Cheering on Pakistan
With the police investigation of the Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer’s death continuing, and the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, as well as the team’s three-man selection committee, joining team captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in offering their resignations, Zimbabwe will relish their chances today. Worringly it’s a game that could shatter Ireland’s dream of joining the Super8 in the next round. If Zimbabwe win today Ireland will have to either beat hosts West Indies on Friday.. or hope for a better final run rate to go through. Adds From 2.30pm, over-by-over commentary scorecard here Update Pakistan 349 all out, with a ball to spare. That should put them beyond Zimbabwe’s reach [*fingers crossed* - Ed] More With Zimbabwe on 30-3 rained has stopped play. Meanwhile the Irish Cricket Union has confirmed the sudden death of former President and Chairman, Bob Kerr, 68, at his hotel in Ocho Rios in Jamaica, where he was supporting Ireland at the World Cup. Adds And they’re back. Zimbabwe continue the chase, 57-5 from 14 overs. New Target set by D-L, 193 from 20 overs. Zimbabwe at 99 all out from 19.1 overs. Ireland go through to Super Eights.
Better to be in this position than not having a chance to go through.
bill
That would be stating the bleedin’ obvious ;op
Zimbabwe win the toss and insert Pakistan – given Pakistan’s batting frailties and how teams have performed batting first at Sabina, could be a significant moment already (although I hope I’m reading too much into it). Shabash, shabash Mushy!
Indeed, esmie.
31 for 1 (7.1 overs)
I think Zimbabwe should have batted first so that’s their first mistake.
I’m not sure I can see the reasoning behind that suggestion, George.
ANYway.. Pakistan settling in..
87 for 1 (17.2 overs)
Typical..
88 for 2 (17.5 overs)
Good batting pitch Pete.
Inzamam to deliver the goods in his last one-day innings.
Better to have a total to chase, George.
And there’s the recent history of teams put in first finding it difficult to keep a lid on the scoring of the second side in.
Inzamam’s motivation would be the same batting first or second.
Pete,
I disagree and expect to be proven right by Pakistan winning easily having racked up a large total
George
I realise you disagree.. but Zimbabwe’s best chance lay in putting Pakistan in to bat first.. and then bowling them out.
)
You see I would have thought that Zimbabwe’s best chances lay in batting first on a good batting pitch and racking up a decent total that their bowlers could aim at.
Another 6 from my man Imzamam.
Who promptly gets himself out.
Should be a decent total for Zim to chase…
…phew!
Few more overs like this would be good…
37.6 Mpofu to Younis Khan, 1 run, wide, steered past backward point for a single
37.5 Mpofu to Imran Nazir, 1 run, remarkable shot, off the toe end of the bat – had he middled it it might still be travelling – and over the bowler, long-off round to field
37.5 Mpofu to Imran Nazir, 1 wide, slower ball, Nazir heaves but he was nowhere near it, and the umpire thinks it was wide enough to be called. Mpofu appealed but the noise was bat on ground
37.4 Mpofu to Imran Nazir, FOUR, full toss, Mpofu has lost his composure, and again clubbed, slightly squarer, but it rockets to the rope
37.3 Mpofu to Imran Nazir, SIX, one step to leg, and heaved over long-on, half a dozen rows back. That was clubbed not timed, but it was very effective
37.2 Mpofu to Younis Khan, 1 run, Younis takes a stride, walks across his stumps and turns the ball to leg
37.1 Mpofu to Younis Khan, FOUR, short, he went for the hook but it got too big on him, and he checked the shot but still got a top edge and it bumbled for a fine four (fine as in straight and not superb!)
238-4 after 39 overs. Two sixes in the last over with a run rate approaching 6 an over.
In one-day cricket generally I agree with George – best to know what total you’re chasing. (In Test Cricket I’d say it’s the other way around, you want to bat first, because “once you’ve got ‘em, they’ve gotta get ‘em – does anyone have any stats on such things?)
But in this case it didn’t matter. Pakistan has a much better cricket team than Zimbabwe, so either way I’d expect Inzaman’s boys to do it. (Lightning doesn’t strike twice, and all that…)
“best to know what total you’re chasing.”
Who are you agreeing with, IJP? ;o)
“When you win the toss – bat. If you are in doubt, think about it, then bat. If you have very big doubts, consult a colleague – then bat”.
WG Grace
Zimbabwe 0 for 1 (1 overs)
Zim 20-3 – Fat lady does her exercises!
It must have been some innings from Nazir – can’t wait to see the highlights.
And so being spring, young (and not so young) men’s thoughts turn to the Super Eights! 7 more games we can get our teeth into and who’s to say there won’t be another shock? 2 points against the Windies to start would be nice and a meeting with England (should they qualify – definately not guaranteed, even more so after pedalogate) could give another 2… semi-finals anyone? Remember Kenya?
LG
Love the quote from the Doc but I’m sure he didn’t have one day cricket in mind!
peteb, you might want to update, more sad news I’m afraid:
Former president of Irish Cricket Union Bob Kerr dies in Jamaica
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/sport/other-sports/article2380978.ece
Zimbabwe 30/3 (10.2 ov)
Rain stops play
Does this mean our friends Duckworth and Lewis might get involved ?
Not until 20 overs have been completed to constitute a ‘match’ – if it is washed out for the day, they come back tomorrow. If washed out tomorrow, there is no result, 1 point each and Ireland are through anyway.
IJP, George etc
Out of 1821 Test Matches 1887-2007 (courtesy of howstat.com)
The side winning the toss batted on 1345 occasions and bowled on 476. Out of the 1345 the side won the test on 449 occasions, a win percentage of 33.3%. When the side winning the toss bowled they won 169 out of 476 – a win percentage of 35.5%.
This is raw and doesn’t indicate who played whom or who was at home. Lies, damned lies and statistics, eh? I’m still trying to find ODI figures.
I’ll get me anorak…
Right, after some digging… thanks, cricinfo.
From Jan 2000 to July 2005, out of 617 ODIs, the side batting first won 302 (49%) and the side chasing won 315 (51%) so IJP may have a (slight) point. Once again toss, conditions and who was playing not included.
Me? I’d like my runs on the board first, thanks very much – put the pressure on the chasing side.
esmereldavillalobos,
I thought when you were putting your anorak on you were leaving the building….
I’m a stubborn SOB, George! Had to find some figures! Cricket’s one of the (very) few subjects I can comment on with authority on this blog so it’s an ego thing I guess – anyway…
Covers coming off at Sabina but it looks mighty damp – messrs Duckworth & Lewis may be called upon after all.
Ahhh, wasn’t too far away with my home made D/L calculation – I thought it would be around 206 (and then thought nahh, far too high) and the official is 193. If you really want to test your brain, try it yourself sometime!
Get the champagne on ice lads!
Get the drinks in lads, we’re still in the World Cup. Wayhey.
esmereld…
Anoraky yes, but very interesting.
It appears, in fact, that in either form of the game you should bowl – is that right?
Pete
You’re quite right, I was agreeing with you and disagreeing with George.
And I don’t drink, so I don’t even have that excuse…!