the damage so far.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Is anyone else trying to watch Ireland v Afghanistan on Sky Sports online or Sky Go and they're not working?

It's on Sky Main Event here

[Ray de Galles]

Turns out it was a firewall issue in the office, I've had it turned off!

[Etienne]

Bancroft looks like he might replicate Elgar.

[nmrfox]

Bancroft looks like he might replicate Elgar.

Nope, big Vern's got him for 77.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan lose a 2nd wicket to Simi Singh - 115/2 off 28 overs - this is going to be a close one

[Diable Rouge]

For the first time since I've logged on, the Afghans are below the required run rate, though only marginally - 132/3 after 34.

[Diable Rouge]

Roughly at the three-quarter mark, and the total stands on 143 - can Ireland maintain such discipline to the finish?

[Etienne]

Ireland might be marginal favourites now. Nabi was the most likely player to give a quick boost to the rate, and he's just gone.

[Ray de Galles]

Afghanistan are blowing this, aren't they? Curses!

[Etienne]

Stanikzai goes 4-6 off the first two balls of the over and the equation swings back again.

[Etienne]

But McCarthy fights back and removes Shenwari!

[San Bernardhinault]

This is great stuff. I hope the Afghans can do it, but I fear for them.

[Etienne]

Under normal circumstances 16 off 3 overs would be routine. But this is massive pressure.

[San Bernardhinault]

Every time the pressure builds, they look increasingly frenetic. It worries me. I don't see calmness.