Pakistan eventually won a remarkable see-saw game against Sri Lanka by three wickets, to reach the semi-finals where they will play England
An extraordinary victory for Pakistan in the end. Mickey Arthur is elated on the balcony, as he should be. Pumped by India in the opener, his side are through to the final four. And make no mistake, they were cooked here at 162-for-7. But then, the twist: a stand of 75 for the eighth wicket, which never came.
They were helped along the way by Sri Lanka, who dropped Sarfraz twice off Malinga; the chance grassed by Thisara one he’ll never forget. The skipper finished with an unbeaten 61. It was frantic, he should have been run out a couple more times, but he is the man of the match.
45th over: Pakistan 237-7 (Sarfraz 61, Amir 28). Malinga back. Had to be. “Has he got one great over left for his country?” wonders Athers. Not initially, with a bouncer ballooning over, a wide added. A single follows to give the strike back to Sarfraz. Two out to square leg reduces the task to one hefty wallop. Don’t doubt him having a pop at it. Malinga attempts the slower one again, but it is a full toss and Sarfraz takes two more out to backward square. Four to win. Malinga, two balls to go, HE ONLY NEEDS ONE, GUIDING IT TO THE THIRD MAN ROPE WITH UTTER CLASS. PAKISTAN WIN!
44th over: Pakistan 226-7 (Sarfraz 52, Amir 27). Gunaratne? Righto. Gunaratne it is. Sarfraz, predictably, has to chase another quick single just to know he’s alive! This time though he would have made it, even if Sri Lanka hit. But they haven’t in any of their earlier six attempts, so why start now? The bowlers have been badly let down today. Last ball: Amir gets onto a lavish cover drive, he picks the gap and makes no mistake. Flighted, attempting force something daft, but this is a mature cricketer who has gone through plenty and doesn’t make errors like that. Glorious stroke. 11 needed.
fans go wild after @SarfarazA_54 brings up his 50! #SLvPAK#CT17pic.twitter.com/ARCte63XB8
43rd over: Pakistan 220-7 (Sarfraz 51, Amir 22). Dhananjaya for his first jam roll of the tournament! Fresh off the plane, around the wicket with his offies. I’d back Ang Mathews any old time, but this is out there. Both batsmen are so well set, they take three singles on offer and defend the rest with ease. Nice try, but gotta go back to your Plan A from here. Let Thisara at ‘em!
Malinga is at mid on and has had his arms crossed for 40 seconds.
42nd over: Pakistan 217-7 (Sarfraz 50, Amir 20). Lakmal charges in to begin his last. Dice rolled by Mathews, but has no other logical option. Other than Thisara, who will do anything to redeem himself. Let’s hope for that next over. Oh but it may not mater by then! Sarfraz tickles a poor delivery for four. Then later in the over drives with authority through the covers! That’s his 50! The captain has played a manic hand, there’s no way he should still be there, but it must be matchwinning from here. 11 from the over. The 50 stand also came up in the over. Amir clutch here too.
41st over: Pakistan 206-7 (Sarfraz 41, Amir 18). “It’s all falling apar for Sri Lanka... Pakistan have to win from here, they have no excuse.” Meaning they will surely lose three-for-sod all now and lose it. Malinga is doubled over exasperated by the end of it. He’s created two chances. Both have gone down. Then, four byes through the keeper Dickwella’s legs when he can’t pick the slower ball on the second bounce. Then another misfield through the legs of cover, enabling the eighth run of the over.
DOWN AGAIN! Sarfraz hacks into the deep, and Prasanna has dropped it this time. Hard chance, but a chance all the same. They may not get another at this stage.
40th over: Pakistan 198-7 (Sarfraz 40, Amir 15). Lakmal’s penultinate over. Their best today, for mine. A single each taken before the bowler goes upstairs to Amir from round the wicket. He has been there long enough now to get underneath it with relative ease. Two from it. Push, pull. Pull, push.
#ChampionsTrophy2017#PAKvSL Like a B&H final from 40 yrs ago this...no wonder I'm enjoying it!
39th over: Pakistan 196-7 (Sarfraz 39, Amir 14). There will be no hole big enough for Thisara to climb into. Oh, it’s awful. It’ll feature in youtube compilations of worst drop catches. He will get the chance to redeem himself with the ball soon enough, and he’ll need to. Truth told, it’s an ordinary over from Malinga the deceptive slower ball aside. Lucky to get away with only three from it. Win predictor has Pakistan at 74%. Of course, that’s a retrospective measurement.
Not sure which side is trying harder to lose!! You never see emotion from Malinga and you did just now!
DROPPED! Thisara Perera puts down Sarfraz, the most basic of chances at mid-on. Set up beautifully by Malinga with his well-directed slowed one. Oh no!
38th over: Pakistan 193-7 (Sarfraz 38, Amir 13). Lakmal now for his ninth, as the quicks start to exhaust their overs. He has five left beween Malinga and Thisara as well. May not require all of those is Sarfraz hits a few more of those, a gloriously timed glide behind point to the rope to begin the over. He takes the fifth ball in the same direction, albeit for a single. So, one ball for Amir to face. But no need to worry about that, elbow up and tidy. Just like the best of them. Malinga will be next up.
37th over: Pakistan 188-7 (Sarfraz 33, Amir 13). Slipping away from Sri Lanka here. But the situation remains much as it ever did: they need all ten wickets to win. With that in mind, Pradeep is back, swung around to the other end for his tenth. But Amir is up to the task, driving through cover for three when the seamer overpitches. In defence, he’s as solid as anyone who stepped out in greemn today. Pradeep’s day is done, that final over going for four. The required runs inside 50 now. Close your eyes when you say it: Pakistan, now, should win.
36th over: Pakistan 184-7 (Sarfraz 32, Amir 10). Mathews holds Pradeep’s last over back. To Thisara again for his 8th. And it’s not ideal for Sri Lanka. Not ideal at all. Kusal Mendis, such a reliable operator with bat in hand, has taken a rank ping at the non-striker stumps, spitting away for four overthrows. A wide follows when a bouncer is assessed as too high. Nine collected by Pakistak, who have gone half an hour without a wicket now, leaving 53 to get in 84 balls. That’s 3.79 an over, if you think better in those terms.
Peter Salmon on the email: “Surely the Pakistan win predictor should always be at 57%, whatever the circumstances, just in case.” Good point, well made.
35th over: Pakistan 175-7 (Sarfraz 29, Amir 5). The offie Gunaratne, with his dainty little run up, has another. And much the same as those he’s already got through, only two runs are taken. It’s a stalemate out there, both sides vaguely content with the status quo. But Sri Lanka have more to lose if they are only left with the part-time combo at the death. Shouldn’t come to that, though.
The win predictor on the #CT17 match centre still gives Pakistan the edge - what do you think? #SLvPAK LIVE: https://t.co/sVnq3kwETMpic.twitter.com/aCTkBTtoGX
34th over: Pakistan 173-7 (Sarfraz 28, Amir 4). Solid from Mathews, bringing back my fav Nuwan Pradeep. Has three wickets today and 12 balls to add to it. He crosses himself with ball in hand before starting his approach. Any advantage welcome for the Sri Lankans now. Big shout for lbw! But it’s high. Sarfraz suggests as much to the umpire. Mathews agrees by declining to use his review. TV confirms that was sound. Later in the over, a fuller wider tempeter is welcomed by Amir, who drives through the line and through a gap for a couple out to cover. He’s back in defence thereafter. A single inside the circle at point gets another run. Amir retains the strike.
Just been reminded of this line in @andrewffernando's match preview #PAKvSL#CT17pic.twitter.com/mPbXHLZG27
33rd over: Pakistan 168-7 (Sarfraz 27, Amir 1). The spinners being rotated through too, Gunaratne back after a one over rest. One run from it. The last of the set was a full toss, but Amir elected to pat it back. Plenty left in this.
Since the 2015 World Cup, Sarfraz's favourite scoring area has been third man. He has a SR of 133.75 in that zone #CT17#SLvPAK
32nd over: Pakistan 167-7 (Sarfraz 26, Amir 1). Maths as they are, it’ll be interesting to see how Mathews manages this. Stick with spin from one end and rotate the quicks through? He has options, but won’t forever. Pakistan must have some game awareness about this and occupy for as long as they can. Absolutely no hurry here. Perhaps that is the case, three singles taken and no risks in the process.
31st over: Pakistan 164-7 (Sarfraz 23, Amir 1).“What should Sarfraz do from here?” the question on the telly. A fine question. We’ve seen Amir play some wonderful knocks under pressure - not least this one. Gunathilaka given his first roll of the day, until now Mathews happy to stick with his front-line quicks. He does it well, racing through the set in 60 seconds, concedeing only two.
What a farce! It was always destined to happen. Unlucky to the extent that he was backing up; that happens. But his lunge was far from desperate, and plenty of speed came off the ball in Thisara’s follow through. The result is clear, he is gone. Another wicket at vital moment just as Pakistan looked to have the game vaguely under control again. The replay is not flattering - the deflection is massive. What a mess. Sri Lanka should finish it off from here. Should.
30th over: Pakistan 162-7 (Sarfraz 22, Amir 0).
Has there been a run out at the non-strikers’ end? Sarfraz has hit the ball back. Hand/ball/stumps? We’ll find out.
29th over: Pakistan 158-6 (Sarfraz 21, Fahim 12). “It’s going to be a quick game either way,” says Athers. “Pakistan are going to play their shots.” That much looks clear. Thisara looked to be man back into the attack, but at the last moment Mathews called an audible and thrown the ball back to spinner Gunaratne. More. Mad. Running. Sarfraz hasn’t a clue about assessing the quick single, short by several metres had the throw hit. Sri Lanka are yet to hit the stumps in this innings. All six attempts would have been out. Dear me. One from it, if you were wondering.
28th over: Pakistan 157-6 (Sarfraz 20, Fahim 12). Now he has a pop at Pradeep! Short, hooked, once bounce, four. Fahim shifting the pressure straight back onto the fielding side and their skipper Angelo Mathews. Steady accumulation brings four more before Pradeep goes upstairs again. Fahim wanted to play ball, but didn’t have time to swing his arms as the bouncer just missed his helmet. Then four more vital runs off the elbow the finish the over. Short again, Fahim gets his arm in the way, the angle enough to beat Dickwella and race away to the rope. 12 off it the final result. Big. Long way from the finish line but the noise from both fans is panicked in tone. Don’t go anywhere, this is going down to the wire. They have a drink.
Sri Lanka's three main quicks only have eight overs left between them. If Pakistan are sensible it's still there for them...#PAKvSL#CT17
27th over: Pakistan 145-6 (Sarfraz 17, Fahim 7). Fahim takes on Malinga! Gutsy play, gets enough on the hook to go the full journey. With the runs required in double digits, you feel that as a fielding side. Especially as only a single had come to that point, Sarfraz showing ample faith in his number eight claiming a single from the first ball.
And to think, I was going to throw this away #CT17#NamoNamopic.twitter.com/dEGoKe7sEa
26th over: Pakistan 137-6 (Sarfraz 16, Fahim 0). “He has to play the innings of his life,” the assessment of the commentary on the skipper Sarfraz. Better bloody believe it. Only the bowlers riding shotgun with him now. He’s hitting the ball well, there’s ample time. How will he respond? Take stock and consolidate? Swing hard and push back? Who said 50-over cricket is dead? If that’s you, with respect, you’re wrong.
SCENES! Pradeep’s turn to win an edge, of the conventional varitety, his beautiful seam position winning a feather from the new man Imad. Wickets in consecutive overs and the face of Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur on the boundary says it all. He’s seen this one before. We all have. Pakistan are capitulating at Cardiff! Four to go for Sri Lanka for a mighty come-from-behind triumph.
25th over: Pakistan 132-5 (Sarfraz 15, Imad 0). Imad, the new man in, was born in Wales and is the team’s translator. More on that shortly, because...
Malinga! Malinga! Malinga! The chant went up around Sophia Gardens, urging their ageing champion for one last special. And he delivers, an extra yard found to hurry up Shoaib. He tries to turn over his left shoulder to fine leg but only succeeds in getting a feather to the waiting ‘keeper. Maybe a bit of glove in there too, but the deviation is clear, the veteran is gone. MALINGA, MALINGA, MALINGA the roar continues. What a celebration too, rarely seen him carry on like that. Superb contest.
24th over: Pakistan 128-4 (Shoaib 10, Sarfraz 13). Two more dots from Lakmal to begin his seventh over, making eight on the trot. I know I’ve said a couple times that the run rate doesn’t matter now, but not for nothing at least making the two think about what they need. That number is reduced by three when Sarfraz times a graceful flick through midwicket.
23rd over: Pakistan 124-4 (Shoaib 9, Sarfraz 10). Superb bounce back from Malinga. All over the shop first over back into the attack, it’s a timely maiden here to Sarfraz. The final delivery could easily have ended up in the hands of midwicket for a third catch in that region, landing perhaps two metres away from the diving man. Pace off the ball for half the over, his bag of tricks are all on show.
22nd over: Pakistan 124-4 (Shoaib 9, Sarfraz 10). Pakistan have just on half the runs they require for a semi-final berth. Mathews sticking with Lakmal, who has been excellent. The man most likely. Three singles start the over but the third would have ran Sarfraz out again. Oh this is craaaazy times. The throw, again, missed. Probably the fifth time this innings. Degree of difficulty is very high, one stump there for mid-on to throw at. “It’s hard to be a Pakistan fan,” says Rameez Raja. True, dat. Five singles from it.
Whaddaya know: Essex are top of the league! Promoted from div two and doing it right. Will Macpherson here from Guildford, where they have knocked off Surrey.
Promoted Essex go top of the County Championship with emphatic eight-wicket win over Surrey @willis_macphttps://t.co/SrekX3VHpd
21st over: Pakistan 119-4 (Shoaib 7, Sarfraz 7). In keeping with the theme of the previous post, Malinga is back. The commentator on TV says he “is a little on the heavier side” nowadays. Yeah righto! He’s a professional sportsman opening the bowling for his country. He’s gotta eat. Slats adds “Malinga... the Slinger!” said in a way that gives the impression he came up with it then and there. The radar is off a bit, down the legside then giving Sarfraz ample room to free the arms, lashing a four to point. Nice. Another moment for SL, Sarfraz giving it the old, “yes, no, yes!” when running to the danger end. Direct hit definitely has him. Shoaib looks up and smiles. Sarfraz smiles back. All you can do in that situation. Eight from the over.
Sri Lanka have defended four scores lower than 236 v Pakistan & haven't defended one lower than 236 v any team since May 2014 (Ire). #CT17
20th over: Pakistan 111-4 (Shoaib 6, Sarfraz 1). The skipper Sarfraz out to the middle with a power of work to do alongside Shoaib. One more here changes everything, and SL’s passionate fans know it, lifting the intensity of the music. Only one run from the over to go with the wicket. Can’t imagine Mathews will be too worried about mathematics with his bowlers. Just needs ten wickets.
Here come Sri Lanka! Azhar, the set man, has guided a ball close to his body into the cordon and Mendis does the rest. Extra bounce, the ball deflected out to third slip or so. Brilliant from Mathews to have the man stationed there.
19th over: Pakistan 110-3 (Azhar 34, Shoaib 6). Michael Slater on the call going through the instruments being played by the Sri Lankan band in the stadium. He says he would have the “biggest electric guitar” he could get in there. Well, Slats, we know you can sing. Here he is at the Allan Border Medal with a skinful having a sing with Jimmy Barnes. Four singles from the Thisara set as Pakistan consolidate a touch.
18th over: Pakistan 106-3 (Azhar 32, Shoaib 5). Azhar gets resourceful! Lifting the second ball of Pradeep’s sixth set up over the keeper, after charging no less. It’s actually Shoaib’s 250th ODI, which is a lovely time to win a big game for your country. Cricbuzz tells me he is the fifth oldest to that mark:
37y 175d A Border
37y 078d G McGrath
36y 023d T Dilshan
35y 271d B Lara
35y 131d SHOAIB MALIK*
17th over: Pakistan 99-3 (Azhar 26, Shoaib 4). Shooooooot! Shoaib Malik has played about a 1000 ODIs and knows a thing or two about pushing back. First ball here, launches into a glorious square drive. They’re going to need every bit of his experience here.
GAME ON AT CARDIFF! Thisara’s hip-length attack has worked, undoing the new man Hafeez who doesn’t handle the pace well, spooning a second catch to midwicket in the space of eight balls! Pakistan! Oh dear. Oooooh dear.
16th over: Pakistan 94-2 (Azhar 25, Hafeez 1). Singles exchanged to end the over, Hafeez running Pradeep to third man to get off the mark. He has 5787 ODI runs coming into the fixture. What he’d give got about 70 odd today to put his side into the four.
Out! From nowhere really! Babar has been hitting them dreamily since his arrival, but has picked out catching midwicket here. The equation is simle for SL, they need ten wickets. They have two. They won’t be able to suffocate Pakistan short of the total after their rapid start, so every chance will need to be taken. Hafeez, the next man in, becomes an absolutely clutch wicket.
15th over: Pakistan 90-1 (Azhar 23, Babar 10). One to come before drinks. Thisara’s plan clear, targetting the hip and chest of both batsmen. Three risk-free singles taken along the way. All they need here. Have a plastic up of cordial, fellas.
Babar Azam has an average of 69.85 against spin bowling, higher than any other Pakistan batsman since his debut #SLvPAK#CT17
14th over: Pakistan 87-1 (Azhar 21, Babar 9). 4.25 needed an over from here, so they can afford to absor a few dot balls. Pradeep cool with that too as he and Barbar settle into a groove. But some shambolic fielding from the ‘keeper Dickwella turns one into three when, for reasons best explained by him and him alone, rolls the ball back down to the bowler’s end. Two painful overthrows. Barbar throws his hands at the last for a couple more and all of a sudden seven are taken from it.
13th over: Pakistan 80-1 (Azhar 19, Babar 4). Thisara back for a second go, having 13 taken off him the first time around. Far more sedade here, two from it. Uses the short ball well after the first attempt is called a wide. Bit harsh.
12th over: Pakistan 78-1 (Azhar 18, Babar 4). The young man Babar, who has had a phenomenal start to his ODI career but a slo start in this comp, hits a glorious stroke through point for four to end the over. The sound on that bad! Phwoar. Raced to the rope. Hit a similar stroke the ball before it, finding the man at point. But adjusted superbly. Class.
Postscript to one of the earlier stadium-clearing sixes.
Guy on the cycle path just found that ball, put it in his pocket and rode off.
Well, he’s done his job putting a huge dent in the SL total through the power play and getting to a brisk 50, but the 36th ball is the final one he’ll face today, Pradeep deservedly getting him with a short one. Fat top edge, taken well at fine leg. Urgently needed wicket. But need plenty more over the next hour or so.
11th over: Pakistan 74-0 (Azhar 18, Fakhar 50). Spin via Gunaratne. So less time for fun. Sorry about that in advance. Although, he does run in like a medium pacer. A bit of the Chris Harris about him. Oh, there’s an angle. Check out this coaching 1980s video with the the great former NZ skipper Jeremy Coney and Harris as a young’un. I won’t explain it. Just watch it. Fakhar collects another boundary, but with a delicate dab rather than a heave this time. Next ball: a push into the covers for a 35 ball half century! His first in ODI cricket. Big smile and they love it in the crowd, TV cutting to a sign reading ‘Fakhar is the Future.’ Certainly looks it. Nine more from the over. 47 in the previous five. Sri Lanka in the death zone.
10th over: Pakistan 65-0 (Azhar 16, Fakhar 43). Fakhar doesn’t have to do much here, Lakmal - brought back after one over from Thisara - angling into the left-hander from around the wicket and missing his line. Bread and butter for a lefty, turned around the corner and beating the man at the 45. Four more. By the eight of the power play’s final over a further four come, helped by a legside wide. Pakistan getting a chance to lay an early knock-out punch, I reckon. Athers confirms that Pakistan did need to win in ten overs to top the group. So that’s resolved now, it’ll be India and Bangladesh at Edgbaston on Thursday. Delicious.
John Williams on the email is helping me out on rivers and music. Perhaps not the most conventional OBO topic but let’s run with it. “Here’s a fine tribute to chilling by the mighty River Taff courtesy of tremendous Cardiff girl group The Baby Queens.” Thanks. Here it is.
9th over: Pakistan 57-0 (Azhar 16, Fakhar 36). Pakistan’s 50 is up through the Pradeep over. They’ve got their act together after looking ropey to begin. Then INTO THR RIVER AGAIN! What did I say about Pradeep? He’s done nothing wrong here, winning the fattest top edge slogging to midwicket, but instead it has gone out of the ground at third man! Get the fandangled bat speed machine on Fakhar’s blade there, I say. That’s gone bloody miles. A new ball comes out for the second time in as many overs. Oh I should add: Pradeep won his edge more conventionally to begin the over. The nick, of course, fell just short of first slip. Urrrgh. 13 more from the over. Sri Lanka another half hour or so from being out of this game.
So then, sticking with the Melbourne/river theme. Our Kylie and Our Nick with Their Duet.
8th over: Pakistan 44-0 (Azhar 16, Fakhar 24). WHOA! Into the RIVER goes Azhar to the first ball of Thisara Perera’s day. Have some of that. More or less right over his head. Reminds me of a club ground sometimes, Cardiff, with so many balls lost into the River Taff. Umpire Gunner Gould brings out a box to pick from. Certainly one way to break the proverbial shackles. He’s back to form, playing back along the carpet, immediately thereafter. When Fakhar gets his turn he doesn’t miss a beat, flogging Thisara back past his feet for four more. Making a nice dint in this chase now. A wide follows. Not a great start at all from the quick. 13 from it.
A song about rivers. It’s a little bit sweary, but a lot good. I’ll have another one for you next over.
7th over: Pakistan 31-0 (Azhar 9, Fakhar 19). Thrilled to see The Unluckiest Man In World Cricket Nawan Pradeep get a jam roll, replacing Malinga. He gets about with a bit of colour in the hair, a mullet out the back as well. Can move it both ways, in the air away from right handers and off the seam back towards them. The Sri Lankan Jimmy, how I described him last year. He’s into it early here, beating Fakhar on the outside edge then Azhar on the inside. I reserve the right to get very excited if, for just this once, things go his way.
Pakistan will need a new captain and keeper if they are found - after the game - to have been more than two overs behind the rate...
6th over: Pakistan 27-0 (Azhar 7, Fakhar 18). Athers on the box doing some expert computer analysis of Malinga’s action. Boils down to this: he’s hitting the shiny side of the ball rather than the seam, making it hard to swing. In the middle, Azhar fires a shot for the first time today, over the 30 yard circle and to the rope down to midwicket. Not the most convincing hoick you’ll see in this comp, but sufficient. Much more encouraging for Pakistan is the straight drive that follows, albeit straight to a fielder. He retains the strike with a single clipped to square leg, a sweeper out there early. Six to the slower of the two men from it.
Some colour here about semi-final tickets. In short: don’t play with touts if you’re an Indian fan who picked up one for Cardiff.
Info with regard to semi final tickets. pic.twitter.com/y0MnhvJe8X
5th over: Pakistan 21-0 (Azhar 2, Fakhar 18). Malinga again. Another quick single where Azhar looks exposed, failing to slide his bat properly, to the brief excitement of fielders. But he’s home. Only that and another single from the set. No hurry here, of course. But Azhar could do with getting his act together.
Chandimal being retired off by Sri Lankan fans on the interwebz. Bit harsh, given he stitched together - from memory - six half centuries on the spin about nine months ago. But I do admire the photoshop.
Hope this is Chandimal's last limited over match for Sri Lanka #ThankYouChandimalpic.twitter.com/snf5BWlMfp
4th over: Pakistan 19-0 (Azhar 1, Fakhar 17). The Sri Lankan fans break stride with the drums they have going in the outoer to give Azhar the Bronx Cheer when he finally gets off the mark, 15 balls after his arrival. Lakmal beat him with the first of the over too. But let’s himself down to Fakhar ending the over with a gimme on the hip, the opener making no mistake. He’s away.
Bit going on in the Shires, evidentially. Join Will Macpherson in another tab. County cricket: bloody hell.
County cricket - bloody hellhttps://t.co/DBaVbHjUu4
3rd over: Pakistan 14-0 (Azhar 0, Fakhar 13). “Have a look how UFO-like the ball comes down” asks Simon Doull of Malinga. You know what, I reckon we noticed that at some point over the last 15 years. The bowler twice overpitches on the spin here though, Fahkar taking both to the point boundary. The first was a full toss, but the second require some lovely timing to beat the ring. Malinga reverts to round the wicket. Doull adds to his earlier criticism, to be fair to him. He believes that Malinga once upon a time was more upright. Yeah? The change of direction has changed nothing though, Fahkar hitting the off-side rope for the third time in the set, courtesy of a delightful cover drive. Malinga ends the eventful over with a beauty, beating the left-hander with one that straightens after pitching. Handy.
If Zaman bats sensibly, no one will be able to call him a silly Fakhar... #ct17
2nd over: Pakistan 2-0 (Azhar 0, Fakhar 1). Pakistan’s run comes from Lakmal’s first delivery of the afternoon, a legside wide. Surprised Pradeep hasn’t got the new one - he is class. Blimey, what did I say about Pakistan never doing things easily? A clean pick up and throw - from Gunathilaka again, would have surely had Azhar back in the sheds, a suicide single for reasons that only the two in the middle can explain. Of course, he missed the pick up, so the throw never came. Village. No further runs. Get ready for chaos.
Of openers to have batted 10 innings since the 2015 WC, Azhar (79.19) has the 2nd lowest SR in #CT17. The lowest? Shehzad's 74.61 #SLvPAK
1st over: Pakistan 0-0 (Azhar 0, Fakhar 0). Malinga has the new ball and immeditely finds his length, Azhar shouldering arms a couple of times then displaying a nice, straight blade. OH NO! DROPPED CATCH! Azhar flogs a shorter delivery to gully and Ghunathilaka has put it down. Sharp chance, low. But after batting the way they did it has to be taken. The replay doesn’t flatter, nothing wrong with the catching height. A maiden that should be a wicket maiden. Well then.
“You can’t judge a pitch until both teams have batted.” Simon Doull’s take as they walk back on. To the White Stripes, of course.
But why can’t you? The both teams/judgment line is used a lot. Hell, I’ve almost certainly said it. But in this rapid world of ours, why can’t we judge a track earlier than that? Don’t they evolve across the 100 overs anyway? Ponder that. Okay, we’re on.
Afternoon. Thanks, Daniel for steering us through the morning. Pakistan’s quicks have done their bit. Can their sketchy batting list do the same and pop them through to the final four? On paper, of course they should. But I’d be surprised if it was easy. I’ve watched a lot of Pakistan over the last few years and nothing is easy.
Phil Russell is straight out of the blocks with a query on the email. “How many overs do Pakistan need to get these in to have a good enough NRR to win the group? Guessing it’s about 10?” Oh yeah, I like this. But I have absolutely no clue how to calculate. Despite doing this for a living, I leave NRR and DLS to others. Someone fancy having a bash at it for us before they players arrive?
So, thanks all for your company and comments; Adam Collins will be here presently to narrate the chase.
Sri Lanka batted pretty well through most of that innings, but were undone, first by Hasan Ali and then by a brilliant post-drinks spell from Junaid Khan and Mohammad Amir. Or, put another way, Pakistan are Pakistan so pakistaned; and as such, might still lose.
That’s not enough is it?
Pradeep leaps back to try and turn to leg but instead loops up a return catch via leading edge. What a performance from Pakistan!
48th over: Sri Lanka 235-9 (Malinga 8, Pradeep 1) Malinga takes a single, Pradeep does likewise, and then a slower ball absolutely befuddles the former. It’s impossible to watch limited overs cricket and not wonder how its finest exponents will do in Tests, and I can’t wait to see Hasan; he finishes with 3-43 from his 10 overs, and with seven wickets in the tournament sits behind Plunkett and Hazlewod in the list of bowlers.
He’ll throw the bat! Except Hasan has sent him an off-spinner that makes it harder for him to generate the necessary power to clear the long boundary. Instead he picks out the fielder, ending a gutsy, intelligent and crucial knock.
48th over: Sri Lanka 232-8 (Gunaratne 27, Malinga 6) Amir’s first two balls cede just a single, and then Hasan Ali dives very nicely to stop Malinga’s flick around the corner. Naturally, Amir responds with a bouncer - Gunaratne has been backing away, so the bowler followed him - and there’s a brief pause but no new helmet. Gunaratne, though, remains unshaken, adding two and enjoying a wide, before taking a single to retain the strike. Will he throw the bat or take whatever he can?
47th over: Sri Lanka 226-8 (Gunaratne 23, Malinga 5) Hasan continues and the batsmen look for singles ... Malinga taps to cover, and breaks into a stroll well before Hafeez shies - if he hits it’s out by miles ... but he misses. Next, Hasan slams it in, and Gunaratne looks at something in his midriff, and at the same time scoops a one-bounce. The no-look Gunascoop.
46th over: Sri Lanka 218-8 (Gunaratne 17, Malinga 3) Sanjay Manjrekar reckons Hasan has been the picks of the bowlers; I’d go Junaid, who returns here to finish off. And after two singles and a wide, he ought to have another wicket! Gunaratne plays a reverse flick off a low full-toss which loops up to short third man; it’s a dolly, but Faheem Ashraf leaps unnecessarily and spills it nonetheless.
45th over: Sri Lanka 214-8 (Gunaratne 16, Malinga 1) A run a ball gets around 245; a run a ball and a big over gets around 260. Sri Lanka are still properly in this.
As I was saying, Hasan Ali was just about to send down a off-cutting slower delivery that induced Lakmal to slog and miss far too early. The ball duly clips the very top of the bails - for extra amusement, entirely without his knowledge. Byeee! Off you pop!
45th over: Sri Lanka 213-7 (Gunaratne 16, Lakmal 26) The excellence of this comeback cannot be overstated. Of course, Pakistan were never going to sustain that frankly repulsive brilliance, but Sri Lanka could easily have been tempted by the prospect of home. Yet they were not.
44th over: Sri Lanka 210-7 (Gunaratne 25, Lakmal 15) Amir returns in place of Hasan, but his first delivery is too straight; Gunaratne eases it down to fine leg for three, Fakhar again saving the boundary. Lakmal, meanwhile, is enjoying himself; he turns two away to mid-on, then smacks a fuller one over the bowler’s head to the fence.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 200-7 (Gunaratne 18, Lakmal 12) The batsmen are in now, and it looks like they’ll post a target to give Pakistan pause; you’d back them to chase 240, but with someone else’s money. They take three from the over, raising their team’s 200 in the process; the partnership is 33.
42nd over: Sri Lanka 197-7 (Gunaratne 16, Lakmal 11) Hasan serves Lakmal a half-volley, and credit where it’s due - despite his confusion these last few minutes, he doesn’t miss out, slamming four through mid-off. And after a leg-bye and a single, he raps four more; Hasan is bowling fuller than before to remove the tailenders, when his shorter length was working fine.
41st over: Sri Lanka 187-7 (Gunaratne 10, Lakmal 8) Imad sends an arm ball at Lakmal that totally hoodwinks him by doing absolutely nothing, so next go he tries to mow into the leg side and takes it on the boot. There’s a strangulated appeal, but that was going just dow, and Lakmal does better thereafter, stroking a single to long-off. No more runs from the over, though we should note that Umpire Oxenford signals wide, is told by his partner that the ball flicked the pad, so overrules himself.
40th over: Sri Lanka 185-7 (Gunaratne 9, Lakmal 7) Hasan isn’t as on it as he was earlier, which tells us that it’s probably time for a jaffa. But not this over, which sees a princely one added to the total; to be competitive, Sri Lanka need another 60, I’d say.
Rob Smyth returns to note that “These *profanity as a compliment* won a World Cup after losing their first game by 10 wickets, being bowled out for 74 in the third and winning one of the first five games!”
39th over: Sri Lanka 184-7 (Gunaratne 8, Lakmal 7) Sarfraz, who has captained superbly since winning the toss - his changes and field placings have been very good indeed - brings on Imad. His first delivery flicks the pad, and it looks close though still going down, then is followed by five more dots. The boot has stopped stamping the throat, to tread on it instead.
38th over: Sri Lanka 184-7 (Gunaratne 8, Lakmal 7) And here’s the man who started it the first time: Hasan Ali has the ball, and he won’t wait to be asked. He’s not bowling that quickly though as he searches for his line, ceding three; who’d have thought that’d count as welcome respite half an hour ago?
“Initially thought it was a huge gamble to bowl first,” emails Nabeel Younas, “what with Pakistan being awful at chasing half-decent totals (never mind huge ones), but it’s paying dividends at the moment. It’s nice to see all the seamers playing their part. In the past, one or two would play well but be let down by an expensive spell by another errant bowler.”
37th over: Sri Lanka 179-7 (Gunaratne 5, Lakmal 5) It’s always invigorating to be reminded that amid the scoops, flat-bats and slogs, brilliant bowling beats all else. Things have quietened for a second - perhaps it’s time for Hasan - but it doesn’t much matter.
“Both times Pakistan won a global tournament they were thrashed in the opening game,” recalls ... RA Smyth, obviously. And they also won in Cardiff last term. Good luck, England!
36th over: Sri Lanka 174-7 (Gunaratne 4, Lakmal 1) And Hasan Ali has six overs left! I’m not sure he’ll need all of those. But Gunaratne sees five wides added to the score, before Amir slings down a rare yorker - somehow, an under-edge earns a single. It is amazing how quickly this game has been effectively finished ... or has it? This is Pakistan after all.
35th over: Sri Lanka 167-7 (Gunaratne 3, Lakmal 0) That was last ball of the of the over, but let’s not mither with fripperies of that ilk. We are in the presence of greatness, we are in the presence of Pakistan. Savour every last sensation.
What a spell this is, at both ends! This is back of a length and moves just as Thisara plays, then spanks his edge on the way past, to be snaffled in front of his phizog by Babar at first slip. That’s a fine catch! Sri Lanka don’t know what has hit them! Pakistan has hit them!
35th over: Sri Lanka 167-6 (Gunaratne 3, Thisara 1) Every run is now a struggle. Re the haal, read and love this.
Related: Exploring the soul of the Pakistan cricket team
34th over: Sri Lanka 165-6 (Gunaratne 2, Thisara 0) Amir is bowling sharply now! But Thisara finds a leg-bye, then Fakar lets the ball through his legs at point and they run two. The crowd are absolutely loving this; every ball is an event, and Pakistan are swarming Sri Lanka now! In steams Amir, Gunaratne edges, and Sarfraz looks to have taken another brilliant catch, diving right and holding low! Except his momentum rolls him over, the ball spills, and the soft signal is not out; the tape confirms it. Can Sri Lanka bat the 50?
What a catch this is. What a catch this is. And what a wicket this is! Dickwella edges unexpectedly, so Sarfraz changes direction and slides a glove under the ball, on the dive. That three wickets for one run in 12 balls since drinks!
33rd over: Sri Lanka 162-5 (Dickwella 73, Gunaratne 0) This is such an attack. Wicket-maiden from Junaid, and 320 has suddenly become 270.
The haal is rolling! Junaid, whose last over was a beauty, slants in a full one which nips off the seam, zooms away from the bat, kisses its edge, and is taken behind. De Silva, who only arrived yesterday, is probably wondering why he bothered.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 162-4 (Dickwella 73, De Silva 1) That was Amir’s first wicket of the competition, and ramps up the pressure on Dickwella; he is going to have to carry this innings while the others swing around him. One off the over, to go with the cricket, and Amir is now up to 138 clicks.
Mathews' average vs left-arm pace in ODIs is 28.31, his lowest against any bowl type. He is yet to face Aamir or Junaid in this inns. #CT17
And there it is! Amir extracts some extra bounce and Mathews mistimes his flick to midwicket - he ought to have played into the off side really - sending an inside-edge careering into his stumps! My days did Pakistan need that.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 161-3 (Dickwella 73, Mathews 39) That break might just help Pakistan who are searching for something.
31st over: Sri Lanka 161-3 (Dickwella 73, Mathews 39) I think we’ll see Mathews going hard now; Dickwella will stick around, so there’s a chance for him. Sarfraz recognises this, bringing back Junaid, and he spirits a seam-upper past Dickwella’s outside-edge and then another! He felt for both of those, and how set he is tells you how good they were. And there’s another! Beautiful bowling.
“I kid you not, but am editing a draft paper by a co-author which has ‘commonly-used’, ‘ad-hoc’ and ‘near-total’, returns Kabindra.
30th over: Sri Lanka 160-3 (Dickwella 73, Mathews 38) In which regard Pakistan bring back Amir, but Mathews isn’t arsed; he takes a couple of stutter-hops down the track and clouts four over mid-on. He timed that so, so well - as he does a pull off a short ball, which only gets two not four because of an excellent stop from Azhar Ali. He is zoned.
29th over: Sri Lanka 151-3 (Dickwella 73, Mathews 30) “Something between the six and the eight will be on Sri Lanka’s mind.” Er, what might that possibly be? This is a good over anyway, four singles before Dickwella gets well forward to the final ball and slams it hard into the ground and away for four through cover. Beautiful shot., and Pakistan are back to needing a wicket.
28th over: Sri Lanka 143-3 (Dickwella 67, Mathews 28) Dickwella pulls a bad ball towards square-leg, but Fakar Zaman hares after it and saves a single with his dive; they run three. In commentary, they reckon Sri Lanka will be looking for five an over till about 37, at which point they’ll want their sloggers in.
27th over: Sri Lanka 138-3 (Dickwella 63, Mathews 27) Imad’s first ball is wide and pleading for punishment; Mathews picks out the man at point, and chastises himself accordingly. Oh my! After a single, Dickwella back away and, to paraphrase John Arlott, plays a chop so late it’s reincarnated. The ball was right in front of the stumps; that was as dicey as riley.
26th over: Sri Lanka 136-3 (Dickwella 62, Mathews 26) As I was saying, Mathews will immediately saunter down the track and hoist Hafeez for six. Next ball, he defends to leg, sprints down the track, AND IMAD SMASHES DOWN THE STUMPS AT THE BOWLER’S! BUT MATHEWS’ DIVE HAS PRESERVED HIS WICKET! That’s brilliant for both batsman and fieldsman. Nine off the over.
“Your point on spurious-hyphenation is so very-good and well-taken. This habit in-fact totally-annoying,” tweets Kabindra.
25th over: Sri Lanka 122-3 (Dickwella 62, Mathews 18) Imad returns and is gently milked, five come from the other and we’re halfway; Sri Lanka will have t turn it up soon, but not quite yet; they don’t bat all that deep and will need this pair to score most of their runs.
24th over: Sri Lanka 122-3 (Dickwella 61, Mathews 14) Hafeez isn’t spinning it, but is hurrying through overs so fast as to make them vanish. Four off this one.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 118-3 (Dickwella 58, Mathews 13) Fahim sends down an accidental beamer; Dickwella handles it well, hooking for one. It’s still a no ball, though, so Mathews has a free hit - or a “free-hit” if the scoreboard is to be believed. And really, what is it with hyphens these days; I recently saw a footballer described as playing “in-behind”. Er, ok. Anyway, Mathews flips for four to wide midwicket; the Lankans needed that. And they keep at it thereafter, adding four more singles and a two to make it 12 for the over, their most profitable since the fourth.
22nd over: Sri Lanka 106-3 (Dickwella 53, Mathews 7) Dickwella doesn’t get all of a sweep, but the ball drops short of deep square-leg and they run a one. It’s been a while since the last boundary, and the remainder of this over sees a wide, a bye and a single.
21st over: Sri Lanka 102-3 (Dickwella 51, Mathews 7) Aha - Fahim is back at Hasan’s end. Mathews takes a single, then Dickwella ramps him - Junaid almost runs past the ball, coming from wider. Athers uses this as an opportunity to point out that at Cardiff, you want your men fine, as the boundaries are shorter there.
20th over: Sri Lanka 100-3 (Dickwella 50, Mathews 6) Hafeez on for Fahim and Dickwella comes down immediately, taking one on the pad. So he waits for the next ball, turning to leg and ambling through for his fifty, which has come off 52 deliveries. Mathews then edges two, before imparting a leading edge that drops safe and adds one. Six an over from here gets 280, eight an over gets 340.
19th over: Sri Lanka 96-3 (Dickwella 49, Mathews 3) Sri Lanka have righted themselves somewhat, but need this partnership to do some work. After the batsmen add a single each, Hasan goes around the wicket to Dickwella, of whom he’ll particularly want rid; a single gets him down the other end, but a decent line and some extra lift discomfits Mathews, who swings at the final ball, missing.
18th over: Sri Lanka 93-3 (Dickwella 47, Mathews 2) Quick running earns Dickwella two, but Fahim retorts well with a skiddy delivery that shoots past the edge. But like Anthony Soprano Junior he struggles to maintain, sending down consecutive wides and ceding two further singles.
“I failed not to swear when I just checked the score.” emails Hugh Maguire. “This Pakistan attack…
17th over: Sri Lanka 86-3 (Dickwella 43, Mathews 1) Hasan’s third nut is a nut, bouncing just enough, moving just enough, and making Mathews look cumbersome. He doesn’t get a touch though, so resets to go again. One off the over.
“Does sitting through a meeting without a single yawn count as an achievement? Ok I also looked ‘engaged’,” tweets Sraye.
16th over: Sri Lanka 85-3 (Dickwella 42, Mathews 1) Mathews has a look, which makes this a chance for Pakistan; if they can get shot of him, they’ll be set. But he flat-bats one to point to get off the mark, then Dickwella, who’s still at the other end, gets a single of his own.
“Not sure this is my greatest achievement re my child,” emails Peter Salmon, “but the ONE TIME I forgot to bring a nappy bag with me, my one-year-old daughter Pearl threw up all over the back of the car while I was out shopping. I had to strip her naked and run to the nearest clothing shop. ‘Please help me,’ says I. ‘I need some clothes for my child!’ Not a good dad look. I may have set gender politics back several years, although it was in Shropshire, so maybe not. Oh, and surely ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ is more appropriate for a game featuring Lasith Malinga.”
It’s all changed! Chandimal stretches to crack a wide one through cover, but doesn’t move his feet at all and ends up dragging on via bottom edge.
15th over: Sri Lanka 83-2 (Dickwella 41, Chandimal 0) Pakistan needed that, and Hasan sends down a similar delivery, quick and nipping back but a touch shorter with a touch more bounce. Chandimal wears it on pubis and the fielders are up!
Bazzer of a jazzer from Hasan! He goes wide of the grease and slings down a quick one which swings in and clatters the actual bails, middle and off. He celebrates like he means it too, and that’s Pakistan cricket right there!
15th over: Sri Lanka 82-1 (Dickwella 41, Mendis 27) Pakistan don’t look like getting a wicket nor to they look like stemming the flow of runs. But Hasan is a wicket-taker, and nearly nobbles Mendis when he goes to flicks to leg only to inside-edge into the pad...
14th over: Sri Lanka 81-1 (Dickwella 40, Mendis 27) Hello, hello, is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me, is there anyone home? This morning I stubbed my toe on a ladder, and managed to yelp without swearing in front of my 3-year-old daughter; do email in with your finest recent achievements. Seven from the over, and their doing a fine job of accumulating without fuss.
WATCH:
In-play highlights from the winner takes all #CT17 clash https://t.co/vkgEHTQrLs#PAKvSLpic.twitter.com/K7KxxuBNCX
13th over: Sri Lanka 74-1 (Dickwella 36, Mendis 24) Hasan Ali into the attack and he overpitches a touch, so Mendis welcomes him to the match with a drive on the up, more or less one-armed; his bottom hand flies off the bat while he plays the stroke. Hasan responds well enough though, ceding four singles from the remaining five balls, the last of which is a jazzer, lifting sharply off a length and leaving Mendis to play inside it.
12th over: Sri Lanka 66-1 (Dickwella 34, Mendis 18) Sarfraz tries Fahim, and Dickwella goes to third man again, adding two, then square leg for two more. Off the fourth ball, though, he nearly drags on, but Pakistan can’t build pressure; Babar is caught chilling, turning one into two.
Another wonder of the modern world: Paulie Gualtieri’s laugh.
11th over: Sri Lanka 60-1 (Dickwella 28, Mendis 18) Mendis takes a single, then Dickwella goes down on one knee to flip around the corner to fine leg; they sprint the first run to enable the second. Then, after a dot, Dickwella shows that he’s on top of Imad, waiting to see if the ball moves, then feathers it late, earning four at third man. A two and a one follow, making it 10 from the over; Pakistan need something.
10th over: Sri Lanka 50-1 (Dickwella 19, Mendis 17) Lovely from Mendis, leaping back and across to glide four through square-leg with velvet wrists. Next ball, he comes down to defend, so Junaid hurls at him and/or the stumps - he chuckles to compound any annoyance - and then grinds it in further by cracking four more to backward square-leg. Lovely tackle, 10 off the over, and Mendis is now in.
9th over: Sri Lanka 40-1 (Dickwella 19, Mendis 8) Time for spin; Imad Wasim is on. Mendis turns a single to square-leg, Dickwella does likewise to cover - they sprint through - and then Mendis pushes a further one to leg.
8th over: Sri Lanka 37-1 (Dickwella 18, Mendis 6) Oh this is lovely! Mendis leans into a length ball, the first of the over, and introduces it to the full phizog in perfect form. That’s four all the way. I mean of course it is, because every four is, but there was never any doubt. Or something like that. But Junaid comes back well, ceding only another single.
7th over: Sri Lanka 32-1 (Dickwella 18, Mendis 1) Dickwella twists one to midwicket and they run three; Ashraf does well to be arsed with the chase, saving one in the process. Mendis then opens his account with a single and Amir slings down a bumper - Dickwella ducks - and then flicks two to midwicket. They kept things ticking nicely in that over.
6th over: Sri Lanka 26-1 (Dickwella 13, Mendis 0) Mendis, who’s in lovely touch, has a look at the bowling - perhaps he’s learning from Gunathilaka, who forced it.
This was very simple, and just what Pakistan needed. Gunathilaka looked to drive on the up, the ball wasn’t there for him, he went anyway, and lobbed a simple catch to mid-off. He’ll be ruing that missed two harder now; don’t laugh.
5th over: Sri Lanka 26-0 (Dickwella 13, Gunathilaka 13) Some much-needed control from Amir; he starts with a bouncer, and his line is much tighter this over, nothing too straight. A single off the final delivery is all it yields; really it ought to have been two.
4th over: Sri Lanka 25-0 (Dickwella 13, Gunathilaka 12) Crack! Begone! Junaid gives Gunathilaka width first up and he does not miss out, rocking back to fling hands, wrists, arms and shoulders right through the ball which sizzles through cover to the fence. A dot follows, and then Gunathilaka goes again, forcing over midwicket. He’s not timed that one, but it dribbled over the rope nonetheless and the bowlers are now under a bit of pressure. And even more so now; Dickwella strolls across his stumps while the ball’s still in-hand, then, when it arrives, ramps it over the keeper for a one-bounce four! Beautifully done!
3rd over: Sri Lanka 12-0 (Dickwella 9, Gunathilaka 3) Dickwella turns Amir’s opening delivery around the corner; it drops just short of Hafeez at short midwicket. Two twos follow, and then, after a dot, yerman goes; he tries to lift of the leg side but instead imparts a top edge; they run three and it falls safe. But this is much better, a gen-u-ine flick to wide long on which also adds three. Much better over for the Lankans.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 4-0 (Dickwella 4, Gunathilaka 0) Junaid with the ball at the other end, and he finds a touch a seam - just enough - to move one away from Gunathilaka. But it defeats his edge, and then so does another - except this time the batsman plays, looking to drive down the ground, then he misses again. Maiden, and a fine one at that.
1st over: Sri Lanka 4-0 (Dickwella 4, Gunathilaka 0) Amir opens up with a beaut, swinging away and squaring up his man. It’s proper windy out there, throuser billowing like garish marquees, so Dickwella has a look at things before timing a push, transferring his weight perfectly into the stroke to find the point fence. That was fit as, was that.
Play!
Mo Amir is warming his arm as Ramiz tells us batting is about “not having a pixelated mind”. I love that. I think Dickwella will be fine.
It has now seamlessly segued into Seven Nation Army. Imaginative, what.
It’s ripe for a jungle remix, though.
The Sri Lanka tune is a choon.
Anthem time. There’s hardly anyone in the ground; is it really beyond the organisers to go around local schools handing them out for nowt?
A pleasure of watching cricket is partial, passionate, knowledgeable commentary. This ICC broadcast squad has ruined that.
Imad Wasim reckons Babar Azam is the best player of his age in world cricket. He’s certainly the most fun.
I’m compiling the seven wonders of the modern world.
1. Ramiz Raja’s hair.
Angelo Mathews is important. More news as I get it.
Ramiz reckons we’ve got a typical English track, and Athers confirms that there’s more in it for the seamers than at the Oval, with quite a thick layer of grass. Boundaries are short straight and long down the ground.
As far as our teams go, Pakistan make one change: Faheem Ashraf for Shadab Khan, a seamer for a leggy. The short boundaries and general conditions are responsible.
The Lankans have also made one change, an batsman for a batsman: Dhananjaya de Silva for the inured Kusal Perera.
Angelo Matthews would’ve done likewise - overhead conditions might be helpful, and there’s a touch of grass on the pitch.
Roughly, we watch sport for two reasons: to see what happens, and to see something incredible; in both of those aspects. we have no greater ally than the Pakistan cricket team. In this tournament alone, they have been annihilated by India and have annihilated South Africa thanks to their peculiar confection of aggressive bowling, enterprising batting and wondrous awfulness.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have been much the same: first they were walloped by South Africa and then they caned India. Accordingly, relating what’s likely to happen today is a complete waste of time; we’d be as well nailing jelly to a wall, or asking the Great British public a crucial question to determine the future of the nation. All we know if that at some point there’ll be a winner, and that team will meet England in the semi-final. Enjoy the ride!
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