Right, that’s it from me. Stick around for all the match report and reaction, but from me, cheerio!
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A quick word from Gulbadin Naib: “We missed something in the fielding. But credit to Shakib, he bowled really well.”
And here’s Mashrafe Mortaza: “Shakib has been fantastic, phenomenal.”
Fair to say that result has added to the pressure on England. Bangladesh sit just a point behind the hosts now, though Eoin Morgan’s side have a game in hand. Bangladesh have India and Pakistan still to play; England face Australia, New Zealand and India – the three teams above them in the table.
Here’s Shakib, the man of the match: “It was a terrific team effort,” he says. “Two more important matches coming up against India and Pakistan – we’ll have to play to the best of our abilities.”
Bangladesh win by 62 runs
Not much of a contest in truth, with Bangladesh only briefly under any kind of pressure. Bangladesh have a long wait until they face India but they’ll go into that game a) fancying their chances and b) hoping two wins can take them into the semis.
WICKET! Mujeeb b Shaifuddin 0 (Afghanistan 200 all out)
NOOOOO! Shinwari is left stranded on 49 as his young colleague backs away to leg and swings wildly. And, it turns out, inaccurately.
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47th over: Afghanistan 200-9 (Shinwari 49, Mujeeb 0) Shinwari still has his half-century and a 200 for Afghanistan to fight for. A hammering drive straight back past Shaifuddin brings both closer. Then a top edge drops … safe to bring up the 200. He moves to 49 and faces a nervous wait as Mujeeb takes strike for the final two balls. First ball blocked. Second ball …
46th over: Afghanistan 195-9 (Shinwari 43, Mujeeb 0) The 18-year-old Mujeeb Ur Rahman is last man for Afghanistan. The last ball of the over bounces a whisker over the bails as the No 11 backs away to leg. Just one run from the over.
WICKET! Dawlat c Mushfiqur b Mustafizur 0 (Afghanistan 195-9)
Mustafizur continues as Bangladesh look to wrap this up. And we move a step closer – the faintest of faint edges through to the keeper from the Afghanistan No 10.
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45th over: Afghanistan 194-8 (Shinwari 43, Dawlat 0) Shinwari scuttles for two off Shakib’s first ball of his final over. And there’s a single a ball or two later. Dawlat opts just to see it out. And there’s a huge ovation at the end of the over – that’s the end of Shakib’s work today: 10-1-29-5.
44th over: Afghanistan 191-8 (Shinwari 40, Dawlat 0) Play-and-miss first up from Dawlat and Afghanistan are going to fall well short once again.
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WICKET! Rashid c Mortaza b Mustafizur 2 (Afghanistan 191-8)
Rashid Khan can’t get hold of Mustafizur short ball and instead plonks it straight into the hands of the Bangladesh captain at midwicket.
43rd over: Afghanistan 189-7 (Shinwari 36, Rashid 1) Rashid Khan looked as organised as any Afghanistan batsman when I saw them at Cardiff against South Africa the other weekend. But, as was the case back then, the top order has left too much to do.
WICKET! Najibullah st Mushfiqur b Shakib 23 (Afghanistan 187-7)
Got him! Najibullah goes for a big hit against Shakib, can connect with only fresh Hampshire air and Mushfiqur does the required behind the stumps. Five-fer for Shakib, to go with his fifty earlier on. Not a bad day’s work.
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42nd over: Afghanistan 184-6 (Shinwari 36, Najibullah 22) There may just be a few heart-rates creeping up among the Bangladeshi players and supporters. They could do with a wicket just to snuff out this little uprising. This pair bring up a 50 partnership from 41 balls thanks to some well-placed shots and some hard running. Seven from the Shaifuddin over.
41st over: Afghanistan 177-6 (Shinwari 34, Najibullah 17) Shakib (7-1-10-4) returns. And those figures lose their edge. Najibullah scampers two from the first, then chips down the ground for a single. And from the last Shinwari smashes a six over long off.
40th over: Afghanistan 166-6 (Shinwari 27, Najibullah 13) Two singles from the first two balls of Shaifuddin’s latest over, the second coming off a daft overthrow. And, a few balls later, he sends down a hideous leg-side wide. This pair are giving Afghanistan a glimmer – a teeny, tiny glimmer – of hope.
39th over: Afghanistan 160-6 (Shinwari 24, Najibullah 11) Shinwari cuts through backward point for four! Fine shot but Mustafizur has him playing and missing outside off a couple of balls later. Six off the over. The Required Rate sidles past Nine and begins to wander in the vague direction of Ten.
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38th over: Afghanistan 154-6 (Shinwari 19, Najibullah 10) Najibullah, looking to be assertive, drives Mosaddek sweetly through the covers for four to bring up the Afghanistan 150 then scampers a single. 109 required from 72 balls.
37th over: Afghanistan 147-6 (Shinwari 17, Najibullah 5) Mustafizuq struggles a bit for line here, spraying either side of the wicket. The batsmen work him around for six.
36th over: Afghanistan 141-6 (Shinwari 13, Najibullah 4) Actually I’m being a bit harsh on Shinwari there – Ikram had only himself to blame really. Najibullah thumps his first ball over the top for four, and Shinwari sweeps for four too. It’s a bit too little too late surely.
WICKET! Ikram run out 11 (Afghanistan 132-6)
Two appeals the first ball after the drinks break. Mehidy yelps for an lbw decision – not given – but it matters not because Ikram is run out by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Shinwari hasn’t run himself out but he’s helped scupper his young batting partner there.
35th over: Afghanistan 132-5 (Shinwari 8, Ikram 11) Mustafizur returns. Nudge, nurdle and, from the last, nick! But there’s no one at slip so Ikram picks up a welcome boundary. And that’s drinks.
34th over: Afghanistan 125-5 (Shinwari 7, Ikram 6) Mortaza once more. Ikram nudges to deep backward square leg for two and he’s unlucky to spank a cut straight at the man at point. He’s looked more comfortable out there than any of his teammates thus far. And he nabs the strike off the last too.
33rd over: Afghanistan 119-5 (Shinwari 6, Ikram 1) Ikram Ali Khil is next up. Shakib’s figures just keep getting better: 7-1-10-4 now.
WICKET! Afghan c sub b Shakib 20 (Afghanistan 117-5)
Shakib has another! Afghan finally looks to break the shackles but can only pick out the man on the midwicket boundary.
32nd over: Afghanistan 117-4 (Shinwari 5, Afghan 20) Mortaza brings himself back into the attack. Afghan misses out on a wide half-volley. The Required Run Rate wanders past Eight and purposefully strides in the direction of Nine.
31st over: Afghanistan 113-4 (Shinwari 4, Afghan 17) Shinwari seems determined to run himself out, charging down the pitch pretty much every time he hits the ball before angry words from his partner send him back. Just a couple of singles from Shakib’s latest.
30th over: Afghanistan 111-4 (Shinwari 3, Afghan 16) That over has woken the crowd up – they were just beginning to snooze but the party atmosphere has returned. Four off Shaifuddin’s latest with a wild waft from Shinwari to finish things off.
29th over: Afghanistan 106-4 (Shinwari 2, Afghan 13) Shakib now has spectacular figures of 5-1-6-3. What a player.
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WICKET! Nabi b Shakib 0 (Afghanistan 104-4)
It’s a bit early to say that’s that but it’s a really tall order for Afghanistan now. Mohammad Nabi, the main reason they got as close as they did against India, is the new man. And he’s gone, second ball! Shakib sneaks one between bat and pad and that really could be that.
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WICKET! Gulbadin c Das b Shakib 47 (Afghanistan 104-3)
Gulbadin goes at last! He cover-drives Shakib’s first of a fresh over – not uppishly but there’s a man in at short cover to pouch a low catch.
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28th over: Afghanistan 104-2 (Gulbadin 47, Afghan 13) Gulbadin heaves for one and looks frustrated to find himself stuck at the non-striker’s end as Shaifuddin continues to rumble in. Afghan this time manages to find a single, though. Gulbadin celebrates with another awkward heave for a single. There’s no lack of intent but he’s still struggling to time the ball out there.
27th over: Afghanistan 101-2 (Gulbadin 45, Afghan 12) A silly point comes in – I think it’s Liton Das under the lid. Afghan responds by blocking, blocking and blocking again. A fine over from Shakib – just one from it. The Required Run Rate waves merrily at Seven as it passes by and strides confidently off towards Eight.
26th over: Afghanistan 101-2 (Gulbadin 45, Afghan 12) A bit of pace for a change – Shaifuddin returns to the attack. A punch down the ground (one that the bowler deflects worryingly close to umpire Gough’s armpit) brings up the Afghanistan 100. Three from the over.
25th over: Afghanistan 98-2 (Gulbadin 44, Afghan 10) Shakib (2-0-2-1) returns. Two from the over, the second coming off another bit of hesitant running, Afghan imploring his captain to stop, stop, STOPPPPP! as he comes roaring down the wicket. And then scrambling through for one.
24th over: Afghanistan 96-2 (Gulbadin 43, Afghan 9) Mehidy continues into his seventh over. Asghar Afghan sweeps hard for four – lovely shot. I think I’m right in saying that’s the first boundary Mehidy has conceded in this innings.
23rd over: Afghanistan 87-2 (Gulbadin 41, Afghan 1) Gulbadin tries his best to get things moving, lofting Mosaddek over the covers for four, but the required rate has crept past Six and is striding confidently towards Seven, with a song in its heart and a whistle on its lips.
22nd over: Afghanistan 81-2 (Gulbadin 36, Afghan 1) “As much as we’d like an Afghan win, this will go the way of the India game,” reckons Kevin Wilson. “They just can’t scratch around not losing wickets. Getting a run a ball or more over 30 overs just isn’t going to happen.” Yes, that does feel the way it’s going. The weak link before the tournament seemed to be their batting and that’s how it’s played out. They just don’t have a batsman who strikes any fear into the opposition. The whole lineup feels containable. Mehidy rattles through another one – 6-0-19-0.
21st over: Afghanistan 79-2 (Gulbadin 35, Afghan 0) A fine bit of bowling from Mosaddek that. Advantage Bangladesh you sense.
WICKET! Hashmatullah st Mushfiqur b Mosaddek 11 (Afghanistan 79-2)
Mosaddek continues. And finally somethings happens – a push into the off, a misfield, and a farcical bit of running that at one point sees both batsmen stood stock still in the middle of the pitch, watching as the fielder prepares to pick up the ball and shy at the stumps. Hashmatullah just manages to scramble back … and there’s no run.
But two balls later he’s gone! A lovely bit of bowling sees Mosaddek sneak the ball past Hashmat’s heave to leg and, with his back foot sliding out of the crease, Mushfiqur does the necessary.
20th over: Afghanistan 77-1 (Gulbadin 34, Hashmatullah 10) Mehidy continues into his fifth over. Single, single, single, single, dot, dot. Even the thus-far boisterous Hampshire Bowl crowd has been lulled into a bit of a stupor.
19th over: Afghanistan 73-1 (Gulbadin 32, Hashmatullah 8) Mosaddek concedes just one from his latest. We’ve not had a sniff of a wicket since Rahmat went and we’ve had only one boundary since the ninth over. It’s a war of attrition at the moment.
18th over: Afghanistan 72-1 (Gulbadin 31, Hashmatullah 8) Hashmatullah unfurls the sweep once more, finally discomfiting the otherwise unpeturbed Mehidy. The batsmen have looked a little more sure of themselves, a little more assertive, since the drinks break.
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17th over: Afghanistan 65-1 (Gulbadin 27, Hashmatullah 5) Gulbadin needs some attention from the old magic sponge during the drinks break. He seems OK though. Mosaddek finds Hashmatullah’s outside edge on the resumption but there’s no slip so the batsman picks up a couple.
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16th over: Afghanistan 60-1 (Gulbadin 25, Hashmatullah 2) Mehidy is enjoying bowling on this pitch. Hashmatullah, Afghanistan’s leading runscorer in the tournament so far, sees out three dots then sweeps hard for a single. He goes to two from 14 balls. Mehidy’s figures read 3-0-6-0 after that one.
15th over: Afghanistan 58-1 (Gulbadin 24, Hashmatullah 1) Mosaddek, fresh from a cracking little cameo at the end of the Bangladesh innings, comes into the attack, with Mortaza perhaps sensing he can sneak through a few overs cheaply while these batsmen are becalmed. And becalmed they are – Gulbadin, who should really have his eye in now, sees off five scratchy dots. At least from the last he launches over the top of mid off for a pressure-relieving four.
14th over: Afghanistan 54-1 (Gulbadin 20, Hashmatullah 1) Hashmatullah finally gets off the mark with a dangerous single to mid on – Gulbadin was none-too-sure about that one but his partner screamed him through regardless. A jaffer from Mehidy to end the over – ripping and turning joyfully past the outside edge of Hashmat’s bat.
13th over: Afghanistan 51-1 (Gulbadin 18, Hashmatullah 0) And it’s more of the same from Shakib. Hashmatullah in particular is looking a little uncertain – he’s faced eight balls and is yet to get the ball off the square never mind get himself off the mark.
12th over: Afghanistan 50-1 (Gulbadin 17, Hashmatullah 0) Mehidy form the other end as Bangladesh opt for a double dose of spin. A nudge for one brings up the 50 but it’s a tight and testing over from Mehidy.
11th over: Afghanistan 49-1 (Gulbadin 16, Hashmatullah 0) Ugh, that was rather ugly from Rahmat, and so unnecessary.
WICKET! Rahmat c Tamim b Shakib 24 (Afghanistan 49-1)
Spin for the first time courtesy of the world No 1 all-rounder and leading run-scorer in the tournament Shakib Al Hasan. And it produces the breakthrough – a few dots crank up the pressure then Rahmat tries to smear the ball into the stands, mistimes, and Tamim takes a simple catch.
10th over: Afghanistan 48-0 (Gulbadin 15, Rahmat 24) Shaifuddin once more and once more he’s nice and accurate. Just three off the over. This - Captain Obvious alert – has been a really solid start from Afghanistan.
9th over: Afghanistan 45-0 (Gulbadin 12, Rahmat 24) Mortaza’s turn to drop short and Rahmat pulls hard for four down to backward square leg but the bowler strikes back with one that just holds its line outside off, flashing past outside edge and stumps. Gulbadin clubs over the top of mid on – mistiming it a touch – for three, then Rahmat carves sweetly through point for four more! That’s a very profitable over for Afghanistan – 12 from it.
8th over: Afghanistan 33-0 (Gulbadin 9, Rahmat 15) Shaifuddin enters the attack, with Afghanistan perhaps just a little bit too comfortable for Mortaza’s comfort. A single each for the batsmen.
7th over: Afghanistan 31-0 (Gulbadin 8, Rahmat 14) Rahmat shovels Mortaza into the leg side for a couple, then – hello! – skips down the wicket and attempts to find the stands at cow corner. He succeeds only in chipping the ball about two-thirds of the way to the rope, which says a bit about the awkward nature of this pitch.
6th over: Afghanistan 27-0 (Gulbadin 8, Rahmat 10) The Fiz beats Gulbadin all ends up with a little leg cutter that zips past the outside edge. The Afghanistan captain gratefully scampers a single from the next. Gulbadin gets his revenge later in the over though, clubbing Mustafizur back down the ground for four.
5th over: Afghanistan 21-0 (Gulbadin 3, Rahmat 9) Mortaza keeps things tight. And that’s about all there is to say about that.
4th over: Afghanistan 20-0 (Gulbadin 2, Rahmat 9) Mustafizur drops short for the first time and the ball just sits up screaming “Hit me! Hit me!” at the top of its little lungs. Rahmat obliges pulling majestically down to cow corner for four. Five from the over all told.
3rd over: Afghanistan 15-0 (Gulbadin 2, Rahmat 5) Mortaza wangs down another leg-side wide and his radar seems a little off. Six off the over in ones and twos.
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2nd over: Afghanistan 8-0 (Gulbadin 0, Rahmat 2) Mustafizur at the other end. He loses his line, drifting onto Gulbadin’s pads and four leg byes are the result. They’re the only runs from the over, though. If Gulbadin brought himself up the order to pinch hit … well, he’s not off the mark yet having faced eight balls.
1st over: Afghanistan 4-0 (Gulbadin 0, Rahmat 2) Mashrafe Mortaza starts things off for Bangladesh and a little leg bye gets Afghanistan off the mark. Rahmat clips to leg for the first runs off the bat, there’s a wide and it’s four off the over all told. You feel Afghanistan have got to get their collective foot on the accelerator early doors here but there was no sign there of any out-of-the-ordinary aggression.
Out stride the openers: Gulbadin Naib, the captain promoting himself up the order, and Rahmat Shah.
Hello everyone. I can only echo Dan’s sentiments – this looks to be a few too many for Afghanistan on a tricky pitch. Their scores so far at this tournament have been short of their target today – 207, 152, 172, 125, 247-8 and 213.
Anyhow, thanks all for your company and comments - John Ashdown will be here presently to coax you through the chase. In the meantime, here’s something to read.
Afghanistan bowled pretty well but let themselves down with their fielding, and probably lack the firepower to chase a decent total on a difficult pitch and slow outfield. If they’re going to get it, they probably need to go early, because once the fielders are back and the rate’s up, they’re in trouble.
Afghanistan need 263 to beat Bangladesh
Which looks like 30 too many to me, but what do I know.
WICKET! Mosaddek b Gulbadin 35 (Bangladesh 262-7)
A slower ball yorker, from the back of the hand, foxes Mosaddek, who’s too slow on it, but what an innings that is - it might just have decided the game, pushing a competitive total just out of reach.
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50th over: Bangladesh 262-6 (Mosaddek 35, Shaifuddin 2) Gulbadin brings himself back to finish off and Mossadek trusts his partner, excavating a yorker for a single. And, well, dearie me, Saifuddin edges a slower one, two men converge on a dolly, and Dawlat spills it. Afghanistan’s fielding has been miserable today and they’re punished for this error because a single brings Mossadek back on strike and he immediately clouts four. Two singles follow.
49th over: Bangladesh 254-6 (Mosaddek 28, Shaifuddin 0) Mossadek takes a single off the final ball of the over to retain strike; he’ll be planning an onslaught, though I daresay his team think they’ve enough already.
WICKET! Mushfiqur c Nabi b Dawlat 83 (Bangladesh 251-6)
Mushfiqur swings the bat at one, gets underneath part of it, and Nabi catches easily at cover. That’s a brilliant innings, and on this pitch worth at least another 30.
49th over: Bangladesh 251-5 (Mushfiqur 83, Mosaddek 26) Mossadek is enjoying himself, cleansing an ugly full toss through cover, where Nabi dives over it like Bobby Mimms.
48th over: Bangladesh 246-5 (Mushfiqur 83, Mosaddek 21) Nice from Mushfiqur, who manufactures a reverse-sweep that flies just past the flying Hashmatullah at short third man. Then, after a single, Mossadek hits with the spin to earn four by way of cover - that’s a lovely shot. Rashid, though, comes back well, conceding just one more - Mossadek curses himself for missing out, but it’s not at all easy out there. Rashid finishes with 0-52, and has probably hit that point of his career where batsmen know what to expect so he needs to better at his variations, rather than find more of them.
47th over: Bangladesh 236-5 (Mushfiqur 78, Mosaddek 16) Zadran, who’s not had such a good day, returns; Mosaddek smacks his first ball to the fence at long on. Zadran retorts with a yorker but follows that with a wide, after which Mosaddek clumps down the ground; Nabi does really well to skip over from long on and save the boundary. Two dots follow, then a one, and Bangladesh look like they’re going to post something eminently chaseable.
46th over: Bangladesh 227-5 (Mushfiqur 77, Mosaddek 9) Bangladesh have mustered 27 from the last five overs; they’ll be wanting more from these next five, and this one yields seven, without a boundary. That reflects well on the bowlers despite the outfield and track, and badly on the batsmen despite the outfield and track.
“Elbow’s Neat Little Rows has a (lengthy) vocal refrain of ‘Ya da, ya da, ya da, ya da’, says David Clifford. “Every time I hear it I just hear ‘Yadav, Yadav, Yadav, Yadav.”
Incidentally, “Yadav” means “his hands” in Hebrew, which is nice for a bowler, just as “emess”, as in MS Dhoni means “ultimate truth”.
45th over: Bangladesh 220-5 (Mushfiqur 75, Mosaddek 4) Gulbadin wants this done so brings back Mujeeb; not bad naches for an 18-year-old. But he’s taken for three twos and a one, leaving him with figures of 3-39 from his 10. That’s an excellent job of work.
44th over: Bangladesh 212-5 (Mushfiqur 68, Mosaddek 3) On comes Rashid to target the new man, who gets off the mark with a three to fine third man. Mushfiqur takes a single either side, and he must be wondering if, as the senior batsman, he should be pushing the pace or making sure he stays in. Then, Rashid hits Mosaddek on the pad and asks the umpire if it was too high; the umpire tells him there’s a way to find out, and he knows what that is.
43rd over: Bangladesh 207-5 (Mushfiqur 64, Mosaddek 0) ““Another one involving Shikhar Dhawan,” says Stephen Cottrell. “Feeling Holy by the Charlatans has a lone ‘shake it down, shake it down shake it down into which I always transpose the flamboyant Indian opener. Also, I quite like Ramesh Powar’s name in the Yeah Yeah Yeah song by the Flaming Lips.”
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song has got to be one of the worst song titles of all-time.
WICKET! Mahmudullah c Mohammad Nabi b Gaulbadin Naib 27 (Bangladesh 207-5)
Gulbadin sends down not so much a slower ball as a slowest ball and Mamudallah is through the shot almost before it’s arrived, slapping to mid on where Nabi takes an easy catch. This has been a pretty nifty innings, given the injury.
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42nd over: Bangladesh 203-4 (Mushfiqur 64, Mahmudullah 25) Nabi sends down three dots before Mahmudullah whacks to cover, where Gulbadin removes his hands from harm’s way; they run two instead of one, raising the fifty partnership. A single follows, and I’m surprised Bangladesh aren’t going because they’ve wickets in hand.
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41st over: Bangladesh 200-4 (Mushfiqur 64, Mahmudullah 22) Gulbadin returns and Mahmudullah is into him right away, coming forward then somehow fashioning a square drive to the fence! That is an absolute jazzer! A single and a two follow and I daresay both sides will be ok with where we are, which tells us we could be in for a thriller.
“In India,” begins Abhijato Sensarma, “‘Disco Dancer is a movie from the previous century which became an instant cult classic owing to its display of a dancer trying to live the big life. It’s one of those movies from the past which will not win the award for the best movie in any year, but it’s also one of those movies which you’re always down to see on a free evening. I provide the link below to one of the songs from this enduring film. After hearing it, I can only hope that despite being released in the 20th century, the song must have been written with another player not playing today kept in mind - Mr Anderson!”
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40th over: Bangladesh 193-4 (Mushfiqur 62, Mahmudullah 17) Nabi returns and after a single to each batsman, Maumudullah eases back and crunches over the infield for four to cover. That was a lovely shot, and Bangladesh need more of them; if Afghanistan can limit them to, say, another 60, they’ll fanxct they’ve got a chance.
“Ba Ba Ba, Babar Azam,” croons Alex Crofts. “Heard this one from a worse for wear England fan at Headingly when Pakistan were in the field a couple of years ago. Now it’s on a loop in my head whenever I watch him...”
39th over: Bangladesh 186-4 (Mushfiqur 61, Mahmudullah 11) Mahmudullah is putting himself through it, taking one to cover then two to midwicket; Shinwari shies wildly, not for the first time today, and yerman forces himself through for an overthrow. One more follows, then Mushfiqur slaps four to fine leg.
38th over: Bangladesh 177-4 (Mushfiqur 54, Mahmudullah 9) Mujeeb returns and, with three wickets so far, earns himself a slip. Four singles and a wide from the over and yerman is furious with the last of those which tells you how confident he’s feeling.
“There are a few instances of eight off a single ball via Law 19.8,” emails Dave Loren. “John Wright was a beneficiary in the early eighties when he’d run four and Rod Marsh took an ill-advised shy at the stumps and instead sent it to the rope.”
37th over: Bangladesh 172-4 (Mushfiqur 52, Mahmudullah 7) Mushfiqur’s had enough, picking down the track to monster Dawlat over long on for six - that’s his fifty. Three singles follow, making this Bangladesh’s best over in quite some time.
“There are ODI rankings; why not make use of them?” wonders Uma Venkatraman. “Top eight qualify for the world cup; everyone plays each other twice; top two play the final. It’s not the length of the tournament that will bring spectators in, it’s the quality of the matches.”
Because it’s important to grow the game. The biggest event needs to be inclusive, and the plan is to have high-quality matches between everyone, eventually.
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36th over: Bangladesh 163-4 (Mushfiqur 44, Mahmudullah 6) Rashid continues, and he’s been much better in his second spell than his first. Mahmudullah picks out point for one, Mushfiqur adds one more, then Mahmudullah totally misjudges its final delivery, which grips and bounces, then misses the edge. On the one hand, that’s good for Afghanistan; on the other, they’ve got to bat in a bit. There’ve been only four boundaries in the innings, and perhaps that’s how to go about the chase: chuck the bat during the powerplay.
“I remember in the famous 1982-83 Ashes Test in Melbourne,” says Rocket, “late on the fourth day when England were trying to get Allan Border off strike and bowl to Jeff Thomson - Border hit the last ball of an over hard towards the western square boundary (where we were sitting) and the batsmen were running three. David Gower was running alongside the ball, hoping it would go into the boundary. From memory I think it just did, but we thought he was about to help it on it’s way. We knew that rule, and Australia would have got seven runs rather than four. Which, all things being equal, would have resulted in a tie the next morning!”
35th over: Bangladesh 161-4 (Mushfiqur 43, Mahmudullah 5) A single begins the over and brings Mahmudullah onto strike. He nudges into the covers and looks to run, but Mushfiqur isn’t giving his wicket away for a man on one leg; he sends him back, the throw misses the stumps, and they indulge a languorous overthrow. One more single follows, and it’s now 11 overs since Bangladesh hit a boundary while they’ve not hit a six all innings.
“He’s not playing today, or for a while,” says Rob Hogg, “but I have found find myself singing Shikhar Dhawan’s name along with the chaps in this.”
Any more for any more?
34th over: Bangladesh 157-4 (Mushfiqur 41, Mahmudullah 3) That break probably served Bangladesh more than Afghanistan who, for the first time, will feel in the ascendancy. The batsmen take a single each, then Ma Ma Ma Ma Mahmuduallah Mahmuduallah flicks to midwicket and nobbles a hammy before he can turn for the second; no he doesn’t. He looks to half a calf strain, because it’s that part of his body being bandaged. Mushfiqur then forces him into another single - you’ve got to laugh.
“Loving schmice!, frask! and zetz!” emails Peter Salmon. “Obviously what we need is Batman retooled as Jewish, and sock!, biff! and bap! etc. replaced. Nah nah nah, Fledermoyz Man!”
Batman with added existential dread; he’d be great at a party.
33rd over: Bangladesh 153-4 (Mushfiqur 39, Mahmudullah 1) Afghanistan are bang in this now - Soumya out the road before the closing slog is very helpful, and one more wicket will open up one end. Two from Gulbadin’s latest over, and if his team can keep it tight for the next bit, they’ll force the batsmen to force the issue. In the meantime, it’s drinks.
“’Zetz’ is a great word that I’ve never come across before, says Matt Dony. “Now, I’m a lover, not a fighter, so I don’t tend to throw too many punches, but I’d definitely like to start using the word. Am I allowed? Or is that cultural appropriation?”
Chutzpah, schmooze, klutz and such tell me that you’re fine. And worry not: I’ve never zetzed anyone in my life, but I still find plenty of contexts to enjoy the word, for example: “Yanky definitely did not get sufficiently zetzed on Friday night such that he somehow took a chunk out of his own lip”.
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32nd over: Bangladesh 151-4 (Mushfiqur 38, Mahmudullah 0) Anyone else sing Mahmudullah to this?
REVIEW! OUT!
No, there’s on bat involved, but what’s this? It the breaking past leg? No! umpire’s call, and Soumya is gone.
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WICKET! Soumya lbw b Mujeeb 3 (Bangladesh 151-4)
“Asking, asking, getting!” exclaims Mark Nicholas. Soumya is trapped by a full one, but is there bat involved? It’s very close...
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31st over: Bangladesh 148-3 (Mushfiqur 35, Soumya 3) Gulbadin sends down three dots before Soumya goes for a Red Bull single to mid off and doesn’t bother grounding his bat at the other end; a direct hit makes him wonder, but we go upstairs and he’s fine. Mushfiqur then drives to cover for one more and Soumya chases a wide one to guide two to third man.
“You’re watching this on your keyboard?” asks Geoff Wignall. “How novel. Re the format how about this simple arrangement:three groups of five, top two from each group plus two best third place teams into the quarter finals? (With some fiendishly complicated tie-break arrangement for third placed teams if needed, understood only by three people at the ICC - or simply let them play each other.)3 7 games in total (without any tie-break) if quarter finals a knockout or 39 if they’re round robin. India get to progress as far as their performance merits, which I realise might be too controversial a notion.”
Yes yes, very funny. My keyboard packed up, at which point I experienced intense emotion, which distracted me from the cricket on my screen. You’ll be relieved to know that I am now equanimous once more.
30th over: Bangladesh 143-3 (Mushfiqur 33, Soumya 0) Afghanistan are still in this because every time they’ve needed a wicket they’ve got one but more than that, they’ve got the right one.
Meanwhile, Damien Burns gets in touch to resolve our legal issue: “Law 19.8 in the MCC Laws of Cricket states that:
‘If the boundary results from an overthrow or from the wilful act of a fielder the runs scored shall be
(i) any runs for penalties awarded to either side AND
(ii) the allowance for the boundary AND
(iii) the runs completed by the batsmen, together with the run in progress if they had already crossed at the instant of the throw or act. Law 18.12(b) (Batsman returning to wicket he has left) shall apply as from the instant of the throw or act.’
So the single that the batsman took is awarded as well as the boundary, thereby adding 5 runs to the batting team, and the bastman would retain strike.”
So it literally is not cricket.
WICKET! Shakib lbw b Mujeeb 51 (Bangladesh 143-3)
Mujeed gives this one a real tweak, ripping fingers down the back of the ball, and it spins off a length, past the inside edge and raps the pad bang in front. And even in dismissal, Shakib shows his brilliance, eschewing the review because he knows he’s out, even though he’s also him.
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30th over: Bangladesh 143-2 (Shakib 51, Mushfiqur 30) Mujeed returns.
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29th over: Bangladesh 142-2 (Shakib 51, Mushfiqur 32) Afghanistan have slowed the scoring a little, but badly need to break this partnership. Mushfiqur edges a single - he’s getting full use of his bat here - and two more singles follow.
G.L. Sherwood is back in touch to wonder what “shmice” means, and this is one we can be sure I did not make up; it is yiddish for hit hard, and is usually administered to a child by a paren; one sporting team to another; a tin to a person. Other similar terms: “frask”, which is usually a slap or a swipe, and “zetz”, which is usually a punch.
28th over: Bangladesh 139-2 (Shakib 50, Mushfiqur 30) Mushfiqur plays three dots then caresses a single into the covers. This brings Shakib onto strike and he edges to backward square, easing through to raise his fifth fifty of the competition. Brilliant.
“Modern trends have caused cricket to come off as a batsman’s game,” reckons OB Jato, “but at heart, I’ve always felt that it’s more of a bowler’s game in fair conditions. Many of the matches in this World Cup so far as well as most of the 2018 Test season has proved this notion of bowlers coming out on top more often than not in duels against batters. As Azhar Mahmood said during an interview recently: “It takes 300 balls to get 480 runs, but it takes only 10 balls to get all 10 wickets.”
I’d say that it’s a batsman’s game in that the laws are biased towards batsmen and the bat is usually on top, but it’s a bowler’s game in that great bowlers are less common. In limited overs, I don’t think it matters much if what constitutes good bowling is conceding 60 not 80, or taking two key wickets, not none, but in Tests we need to be more careful.
27th over: Bangladesh 136-2 (Shakib 49, Mushfiqur 28) Gulbadin sends down a much-needed maiden to Shakib –I think that’s the first of the inning – and I am certain that Shakib isn’t bothered.
26th over: Bangladesh 136-2 (Shakib 49, Mushfiqur 28) Aaargh! Nabi returns and absolutely rinses Mushfiqur with an off break that drifts, grips and turns; the batsman edges, the keeper can’t gather what would’ve been a reaction belter, and they run two. My keyboard then packs up so I miss what comes next, but the scoreboard tells me it’s two singles.
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25th over: Bangladesh 132-2 (Shakib 48, Mushfiqur 25) Gulbadin returns and Shakib edges his first delivery for two - there’s no slip in place. As Metternich once said, I wonder what he meant by that. Eight off the over, the fifty partnership raised, and this is beginning to look like a match-settler.
“Regarding the format issue,” says Kennedy Ross,
“Requirements:
1. We want more teams
2. We want more excitment, less predictability
3. Indians need to be going on to at least semis to keep BCCI happy.
The solution would be to let India enter two separate teams, solving all three problems in one move.”
Tangentially, I wonder what it’d take to get Virat Kohli involved when he retires. The combination of gravitas, edge and love would be extremely helpful.
24th over: Bangladesh 124-2 (Shakib 41, Mushfiqur 24) On comes Rahmat Shah, who gets away with one first up, short and wide; Shakib cuts hard, but straight to the sweeper at deep point and they run one. What I love about Shakib is most things, but what I’m especially loving about Shakib right now is his equanimity. He misses out, he doesn’t miss out, he lets it go and moves on, the kind of thing that’s contagious. Anyhow, Rahmat cedes two more singles, then Mushfiqur takes a giant stride, stays low, and sweeps an excocet to the point fence.
23rd over: Bangladesh 117-2 (Shakib 39, Mushfiqur 19) Afghanistan are back in need a wicket territory and after Dawlat cedes four from his first three balls, he beats Mushfiqur outside off. Of course, karma takes its revenge, Mushfiqur swinging at the next one and top-edging four over the keeper’s head. Two more follow to third man, and this is getting away from Afghhanistan now - that’s 10 off the over.
“When Carlos Brathwaite was doing his best to drag West Indies over the line against New Zealand,” emails Adithya, “it struck me that if Brathwaite took a single off the last ball of the over to retain strike, the New Zealand fielder could throw the ball over the boundary in order to make it a four and get the No. 11 batsman on strike.
This tactic only has application in a very particular kind of situation. 20-30 runs to defend against an explosive batsman who might knock it off with boundaries and a tailender whose wicket will give you the game. Have you ever seen or heard of any teams resorting to this?”
I’ve not, but I like it very much indeed. The problem is the risk, I guess - you’d look pretty silly if it failed - and, of course, though the laws permit it, assuming the laws permit it, it probably “isn’t cricket”.
22nd over: Bangladesh 107-2 (Shakib 36, Mushfiqur 12) This is such clever batting, keeping the scoreboard ticking without taking risks. Sounds simple, isn’t simple.
21st over: Bangladesh 103-2 (Shakib 35, Mushfiqur 9) This is such a key innings from Shakib. Obviously his team need the runs, but there’s more to it than that - it’s essence of captaincy. Even in cricket, where the job is about more than shouting and cajoling, in the end, its key aspect is leading from the front, especially at crucial times. This, there can be no doubt, is that. He takes two from the first ball of the over, nurdled to mid off, then adds a single to fine leg. Mushfiqur then edges one more, a wide follows, then another single into the leg side and that’s eight from what seemed like quiet over.
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20th over: Bangladesh 95-2 (Shakib 31, Mushfiqur 6) Rashid continues and is milked; I wonder if, in years to come, he’ll see this competition as an important staging-post in his development, or just hate playing in England. Six off the over.
“As refreshing as it is to see English supporters politely clap after every boundary or wicket,” says Abhijato Sensarma, “I’ve always liked the spirit of subcontinental supporters more.
Seeing the pure passion of the Afghan fans pleases me to no end. It could well be the sole reason I tune into every match they are at. Even today, they seem to be perennially happy to be here.
This contingent is a synecdoche for the sense of pride, nationalism and inspiration sport is meant to encourage. No matter what happens on the pitch today, no admirer of cricket can resist giving their best of luck to Afghanistan and its fans going forward. Here’s to hoping each one of us is as happy and passionate as them about something in our lives, be it our career, our partner, or the thing all souls turn to some time or the other - sport at its glorious best.”
I’m not sure you’ve correctly characterised an English crowd. It’s like that at Lord’s, but not anywhere else, and even there, we can wonder if the politeness is sincere. But in general I agree, rowdiness and abandon are beauties of sport, provided they’re natural and refrain from cringe.
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19th over: Bangladesh 89-2 (Shakib 29, Mushfiqur 2) Dawlat returns and cedes just a single from his first four deliveries, then tries a bouncer that’s also wide, so is called wide. Shakib then opens the face and guides his next ball wide of slip; Asghar does really well to catch up with it and save the boundary as the batsmen run two then have a drink.
“We’re puzzled by the verb ‘to squanty”’, tweets G.L. Sherwood. “A cursory internet search throws up just one other use, in 2017, by a certain, hang on, er, Daniel Harris. Are you messing with us or what?”
Would I ever? I’d love to claim the neologism, but the truth is that those who use it are not really into internets. When you squanty something - you usually squanty it down - you sort it out. It can often relate to a slightly dodgy activity, though it needn’t.
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18th over: Bangladesh 85-2 (Shakib 27, Mushfiqur 1) Suddenly it’s all going off! Bangladesh are still pretty well-set, but if Afghanistan can find another, everything changes.
REVIEW!
Or is it! Shakib goes upstairs, and might he just be ok on height? YES HE IS! NOT OUT!
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WICKET! Shakib lbw b Rashid Khan 31 (Bangladesh 82-3)
Rashid bowls on a length, deceives Shakib with some extra bounce and raps him on the knee-roll! Up goes the fingers, and it’s two in two!
17th over: Bangladesh 82-1 (Tamim 36, Shakib 26) “While I’m all for countering the pervasive influence of the ICC BCCI wherever possible,” says Alex Bramble, “they do occasionally happen on something vaguely intelligent: see the IPL eliminator. So I (and a few other OBOers over the past couple of weeks) suggest: two groups of 7, top-placed team in each group goes straight into the semi-finals, second- and third-placed teams play each other in two ‘quarter’- finals/eliminators.”
Yes, I could live with that. What we need is jeopardy, more teams to grow the game, and enough scope for classics at the business end.
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WICKET! Tamim Iqbal b Nabi 36 (Bangladesh 82-2)
What comeback from Nabi, who bowls full and Tamim comes forward when he should go back, plays for more turn than there is, and the clatter tells him what’s up. My word Afghanistan needed that!
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17th over: Bangladesh 82-1 (Tamim 36, Shakib 31) Nabi continues and the batsmen take single apiece, then two dots before Tamim absolutely cleanses a short one to the fence at midwicket.
16th over: Bangladesh 76-1 (Tamim 31, Shakib 25) Rashid Khan into the attack, and his team need something from him - he’s only got four wickets in this tournament, and that’s not really enough given his status. The batsmen have a look at him and Tamim takes a two into the leg side.
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15th over: Bangladesh 74-1 (Tamim 30, Shakib 24) This is really impressive from Bangladesh, who have this track squantied right down; they’re keeping the scoreboard ticking without taking risks, then meting out treatment to the balls which demand it. This over yields only one, to Shakib, but the platform is set.
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14th over: Bangladesh 73-1 (Tamim 30, Shakib 23) Tamim loses patience and twinkles down the track as Gulbadin releases to shmice him down the ground for four. Four singles follow, then Shakib attacks a short one that sits up and begs to be hit; he obliges with a pull to the midwicket fence and is now tournament’s leading run-scorer. He and his team are getting away.
Incidentally, I have now received about 57 different suggestions for how to structure this thing of ours, which tells you how hard it is. Shall we just have a fight instead? Or perhaps a quiz on Engoish cricket from the mid-80s to the mid-90s.
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13th over: Bangladesh 56-1 (Tamim 20, Shakib 21) Bangladesh will be happy with this. First, Nabi finds so much turn that it costs him a wide, then they milk him for a two and two ones. If these two bat for another 45 minutes, that might just be the game.
“That’s not disrespect for GnR,” says Smylers, “this is disrespect for GnR — a cover version I was blissfully unaware of till it featured as a question on PopMaster this morning.”
I should add that Sarah O’Regan has since emailed thusly: “Oh no, I didn’t mean to slight GnR - far from it - I merely meant that the musician plays it a little too slow and a little too flat to be an accurate representation.”
I trust she will now called off her lawyers.
12th over: Bangladesh 56-1 (Tamim 19, Shakib 18) Gulbadin Naib into the attack and Shakib flips two to backward square to raise Bangladesh’s fifty. Next ball, a leading edge to point - he was looking for midwicket - but with the fielders pushed back, no one was on hand to claim what would’ve been a dolly. I wonder, though, if Gulbadin has missed a trick here - the outfield is slow and his team need wickets, so put men in wicket-taking positions. A two and three singles follow, which is to say that Afghanistan need something and fast.
11th over: Bangladesh 49-1 (Tamim 18, Shakib 12) Mujeeb is struggling to exert pressure here. The batsmen take him for four, a two to Tamim and a single apiece, and I fancy he’ll be getting thanked pretty soon.
“Some countries do have special fans,” emails John Starbuck, “not least Pakistan and West Indies. For England, it’s the whole Barmy Army, which rather puts the kibosh on making a feature of it on the screens. But then, so many people (these days) are so used to appearing on screen, they probably barely notice older followers’ disdain.
I was a teenager in the 50’s and 60’s and wouldn’t mind the guitar man if only he learned to play Link Wray’s ‘Rumble’; a real classic.”
Sure, everyone’s special and all that, but the artificial and performative nature of it all makes my teeth itch. I can think of little worse than a day at the cricket next to any kind of army or band.
10th over: Bangladesh 44-1 (Tamim 15, Shakib 10) Tamim shoves one to midwicket, then Nabi offers Shakib some width and he doesn’t need asking twice, clattering four through backward point. A single follows, then Tamim bunts down the ground; they run one, then another when a shy flies past the stumps. That’s Bangladesh’s best over in a while, nine from it.
9th over: Bangladesh 35-1 (Tamim 12, Shakib 4) The pitch is a little slow here, which might make for drama later on, but isn’t great for entertainment in the first instance, a little like in the South Africa-New Zealand match. In limited overs, we don’t necessarily need balance between bat and ball because even on a 400 track, a bowler can make the difference, but if we reckon that a 330-350 track is ideal, you want the ball coming on so there’s pace for the quick and strokemakers, along with dryness for the spinners. One off the over, and that a wide.
8th over: Bangladesh 34-1 (Tamim 12, Shakib 4) Three more singles from the over, and Afghanistan have slowed the socring; can they create a little more pressure?
“The simple and easy answer,” says Nick Parish, “is four groups of four, top two in each group go through to the quarter-finals. Yes, I know it doesn’t guarantee India get 73 games, but how much protection do the big countries need? Football, not normally a good example of anything, manages to deal with it when the big countries don’t make the knockout stage (hello Germany 2018, hello England, Spain and Italy 2014).”
I’m not sure about this one - I don’t think there’d be much jeopardy for the bigger nations, who’d largely avoid each other until the end. What I like about the current format is that there are heavyweight contests all the way through.
7th over: Bangladesh 31-1 (Tamim 10, Shakib 3) Tamim takes a single, then Shakib nudges to point and sets off. A better throw from Shinwari and Tamim’s got a situation, but it’s wild and he makes it easily. He then adds another single and is looking nicely settled.
6th over: Bangladesh 28-1 (Tamim 8, Shakib 2) Mohammad Nabi into the attack and Tamim takes him for a single to deep square, the first of three in the over.
“I was at Headingley on Friday (I know, Jonah),” says Ben Powell, “and despite the result thoroughly enjoyed the day but for one or two interruptions. The cricket bat guitar and some sort of “greatest fan” cam that popped up at regular, infuriating intervals. The cricket bat guitar is crass and pointless IMHO (as I understand the kids say), but the greatest fan thing was just hopeless. Every time it came up, cue a couple of nervous looking fans, embarrassingly and half-heatedly waving at the camera, which always lingered just that little too long. Cue also less than zero reaction from the rest of the crowd. I’ve been to baseball and ice hockey in the States and Canada where they do this sort of thing regularly and it goes down a storm. That’s where such manufactured atmosphere should stay. Harrumph.”
Yes, I’d agree with that. Let people enjoy the sport and enjoy their company - there’s no need to coordinate their fun for them, or entice them to behave in a particular manner.
5th over: Bangladesh 25-1 (Tamim 6, Shakib 1) My days, Afghanistan needed that, not because bangladesh have got away but because their entire strategy is predicated on early wickets. They know they can’t chase a biggie, so need to get to work from the off.
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I really don’t know! If the soft signal is not out, this is not out, because the evidence is inconclusive - it looks like there are fingers under the ball, but there’s a fair chance it hits the ground nonetheless. Hashmatullah’s head is up so he probably doesn’t know himself, but the umpires have no option: they stay with the onfield decision.
WICKET! Liton Dias c Hashmatullah Shahidi b Mujeeb 16 (Bangladesh 23-1)
And there it is! Liton drives and, down on one knee, Hashmatullah pouches it at short cover ... or is it? The soft signal is out...
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4th over: Bangladesh 23-0 (Liton 16, Tamim 5) Dawlat overpitches and Liton twizzles him through midwicket, but the damp outfield permits him only three. Tamim then takes strike and plays three dots, before stepping into an uppish drive which flies just wide of Ashar mid off – he’s far to slow to move – and to the fence for four. He plays and misses at the next, but that’s no use to Afghanistan, who badly need a breakthrough.
“I will leave for you to decide if this is McCullum/Morgan-esque fresh and funky thinking or Fakhar Zaman scooping to first slip idiocy (I know which way I’m leaning)“ says Sam Collier, “but what about some kind of squash ladder affair? A roundrobin, teams initially ordered in reverse ICC ranking with the winning team moving one place above the team they defeat. Top four play semis as per the current format. It’d certainly keep the tension going right to the end...”
3rd over: Bangladesh 16-0 (Liton 13, Tamim 1) Three singles from over, Tamim now off the mark.
“In answer to your question, ‘How would you make this competition better?’”, emails Sarah O’Regan, “I suggest incorporating more national musical instruments, to replace the cricket bat guitar and its lugubrious Guns n’ Roses dirge. In its place, the outgoing batsman should nip over to the music stage, play a jolly little ditty on a didgeridoo, a dafli daf, or a rubab, before heading off for the walk of shame.”
I’d lap that up – tangentially, I’ve long since argued that national anthems should be in the national style; basically, what I’m saying is that God Save the Queen needs to be a jungle track, and what I’m also saying is that I’m a teenager of the early nineties, so I’m not having that disrespect for GnR.
2nd over: Bangladesh 13-0 (Liton 11, Tamim 0) Dawlat Zadran starts with two dots, both pitched up, but then a shorter one allows Liton to play off the back foot and he times it away beautifully, behind square on the off side - and for extra points, it tantalises Mujeeb into a long, fruitless chase and dive. Glorious. Two dots follow, then a single.
1st over: Bangladesh 8-0 (Liton 6, Tamim 0) Good start for Bangladesh, Liton taking a single from Mujeeb’s loosener and two wides follow. Liton then cuts a wide one and Rahmat Shah makes a right pig’s arse of the stop, allowing the ball by him and to the fence. A single follows, and already Afghanistan are under pressure.
How would you make this competition better? More teams, I’d say, then maybe two big groups, and we probably need quarter-finals. On the one hand, that’s a lot of games to eliminate not a lot of teams, but those knockouts will draw casual viewers, tutor them in the ways of righteousness, and induct them into this thing of ours. With just semis and a final, we’re asking too much from just three matches.
Afghanistan huddle. I reckon they’re discussing whether it’s a barm or a bun.
Right, anthem time. The intro to Afghanistan’s sounds not unlike Jump Around.
Mathematics corner: I was wondering what people did in offices before the internet, and if the following equation is true.
Work facilitated by the internet = work not done on account of the internet. Otherwise, how has productivity taken a colossal nosedive?
“So, Virat Kohli has been filed his fees for showing dissent,” emails Amod Paranjape. “Dissent my ass. It was pure and simple bullying and intimidation. We should not go on to win the World Cup. But since the universe rarely gives people what they want, we are sure to win it. Eh.”
I see what you’re trying to do there. I don’t know, though – I suppose I tend to err on the side of caution when handing out punishments for stuff that’s central to the drama, edge and attitude of the game - if an umpire can’t stand up to a player, then I’m not certain the problem lies with the player. I also wonder what happens to the money.
Both captains have made two changes. Afghanistan leave out Aftab Alam and Hazratullah Zazai, replaced by Dawlat Zadran and Samiullah Shinwari. As such, Rahmat Shah moves up the order to open instead of Zazai.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, leave out Rubel Hossain and Sabbir Rahman, with Mosaddek Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin coming in.
I’m really looking forward to watching Afghanistan’s spinners - Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman offer such variety and nous. And, though Mark Nicholas and Ian Smith think their team should’ve batted, what’s the point in having good bowlers if they’re trying to defend 180?
Afghanistan win the toss and will field.
That sounds sensible to me - if they don’t bat well, the match is over before it’s started. On the other hand, their bowling is their strong suit, so if they deploy it at the start, they can take control and hang on.
Start delayed by 10 minutes.
Ian Smith isn’t sure why, but thinks he’d bat.
While we wait, wrap yer peepers around this – I love love love Tony Cozier. Wendy Crozier, not so much – though these days, we’d probably call her Wendy Crozeiyay.
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The toss has been delayed by 10 minutes, and will now be at 10.10am local time.
It looks on the John Major side of grey in Southampton, but we should be good to go on time.
Public service announcement: I just put on the radio, and heard a minute of a phone-in about Boris Johnson. With every fibre of my being, I urge you not to do the same, which is to say: thank expletive for cricket.
Swing the mood.
Preamble
At the risk of sound parochial, you’ve got to love Eoin Morgan’s brave, young England side. Not only are they the greatest one-day outfit there will ever be, but they are also the most altruistic. In deliberately losing to Sri Lanka, they have, in one fell swoop, revitalised their home World Cup. Because of their unique gifts, matches which meant nothing now mean something, and the world is a better place on their account.
Just ask Bangladesh. If they beat Afghanistan today, then India and Pakistan as well, they are through – provided Sri Lanka lose to South Africa, West Indies and India, and England only beat one of Australia, India and New Zealand. And they are capable of doing it. They have plenty of batting, canny bowling, and in Shakib al Hasan have an absolute star. Currently, he is the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer – with a higher strike-rate than both David Warner and Joe Root, who lie first and third – while his bowling is threatening, his leadership absolute and his mentality unflappable. If his team are to do it, it will probably be because of him.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, are 0 and 6, but just the other day gave India an almighty fright. That will have fired their confidence, and helped them believe that they can put everything together – they have plenty of talent, but are still learning the knowhow that will extract the most from it. Yes, they’re a dog, but they’re a live dog.
Play: 10.30am BST
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