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27th over: India 174-0 (Rohit 95, Rahul 73) Rahul picks Malinga’s slower ball and swings it viciously over midwicket for four. He would also love a century today; his last was against Zimbabwe on his ODI debut in 2016. But Rohit is going to get there first. He drives a low full toss from Malinga for his 13th four, and a single off the last delivery means he keeps the strike.
26th over: India 160-0 (Rohit 89, Rahul 68) Rohit back cuts Udana for four with precisely 0.00 per cent fuss, and then edges wide of the diving keeper for another boundary. That takes him to within 11 of a new World Cup record - nobody has ever scored fivecenturies in a single tournament. Five centuries! That’s more than most England batsmen (pre-2015) scored in a career.
25th over: India 152-0 (Rohit 81, Rahul 68) Sri Lanka are starting to unravel. Rahul drags a short ball from Malinga round the corner and gets four after a misfield from Udana. England’s defeat to this Sri Lankan team will never make sense.
24th over: India 141-0 (Rohit 78, Rahul 61) Udana returns, concedes four runs, and life goes on. In the other match at Old Trafford, Faf du Plessis’ marvellous 93-ball hundred has put the cat among the semi-final pigeons.
Related: Australia v South Africa: Cricket World Cup 2019 – live!
23rd over: India 137-0 (Rohit 75, Rahul 60) KL Rahul rocks back to smash Dhananjaya for four to reach a second consecutive fifty - and then he makes room to swipe a beautiful six over mid-off next ball. Another very expensive over, 17 from it, ends with Rahul swishing over mid-off for four more. Dhananjaya was a potential matchwinner for Sri Lanka on a very dry pitch, but that early statement from Rohit - two sixes off his first three balls - nipped any threat in the bud.
22nd over: India 120-0 (Rohit 74, Rahul 45) There have been a few plays-and-misses from Rohit, for all his coruscating strokeplay, and there’s another off Perera. Six from the over, all in ones and twos, which means India need 145 from 28 overs.
“If it was a very small gun,” says John Starbuck, “you could tuck it into your cheek and mumble well enough.”
21st over: India 114-0 (Rohit 71, Rahul 42) Rohit continues his merry dance towards a third century in seven days, clubbing a short ball from Dhananjaya over midwicket for four.
20th over: India 109-0 (Rohit 66, Rahul 42) Perera is sometimes seen a death-hitter who bowls a bit. A biffs-and-pieces player, if you will. Oh, okay. This has been a goodspell, though, with excellent control of length and a tight line to the right-handers.
The downside of that, as Nasser says on Sky, is that the batsman knows what is coming. Rohit rocks back in the crease to dump a pull over midwicket for four. That takes him past Shakib to the top of the runscoring charts in this tournament. He has 609. The record for any World Cup is 673, by Sachin Tendulkar in 2003. He could break that today.
19th over: India 103-0 (Rohit 61, Rahul 41) “Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “A week today and it will be the day before the greatest sporting event of many a year. That’s right, the Scottish League Cup Group H meeting of St. Mirren and Dunfermlin- sorry the men’s singles final at Wimbledo-, sorry the British Grand Pri-, sorry the CRICKET WORLD CUP FINAL AT LORD’S!!! What’s your gut telling you? I know we like to joke about it here on the OBO, but it’s coming home, right?”
My gut tells me it’s going home, to Australia, for the fifth time in the last six tournaments. My brain tells me it could be any of the big three. There’s so little between them. If I had a gun in my mouth I’d say Australia, because of Mitchell Starc. Or rather Auaia, because my friend told me when you have a gun barrel between your teeth you speak only in vowels.
18th over: India 99-0 (Rohit 60, Rahul 38) Any slight pressure on India was alleviated by that huge over off Dhananjaya, which means they again treat Perera with respect. Two from the over, and he has figures of 4-0-12-0.
“South Africa are doing well, but of course they might choke in the end,” says Romeo. “However I hope they do win because, if I wanted England to win the thing, I’d rather they played Australia at Edgbaston, where they’ve won 6 out of 11 games between the two, with two no-results. At Lord’s, Australia have won 9 out of 15 with one tied and as I remember they’ve always done very well at Lord’s, at least since the Massie Test I was lucky enough to go to.”
17th over: India 97-0 (Rohit 59, Rahul 37) Sri Lanka introduce their only spinner, Dhananjaya da Silva. Rohit Sharma introduces himself to Dhananjaya by hitting two of his first three deliveries for six! The first, driven contemptously over extra cover, brought up an effortless 48-ball fifty; the second was a mighty hit over the sightscreen. Glorious batsmanship.
That’s drinks. In the other game at Old Trafford, Faf du Plessis is officially on one - which means an England v Australia semi-final could be on.
Related: Australia v South Africa: Cricket World Cup 2019 – live!
16th over: India 83-0 (Rohit 46, Rahul 36) Rohit is beaten by a lovely, scrambled-seam delivery from Perera. After all those early boundaries, the tone has changed in the last 20 minutes - the last three overs have produced only six runs, the last 10 a fairly modest 35.
15th over: India 81-0 (Rohit 45, Rahul 35) Udana is bowling quite nicely, using a lot of cutters. It does feel like the pitch is starting to slow down; India will be thankful for that flying start.
14th over: India 79-0 (Rohit 44, Rahul 34) India are in complete control of this chase, which means they don’t have to force things and can take the occasional over off. Like that one from Perera, which brings just two singles.
13th over: India 77-0 (Rohit 43, Rahul 33) A slower ball from Udana is dragged, one-handed, over mid-on for four by Rohit. If he gets a hundred today, he will break Kumar Sangakkara’s record for most centuries in a World Cup. Sangakkara made four in 2015.
12th over: India 71-0 (Rohit 38, Rahul 32) A double bowling change, with Thisara Perera replacing Kasun Rajitha (5-0-29-0). Six from his first over, none in boundaries.
11th over: India 65-0 (Rohit 36, Rahul 28) The left-armer Isuru Udana comes into the attack, and after a couple of sighters Rohit drives him beautifully through extra cover for four. His batting is almost too elegant to function.
Meanwhile, South Africa have continued their excellent start against Australia at Old Trafford. If they win that game, and India win here, India will face New Zealand in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
Related: Australia v South Africa: Cricket World Cup 2019 – live!
10th over: India 59-0 (Rohit 31, Rahul 27) I suspect we’ll see this approach in the knockout games, with batsmen trying to get ahead of the game in the Powerplay, before the pitches slow down and their heart rate speeds up.
A short ball from Rajitha follows Rahul, who bends backwards like a limbo dancer to steer it off the face of the bat and straight over the keeper’s head for four. That’s outrageous.
9th over: India 52-0 (Rohit 29, Rahul 22) Malinga, who has improved after a poor start, bowls a maiden to KL Rahul.
“Afternoon Rob!” says Spencer Francis. “This has been a good World Cup, for my money, especially with the exciting hosts England in the semis. Three genuine contenders (with no disrespect to New Zealand) who will all be worthy winners. So much better than last few where there was clearly one standout team (mostly Australia). What do you think has caused that? Do you think all the three teams are flawed so there is no standout or they have all these teams have lifted their standards? Would any of these have a chance against Australia 2003 or 2007?”
8th over: India 52-0 (Rohit 29, Rahul 22) “Hi Rob,” says Romeo. “My side for Brian’s game: Rohit, Williamson (he can open, usually almost does), Shakib, Babar, Mathews (proved today how good he is and I’ve always liked him), Buttler (will do well from here on, and hasn’t been shabby thus far), Holder (one of my favourite cricketers), Starc (have to have him), Bumrah (double have to have him), Imran Tahir and Mujeeb.
“Because of the captain rule, it has to be Rohit, or maybe Bumrah, but
Williamson, Holder or Buttler can actually be in charge. A bit spin-heavy but it’ll be played on an old pitch, no doubt.”
7th over: India 51-0 (Rohit 29, Rahul 21) A single from Rohit off Malinga brings up the fifty partnership inside seven overs. That’s India’s fastest start of the tournament.
6th over: India 48-0 (Rohit 28, Rahul 19) An elegant square-drive off Rajitha brings Rohit his fifth boundary. He cuts the next ball a fraction short of Mendis at short point before resuming normal service with another effortless flick through midwicket for four. He looks in stunning touch, and already looks good for his fifth century of the tournament. He only needs 72 more, after all.
5th over: India 39-0 (Rohit 20, Rahul 18) Malinga has started poorly. A low full toss is steered through backward point for four by Rohit, who times the next delivery off his pads to the midwicket boundary. He has 20 from only 12 balls.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Brian Withington. “In view of Tim’s sensible objections (over 41), can I now drop Finch for Starc, promote Williamson to opener (he’s been doing the job all tournament) but keep Archer instead of Bairstow for exactly the reasons Tim outlined.”
4th over: India 28-0 (Rohit 11, Rahul 16) “Today is Ian Gould’s last international match as an umpire,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “For a young man like me, he’s been as synonymous with the sport as many contemporary cricketers. He’s one of the best in the world who stood in many all-time classic encounters. Like a decisive shadow, he made the tough decisions, which were correct most of the time too. Your presence will surely be missed, Mr Gould... Enjoy retirement!”
Indeed. In sport, as in life, there are characters and characters. Gould is the good kind.
3rd over: India 27-0 (Rohit 11, Rahul 15) Another stunning drive from Rahul, this time off the front foot, races through the covers for four. He glides Malinga for another boundary two balls later, a beautifully placed shot between short third man and backward point, and then Rohit flicks majestically to the midwicket boundary. India, who started so slowly against England in their last run-chase, have got off to a flyer.
2nd over: India 14-0 (Rohit 7, Rahul 6) Rajitha to Rohit: short, wide, four. Rahul gets his first boundary, too, with a gorgeous back-foot drive through the covers.
1st over: India 2-0 (Rohit 1, Rahul 1) We’re having a few technical problems I’m afraid. You haven’t missed much, just a quiet first over from Lasith Malinga.
Thanks Tim, hello everyone. If India need any incentive to win this game, the Old Trafford scoreboard should provide it. South Africa have got off to a flyer agianst Australia, which increases India’s chances of topping the table and setting up a theoretically easier semi-final against New Zealand.
First, they need to win this match. A target of 265 could be tricky on this pitch - Sri Lanka defended 232 against England on this ground - and much will depend on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It usually does.
50th over: Sri Lanka 264-7 (de Silva 29, Udana 1) Seven off the last over as de Silva keeps on accumulating to the end and Kumar finds a sliver of redemption. That’s an impressive recovery by Sri Lanka, based on one strong partnership by Mathews and Thirimanne. Bumrah was outstanding again, and so was Jadeja for his first six overs (1-16), but given that they had Sri Lanka reeling at 55-4, India will wonder how they’ve allowed them to add another 200. In a normal ODI, India would be hot favourites from here; in this World Cup, Sri Lanka may well have enough to defend, especially if Malinga is in the mood for a last hurrah.
Thanks for your company, your correspondence and your complaints about everything from TMS to the OBO. Time to hand over to Rob Smyth, the Bumrah of the keyboard.
After bowling two wides in the final over, Kumar finally does something right. His slower ball lures Perera into a half-baked slog and Pandya races in from long-off to take an excellent diving catch.
49th over: Sri Lanka 257-6 (de Silva 26, Perera 2) Bumrah finishes with 10-2-37-3. What a master he is. In a tournament that has largely belonged to the left-arm seamers, he has been the king of the right-armers.
Mathews makes a miscalculation at last, trying to chip Bumrah over the infield but leaning back too much and offering a catch at extra cover, crisply taken by Sharma. That’s the end of a memorable feat of rebuilding.
48th over: Sri Lanka 251-5 (Mathews 112, de Silva 23) Sangakkara, who is so much more incisive than most of the ICC commentators, feels these two batsmen have been “too cute” and have missed a trick by not hitting the ball hard enough. Mathews responds instantly by shoving a slow bouncer from Kumar into the gap at deep midwicket. Eight off the over, and SL have now made it to 250, which has been enough, for the side batting first, in every World Cup match bar one.
47th over: Sri Lanka 244-5 (Mathews 105, de Silva 20) Just four singles off Bumrah, the kid at the front of the class who will insist on showing everyone else up.
And here’s an email from John Starbuck. “Well done for publishing Ray Barnes’ email [42nd over].” he says. “TMS are suddenly announcing not only fielding positions, but also their changes when each ball is bowled. Proper cricket.” I’m not sure the OBO is that influential, is it?
46th over: Sri Lanka 240-5 (Mathews 105, de Silva 20) Dhananjaya de Silva has been happily playing second fiddle but now he plays a solo, chipping elegantly into the gap between the two boundary riders on the leg side. Pandya finishes with 10-0-50-1 and a new world record for the number of slow bouncers in one day.
45th over: Sri Lanka 233-5 (Mathews 104, de Silva 14) Back comes Kumar, summoned from the doghouse. He goes for six singles and now has figures of 8-0-58-0.
44th over: Sri Lanka 227-5 (Mathews 101, de Silva 11) Mathews sees that there’s nobody at deep square and plants a pull there. Offered a free hit by a big no-ball, he can’t connect with Pandya’s umpteenth slow bouncer, but the next one he uppercuts for four to reach his hundred off 115 balls. It’s been a masterclass in moving through the gears.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 215-5 (Mathews 91, de Silva 10) Bumrah continues and Mathews treats him with great respect. Even a full toss goes for only a single.
42nd over: Sri Lanka 212-5 (Mathews 89, de Silva 9) Pandya tries to fool Mathews with a wide slower ball – and succeeds, but also deceives Dhoni, who concedes four byes.
Here’s Ray Barnes. “I am emailing from Adelaide. Can the BBC cricket commentators please, instead of prattling on about a lot of nothing, describe what is actually happening on the field, e.g. field positions, what type of ball the bowler is bowling, where what type of stroke the batsman plays – you know, describe the cricket. Often they don’t actually describe anything until after the ball has been hit. We are not told anything else, I feel very sorry for the blind people listening, because they cannot see it.Thanks for your time.”
41st over: Sri Lanka 205-5 (Mathews 87, de Silva 8) Kohli is in a grump, understandably, although he is part of the problem – he’s been reactive, and often over-reactive, rather than proactive. He goes back to Bumrah, who surely has instructions to Get Mathews. He doesn’t manage it, but goes for only five.
“Now we have almost concluded the preliminaries,” says Brian Withington, “would you care to invite recommendations for a team of the tournament, one player from each country plus free pick of captain?” Interesting rule. “I’d go with Kohli as captain and batting 3/4 (or opening?) so Bumrah can bowl (or Sharma open). Finch vice-captain and opener (but then no Starc bowling?). Williamson as 3/4 obviously. But then where does Shakib bat? Afridi bowling rather than Amir? Hope keeping and batting? Mujeeb Zadran bowling economically. Tahir spinning I assume. Archer bowling fast. Sri Lanka nominee tricky, Malinga for old time’s sake? Trickier than I thought ...” Surely you have to have Starc, the man of the month. And if your choice of Kohli as opener ever reaches the ears of Jonny Bairstow, he’ll be so incensed that he may well make a double hundred.
40th over: Sri Lanka 200-5 (Mathews 85, de Silva 6) Mathews, enjoying himself now, reverse-sweeps Kuldeep in the air for four. Mathews has 29 off his last 18 balls.
39th over: Sri Lanka 193-5 (Mathews 80, de Silva 4) Just when he might go back to milking, Mathews decides to go for broke instead. He takes on Jadeja, gets a leading edge – and still collects six. Then he plays an uppish glide for four to leave Jadeja, so immaculate early on, with figures of 10-0-40-1. The score predictor has crept up to 264.
38th over: Sri Lanka 182-5 (Mathews 70, de Silva 0) Success for Kuldeep, who has 9-0-51-1, and more weight on the shoulders of Mathews, who now needs to bat through.
Just to underline the point, Jadeja snaffles one. Thirimanne gave Kuldeep the charge, didn’t allow for the dip, and chipped the simplest of catches to extra cover. End of a partnership of 124 that was first halting, then fluent, and finally commanding.
37th over: Sri Lanka 177-4 (Mathews 69, Thirimanne 52) Kohli brings back Jadeja to restore order, and it almost works. Mathews is dropped in a way that bears out what Alaina Venkatesh was saying (31st over) – if Jadeja himself had been at long-on, he would have swallowed that, but it was poor old Kumar, whose day goes from bad to worse as he puts it down. Mathews rubs it in by playing the same shot, better, to hit the first six of the day.
36th over: Sri Lanka 169-4 (Mathews 61, Thirimanne 52) Kuldeep strays onto the pads and Thirimanne plays the finest of glances to reach fifty off 65 balls. Mathews, fully relaxed now, plays a reverse chip-sweep for four more. The last two overs have gone for 20: a lot of bowling changes, achieving nothing.
35th over: Sri Lanka 159-4 (Mathews 57, Thirimanne 47) I take it back – Kumar was just changing ends. His luck, however, doesn’t change, as Mathews dances down to loft him back over his head, and Thirimanne whips a pull into the gap at midwicket. That’s the hundred partnership – 103 off 141 balls. That’s only the second hundred partnership for SL in this World Cup, and the first by anyone other than the openers. Just what the doctor ordered.
34th over: Sri Lanka 149-4 (Mathews 52, Thirimanne 42) Kumar is banished again, after just one over. Kuldeep returns and concedes a regulation five.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 144-4 (Mathews 50, Thirimanne 39) Thirimanne gets away with one, flapping at Pandya’s slow bouncer and seeing the ball loop just over Dhoni. Mathews, more composed, dabs a more orthodox bouncer down for a single to short square leg, to reach a fine fighting fifty off 76 balls. He’s a good man in a tight corner. And that’s drinks, with SL winning that session to give themselves a chance of making a game of it.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 140-4 (Mathews 48, Thirimanne 37) If Jadeja has sailed through the audition, Bhuvi Kumar is failing it. He replaces Bumrah and Thirimanne, suddenly liberated, comes down the track to slap him through extra cover. The partnership is up to 85 now.
“Gentleman’s game – not in media,” says Arun Bharrat Dhinagar Vaidegi, picking up on something I said at 11:31. “Losing the way of comments (Old Man Dhoni).” I wasn’t trying to be ungentlemanly – just playful. And he is old, by sporting standards, isn’t he?
31st over: Sri Lanka 134-4 (Mathews 47, Thirimanne 32) Mathews decides Pandya’s bouncer has to go and pulls it to the midwicket fence, with some authority.
“I have been waiting (very) patiently,” says Alaina Venkatesh, “for Jadeja to finally be included in the playing XI and receive his due credit in the scorecard for his excellent fielding. I must say, I’ve been incredibly impressed by his bowling. When Jadeja first bowled today, the commentators were talking about how his average was higher than the other bowlers’ - which is only really the case because Jadeja can’t field when Jadeja’s bowling.” Good line. “Also, I have been thoroughly enjoying your OBO! The Guardian has been keeping me all caught up when I can’t watch the matches live and I’m extremely thankful.” Nice of you to say so. Up next, in the interests of balance: a reader who’s not so happy.
30th over: Sri Lanka 127-4 (Mathews 41, Thirimanne 31) Bumrah strays just close enough to leg stump to offer each batsman a clip for two. Annoyed with himself, he then produces a fine snarling bouncer, which manages to hit Thirimanne on both the hand and the head. Two blows for the price of one.
“After today’s match,” says Amod Paranjape, “all Indians are going to be affected by the English fan pessimism virus. New Zealand are going to find form in the semi-finals, aren’t they Tim?” They may well do. And yes, there has been a bug going round – since about 1971, when Ray Illingworth’s triumphant Ashes-winners were taught a lesson by Ajit Wadekar’s unfancied Indians.
29th over: Sri Lanka 122-4 (Mathews 38, Thirimanne 29) Pandya continues banging it in, but Mathews isn’t taking the bait – he either sways or swats for a single.
Here’s Pete Salmon, coming off his long run. “I did bring this up yesterday, so feel free to ignore, but I just read Vic Marks’ article. All true and good, but what seems to have been missed is that the final is only free if England are in it. Seems indicative of the ICC/Sky mindset that we watch cricket to see our team win, rather than because we like cricket. India v Australia is obviously not something anyone could be bothered to watch apparently – after 48 matches, England not winning means the tournament was pointless. Given the large numbers of non-England fans who have attended, this seems pretty poor – and I guess in this T20 hoopla world, why would a neutral bother? This World Cup has been great – in spite of the ICC.”
28th over: Sri Lanka 118-4 (Mathews 36, Thirimanne 27) Kohli wants wickets, so he sends for Bumrah. His radar is immaculate, as ever, and by the end of the over he’s almost enticing Mathews into giving Dhoni yet another catch.
27th over: Sri Lanka 116-4 (Mathews 35, Thirimanne 26) Kohli decides he wants to hear some chin music, so Jadeja gets a breather (8-0-21-1) and Pandya comes back, bearing bouncers, both fast and slow. This time the batsmen can cope.
“As we get down to the business end of the World Cup,” says Pratik Dubey, “I wonder what will be the injury of the tournament.” Good question. “For me personally I think Dhawan’s injury will prove to be decisive, as it has thrown off the balance of the Indian team and has upset their rhythm.” Yes, a serious blow. But it has only cost them a maximum of one match, hasn’t it?
26th over: Sri Lanka 109-4 (Mathews 31, Thirimanne 24) A few singles off Kuldeep bring up the fifty partnership, off 14 overs, and then Mathews plays another of his cuts for four. The ship has been steadied, just about.
25th over: Sri Lanka 102-4 (Mathews 26, Thirimanne 22) Two singles off Jadeja, who may well bowl his ten overs off the reel. This, Nasser Hussain notes, is Sri Lanka’s lowest total at the half-way mark in the 2019 World Cup.
24th over: Sri Lanka 100-4 (Mathews 25, Thirimanne 21) Thirimanne chops Kuldeep for two to bring up the hundred. If there are any Sri Lankan supporters in the ground, they’re too deflated to make much noise.
Something to read in case you’re less than riveted by this match: Vic Marks on the question of whether the final should be on free-to-air telly.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 96-4 (Mathews 24, Thirimanne 18) Three singles off Jadeja, who can now expect not just to play against England, but to open the bowling and spook the hell out of Jason Roy.
22nd over: Sri Lanka 93-4 (Mathews 23, Thirimanne 16) Thirimanne gets a slog in, swinging Kuldeep for four to midwicket. This partnership is beginning to look as if might be OK after all.
21st over: Sri Lanka 87-4 (Mathews 22, Thirimanne 11) If this is an audition for the semi-final, Jadeja has already aced it. He has the exemplary figures of 6-0-16-1, and England, if it is they, would surely rather face Kuldeep and Chahal, after bullying both the other day, than Jadeja plus one of those two.
20th over: Sri Lanka 83-4 (Mathews 19, Thirimanne 10) This is more like it from Mathews, who seizes on a slightly short one from Kuldeep and cuts for four.
“Morning @TimdeLisle,” says Guy Hornsby, “on what may yet be an interesting day before the semis. Really glad that Sri Lanka won the toss because this is their chance to put India under pressure.” It was, Guy, it was, and it may yet be again. These two just need to add another 130.
19th over: Sri Lanka 77-4 (Mathews 14, Thirimanne 9) If Sri Lanka are going to get 240, Angelo Mathews will probably have to get 80. He’s in better form than he was, but that’s not saying much. He edges Jadeja for three to move to a less than authoritative 14 off 28.
18th over: Sri Lanka 74-4 (Mathews 11, Thirimanne 9) Another run-out chance, fluffed by Pant, and it seems to knock some sense into the batsmen, who start milking Kuldeep.
17th over: Sri Lanka 68-4 (Mathews 9, Thirimanne 4) Jadeja races through another over – it’s almost as if he’s not thinking of the people trying to write an OBO here. He has Thirimanne groping and missing, so SL remain on the ropes.
16th over: Sri Lanka 65-4 (Mathews 8, Thirimanne 3) Pandya takes a breather to congratulate himself on figures of 3-0-6-1, and Kohli opts for spin at both ends. Kuldeep Yadav finds some turn too, on a used surface, which perhaps gives Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope for later.
15th over: Sri Lanka 62-4 (Mathews 7, Thirimanne 2) Jadeja keeps it tighter still, even with a slip and a short leg. And that’s drinks, with Sri Lanka falling apart and India, yet again, well on top without having to get everything right. This is one game that seems unlikely to finish in a win for the side batting first.
14th over: Sri Lanka 61-4 (Mathews 6, Thirimanne 2) Pandya keeps it tight. The score predictor is saying 243, which the Sri Lankans would surely take, depending on the timing of their flight.
13th over: Sri Lanka 58-4 (Mathews 4, Thirimanne 1) I’ve worked it out: the Sri Lankans have a flight home booked for about 5pm. Their next ploy is to try and contrive a run-out, but the fielding isn’t quite sharp enough to make it happen.
Here’s Uma Venkatraman, pondering the semis. “If India win today and Australia lose, India get to play New Zealand in the semis. India might prefer to play the Kiwis rather than England, and the Kiwis would be happy to avoid Australia. As a bonus, we would get to watch India and New Zealand play after the earlier washout.” Good point. “That would leave England the task of denying the Aussies another final appearance and they would earn the gratitude of the cricketing world - well, at least mine. I would even root for England over India/NZ in the final.” It’s a deal.
12th over: Sri Lanka 55-4 (Mathews 2, Thirimanne 0) How did this happen? The Sri Lankans have turned a breezy start into a crisis.
Nooooo! Pandya tries a slower-ball bouncer and Fernando can only wave at it and get a top edge. That’s a smart move by Pandya, a hammer blow for Sri Lanka, and a fourth dismissal this morning for old man Dhoni.
11th over: Sri Lanka 54-3 (Fernando 20, Mathews 1) Five minutes ago Jadeja looked like being a curiosity in this World Cup, the sub fielder who was hardly ever off the field. But now he’s back as a bowler and doing the business – he saw Mendis coming and fired the ball in, but not so quick as to lose his natural turn away from the right-hander. Kumar Sangakkara reckons he will be ‘a force’ if, as you’d expect, India play England at Edgbaston.
Kohli turns to spin, Jadeja finds some turn, and Mendis’s turn is all over as he charges down the track and misses. That was a strange decision, a desperate measure at a less than desperate time.
10th over: Sri Lanka 52-2 (Fernando 19, Mendis 3) The bowling change does come, but it’s Bumrah who is taken off. Hardik Pandya replaces him, goes back-of-a-length as usual, and concedes only a couple of singles. So the powerplay ends with honours about even, given that the Sri Lankans have had to cope with the genius of Bumrah.
“If England do play India again,” says Niall Mullen, “I wonder if Bumrah could tread on a ball while playing rugby.”
9th over: Sri Lanka 50-2 (Fernando 18, Mendis 2) Kohli shows some faith in Kumar, not with his fields, which continue to change about three times an over, but by keeping him on. And it’s repaid as Kumar finds a tight line to tie Mendis down. The only run in the over comes from a misfield.
8th over: Sri Lanka 49-2 (Fernando 18, Mendis 1) So Fernando is joined by Mendis. I have seen the future of Sri Lankan cricket and it is working already – Mendis takes a brisk single to get off the mark, and Fernando stands tall again and eases a square drive away for four, before pulling for four more. So Bumrah, after conceding only five off 19 balls, goes for nine off the next five. Keep him on, Virat – this is a proper contest.
The masterclass continues. Perera, trying to find a way to score his first run off Bumrah, hangs a crooked bat out at a quick one outside off, which straightens to take the edge and give Dhoni another simple catch. And Bumrah has 2-5.
7th over: Sri Lanka 40-1 (Perera 18, Fernando 10) Kohli persists with Kumar and perhaps regrets it as Fernando plucks another stroke from an old textbook, an upright push through the covers that’s so well timed that it goes for four. Then, as if suddenly alarmed at being labelled a classicist, Fernando chips high over mid-on for two. Kumar has 4-0-35-0. Even the captain of Ilford 2nds might take him off now.
6th over: Sri Lanka 33-1 (Perera 17, Fernando 4) If that decision had stood, Bumrah would have had 2-0 off 16 balls. Instead he has 1-5 off three overs, as Fernando cashes in with a straight push for four, showing him the maker’s name. That’s class.
It was too high, just going over the leg bail. Good news for Sri Lanka, and for the neutral.
Bumrah, still immaculate, pins Fernando on the crease. Only the height can save him.
5th over: Sri Lanka 28-1 (Perera 17, Fernando 0) Kumar finally gets it right and hurries Perera into a top-edged pull. It’s an easy catch for either mid-on or mid-off, but they both go for it and they collide. It’s Pandya and Kuldeep, a pair of schoolboys. Perera celebrates by smoking through the covers and tickling past Dhoni. Kohli has given up on slips altogether now, which is a bit feeble.
4th over: Sri Lanka 17-1 (Perera 7, Fernando 0) So Bumrah follows a maiden with a wicket maiden. And so far this game is like what Graham Gooch famously said about facing New Zealand in 1990 – the World XI at one end and Ilford 2nds at the other.
And here’s Peter Gluckstein. “As you quite rightly say, SL winning the toss should make for a more even contest. So, in future World Cups, why not award the toss in every game to the lower ranked team (going into the tournament)?? Might have completely screwed England in our last two games, mind you!”
Boom boom Bumrah! After nine dots, even Karunaratne gets frustrated and has a waft outside off. A bottom edge and Dhoni barely has to move.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 17-0 (Karunaratne 10, Perera 7) Kumar loses his length. Too short, so Perera shovels him to midwicket for three, even though it’s off the toe of the bat. Too short again, and even Karunaratne can slap that for four. Too full, and any opener in the world can clip that behind square for four more. Great over for Sri Lanka, and for the game.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (Karunaratne 1, Perera 4) No need to score runs off Bumrah – just survive. Karunaratne manages it, but you do wonder, not for the first time, if he is cut out to be a one-day opener.
1st over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (Karunaratne 1, Perera 4) Bhuvi Kumar opens up – Sourav Ganguly reckons he’s been brought in to swing the ball away from the left-handers. He has two to bowl at here: Karunaratne, who is watchful as ever, and Kusal Perera, who drives his first ball, on the up, for a spanking four. Virat Kohli responds by taking second slip out, which seems a little hasty.
In case you’re wondering how England can finally win the World Cup, Rob Smyth has a ten-point plan.
India do rest a fast bowler, but it’s not Bumrah – it’s Shami, who is replaced by Jadeja, making for a shorter tail. Kuldeep comes in for Chahal as Kohli rotates his wrist spinners. Sri Lanka stiffen their seam attack, and their lower order, by bringing in Thisara Perera for Jeffrey Vandersay.
India 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant, 5 MS Dhoni (wkt), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Dinesh Karthik, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
Dimuth Karunaratne wins the toss and – like every captain now – chooses to bat first. Which should make for a more even contest.
A few sub-plots. Sri Lanka, who will finish sixth whatever happens, pulled off an upset against England – can they do the same to India? They did it the last time these two sides met, also in England, in the 2017 Champions’ Trophy, which perhaps makes it less likely now, on the basis of lightning not striking twice in the same place. Can Avishka Fernando, who announced himself with a sumptuous hundred against the West Indies’ quicks on Monday, do something similar to Bumrah and Shami? Or will Bumrah be rested, now that India are being expected to play as often as everyone else? And if so, will Kohli be short of a cutting edge?
Morning everyone and welcome to day 38 in the Big Brother house. By this evening, Phase One will finally be over. Only one question of any significance remains to be answered: who will finish top?
It will be either Australia or India, both of whom play today. They’re through to the semi-finals already, but there’s a small prize still to be fought for: facing New Zealand, who are on the slide, rather than England, who are back to their best. Australia are ahead by a nose, also known as one point, so if they beat South Africa in the day-nighter at Old Trafford (from 1.30pm BST), the top spot is theirs. If they don’t, and India have seen off Sri Lanka in this game at Headingley (10.30am), it will be Virat Kohli who joins Kane Williamson for the toss on Tuesday. Somehow, this clunky format has managed to hold our interest to the end. As round robins go, it’s been even more long-winded than the Christmas sheet of A4 from a boastful friend. But a lot more entertaining.
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