Moeen is, unsurprisingly, man of the match. I’m going to wrap this up now, but do join me again for West Indies v Zimbabwe at – gulp – 2.30 tomorrow morning.
Thanks for reading and for all your emails and tweets. Sorry I couldn’t use them all. Bye!
So Scotland are bowled out for 184 in 42.2 overs. England haven’t done anything spectacular today: Ali’s hundred was excellent but comes with the qualifier of being against a pretty poor side, while England’s collapse was just a bit rubbish rather than being catastrophic.
The bowling was decent, efficient enough from England: they didn’t demolish their opponents but nor did they allow them a sniff. Finn, with 3-26 was the pick of them while Woakes, Ali and Anderson supported him well with a couple of relatively inexpensive scalps apiece.
Wicket! Haq c Ballance b Woakes 15 England win by 119 runs
Haq goes for the pull shot, launches it up in the air and is caught in the deep.
42nd over: Scotland 184-9 (Wardlaw 0, Haq 15) Anderson is into the attack now for Finn. Stuart Broad, incidentally, has gone off for treatment so Jordan comes on as the sub. Evans has a swish at one that nips back ever so slightly off the pitch and misses, but goes next ball. Wardlaw is the last man.
BREAKING: England's about to win a game in the World Cup
— 3AW Sports Today (@3AWSportsToday) February 23, 2015
Updated
Wicket! Evans c Buttler b Anderson 9
Full and shaped back in towards the batsman, it finds the edge and we’re one wicket away from all being able to get some sleep. Buttler pouches his fourth catch.
41st over: Scotland 183-8 (Evans 9, Haq 14) So the powerplay is done with just 19 scored from it. Woakes comes on for Broad and Evans gets his first boundary, gloving a bumper inadvertently down to fine leg. He gets his second from the final ball with a wild slog that takes the edge and flies over the keeper’s head.
I see Julianne Moore has just won the Oscar for best actress. I still refuse to believe that she’s older than my mother.
40th over: Scotland 175-8 (Evans 1, Haq 14) Finn is so close to his fourth as a fuller ball takes the inside edge of Haq’s angled bat and flies over the stumps andd down to long leg for four. His fourth ball is overpitched and Haq shows hitherto hidden talent with a nice clump down the ground for four more. The final ball is short and wide and cut away for four more over point by the number nine. Expensive over that, 12 from it all in boundaries.
“Afternoon Dan,” says Phil Withall, mocking the fact that I’m in the office at 5am. Obviously England have been taking sage advice from Baldrick, of Blackadder fame. The previous two atrocious outings are all part of a cunning plan. If this doesn’t fool the opposition it will be the old underpants on the head, pencils up the nose and saying ‘wibble’ trick. That’ll have them running scared!”
39th over: Scotland 163-8 (Evans 1, Haq 2) Broad starts with a couple of short ones to Haq, which feels a bit needless. Two balls later he comes around the wicket and strikes Haq on the pad, but it’s not going anywhere near the stumps I’ll wager. England are going review it, but I’d put money on this being a waste. In fact it’s clipping the top of leg, but that’s umpire’s call and so stays not out. Scotland benefit to the tune of a leg-bye, then the batsmen take a single into the leg-side apiece.
38th over: Scotland 160-8 (Evans 0, Haq 1) This has been a good bowling performance from Finn. Yes it’s only Scotland, but so much of his game relies on confidence and this cheap three-fer will only help. He appeals for a caught behind against the new man Alasdair Evans first ball, but it’s missed the bat by a good six inches. “Not even worth a gamble?” asks one card in the fielding side of the review. No, no it isn’t.
A bit more on the wicket, Cross decided to leave it far too late and failed to withdraw his bat in time. Wicket maiden.
Wicket! Cross c Root b Finn 23
Finn bangs it in short and Cross simply fends to second slip.
37th over: Scotland 160-7 (Cross 23, Haq 1) Broad comes back into the attack and Cross punches him into the off-side off the back foot for a couple. Rod Tucker then calls Broad for a wide on height; “Aw no way,” says Broad despite the fact the ball has flown a good couple of feet over Cross’s head. The batsman then does very well to swerve out of the way of another short one. Five from the over. For what it’s worth, the required rate has outdone Spinal Tap and gone north of 11.
“Hi Dan,” begins Richard Stanton. Hi, Richard! “Great OBO as usual. Am following it and also watching on TV from my desk at work in a disappointingly cloudy Sydney. Surely even with England playing this one’s in the bag. Nothing can possibly go wrong now.”
You’re an Australia fan, aren’t you, Richard?
36th over: Scotland 156-7 (Cross 20, Haq 1) Reports are coming in that the streaker was caught outside the ground. Funny that. Anyhow, into the powerplay now and Finn will continue as we proceed towards Moeen receiving the man-of-the-match award. A maiden.
35th over: Scotland 156-7 (Cross 20, Haq 1) The final over before the powerplay will also be the final one of Moeen’s spell. It’s not the best as he drifts down the leg-side and Cross swivel pulls it around, past leg slip for four. Ali finishes with 2-47 from a nice spell.
@DanLucas86 Despite Nick Knight saying 'good signs for England', I still have England fans assuring me this could all go south. Quickly.
— sarah jane bacon (@sportzzzgirl) February 23, 2015
I’m a Man City-supporting Englishman who likes Radiohead and the Smiths, and even I’m optimistic about England’s chances here.
34th over: Scotland 150-7 (Cross 15, Haq 0) Root’s spell is done and Finn returns. Morgan changing things up and perhaps going for the kill here. Net run rate will be a factor for England come their inevitable embarrassment by Bangladesh. Oh we’ve got a streaker. LOL TOP LAD BANTZ. Or something. Although in fairness, this is kinda impressive:
That streaker has run out of the ground - left security goons for dead. Fair play
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) February 23, 2015
Anyway, cap’n Morgan’s change works a charm as, after an exchange of singles, Davey falls. There was a quiet appeal for LBW the ball before but it took the inside edge.
Wicket! Davey c Buttler b Finn 9
Finn sends down a slightly quicker one, it bounces a touch more than Davey expected and he feathers a catch behind, just dangling his bat out.
33rd over: Scotland 148-6 (Cross 14, Davey 8) This one is now officially drifting. Two ones and one two makes four, maths fans.
32nd over: Scotland 144-6 (Cross 11, Davey 7) A wide down the leg-side from Root and by my reckoning that’s the first of the day. A quartet of singles and a three after Anderson makes a sliding stop on the extra-cover boundary
31st over: Scotland 136-6 (Cross 6, Davey 5) Just a thought, but with England have strangled their opponents with a twin spin attack, might James Tredwell be worth a spot in the XI? Indeed, Nick Knight has just had the exact same thought on the telly. 168 needed off 114.
30th over: Scotland 132-6 (Cross 4, Davey 3) Can this Aberdeen-born duo rescue the chase? Somehow I doubt it: the required run rate has climbed up to around 8.5/over. Cross does have a half-century to his name, but that came against Kenya. Three singles from the over.
29th over: Scotland 129-6 (Cross 3, Davey 1) Berrington walks down the wicket and looks to hit over the top, but it was a half-hearted shot and quite a lame end. Just two singles taken from the over.
Wicket! Berrington c Morgan b Ali 8
Clipped to Morgan at mid-on and that’s as easy a catch as the captain will get.
28th over: Scotland 127-5 (Cross 2, Berrington 8) Root looks to throw down the stumps after Berrington defends it back down the track and goes a little close to the batsman for Berrington’s liking. The final ball of the over loops up off the inside edge but drops short of the man at short mid-wicket. A pair of singles apiece for the batsmen.
27th over: Scotland 123-5 (Cross 0, Berrington 6) Some excellent fielding by Taylor as he chases down Berrington’s cut to the third man fence and reels it in, keeping the new batsman to three. Coetzer goes to the third ball and you get the feeling this could be a procession now. England will want to run through the lower order for net run rate purposes.
Wicket! Coetzer c Woakes b Ali 71
That’s the big one and Scotland are about done here. Coetzer looks to launch it over mid-on, it takes a leading edge and Woakes takes an easy catch at long-on. “You can call it another lonely day,” sing Fleetwood Mac on the PA and he can indeed: he’s carried this Scotland batting effort.
26th over: Scotland 118-4 (Coetzer 70, Berrington 2) It’s probably going a bit far to call that an important wicket for England, but it’s a very handily timed one with that pair looking settled and fluent. Berrington comes to the crease and gets a couple of easy singles down the ground. Still, the wicket and just four runs from the over so it’d be churlish to criticise.
Wicket! Mommsen c Broad b Root 26
Mommsen goes for the premeditated sweep, Root sees it coming and drags his length back a touch. The result is a top edge that drops neatly into Broad’s hands at deep square leg.
25th over: Scotland 114-3 (Coetzer 68, Mommsen 26) Spin from both ends as Ali continues. My picture’s going a bit funny here so fingers crossed we can avoid technical difficulties. Three singles from an uneventful over.
Mommsen & Coetzer bring up Scotland's record WC partnership (previously 54). 111-3 off 24. Doing better than Ireland were in Bangalore...
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) February 23, 2015
24th over: Scotland 111-3 (Coetzer 67, Mommsen 24) Joe Root is into the attack for Woakes after just one over for the latter in that spell. A single to Coetzer brings up the 50 partnership from 69 balls, before Mommsen gets well outside off-stump to play the paddle-sweep down to the fine-leg boundary for four. A swivel pull to square-leg for one brings up Nelson. Scotland are keeping in touch here with a steady flow of boundaries in the last few overs.
23rd over: Scotland 103-3 (Coetzer 65, Mommsen 18) Is this a drop? Mommsen slams one back down the ground and Ali, diving to his right, just brushes it with his fingertips. The batsmen exchange singles then Mommsen steps down the wicket and goes over the top for a straight four.
22nd over: Scotland 97-3 (Coetzer 64, Mommsen 13) A change of bowling, with Woakes replacing Finn. The latter came back well from his mauling at the hands of Brendon McCullum in his spell, bowling at a decent enough pace. Woakes puts one in the slot here and Coetzer lifts him over long-off for a powerful four, before four leg-byes come by way of the thigh pad. The next ball also clips the pad and is taken by Buttler, who appeals but the bowler isn’t interested. Short from Woakes and it’s crunched through mid-wicket on the front foot for thumping four. 12 from the over, all in boundaries.
21st over: Scotland 85-3 (Coetzer 56, Mommsen 13) Excellent scrambled fielding from Anderson after Coetzer lofts Ali to the deep mid-on rope. He dives and flicks it back in then, realising the ball is spinning back towards the rope, pushes his entire body up in the air and with perfect timing pushes it back infield. Oh no, after checking several times they’ve given it as four. Harsh on Anderson that, I reckon. A couple more singles then Mommsen steps down the track and drills it straight back past the bowler for his first boundary.
20th over: Scotland 74-3 (Coetzer 50, Mommsen 8) Mommsen doesn’t look comfortable against the short ball as he toe-ends another miscued pull. A maiden from Finn and the required run rate is now 7.62.
19th over: Scotland 74-3 (Coetzer 50, Mommsen 8) A bit of turn from Ali and he beats Mommsen’s prod, before the captain sweeps hard for a single to mid-wicket. His predecessor, Coetzer, then punches a single into the on-side to get to his fifty from 64 balls, with eight fours. Mommsen finishes the over with a chip down the ground for a single.
18th over: Scotland 71-3 (Coetzer 49, Mommsen 6) We resume in the form of Steven Finn and Mommsen, Scotland’s top scorer in qualifying, pushes his first ball into the leg-side for a single. Coetzer takes a single as well before Mommsen edges a short one wide of the solitary slip. England have 300 on the board against an associate nation, I remind you. Coetzer clips a couple more to square leg.
Incidentally if you were wondering about where Oasis are now, here’s my review of the last thing Liam Gallagher did.
17th over: Scotland 66-3 (Coetzer 46, Mommsen 4) Time for some spin in the form of Moeen Ali, who’s had a rather decent day so far. Three singles from the over and that’s drinks.
For someone who supposedly plays for his religion, Mo Ali still manages to do a hell of a lot for England.
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) February 23, 2015
16th over: Scotland 63-3 (Coetzer 45, Mommsen 2) Up they go again for LBW against Coetzer and again the umpire is uninterested. That’s because there was a nice chunky inside edge on to the pad. Off for a single the batsmen jog. Mommsen then edges low through the vacant slip cordon for another.
15th over: Scotland 61-3 (Coetzer 44, Mommsen 1) Woakes has an appeal for LBW turned down from the third ball and England opt against the review. Looked good to my sleep-deprived eyes, but on replay appears to be sliding down leg. The man who survived the appeal, Coetzer, clips a single to mid-wicket. Hawkeye says umpire’s call on the LBW shout, so we’re all right. Isn’t that nice? One from the over.
14th over: Scotland 60-3 (Coetzer 43, Mommsen 1) For the second time in his young innings, Mommsen bottom edges a swivel-pull off Finn into his body. Probably for the best too, as there are two catchers out in the deep.
Here’s a familiar name I’ve not seen in a while: welcome back, Mac Millings! “Are Oasis still a thing? Do they still make their, for lack of a better word, ‘music’? Just once, 18 years ago, I drunkenly sang ‘Champagne Supernova’. I still wake up every morning in a pool of cold shame-sweat.”
No, they went down the toilet some years ago. Which is appropriate, when you think about it.
Updated
13th over: Scotland 58-3 (Coetzer 42, Mommsen 0) This is more like it: Dream Academy’s highly underrated Life in a Northern Town comes into the between-overs music slot. Woakes continues here and he doesn’t have a slip. So much for aggressive cricket. Coetzer has gone into his shell a little here... he writes before the opener hooks it aerially around the corner, where he’s dropped by Finn! Great effort actually from Finn, diving full length for the ball at fine leg and just getting a hand to it, but he couldn’t hold on. The ball bobbles away for four to compound his misfortune.
“Oasis gigs were like a chav Altamont,” honks Patrick O’Brien.
12th over: Scotland 54-3 (Coetzer 38, Mommsen 0) Tamsin Greig Steve Finn comes into the firing line. He went for 49 in just two overs against New Zealand, so we can safely expect an improvement here. Not convinced he should be in the side ahead of Jordan or Tredwell, mind. I say that, but he’s accurate enough here and finds the perfect line and length to do for Machan. Scotland aren’t in the malodourous stuff yet, but they’re wondering why that whiff is growing stronger. In comes the captain and he bottom edges a pull into his ribs off the first delivery he faces. Just three from the over.
“Hi Dan.” Hi, Sam Fiddian. “Apparently the presenters at the Oscars get a gift bag worth about $20 grand, including a stay at a luxury hotel in Switzerland and a $1500 dinner party. Anything you’d like for presenting the OBO? An intravenous coffee supply? A missile directed at the Sky commentary box?”
For this to be over in the next hour or so would do?
Updated
Wicket! Machan c Buttler b Finn 5
The left-hander just dangles his bat outside off-stump as Finn finds the perfect length and feathers a catch through to the keeper.
11th over: Scotland 51-2 (Coetzer 36, Machan 4) In between overs the bagpipes drown out Wonderwall on the PA, marking the one and only time in history that bagpipes have been welcome. Woakes comes in for the first non-powerplay over and strikes with his very first ball: a cleanly hit, but poorly placed shot from Coleman. Scotland’s star batsman and resident nine-year-old boy, Matt Machan comes in and flashes at his first ball, just failing to get an edge on it. He gets his first runs of the day when Woakes drops short and Machan pulls it over square leg for four.
Speaking of Wonderwall, don’t the Barmy Army – who have started singing here – seem like the kind of people you’d find at an Oasis gig? And thus never ever want to meet.
Wicket! Coleman c Morgan b Woakes 7
Coleman looks to drill a full one over cover but can’t get the requisite height on it to clear England’s captain.
10th over: Scotland 47-1 (Coetzer 36, Coleman 7) Edged! Albeit all along the ground and wide of the slips for the safest of singles, so probably not enough to justify that exclamation mark. A well-directed bouncer flies past Coetzer’s attempted hook and draws an appeal, because it’s Broad and of course it does. Umpire rightly not interested. Coetzer turns the next one to square leg for another single before Coleman deflects it down to third man for another. That marks the end of the power play and I’d say it’s honours even.
9th over: Scotland 44-1 (Coetzer 35, Coleman 5) Coleman clips the first ball of Anderson’s fifth over through mid-wicket for a couple, sending Broad on a long chase to field it. Jimmy drops short and Coleman pulls it square for a single, before Anderson finds a wee bit of movement and beats Coetzer’s attempted thrash through the off-side.
Apparently there’s some sort of film thing on tonight. I think that The Grand Budapest Hotel is the only nominated movie this year I’ve seen.
Now 2 @guardian live blogs about struggling team doing much worse than everyone expected against unfancied opposition @murpharoo @DanLucas86
— Tim Senior (@timsenior) February 23, 2015
@timsenior @guardian @DanLucas86 do-not-look-at-the-oscars-blog-Katharine
— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) February 23, 2015
8th over: Scotland 41-1 (Coetzer 35, Coleman 2) “Who are you supporting?” asks the PA person of some kids between overs. “Scotland!” comes the enthusiastic reply. “Boo!” responds some English curmudgeon near the mic.
Coetzer gets another boundary off of Broad’s first ball, cutting hard down to the third man boundary to move to 35. He’s striking the ball wonderfully cleanly out there, having middled 90% of the deliveries he’s faced. He gets lucky here though, bottom edging and attempted pull straight down into the ground. Four from the over and that’s a good comeback from Broad. Against Scotland, mind you.
7th over: Scotland 37-1 (Coetzer 31, Coleman 2) Coleman attempts to light the pyrotechnics, stepping forward and across to outside off-stump and leaping to play the pull-shot while in mid-air. He only gets a single, but then Coetzer gets four with a much more orthodox back-foot cover-drive. Beautifully played that and the opener looks in excellent nick. He repeats the trick with the fifth ball of the over to get his sixth boundary. A single from the final ball makes it 10 off the over.
6th over: Scotland 27-1 (Coetzer 22, Coleman 1) An absolute jaffer first up from Broad, holding the line and seaming past Freddie Coleman’s outside edge. The number three gets off the mark from the third ball of the over, played nicely late and run down to third man for a single. Two balls later, Broad drops short and wide and Coetzer flays that one behind point for four more.
The Hagley oval looks gorgeous on TV. Christchurch is a great city on the mend. love the place. Oh and Eng to win by 70 runs #fingerscrossed
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) February 23, 2015
5th over: Scotland 22-1 (Coetzer 18, Coleman 0) This ball is just two overs old and already the swing seems to have dried up for Anderson. Fortunately for England he remains unerringly accurate... until the final ball, which is on leg and dumped off the back foot, over mid-on for four. The Sky commentators reckon this outfield has got quicker, which you’d expect as it bakes under the sun.
4th over: Scotland 18-1 (Coetzer 14, Coleman 0) It was nothing more than an agricultural slog that did for MacLeod. Coetzer gets off strike against Broad with a nudge into the on-side. Broad’s length is, as you’d expect, a touch shorter than Anderson’s but he’s accurate and keeping it consistently around the top of off-stump. One from the over, but I reckon Woakes would offer more of a threat here given how Scotland’s top order looked weak against the swinging ball against New Zealand.
3rd over: Scotland 17-1 (Coetzer 13, Coleman 0) That single off the last ball means that Coetzer retains the strike and he punches the first ball of this one out to the cover boundary, where Ali reels it in to keep them to three. There’s a bit of swing for Anderson, so you wonder if England would be better off with Woakes at the other end rather than Broad. Anyhow, said swing means that MacLeod can barely lay bat on ball and eventually the pressure gets to to him. The new man Coleman sees off the last ball and that’s a really good over from Anderson.
Updated
Wicket! MacLeod c Buttler b Anderson 4
MacLeod gives Anderson the charge and swishes nastily at a back-of-the-length one. It takes a thick outside edge and goes through to Buttler, who takes an easy catch.
2nd over: Scotland 14-0 (Coetzer 10, MacLeod 4) Broad from the other end and his first ball is punched straight back down the ground by Coetzer for another four, off the back foot. The next ball is far uglier for the batsman as he swishes and misses outside off. No need for that. The penultimate ball of the over brings a huge shout from behind the stumps as Coetzer misses out with a cut, but even Broad isn’t interested in that. Largely because the batsman missed it by a way. A single to mid-on from the final ball makes five from the over.
1st over: Scotland 9-0 (Coetzer 5, MacLeod 4) Excruciating countdown done, Jimmy Anderson opens the bowling to Coetzer. The Northants opener didn’t have a great 2014, what with him being a Northants batsman. A wee bit of shape away from the right-hander for Jimmy but his third ball is a straight one on leg-stump that Coetzer clips breezily through mid-wicket for the first four runs of the innings. He gets a thick edge on the following ball though and it’s dropped by Bell at second slip, diving to his right and going one-handed! 0.4 overs gone and Botham is calling for another slip and a gully. The batsmen take a single and then MacLeod caresses a lovely drive off the front foot, through cover for another four. Good start for Scotland.
Here we go, Scotland’s opening batsmen are out in the middle.
For the record, “this monster” referred to the puppy below, not my girlfriend. His name’s Arnie and belongs to my parents.
“180-7 off the final 20 overs?” points out Nathan Green. “You wish. Try 131-8. Very poor.” Yes, I’ve not had much sleep.
Also, a disclaimer: if today’s updates are pithier or slower than normal, it’s because I’m typing with hands that have been chewed to pieces by this monster:
Morning folks. Well that was rather disappointing from England. When I went to bed a couple of hours ago they were cruising and looked good for a total of around 350-380, which you feel even their attack could defend. 180-7 off the final 20 overs though really isn’t good enough against one of the weakest attacks this tournament has to offer.
For my money they have enough as it is, although Scotland will be heartened by their comeback with the ball and know they’re in with a shout. After all, we’ve seen that kind of thing happen before...
This England innings has shaped up just like their one v Ireland in Bangalore. And they will end up with 20 fewer #justsaying
— Tim (@timwig_cricket) February 23, 2015
Buttler, Morgan (at last!) and Ali emerge with credit from an often distressingly pedestrian England innings. They could and should have batted themselves into a position of unassailability, but Scotland might fancy their chances of reaching 300+ here. Dan Lucas will be here to take you through their innings – all emails to dan.lucas.casual@guardian.co.uk please. In the meantime, that’s all from me. Bye!
Eng finish 303-8, which is distinctly average given they were 201-1 in the 35th over. Scotland in with a shout here.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) February 23, 2015
Haq says he “tried not to put too much speed on the ball for the batsmen”, which he certainly achieved. He thinks “it was a great effort from the boys” and that “it’s a great cricket wicket”. “We’re looking forward to the chase,” he says.
50th over: England 303-8 (Broad 0, Finn 1)
England reach 300 thanks to another Davey wide, but his over very much improves from there and England manage a single run with the bat. His next two deliveries bring wickets, and Broad survives the hat-trick ball, grabbing a leg bye. Finn gets a single, and then Broad entirely misses the last two deliveries, running a cheeky bye off the last!
WICKET! Woakes c Mommsen b Davey 1 (England 300-8)
Woakes tries to hit down the ground but mistimes it, the ball flying off the foot of his bat, way up into the air and down into the hands of Mommsen, who takes the catch, very far from straightforward, falling backwards. Uncanny, really.
WICKET! Morgan c Mommsen b Davey 46 (England 300-7)
Morgan mistimes his shot, and it comes off the shoulder of his bat, way up in the air and down into the hands of Mommsen, who takes the catch, very far from straightforward, falling backwards.
49th over: England 299-6 (Morgan 46, Woakes 1)
Wardlaw’s first delivery is sent back down the ground by Morgan for six, and his next past gully for four, but then a yorker yields a single and the next brings Buttler’s wicket. On the plus side, a couple of further singles leaves Morgan a single boundary from his half-century, and on strike.
WICKET! Buttler c Davey b Wardlaw 24 (England 297-6)
Buttler, with a swish of the wrists, hits the ball straight to the fielder at long off, who needs only to move his hands into position, chest high, to take the catch. And does.
48th over: England 286-5 (Morgan 34, Buttler 24)
Davey’s back, having swapped ends again, and there is a wide, but also a Buttler volley past point to the boundary, and an excellent yorker. Two overs to go – can anyone grab a sneaky 50?
47th over: England 276-5 (Morgan 32, Buttler 17)
So England’s sprint to 300 is very much on, but without any England batsman (well, not since Ali), looking in properly good nick. Wardlaw drops an extremely, perhaps impossibly sharp caught-and-bowled chance, then bowls an excellent yorker which Buttler just about digs out, running two and getting back in time to thump the last over cover for four.
46th over: England 267-5 (Morgan 31, Buttler 11)
Berrington’s back, and he starts his over with successive wides down the leg side, before Buttler scoops the ball over his left shoulder for four.
45th over: England 256-5 (Morgan 29, Buttler 4)
Davey bowls, and his first delivery comes off Taylor’s glove and into his pads. There’s no audible appeal, which makes it all the more puzzling when, upon wondering why there’s such an overlong delay before the second ball, we discover that the Scots have reviewed a decision of not out. Anyway, it is indeed not out, but then Taylor soon is. Buttler comes in, and sends his first delivery through midwicket for four.
Updated
WICKET! Taylor st Cross b Davey 17 (England 252-5)
That’s very fine work from Scotland, Davey bowling wide straight into the gloves of Cross, who sweeps off the bails before Taylor, left stranded having taken a couple of steps forward, can spin and ground his bat.
44th over: England 246-4 (Morgan 24, Taylor 16)
Haq completes his allocation, his 10 overs of slowmo spin having cost a creditable 51 runs.
43rd over: England 241-4 (Morgan 23, Taylor 12)
Morgan slams Wardlaw’s first delivery over deep midwicket – and we’re talking just over – for six – and we’re talking just a six, the ball hitting the boundary pads about 2cm off the ground. The next ball goes through the covers for four. Morgan has now scored more runs in this innings than in his previous six combined.
42nd over: England 229-4 (Morgan 11, Taylor 12)
England’s remorseless run-accumulation continues, with three runs added their rapidly blossoming total. Haq has done enough to show that Tredwell might have come in handy.
41st over: England 226-4 (Morgan 9, Taylor 11)
That’s a fine over from Wardlaw, which puts the brakes back on England’s innings. Just a run from it. Meanwhile, the sun has very much emerged in Christchurch, which is looking extremely handsome now. The cloud cover that Scotland were hoping to benefit from in this innings emphatically failed to inspire any swing.
40th over: England 225-4 (Morgan 8, Taylor 11)
Another eight added to the total, though the boundary Zaltzman mentions happened in Over 39 – the best England do here is three, as Morgan pushes the ball towards, but not all the way to, the cover boundary.
Morgan hits a four. The third by a non-Moeen England player today, in the 39th over. Combined non-Moeen total now 76-3 off 21.1 overs.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) February 23, 2015
39th over: England 217-4 (Morgan 6, Taylor 5)
Davey bowls a couple more wides, before Morgan thumps one over mid-off for four. Nine runs off the over, and England seem to have relocated the route to 300, surely the least they need to emerge from this innings in credit.
Updated
38th over: England 208-4 (Morgan 1, Taylor 3)
Morgan, from his 10th delivery, scores a run. Evans certainly seems to have discovered a little extra zip as England have worked their way from vaguely semi-impressive respectability to the verge of further embarrassment.
Taylor edges, Morgan drives just short of mid-off. England 4 for 3 in overs 35-37. Playing with the confidence of a penguin in the Sahara.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) February 23, 2015
37th over: England 204-4 (Morgan 0, Taylor 1)
England’s first run of the powerplay, 11 balls and two wickets into it, is an edge to third man – it wouldn’t have carried to second slip even if there had been one, but still, no control there. It’s the only run of the over. The last four have brought nine runs, and three wickets.
WICKET! Root c Cross b Davey 1 (England 203-4)
Josh Davey returns, and gets a wicket first ball! It’s a limp old shot from Root, who gets the slightest nick when the ball straightens slightly and is caught behind. Taylor’s next in, not the first time Taylor and Root One have found themselves in the same sentence when it comes to England internationals.
36th over: England 203-3 (Root 1, Morgan 0)
The first over of the powerplay, and it’s a wicket maiden. Nicely bowled, disciplined stuff, and the air of serenity has been pretty swiftly blown away from England’s innings.
Ballance out. 10 off 13 v Aus, 10 off 26 v NZ, 10 off 18 v Scotland. That's the kind of consistency England need. Hales can't offer that.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) February 23, 2015
WICKET! Ballance b Evans 10 (England 203-3)
Ballance chops the ball into his stumps, and he’s gone! So much for playing himself back into form, then.
35th over: England 203-2 (Ballance 10, Root 1)
@Simon_Burnton Don't see the point of playing Ballance against Scotland. Do England need a nudger at 3? Do England need 7 batsmen today?
— Dan Curtis (@yellowfeverdan) February 23, 2015
Not as it turns out, and this was perhaps the time to show some flexibility with the batting order. But then, Ballance needs runs, and if not now, when? There’s a strong argument that he shouldn’t have been in the team today, but once he’s there, you’ve kind of got to give him his chance.
WICKET! Ali c Coleman b Haq 128 (England 201-2)
Ali tries to lift the ball over midwicket for six but doesn’t quite get hold of it and is caught near the rope. Smith’s record is safe for now (and a while yet, I’d wager).
34th over: England 200-1 (Ali 128, Ballance 8)
A wild cross-bat swish from Ali gets nowhere near the ball, which arrives at the crease about 10 minutes after the shot had been completed. Still, he slips the last past fine leg for four to take England to 200. “Been some disappointingly one-side matches so far and I thought this may be another one,” writes Geoff Arnold, “but England are right in this.”
33rd over: England 195-1 (Ali 124, Ballance 7)
According to Andy Zaltzman on Twitter the last and indeed only previous English batsman to hit five or more sixes in a World Cup innings, before Ali today, was David Gower, against Sri Lanka in 1983. 37 non-Englishmen have managed it. No sixes here, but a couple of very fine fours off Berrington’s last couple of deliveries.
32nd over: England 184-1 (Ali 115, Ballance 5)
Ali is once again dropped – by a diving orange-T-shirted fan after smiting a fine six.
31st over: England 175-1 (Ali 108, Ballance 3)
@guardian_sport @Simon_Burnton Good. Poor innings. Now Ballance in to grub around for 5 overs against 2nd XI bowling.
— Ralph Lubkowski (@Ralphlub) February 23, 2015
I’m not sure Ballance’s contribution promises to be any less frustrating, but I look forward to being proved wrong. Scotland may well have some dangerous batsmen but their bowling has been poor, and England should have punished it more viciously.
WICKET! Bell c Coetzer b Berrington 54 (England 172-1)
Bell leans back and thrashes the ball straight into the midriff of Coetzer at extra cover. It’s been uncomfortable. Now, do England give Ballance a chance to play his way into form, or promote someone a little more explosive?
30th over: England 172-0 (Ali 108, Bell 54)
Coetzer bowls, and Bell gets a leading edge that goes nowhere near a fielder. Still waiting for that acceleration. Any minute now. Or will this do?
Moeen's 100 only the 10th by England player in World Cups; just 5th since 1987. First by an England player born in England since Gooch in 87
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) February 23, 2015
29th over: England 168-0 (Ali 106, Bell 52)
Maybe Ali heard, though, and wanted to help, because he goes down on one knee to hoist Haq over midwicket for six to bring up his century, off 11 more deliveries than Bell took to reach 50. Moments later Bell tries to emulate him, fails, but gets away with it as the ball drops just short of the fielder at deep midwicket.
28th over: England 157-0 (Ali 97, Bell 50)
Bell reaches an 80-ball half-century with another single. It hasn’t been enormously impressive, but it’s statistically moderately impressive I suppose. At the over’s end, the PA reminds fans how to win a big bag of swag by catching sixes single-handedly, which in the circumstances seems less public information and more vicious satire.
27th over: England 151-0 (Ali 93, Bell 48)
Haq continues, and surely now England will seek to up the run rate? Um, apparently not. Still, Bell scores a single, so it’s not all bad. “I’m calling it: Today Moeen Ali will beat Robin Smith’s 22-year old England ODI high score record of 167.” You heard it here first.
26th over: England 150-0 (Ali 93, Bell 47)
Six more deliveries, six more runs, with one wide, and England reach an untroubled 150. “I know that England’s batting can never be described as other than ordinary (passim), but is this contest as dull as the OBO commentary suggests?” wonders Nicholas. I wouldn’t describe it as dull exactly, but they certainly seem to be seeking to focus the drama in the latter stages.
25th over: England 144-0 (Ali 92, Bell 43)
Majid Haq returns, having also switched ends, and England’s sedate progress continues to the tune of another six runs. So, another photograph of ludicrous-looking Scots!
24th over: England 138-0 (Ali 87, Bell 42)
Wardlaw returns, and another slow, short delivery is swatted away by Ali. Bell later gets a similar opportunity, mishits it and no run is scored.
23rd over: England 132-0 (Ali 82, Bell 41)
Action! Evans’ first delivery is honked wide of square by Ali for four, and shortly afterwards England attempt a sharp single that sees Bell dive in order to make his ground before the bails come off. Which he does. Quite easily, really. The over’s drama quota having been massively exceeded, everyone basically takes the remainder off, though Bell grabs a single off the last.
22nd over: England 126-0 (Ali 77, Bell 40)
“Is it just me or does this seem much slower than a run a ball scoring rate?” asks Matt Fordham, as Machan continues. “Is it an illusion or just that you expect 300 plus nowadays?” This is remarkably slow quite fast scoring.
Updated
21st over: England 120-0 (Ali 73, Bell 38)
Evans bowls short, Ali swishes his bat but gets nowhere near the ball and the bowler turns to Sundaram Ravi, the umpire, and says, calmly: “How’s that, sir?” A ludicrous appeal, but an impeccably polite one.
20th over: England 117-0 (Ali 73, Bell 35)
Matt Machan comes on, and the highlight of the over is an outstandingly optimistic cry of “catch it!” from Scottish wicketkeeper Matthew Cross as Ali mishits the ball straight into the ground for no runs. “When Germany beat Hungary in the 1954 World Cup Final they came back after losing 8-3 to them in the group stage (I think),” writes Ian Forth. “This should be the subject of Eoin Morgan’s speech before the final against New Zealand.” He might as well start writing it now, really.
19th over: England 112-0 (Ali 71, Bell 32)
Evans returns, and we get a sight of his slow ball (very slow indeed, since you ask). England plunder two runs.
.@ajarrodkimber Watching Majid Haq bowl is like watching cricket on a slowly-buffering internet feed.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) February 22, 2015
18th over: England 110-0 (Ali 70, Bell 31)
Haq is really bowling tremendously slowly, and even though England add eight runs it all seems extremely sedate. “Joshua Tree?” proposes Dave Voss (and several others. “I think he had a decent album out at some point in the 80s didn’t he?”
17th over: England 102-0 (Ali 65, Bell 29)
In which Ian Bell hit the ball. His second boundary of the day, and his first since the first ball of over six, comes with a lofted drive over mid off. Then another short delivery from Berrington is appropriately dismissed by Ali, and there shall now be some drinks.
16th over: England 91-0 (Ali 59, Bell 24)
Another over of loopy slow stuff from Haq, and England fail to profit. If the game is indeed to be won or lost in the middle overs, now’s the time for England to locate the accelerator. “Is Tredwell part of the World Cup squad?” asks Tom. “I still find it astonishing that a player who was consistently more reliable (apart from a savaging from the Aussies) for the past two years than any other English bowler, has been so promptly jettisoned. His strike rate is up there with the other bowlers, whilst his economy rate is better than most. I think he’ll be recalled before we reach the final, at the expense of Finn, where he will win the man of the match award having strangled the opposition in the middle overs and sneaked 4 for 20 odd off his 10 highly economical overs.” Excellent optimism there. I thought they were unlikely to change the team after the New Zealand game, but after a decent performance here there might be room for some minor tweakage.
15th over: England 89-0 (Ali 58, Bell 23)
Richie Berrington does his first bit o’bowling, and with just one run scored from the first five deliveries it’s all going rather swimmingly, until Ali hoists the last over long off for six (it’s dropped, a couple of yards beyond the rope, by a chap in an orange T-shirt, to widespread groans).
“When did ‘ordinary’ become a euphemism for ‘bad’?” wonders Graeme Thorn. “It can’t be that everything good nowadays has to be ‘sensational’ or ‘brilliant’ which pulls everything else up, as I think it was in use well before Murdoch got hold of sports and had to upsell everything to flog subscriptions.” But then if you call legal, straight deliveries “bad” you don’t leave yourself much room to deal with the really wayward stuff.
14th over: England 82-0 (Ali 52, Bell 22)
Bell takes five balls to get a single and regrettably keeps the strike. “Regarding famous/worthwhile Joshuas, there was also the very scary Mr Joshua from Lethal Weapon,” recalls James Procter-Blain. “Not only could he hold a cigarette lighter to his arm without flinching, but – as he was played by Gary Busey – he could probably also open beer bottles with his teeth. Impressive stuff.” I think if Mr Joshua from Lethal Weapon is the best you can do, my point is fairly emphatically proved.
50 for Mo from 39balls , with 6 fours and 2 sixes. eng 75-0
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) February 22, 2015
Bell meanwhile in no nick at all would have trouble timing a boiled egg
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) February 22, 2015
13th over: England 83-0 (Ali 51, Bell 21)
Ali cracks the ball over mid-on for a single-bounce four to bring up his 50, and he at least is looking in good touch. And this has got to hurt:
@Simon_Burnton thought I would share a shortened version of my trip to Wellington and thus my decision to stick with OBO today
— Jimmy Tyldesley (@JimmyTyldesley) February 22, 2015
@Simon_Burnton Queenstown > Picton. 11 hours, sleep in car. Picton > Wellington. 3 hour ferry. 4 hours cricket. Sleep in a train station.
— Jimmy Tyldesley (@JimmyTyldesley) February 22, 2015
@Simon_Burnton repeat in reverse. Take away $400.
— Jimmy Tyldesley (@JimmyTyldesley) February 22, 2015
12th over: England 72-0 (Ali 46, Bell 18)
Majid Haq comes on to do a little ball-twirling, and when he pitches one short Ali thwacks him over long on for six. A very ordinary delivery, appropriately dealt with. As for Joshuas, James Kettle suggests that “the one who conquered Jericho must have had a bit about him”, while there’s also this:
@Simon_Burnton there's Joshua Reynolds. And if course Jesus is Greek for Joshua. He's pretty famous.
— Godders (@23april1564) February 22, 2015
So just 400 years since the last genuinely excellent Joshua, then.
11th over: England 62-0 (Ali 37, Bell 17)
Ooooh! Davey beats Bell with successive deliveries that straighten, zip past the bat and fly a whisker from the stumps! Bell’s rattling along at precisely a run every other ball at the moment, and not looking very comfortable about it. “Regarding achievements by those named Joshua, I was just watching the 80s Classic movie ‘Wargames’ tonight, and a Joshua plays an important role in that,” writes Chris Goater. “Who knows, perhaps your Joshua could almost start global thermonuclear war before offering to play a nice game of chess instead.” Well, here’s hoping.
10th over: England 58-0 (Ali 34, Bell 16)
Evans bowls, Ali nicks and the ball flies past a diving gully and scoots off for four. Moments later, a pretty dreary shortish delivery is walloped through midwicket. Scotland’s bowling is … well … there’s no Tim Southee there, is there?
@simon_burnton England playing touchy-feely cricket against a side they should wallop. After 7 overs, NZ had double the runs. Poor.
— Radiant (@radiantphysio) February 22, 2015
I wouldn’t say poor. I’d say not wildly impressive. Which, in the circumstances, we’d probably all settle for.
Updated
9th over: England 49-0 (Ali 26, Bell 16)
Josh Davey returns, from the other end. When my wife suggested that we name our son Joshua, my argument against it was that, even though it has been one of the most popular boy’s names in pretty much every English-speaking country for pretty much all eternity, how many Joshuas can you name who ever amounted to anything? She was unimpressed with that line of thinking, and my son is indeed called Joshua. Still, there are some very decent Joshuas, even some good ones, but can you think of a truly outstanding Joshua?
8th over: England 45-0 (Ali 25, Bell 13)
England’s nerves have presumably been settled. It’s been a decent, unruffled start from the openers, even if it’s been a little low on the pyrotechnics. There’s time for that, of course (he said optimistically).
7th over: England 42-0 (Ali 24, Bell 12)
Wardlaw bowls a bit short and Bell pulls it, though not with enough power to make the boundary. Moments later Ali shows him how it’s done with a similar but considerably more emphatic stroke.
@Simon_Burnton Like Euro 96, a win over Scotland will kick start our tournament, as the nation is gripped by cricket fever. I've gone mad!
— Steve Pye (@1980sSportsBlog) February 22, 2015
Happy memories, those. And, well, you never know.
Updated
6th over: England 32-0 (Ali 18, Bell 8)
The first bowling change seed Alastair Evans arrive to, after Bell thumped a first-ball loosener to the rope, provoke a loud lbw appeal with one that kept low, which the umpire isn’t impressed by. Hawkeye suggests he should have been, though the decision wouldn’t have been overturned had the Scots reviewed it (I thought the ball looked to be sliding well wide).
Good decision from @CricketScotland not to review one that kept low but was going down leg: http://t.co/3yn6KJvD2P pic.twitter.com/Qb0v1XubNl
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 22, 2015
5th over: England 25-0 (Ali 17, Bell 3)
Wardlaw continues to restrict the flow of runs, though the two that come off his third over includes another wide. Time, now, to improve the flow of comedy-Scotland-fan photographs.
4th over: England 23-0 (Ali 17, Bell 2)
Davey continues, and Ali is kind-of-dropped driving to cover, the ball landing pretty much at the fielder’s toes, and he can’t get his fingers beneath it. That’s off ball two, with the first and the third both driven to the rope and the last bonked over long off for six. Still, no wides.
3rd over: England 9-0 (Ali 3, Bell 2)
And that’s a maiden! “Geoff Boycott on the radio, on hearing the Scotland line-up: ‘Majid Haq - there’s a real Scottish name for you! (chuckle).’ What is the statutory retirement age, and is he not well past it?” wonders Charles Antaki. Oh dear.
2nd over: England 9-0 (Ali 3, Bell 2)
Josh Davey does the honours with over two and contributes four runs to England’s total with wides, a couple sliding down leg side and two more way off to the other side. His 10th delivery, though, is pretty much bang on, sliding across Ali, tempting him into a shot and just missing the edge. I notice Sky Movies, preparing as they are for tonight’s Oscars, are showing Titanic. Insert your own inevitable England comparison here.
1st over: England 3-0 (Ali 1, Bell 2)
Iain Wardlaw, former accountant, takes the ball for over one. Ali grabs a single off the first ball, and Bell leaves the next few well alone as they shape away before prodding the last through the covers for a couple.
The players are out and enjoying their anthems. Deep breath now.
Here (hopefully) or here (failing that) is Nasser’s notebook-inspired analysis.
“I’m lying back and thinking of England, as I donate blood (platelets) at the NZ Blood Service about two hundred metres away from Hagley Oval,” writes Ian Johnson. “Platelets help with blood clotting, apparently. I’m sure England won’t require any today. Surely?” Not unless you can transfuse talent and calm and surefootedness.
Sky’s resident experts – Nasser Hussain and Andrew Strauss, specifically – lay into England’s team selection, both basically suggesting that Hales should be in the team.
@Simon_Burnton Love that Sky have eschewed tech like ipads, and instead Nasser is reading from what appears to be his school notebook.
— Dan York (@DanFisherFC) February 22, 2015
It was a pleasingly retro touch. He didn’t actually seem to be looking at it, mind.
“Nice of Mr Naylor to include a preview of England’s score at the end of the powerplay at the top of his video,” notes Tom Hopkins.
Always happy to have well-thought-through rants land in my inbox, so long as they don’t include any personal threats of course. Talking of which …
“As a resident of England, and an Indian passport holder, I reserve a soft corner for both the teams. But the way England play in ODIs, I feel terrified about the direction cricket is going in this part of the world,” sobs Ganesh Ram. “Everyone says India’s batting is one of the strongest in the competition. But numbers say otherwise. Man for man, India are an inferior team to South Africa today. If we compare the stats, Proteas fare better than the Indians. But it’s their approach to the game that sets them apart. ‘India’s batting strength is not the personnel, it’s their strategy.’
“Dhawan and Rahane are not an Amla or a Duminy. But one can replace Dhawan or Rahane with any other up-and-coming player in India and still expect the same result as today. India’s tactic is “exploit the middle overs, both in batting and bowling”. India targeted Parnell in the middle overs since they knew he is their weak link. And in the chase, they targeted the middle-order by strangling them of singles. The inexperience showed. It’s about putting a system in place which works for the team, and vigorously trying to execute it. And not to be swayed by the results.
“England are about 10 years off the pace in ODI cricket. They are trying to do a Jayasuriya with Moeen Ali, which is about a decade old in ODI strategy. The games these days are won and lost in overs 15-35. And England need to be switched on and absolutely at their best in these periods. Identify some key men who will do a better job in this period. And absolutely back them to the core.
“People keep talking about death bowling and aggressive start to an innings. But that’s the last thing England need to worry about now. If we look at India, they are equally shambolic at the death in both batting and bowling. But to them, that doesn’t determine the outcome. England need to fix their middle-overs cricket before all the other aspects if they have to stay abreast of other top teams in ODI cricket.”
The Guardian’s man on the scene has this to report on the conditions in Christchurch:
Scotland put Eng in. Overcast and a bit damp in the air.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) February 22, 2015
Scotland win the toss and will bowl first
“Just overhead conditions. It should be a good one-day wicket but we should hopefully get a bit of swing early on,” says Preston Mommsen. England would also have bowled first. “The wicket looks really good but we don’t mind batting first,” says Eoin Morgan. His team is indeed unchanged.
Sky suggest that teams aren’t allowed to confirm teams before the toss, so this may simply be just another howling foul-up from England. Anyway, the coin toss is now imminent.
England team to play Scotland: Ali, Bell, Ballance, Root, Morgan (C), Taylor, Buttler, Woakes, Broad, Finn, Anderson #CWC15 #EngvScot
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 22, 2015
This just in – rumours of considerable team changes seem to have been unfounded, England having read the first page of the Big Book of Big Tournament Tactics, which presumably contains the two words “Don’t panic”.
England name unchanged team for today's match #EngvScot #CWC15
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 22, 2015
“I reckon that the England team have thrown the first two games in order to drive their odds down, before storming to glory for the remainder of the tournament,” writes Tom. “I reckon today will be an unconvincing and close win, so to add further verisimilitude to their ineptitude. I’m going to put a tenner on them to lift the World Cup …” Get your money on now, safe as houses.
This is what Scotland’s dressing-room looks like: a lot of drinks (really, a lot) on a table with some kind of wheel. Can anyone explain the wheel?
A view from inside the dressing room. #followscotland pic.twitter.com/gzzYEaYqY7
— Cricket Scotland (@CricketScotland) February 22, 2015
Thanks to Gary Naylor for this link to some classic footage from a classic England v Scotland encounter:
This just in from Christchurch, where it’s cloudy but with a positive prognosis:
Overcast conditions here as our batsmen hit in the nets at back of ground #CWC15 #EngvScot pic.twitter.com/qJFbulIeG4
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 22, 2015
Hello world!
So, finally, a must-win game for England, who were widely expected to lose to Australia and New Zealand in their first two matches, even if few believed they would accomplish it quite so stylishly. Their performance in Wellington, in particular, was an absolute nonpareil of losership, a display that scaled the very heights of haplessness to leave the squad jointly anointed Lords of Failsham Manor, landslide-elected government of the People’s Republic of Flopsicle, Lord Mayors of Whoopstown, driver and conductors of the last bus to Calamityville.
And tonight they will succeed in piloting their bus through an awkward and not entirely convincing 16-point turn, give Ye Scots a thorough shellacking and set off with merry momentum rediscovered on a romp towards the latter stages of the World Cup! Um, won’t they?
Simon will be here soon. In the meantime, here’s Vic Marks on England’s woes.
The match in Wellington was just the sort of encounter the organisers dreaded once the tournament was expanded to include 14 teams. It was all over in 45.4 overs – that’s about two dollars per over for those who turned up on time.
There was no need to turn the lights on. The game was an almighty embarrassment to the losing side and a dire disappointment for the spectators, even the most partisan. Only the New Zealand team could be quietly jubilant – calmness is their current mantra. Such an outcome was always on the cards in this World Cup with all those associate sides around to be bullied by the big boys. Except that there were no associates in Wellington. Just England.
It was probably England’s worst performance in the World Cup, certainly their most humiliating. Surely it cannot get any worse? Er … well, it could on Monday when they play Scotland in Christchurch.
England cricket coach Peter Moores apologises for team’s performanceRead more
On this evidence England could lose to Scotland, which would be the ultimate humiliation. Even if they were beaten they could still qualify for the quarter-finals, such are the quirks of the format of this tournament. They would have to win their last three games against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, which should be well within their capabilities in this part of the world in normal times.
But England have not been delivering normal defeats. Any associate side would have been dismayed by the standard of England’s cricket against Australia and New Zealand. Thus the team tiptoed towards Christchurch with tails between their legs and, whatever they may say, full of trepidation about the match against the Scots.
Scotland have never won a World Cup game, yet anyone who has watched England in their last two matches could not discount the possibility of that duck being broken. There is a precedent for a team playing dreadfully at the start and recovering in time to win the cup. This is what Pakistan conjured up in 1992, when Imran Khan famously implored his men to play like “cornered tigers”. England resemble cornered kittens. They also resemble the associates of old – it would perhaps be libellous to compare them with the current crop of non-Test playing nations.
