35th over: New Zealand 147-6 (Latham 48, Santner 3), target 306. “So there will be no attempt to chase as now and we are in the Doni phase,” harrumphs Ian Copestake. “So Why Don’t You Just Switch Off Your Television Set and Go Out and Do Something Less Boring Instead?” Like just follow it on the OBO? Another tight over from Stokes, and Ian’s got a point. New Zealand aren’t exactly busting a gut for this, but nor are they being allowed to.
34th over: New Zealand 146-6 (Latham 47, Santner 3), target 306.Woakes returns for his second spell, and begins it with an optimistic lbw shout against Latham, who was well forward and not in any danger. Latham is also deceived by a scrambled-seamer that rears up against his top edge but lands safely. He makes amends with a well-timed on-drive down the ground for four. And then there’s a long delay caused by a streaker on the pitch, that great symbol of bawdy English repression. The cameras aren’t showing, obviously, but whoever they are, they’re pretty agile, as the last delivery of the over is delayed by an age, and when it comes Latham flicks a single
“Who’d you rather?” asks Stephen Cottrell in an email arrestingly headlined “Shag, marry, kill?” “Hard to believe as an England fan I’m thinking about this, but what do we want in the semis! Unlikely to happen, but Aus at Edgbaston please. India will be better next time out; don’t want to face Starc, Lyon and JB at Lords with the slope again thanks!”
I think England might end up facing India, who’ll be more fired up than they were last Sunday, though I’ve called Australia as tournament winners ever since they pulled their ODI series back to 2-2 in India in March. Let’s face it, it’s going back Down Under.
33rd over: New Zealand 139-6 (Latham 41, Santner 2), target 306.England continue to show willing in the field, Woakes picking up, swivelling and throwing in an ambitious but admiral run-out attempt from extra cover, though his throw isn’t accurate enough. Stokes keeps it tight too, mixing up his lengths while maintaining accuracy – is he England’s man of the tournament thus far?
32nd over: New Zealand 136-6 (Latham 40, Santner 1), target 306.Archer’s getting the kind of pace and bounce that was nowhere to be found at this stage of the England innings. And New Zealand can eke out only a single from the over. That’s drinks.
Some NRR enlightenment, I think – first, from Akshay Shah: “Of course, its possible. By my rough calculation (attached), if NZ lose this by 150 runs, Pak should need to beat Bangladesh by a mere 396 runs.” While Alec adds: “I looked at this before because there was some confusion. Net Run Rate works by adding up all the runs scored and divided by overs faced (or would have been faced if they’d not been bowled out) and takes away runs conceded divided by overs bowled (or would have been bowled if not bowled out). So effectively you can multiply the net run rate currently, by the number of games played to work out how many each team need to score. Ie if NZ lose by 150 runs (to get their NRR to zero) then Pakistan need to win by 300 runs (to get their NRR to zero). Of course 300 runs could be scoring 400 and bowling Bangladesh out for 100 or bowling Bangladesh out for 100 and then scoring their runs in 15 overs.”
Not gonna happen is it, which personally I think is a bit of a shame. If the tournament had just started two weeks later, we’d be getting all 1992 about Pakistan.
31st over: New Zealand 135-6 (Latham 39, Santner 1), target 306.Latham’s New Zealand’s last hope now, but he’s slowed up too over the past few overs. He flicks a single round the corner to leg, Santner gets off the mark with a drive on the off before Latham slightly miscues a hook from a short Stokes delivery but gets away with it and gets a single. But three from the over is not much use to New Zealand.
“Just wanted to send some love to the DJ (DJs?) working at the Riverside today,” trills Jesse Linklater. “There hasn’t been a single time that the music playing between overs or after wickets has made me want to top myself. Which can’t be said for many other cricket ground music people working elsewhere in this tournament.” Yeah I’ve noticed an upgrade today. Did I catch the glorious Ain’t Nobody earlier?
Unlike many news organisations, we chose an approach that means all our reporting is free and available for everyone. We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence. Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable.
For as little as $1 you can support us – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.Make a contribution - The Guardian
30th over: New Zealand 132-6 (Latham 37, Santner 0), target 306.Archer begins his second spell with a wide but other than that is pretty searingly accurate. Ian Smith is getting very rueful about New Zealand’s performances of late, and that’s the thing with a tournament this long. You can play yourself out of form, and they’ll cut a limp contrast as semi-finalists with the sort of sprightly approach they took into the last four in 2015. They, and the game, miss Brendon McCullum.
“Sitting on a beach in Sicily,” humble-brags Steve Perrin, “My (English) wife keeps trying to show interest then dropping off to sleep while my Sicilian friends refuse to believe that cricket is a real thing. Still, it’s a nice day.” I’m sure it is. Have some fine seafood for me.
29th over: New Zealand 130-6 (Latham 37, Santner 0), target 306.Stokes is introduced for the first time, and to immediate effect, De Grandhomme holing out a loosener to Root on the boundary. A single and a wide are the only scoring strokes from a fine first over. England may have been a little lucky, but they’ve been pretty damn tight in the field today too.
“So it’s pretty obvious, we know which way this game is going,” says Moneeb Hafeez. “Can someone (with better maths and cricket knowledge) work out if it is even possible for Pakistan to catch New Zealand’s net run rate? It’s the hope that kills you......should we just let it die now?” I’m gonna outsource this one to You The Public for the moment, what with my various other multi-tasking duties.
Wicket! De Grandhomme c Root b Stokes 3, New Zealand 128-6
Ben Stokes gets his first bowl of the innings and, whaddya know, strikes straight away, De Grandhomme somewhat lazily hoiking to deep midwicket where Root takes a comfortable catch. Stokes is as Stokes does, that Botham-esque ability to get wickets with indifferent balls shows itself.
Root celebrates catching De Grandhomme. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
28th over: New Zealand 128-5 (Latham 36, De Grandhomme 3), target 306. Wood continues, and the screw continues to tighten. Decent pace, decent line, and that’s enough at the moment. Only two from the over again, and New Zealand just can’t get enough, which is now blaring out of the PA.
“Folsom Prison Blues perhaps a reference to England getting out of jail?” suggests Olly Horne. I presume they’ve got Hurt lined up if all goes pear-shaped for England, and they’ve certainly Walked the Line at times this summer.
27th over: New Zealand 126-5 (Latham 36, De Grandhomme 2), target 306. Plunkett almost strangles De Grandhomme down the legside, the new man attempting an unconvincing flick, and then beats him outside off with a slower ball. De Grandhomme can bat so this is impressive stuff from Plunkett. Only two from the over.
26th over: New Zealand 124-5 (Latham 35, De Grandhomme 1), target 306. Wood strikes to end a pesky partnership, with Neesham playing on. New man De Grandhomme is greeted with a zinger into his pads, before getting off the mark with a single. That’s an excellent over.
“Am hoping that if Plunkett keeps getting his specials through the announcer will take pity on NZ and play the Echo’s refrain ‘Spare us the Cutter.’” With Wood, I’d have thought this would be a more appropriate Bunnymen refrain:
25th over: New Zealand 123-4 (Latham 35, Neesham 19), target 306. Some uneven bounce from Plunkett down the legside with one that barely bounces it all, but so far down leg that it’s called wide. A modest diet of ones takes the partnership beyond 50 before Latham cover drives beautifully for four. Root can’t cut it off, and eight off the over will perk New Zealand off. We’re halfway through the innings and New Zealand need more than seven an over.
24th over: New Zealand 115-4 (Latham 30, Neesham 17), target 306. Even more speed, as Wood comes back for Root, which is a widely applauded move in the commentary box. A leg-bye a two, a three (a particularly well-timed clip through midwicket from Latham) and a single are milked from the over. These too have stealthily added 46 off 44 balls. This game has a way to go yet. (And they’re playing Folsom Prison Blues on the PA system, one of the more unusual but welcome choices of between-overs music. Its significance?)
23rd over: New Zealand 108-4 (Latham 25, Neesham 16), target 306. Pace is indeed back, with Plunkett, who tightens things back up again, conceding only four. Which leaves New Zealand needing 198 off 27.
“I wonder how Moeen is feeling at being dropped so late in the World Cup campaign,” ponders Damian Burns, “especially after declaring it his job to get Kohli out in the Guardian last week. Should England win today, do you think he’ll get back into the side for the remaining games?” Probably not, to be honest, because his batting hasn’t been sufficiently reliable, even though he’s bowled ably enough. Though it’s such a long tournament that form can fluctuate considerably from stage to stage. A few weeks ago we were marvelling about West Indies’ pace attack after all, and assuming Jos Buttler would be England’s most destructive batsman.
22nd over: New Zealand 104-4 (Latham 22, Neesham 15), target 306. Root’s rattling through his overs faster than I can type, but he might want to take a bit more time over them if he’s going to drop the kinds of long-hop that Neesham can easily clatter square on the off for four. I’d change it up a bit now, bowler wise, if I were Morgan.
21st over: New Zealand 97-4 (Latham 20, Neesham 10), target 306. Rashid has a half-hearted lbw appeal against Latham but it was going down leg, and Latham responds with a fine straight drive off the back foot that goes all the way for four. Assorted ones and twos make it another expensive over.
“As a foreigner trying to puzzle things out,” writes David Peterson, “can you explain why the Guy who Runs the Guy Out, gets no credit on the scorecard, while every other sort of dismissal seems to be treated differently?” Some scorecards do now refer to the runner out, but there was a time when no newspaper, no Wisden, nothing, would mention it. It’s a fair point David.
Latham in action as he picks up nine from the over. Photograph: Stu Forster/IDI via Getty Images
20th over: New Zealand 87-4 (Latham 11, Neesham 9), target 306. Root’s tidier than Rashid so far, and concedes only three singles from his second over.
“Best way to keep the kids occupied is to ask them to restructure a cricket scorebook into a third normal form database design,” advises Adam Dawson, for which thanks. I’d offer even more thanks if I knew what you were on about, mind.
19th over: New Zealand 84-4 (Latham 10, Neesham 7), target 306. We have spin at both ends now, as Rashid replaces Plunkett. His radar is a little bit awry initially and he yields nine runs, including an easy cut for four from Latham off a pretty ropey long-hop outside off.
“I knew Williamson and Taylor were renowned for their likelihood of run-outs when batting together, but this brings it to a whole new level!” yelps Jack Jorgensen. “I must admit that type of dismissal always leaves a very hollow feeling. Amplified in this case by it being Williamson (and NZs chances) that has to go.” They started this tournament so well, but they’ve looked a more timid side as it’s gone on, and Pakistan must be kicking themselves for starting so poorly.
18th over: New Zealand 75-4 (Latham 5, Neesham 3), target 306. Spin for the first time, not Rashid but Root, who gets to twirl at the two new left-handers. They milk him for some ones and a two.
17th over: New Zealand 70-4 (Latham 2, Neesham 1), target 306. New Zealand are the authors of their own misfortune here, as Taylor is run out coming back for a second after a glance to fine leg, though it’s a fine throw from Rashid. And only two from the over. England now, officially, on top. We might even want to tell our cricket-agnostic relatives that England are “winning”. Though we might want to hedge our bets.
New Zealand are of course still well placed to qualify, assuming they don’t lose their last seven for about 20 now. And it being incumbent on Pakistan to absolutely pulverise Bangladesh on Friday, which, given Bangladesh’s properly competitive performances throughout the tournament, seems unlikely. But even if that one at Lord’s on Friday is a dead rubber, it’ll still be worth watching, and those MCC members inclined to swerve itmight want to have a long, hard word with themselves. Or at least give their tickets to those that aren’t.
Has Taylor paid the price for a foolish return run here? He has. There was never really a second run there and Rashid’s return throw to Buttler, is easily converted by the keeper. New Zealand in bother now.
Buttler runs out Taylor for 28. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
16th over: New Zealand 68-3 (Taylor 27, Latham 2), target 306. Calamitous misfortune for New Zealand, as Taylor’s straight drive is very lightly deflected onto the stumps by Wood’s fingertips, leaving Williamson at the non-striker’s end out of his ground. Wood celebrates with some sort of baby’s-dummy mime (not a patch on his rocking horse capers, for my money). Taylor is then given the hurry-up straight away with a jaffa past his outside edge but responds with a well placed and executed pull in front of square that the fielder can only fumble into the ropes. He the man now, with the new batsman in, Latham, currently out of sorts. Though he gets off the mark with a confident shot for two.
Has Wood deflected the ball onto the stumps to run out Williamson here? HE HAS! We need ultra-edge to determine it though, as the batsman is out of his ground after Taylor drove hard at the bowler who thinks he may have edged it onto the stumps. A lengthy examination determines that Wood got a fingertip to it, and England have a vital dismissal, and another fortunate one.
England’s Mark Wood deflects a shot by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson onto the wickte to run him out. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
15th over: New Zealand 61-2 (Williamson 27, Taylor 22), target 306. Five from Plunkett’s latest over, as this pair continue to look unruffled. “I think England may have missed a trick here,” reckons Stephen Cottrell. “I think Rashid could have got through 4 overs for virtually nothing in overs 10-18. If Kane and Taylor stay together they can milk him and maybe even look to target him a bit later in the innings. Here comes the fear, hot on the heels of his old mate Hope.” How come Fear comes out for a pint so much more often than Hope, who’s always working late? All of which has given me both a pessimistic earworm, and a more hopeful one?
14th over: New Zealand 56-2 (Williamson 26, Taylor 19), target 306. Wood’s finding some decent pace in the circs and hurries Williamson up with a short one that the batsman has to glove away awkwardly. A well-run two is followed by the least convincing run-out appeal ever from Morgan as the ball is hurled into the stumps with the batsman several yards home. We’re heading for middle-overs-meander territory at the moment. Who’s winning? Nope, still not getting anything …
13th over: New Zealand 51-2 (Williamson 25, Taylor 15), target 306.Plunkett gives Williamson enough room to cut for one, and they take another following a fumble by Morgan at point. Four singles from the over, which New Zealand will be happy enough with at this juncture.
“Family uninterested in cricket? Pah” snorts Julian Menz. “Try living in Sweden. Sat in the garden with the family, OBO and TMS on the go. Every time a cheer goes up, my daughter asks if England have scored, the father-in- law asks if it’s still the same game that started hours ago, and my wife glares at me for disturbing the otherwise bucolic peace.” Still, you’ve got a vaguely functioning government over there, so that’s something.
12th over: New Zealand 47-2 (Williamson 23, Taylor 13), target 306.Big cheers go up as Durham’s own Mark Wood is introduced in place of Archer, though none greet his first ball, which is an ugly wide down leg. The paceman then has a strangled lbw appeal at one speared into Taylor’s pads but it’s going down the legside. Williamson seeing it like a football and takes advantage of the pace to cut for four off the back foot. Apart from the wide, it’s not a bad over, but this pair look pretty set already. They’ve added 33.
11th over: New Zealand 40-2 (Williamson 18, Taylor 13), target 306.Plunkett, the master of the middle overs, gets his first bowl, replacing Woakes. He yields three singles, but generally does his job well, stemming the flow a little.
“Just saw Tom Levesley’s bit on his kids renaming cricket positions,” emails Kanishk Srinivasan. “Surely cow corner must have given them a real laugh? Anyone up for signing a petition to rename it hamburger pocket?” Another thing that might help is turning kids’ fascination with numbers – particularly big numbers – into an inculcation into the joys of staring at a cricket scoreboard. Figures all over the shop.
10th over: New Zealand 37-2 (Williamson 17, Taylor 11), target 306.Rashid saves at least two run with a fine diving stop from Taylor’s flick to square leg, but no one can stop the next one, beautifully driven through the covers for four by Taylor. That’s what this pair can do with even a smidgeon of width. They’re running the singles well too. Archer’s getting more pace off this pitch than anyone else has today but maybe time for a wee rest? New Zealand end the first powerplay in slightly healthier nick than they might have imagined 10 minutes ago.
9th over: New Zealand 28-2 (Williamson 16, Taylor 3), target 306.Taylor hesitantly dollies up a slower ball from Woakes that doesn’t fall too far from the bowlers’ grasp as he attempts the return catch. Taylor then adds a single before Williamson creams a cover drive to the boundary and adds a clipped two for good measure. ENGLAND NEED TO GET HIM OUT ALREADY.
“In response to David Lombard I would suggest a recourse to metaphysics,” writes David Lombard, optimistically. “It is the only way: Winning and losing should be thought of as an antagonistic duality that, like the fight between good and evil, must be overcome through achieving emptiness in the sense of recognizing them as not being reality but two opposing principles that might (albeit rarely in ODI) end up perfectly balanced in a state of infinite tension. This is sure to separate the cricket fan from the rest.”
Next week: Hegel solves cricket.
Williamson drives one to the boundary for four. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
8th over: New Zealand 21-2 (Williamson 10, Taylor 2), target 306.Taylor hooks and misses at a steepling lifter from Archer, which feels like a statement of intent from both bowler and batsman, but bowler’s winning this duel at the moment, conceding only one from the over.
To dampen English optimism, can I just say that Williamson and Taylor being together in an NZ 300+ run-chase is bringing back memories of being up in the middle of the night 16 months ago OBO-ing this one.
7th over: New Zealand 20-2 (Williamson 10, Taylor 1), target 306.More parsimonious excellence from Woakes until Williamson deflects a full-ish ball between the keeper and the very wide solitary slip, Joe Root. Definitely deliberate, and excellent.
“Like David Lombard I’ve got a family totally uninterested in cricket,” says Tom Levesley, channeling my life, “but I’ve managed to engage my 9 and 11 year-olds by playing true or false for cricket positions. They still don’t believe me that backward point is a position and silly mid anything is always funny. They’ve even started inventing their own – deep fried square leg a constant favourite. As for who’s winning the cricket, they don’t really want to know so contempt is the only fair response.”
6th over: New Zealand 16-2 (Williamson 6, Taylor 1), target 306.Archer gets in on the act, taking Guptill’s wicket courtesy of Buttler’s superb left-handed catch, which brings Taylor to the crease. “The old firm are back together again,” trills Ian Smith in the commentary box, “Celtic and Rangers, Liverpool and Everton, Exeter and Argyle,” an analogy that only really works if Williamson and Taylor really, really hate each other and are consumed by conspiratorial thinking about the other’s antics. Three singles and a wicket from another fine Archer over.
Wicket! Guptill c Buttler b Archer 8, New Zealand 14-2
A magnificent catch! Guptill gloves down the legside and Buttler springs athletically to his left for a brilliant take low-down. As good a catch as a keeper has made in this tournament.
Archer celebrates after taking Guptill, caught by Buttler for eight. Photograph: Stu Forster/IDI via Getty Images
0 Commentaires