Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh at Lord’s but are still on their way home after failing to overcome the odds that were stacked against them
Goodnight to Pakistan and Bangladesh. Both sides have given us plenty of enjoyment over the last six weeks, despite missing the final four. And goodnight to you all. Thanks for your brilliant company. Let’s do it again tomorrow. Bye!
Related: Pakistan exit Cricket World Cup despite victory over Bangladesh
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan captain, speaks. Unfortunately haven’t qualified. One match cost us for the whole tournament (with NRR). But we played better cricket at the end. Combination used got better. Shaheen bowled extremely well. Need to sit down together in two months off to do lots of work to get better. Babar, Imam, Sohail very pleased with their batting. Today was one of the best bowling efforts he’s ever seen from Shaheen Afridi. Thanks to the supporters.
Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh captain, speaks. The last two matches haven’t chased well enough. We’re very sorry to Shakib for not making more runs to go with him. He was exceptional for the team. He’s been fantastic. Fielding in important matches cost a lot. Batting fantastic but fielding needs work. Mustafizur bowling really well. A real asset for Bangladesh cricket. We cannot be satisfied. Could have finished on a good note but didn’t. Still thinking about whether he keeps playing. Supporters all over grateful for.
Shaheen Afridi, player of the match, speaks. Been working with the bowling coach to get success and he’s happy with the performance. It is a special feeling for all of Pakistan and him to win this final game. The wicket was slow and he saw what Muastafizur did so he decided to use cutters and yorkers. It is a special award for his family.
Pakistan finish with -0.43 NRR compared to New Zealand’s +0.17, so they finish fifth. Shaheen is the youngest man to take a five-wicket bag in a World Cup. We’ll hear what the captains have to say in a few minutes.
What a shame that Pakistan won’t be there next week. They really have lit up the final fortnight of this group stage, led by their eletrifying teenage quick. He did it every time Sarfaraz threw him the ball today, with slower balls to the established batsmen - his cutter to Tamim a gem - and yorkers at the tail. It’s hard to think of a fast bowler better suited to the modern white-ball game than Shaheen Afridi.
SHAHEEN AFRIDI GETS SIX! 6/35 to be precise. He ends it with another quite brilliant swinging yorker. What a moment for the 19-year-old.
Big swing, no contact, well out of his ground. Proving that I’ve got the Cricketarist’s method sorted, he does play Everlong as the Bangladesh captain makes his way from from the field, possibly for the last time in his long career.
44th over: Bangladesh 220-9 (Mehidy 7, Mustafizur 1)
43rd over: Bangladesh 214-8 (Mehidy 1, Mortaza 15) MORTAZA GOES AGAIN! He knows Shaheen Afridi is going to bowl them out, but not before smashing him over his head for another six, hiiiiiiigh into the air before landing. He’s doing this right. The fans, who love him, are again going wild.
42nd over: Bangladesh 206-8 (Mehidy 1, Mortaza 8) MORTAZA! The Bangladesh captain isn’t going down without a fight, launching Shadhab back over his head for SIX OF THE BEST! This will almost certainly be his final ODI, debuting for his country back in 2000. At almost every important point in the great story of Bangladesh cricket over the last 15 years, he has bee front and centre. Keep going!
Brian Withington has done an outrageously kind thing and purchased me the Bangladesh away kit. I can’t tell you how lovely that is. I’ll wear it with pride.
41st over: Bangladesh 199-8 (Mehidy 1, Mortaza 1) 15 wickets in five games now for Shaheen. How is it possible that he didn’t play against India? This young fella is clearly born for the big stage. Can he make it six or even seven? Not this time around, Mortaza - the man at the other end of his career - managing to keep him out. Shaheen now has 5/26 from his eight. Have that!
FIVE FOR SHAHEEN AFRIDI! Onto the honours board he does go, castling the last recognised Bangladesh batsman with a rapid, hooping yorker. It has been his slower ball doing the damage today but that’s raw pace. Sensational bowling.
A golden duck for the No8, giving catching practice to Amir. It gives Shaheen a fourth wicket, for the second time today into the book with the first delivery of a fresh spell. Unfurl those arms, young man. Get yourself on that honour board.
40th over: Bangladesh 197-6 (Mahmudullah 29, Saifuddin 0) I’ve answered my own question about the Cricketarist, Don’t Dream It’s Over getting a run as Mosaddek walks off. For me, that song will now be forever linked to the montage in the opening scene of the final season of The Americans. Some 14 months on, I haven’t adequately replaced that show in my life. I might never.
Babar takes the catch this time! Mosaddek gave it his best to smash Shadab over cover but sends it high in the air to Babar who completes an easy chance running in off the rope.
39th over: Bangladesh 191-5 (Mahmudullah 28, Mosaddek 11) Bumper, top edge, four! Far from convincing cricket from Mahmudullah, but he keeps the board ticking. Wahab never wins. The No6 made better contact earlier in the over through midwicket, stopped by an excellent dive. The required rate is now above 11 an over.
38th over: Bangladesh 183-5 (Mahmudullah 21, Mosaddek 10) Another drop! An even tougher one this time, Babar running at full pace and diving at mid-off after Shadhab earned a fat top edge of Mahmudullah. Suddenly, it feels like they are close to crashing through Bangladesh here.
“Live from Lords,” is James Maltby. “It’s died down a bit as this match drifts towards a Pakistan win, but a game between rivals like this does show you don’t need a cricketarist or blasts of Blur to get the atmosphere going. That said, if I can get a shout out for my friend Richard who went in too hard on the pre lunch drinks and has since slept for two hours of the Bangladesh innings, that would be great.”
37th over: Bangladesh 178-5 (Mahmudullah 18, Mosaddek 8) Wahab is tidy and accurate, eventually winning Mahmudullah’s edge but there’s nobody in the cordon so four are added against his name. It’s a batsman’s game. Oh, and a toughdrop to finish at mid-off, the usually reliable Hafeez putting down the same man. Add that to the long, long list of catches put down off Wahab Riaz over his career.
36th over: Bangladesh 172-5 (Mahmudullah 13, Mosaddek 7) Nearly the most magnificent piece of fielding of the tournament just about by Babar Azam, making a ridiculous one-handed stop at point, an inch away from nailing run out that would have ended Mosaddek’s afternoon. Four from the Amir over. Not enough.
“You may be right here,” says Romeo of my theory about how an Indian final will also end up on TV if they make it and England don’t. “India in the final will get more UK viewers than if England are. It’ll be on a Sky channel, possibly only on YouTube like BT did with the football, and NOT on BBC or ITV. Viewer numbers will still be far lower (I bet it’s less than half) than the women’s football semi-final simply because it’s not on the BBC or ITV. It is, though a PR cock-up, I think. It’s come about just now because of Plunkett on the BBC saying something (and then being told off and having to try and retract and the reaction to that).”
35th over: Bangladesh 168-5 (Mahmudullah 12, Mosaddek 5) Wahab is brought back to replace Shaheen, the brilliant young man held back for three at the end, presumably. Wahab, the old bull of this attack, holds up his end of the bargain.
“If I might be allowed a final right of reply,” asks Brian Witington. Go on, then! This is the last one. “My wife would like to thank all her fellow flat-earthers (my words, not hers) whilst I would respectfully suggest Peter Williams’ ask his learned friend Daz (over 21) whether he is saying 0.9 recurring is less than 1? And then refer him to the ultimate arbiter of all such matters, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0.999... whilst offering big respect to his PhD thesis. Surely the Twistor transform of symmetries can help solve the NRR tie-break conundrum?”
https://t.co/u6KH2lHk7H
Under this proposal, Pakistan would need to bowl Bangladesh out for 185
34th over: Bangladesh 164-5 (Mahmudullah 10, Mosaddek 3) Close to a run out with Shadab nearly going the full Jonty from backward point, taking out all the stumps! The umpire upstairs, though, shows Mosaddek just in his ground. For Bangladesh, 152 runs are needed at a rate of 9.5 an over as they grab a drink.
33rd over: Bangladesh 161-5 (Mahmudullah 8, Mosaddek 2) The enigmatic Mosaddek let’s Shaheen’s off-cutter hit him on the backside, running away for four leg byes. He’s off the mark himself with a couple behind point. Shaheen, who really is the perfect modern white-ball quick, has 3/24 from his seven.
That’s that wicket! Shakib’s extraordinary tournament is brought to an end by Shaheen Afridi, who wins an edge with a length delivery through to the captain. He finishes the World Cup with 606 runs. Take a bow. A mighty performance.
32nd over: Bangladesh 154-4 (Shakib 64, Mahmudullah 8) Sarfaraz is going for wickets, bringing back Amir for a quick burst. They play him carefully but the attack leader gets a little victory from the final ball, causing Mahmudullah a considerable amount of discomfort when hitting him in the box. Ouch. They take a breather to let him gather his thoughts, and so on, at the end of the over.
31st over: Bangladesh 151-4 (Shakib 61, Mahmudullah 8) Shaheen is handled better this time around, his variety of slower short balls and off-cutters worked around the field for seven relatively straightforward runs. It was important they found a way to finally start scoring off the teen sensation.
30th over: Bangladesh 144-4 (Shakib 57, Mahmudullah 6) Speaking of fielding, Imam makes a great stop at cover to deny Mahmudullah a boundary early in Shadab’s over. But he can’t stop a full-blooded sweep through midwicket, crashing into the boundary. We saw the way the Bangladesh No6 batted against Australia when chasing a similar required run rate. In short: he won’t be mucking around.
“Mr Atherton mentioned areas where Bangladesh need to improve,” writes Garry Sharp. “Something about batting and bowling, I think. They have those things in cricket, right? But he didn’t mention their fielding; I reckon they only started fielding on 34.4 when Tamim actually stopped a boundary, and then ceased fielding again about ten overs later. Oh and I know you’ve closed the topic but Adam Cooke and Rich Prince are both wrong because 10 times a number will have one less digit after the decimal place than 1 times the number. I promise I didn’t mention the fielding just to sneak that in....”
29th over: Bangladesh 139-4 (Shakib 57, Mahmudullah 1) Shaheen taking on Shahid Afridi’s celebration is the best. I spoke to him after he took his first T20 wickets in Harare last year. One of his answers was that he had a dream that his first scalps would be Finch and Maxwell so that’s why he achieved it. Love it.
“Got to say, I’m a little peeved about the Final only being free to air if England qualify,” writes Peter Salmon. “Having followed most of it, it seems to me a lot of, say, Indian fans in the UK, might quite like to watch it. Not to mention neutrals, who presumably must accept that if England isn’t there the final is sort of pointless. Seems indicative of Sky and the ICC’s whole approach to the tournament as ‘something for England to win.’ The idea that some people might actually enjoy cricket seems an anathema to them in so many ways.”
Shaheen again with the first ball of his new spell! He does it with a top-notch slower ball, Das through the shot early and chipping to cover. Brilliant bowling.
28th over: Bangladesh 136-3 (Shakib 56, Das 32) That might be a gear shift! When Shadab missed his line, Shakib helped him away behind square for four. When he missed his length, Das hammered him back down the ground for four more. Hmm.
27th over: Bangladesh 125-3 (Shakib 51, Das 26) The spin twins continue, three added. Imad went beyond Shakib’s edge but he’s right back on the task after that.
Okay, this is pretty cool so I’ll include it. LAST ONE!
26th over: Bangladesh 122-3 (Shakib 50, Das 24) Early in the over Shakib takes on Shadab, lofting him through cover for four! Then with one off his pads, he has raised another half-century! The Bangladesh all-rounder joins Sachin Tendulkar from 2003 with the most 50+ scores in a single World Cup, this his seventh with two tons along the way. Go on, make it three. Go you good thing.
Every time he's batted in this World Cup, #ShakibalHasan has reached 40. His idea of a failure is making 41 against Australia at a run a ball. He's in with a chance of averaging 100, though ideally he'll end up with 99.94 @collinsadam
25th over: Bangladesh 115-3 (Shakib 45, Das 22) They’re happy to go down the ground time and again at Imad. But he’s doing his job, conceding just 23 runs across five overs. How will Shakib deal with the next half an hour or so? Will he leave Das to the long-handle caper and keep taking the singles? Or go himself?
24th over: Bangladesh 111-3 (Shakib 43, Das 20) Six runs - all to to the sweepers - off Shadab, who they have started nicely against.
23rd over: Bangladesh 105-3 (Shakib 41, Das 16) Shakib into the 40s once again! What a brilliant tournament, never failing to make it this far in eight innings. It is off an edge, but let’s not worry about that. The Bangladesh fans won’t be.
22nd over: Bangladesh 98-3 (Shakib 36, Das 14) Shadab! Another of my faves. He’s on for his probing leggies but Das is keen to get in his head early, doing so by smashing him through midwicket into the gap for four! Boundaries in back to back overs helps with the big task they have ahead of them. Can these two do as they did against West Indies?
21st over: Bangladesh 92-3 (Shakib 35, Das 9) Imad is yet to bowl a bad ball so Das gets down low to meet him with a little paddle/lap number, timed and placed well enough to get him four. Imad’s done quite a bit right in this World Cup, for mine.
I’m going to take a couple more emails supporting/repudiating Brian before moving on. “One third as 0.333 recurring is just a convention based on the limitations of the decimal system,” insists Mark Dawson, and who am I to question him? “A third of three is one, a third of twelve is four. A third of ten is tricky. So if 0.999 is intended to represent one arrived at by multiplying a decimal third by three, Brian’s dead right and silly old decimal system. If on the other hand it’s the product of a different calculation, AINT NO WAY it’s the same as one. Her Indoors ruleth. Just don’t get me started on Pi.”
20th over: Bangladesh 86-3 (Shakib 33, Das 3) Bangadesh are only going at 4.3 an over here, needing 7.7 from this point. Just two from Wahab’s set with singles behind square bookending it, the big quick also sending down a wide.
“An (actual!) Cambridge mathematician in response to Brian Withington’s wife,” emails Joseph Boorman. “If 1 does not equal 0.[9 recurring], then 0.[9 recurring] is smaller than 3. Thus (3 - 0.[9 recurring]) is greater than 0. However we also have 0.9 recurring being greater than 0.[any fixed number of 9s] and (3 - 0.[9 recurring]) must then be smaller than (3 - 0.[any fixed number of 9s]) which equals 0.00...01 for any fixed number of 0s. Now if (3 - 0.[9 recurring]) is greater than 0, it follows that there is a non-zero number in the decimal expansion, ie. (3 - 0.[9 recurring]) = 0.00...0x>=0.00...01 for some fixed number of zeros. This is a contradiction.
I hope this clears things up!”
19th over: Bangladesh 83-3 (Shakib 33, Das 3) Wahab resting after his over stops four at backward point to begin. Imad’s length improves from there, Shakib and Das both playing him conservatively early in his shift from the pavilion end.
“The ICC designed the Sydney Opera House?!?!?!” lols Ryan Loonan. “No wonder their abilities as Cricket Administrators are questionable, their talents obviously lie elsewhere! Thanks for the coverage, keep up the good work.”
18th over: Bangladesh 79-3 (Shakib 31, Das 1) Das, who was brilliant in that West Indies chase a few weeks back, is off the mark with a pull behing square. The end of Wahab’s successful over, a drinks break taken in there too.
“Afternoon Adam.” Hi Simon McMahon. “Enjoying a tremendous day out at Lord’s with Mrs McMahon, just a pity neither of these teams can qualify. I can only imagine what the atmosphere might be like if that was the case.” He goes on to say critical things about his wife’s cricket IQ, which I’m going to leave out for his sake.
It’s quick, it finds an inside edge, it’s bowled! Wahab does the trick.
17th over: Bangladesh 77-2 (Shakib 30, Mushfiqur 16) The Welshman, Imad Wasim, is brought on to break up the left-arm pace. He’s into his work straight away, just two singles taken sqaure of the wicket, the rest played defensively.
“If NRR was weighted depending on the phase of the innings you were batting in, would it be better?” asks Pat Noone of the CricViz factory. “Like, if there was an incentive to score quickly at the death, it might prevent teams from just tediously batting out the overs:
PP1 - run rate x 1.5
PP2 - normal run rate
PP3 - run rate x 2
Sure there’s something I’m overlooking for why this won’t work, and it’s a bit contrived, but it at least addresses the issue of teams playing dull cricket when the game is gone.”
16th over: Bangladesh 75-2 (Shakib 29, Mushfiqur 15) A sharper set from Wahab, who is angling into that awkard hip/armpit area throughout. He hits the thigh pad a couple of times after Shakib misses when trying to ping him on to Abbey Rd.
15th over: Bangladesh 73-2 (Shakib 28, Mushfiqur 14) Mushfiqur mix up! Had a direct hit been forthcoming from midwicket, the wicketkeeper was in real trouble. Earlier, Shakib nailed a picture-perfect straight drive down the ground. He’s played a couple of false strokes but he is keeping the board ticking. They need just on seven an over from here to repeat their victory of 1999 in the final group game.
14th over: Bangladesh 67-2 (Shakib 23, Mushfiqur 14) Wahab, on for his first over, is immediately punched through cover by Mushfiqur through cover for four. That’s a delightful bit of batting. There’s every chance he will try and give Shakib a workout with the short ball as well. I’m not sure why, given how well he hooked Archer way back when at Cardiff. No issues here, keeping the strike with a tuck.
13th over: Bangladesh 59-2 (Shakib 20, Mushfiqur 9) Shaheen is really into Shakib here with a bumper, followed in customary fast-bowler fashion with a delivery aimed full at his stumps. This is shaping up as an excellent little battle.
John Starbuck has dropped me a line about the news that the final will be on free telly in the UK is England make it. “Even if England do go through to the CWC final, there’s no guarantee that, when Sky say they’ll broadcast it free-to-air, they don’t necessarily mean BBC, ITV, Ch 4 or Ch 5. They could be meaning to those who just have Sky, without the Sports options. If they genuinely mean free-to-air, it must be on either one of the aforementioned, or at least on Pick, which exists on Freeview, though that wouldn’t be completely free-to-air either. Remember, for these broadcasters, the money comes first, not the game.”
12th over: Bangladesh 57-2 (Shakib 19, Mushfiqur 8) Hafeez in for his fifth, Sarfaraz trying to get through his overs while the going is good. This Bangladesh engine room, which includes Mahmudulluh (back from injury) is so important if they are a serious chance of chasing this down. Needless to say, the wicketkeeper is resourceful early on, hammering a premeditated sweep behind square for four then lapping over the head of the ‘keeper for a couple more to finish.
“Isn’t NRR the equivalent of the Sydney Opera House already?” asks Andrew Cosgrove. “The winning design turns out to be impossible, so they fudge it with one that looks like it works but actually isn’t fit for purpose.” If this is a Sydney sledge, I’m well in for it. Just putting that on the record.
11th over: Bangladesh 49-2 (Shakib 18, Mushfiqur 1) AFRIDI, AFRIDI, AFRIDI chants at last half of the Lord’s audience. They’re in fine nick today. Mushfiqur is off the mark from the final ball of the successful over, taking one behind point.
BOWLED! Shaheen runs his fingers down the left-hand side of the ball to generate a bit of off-cut and it is enough to slip through Tamim, into his leg stump. Fantastic bowling from one of the most exciting young cricketers in the world.
10th over: Bangladesh 47-1 (Tamim 8, Shakib 17) Hafeez is spun around for the final over of the power play. All six balls are scored from, five of them to the sweepers in front of square at midwicket and long-on. 47 from the first ten. The TV calls that ~phase~ a draw. Will we ever see phases used again? I suspect not.
9th over: Bangladesh 40-1 (Tamim 6, Shakib 12) Shaheeeeeeen Afridi! Here’s the main man! Mine, at least. Tamim gets off strike early in the over, Shakib again rushed by a short one before taking a single to third man. He gets one to jump to finish, beyond Tamim’s inside edge and into his pad, prompting half an appeal.
“Not sure exactly what bone was broken but I think the technical term used by my Australian orthopaedic colleagues is a ‘f**ken fracture of the forearm’” writes Charlie Tinsley. Or as he signs off, ‘Dr Charles Tinsley MRCGP MBBS’. Very good.
8th over: Bangladesh 38-1 (Tamim 5, Shakib 11) Lovely shot from Shakib, turning Amir with ease off his pads to move into double figures. Wouldn’t a Lord’s ton be the perfect full stop on his wonderful World Cup? Amir bounces straight back to beat his blade when cutting and hurries him up with a short one too. That should be enough for the skipper to keep him on to try and get Shakib before he’s set.
“I see net run rate has taken over from free-to-air TV, rain, and Jofra Archer as the things everyone is banging on about in this World Cup,” observes Andrew Cosgrove. “You’re right that there’s a better way than NRR, but it’s not DLS. It’s not having an extended group stage to start with, having adequate provision for wash-outs, and going with head-to-head as the primary tiebreaker. All the discussion is interesting (what else are we going to do to while away the time), but given that the format changes every time, these discussions will end up like previous England campaigns - out of date immediately the tournament is over, and trying to play the current World Cup according to the conventions of the previous one.”
7th over: Bangladesh 32-1 (Tamim 4, Shakib 6) Hafeez does get another and Shakib is too good to give it any meaningful respect, smashing a long hop to the rope.
Ten steps to glory for England. When did Rob find the time to write this?!
Related: Two games from history: England’s action plan for World Cup glory | Rob Smyth
6th over: Bangladesh 27-1 (Tamim 4, Shakib 1) What an ovation when Shakib walks to the middle! He’s had a World Cup that we will talk about for a long time; two tons and four 50s in eight hits with a lowest score of 41, coming in at number three throughout. He’s off the mark with a single third man.
The wicket Amir deserved, that of Soumya. Earlier in the over he took him down the ground for four but the left-arm quick had the last laugh, the left-hander picking out Fakhar at point with a miscued cut, completing a tidy low catch.
5th over: Bangladesh 22-0 (Tamim 4, Soumya 18) Sarfaraz sticks with Hafeez but Soumya isn’t having any of it this time to begin, dancing and lofting him over long-off for four. Nice. With both openers now getting their eye in, they take three further risk-free singles. The noise at Lord’s is absoultely brilliant.
Hooley dooley, I’ve just looked at my inbox and it is FLOODED with emails about Brian Withington’s 0.999 (etc) proposition. I’ll get to them in the middle overs.
4th over: Bangladesh 15-0 (Tamim 3, Soumya 12) Tamim again gets one from the first ball of the over, this time to midwicket. Amir is working Soumya over. After last over winning a chance, this time he collects his inside edge. With Tamim back on strike, his outside edge is located too, albeit into the ground before the cordon. Amir was absolutely outstanding the last time that Pakistan played here, against South Africa a couple of weeks ago. He looks to be in that mood again today.
3rd over: Bangladesh 13-0 (Tamim 2, Soumya 11) Tamim gets a single from the first Hafeez delivery this time around but pins Soumya to the crease until the final delivery, which slips out of his hand! Arriving as a full toss after flying hiiiiigh into the London sky, the left-hander elects to try and hit it for six rather than letting it land as a wide. And I tell you what, he nearly picked out the man on the rope at deep square leg too, watching the replay back. Loves me some loose cricket.
2nd over: Bangladesh 8-0 (Tamim 1, Soumya 7) Soumya gets Bangladesh away with a clip from Amir’s first ball to long leg. He gets a four next ball from an uppish slap through cover, somehow evading the packed field in that area. DROPPED CATCH NEXT! Oh no! Amir has earned a soft edge, Soumya presenting the most straightforward chance for Sohail at first slip. It was in the air long enough for me to jump through my TV screen and snaffle it. But not to be. That hurts.
“How about those Hawks!” writes Damien McLean, in reference to my football team getting over the line by a very narrow margin at the MCG just before. “Always great to beat the pies, and a win for the underdog. Hopefully we can see Bangladesh continue the underdog upsets tonight. Thanks for your work.”
1st over: Bangladesh 0-0 (Tamim 0, Soumya 0) A lovely start from the old man of this Pakistan side, sending down an accurate maiden at Tamim.
“Never mind Net Run Rate,” adds Brian Withington. “Can we have your inside scoop on what on earth has been going on in the Australian net practice sessions? Sounds like Game of Thrones style mayhem.”
The players are back on the field. Pakistan need to rock and roll Bangladesh for seven to progress. I’m looking forward to that being out of the way. Sarfaraz the skipper has the gloves, despite the whack he copped to the arm earlier. To be fair, as Simon Doull notes on telly, they don’t have another ‘keeper so he didn’t have much of a choice. Tamim, who has a Test ton at HQ, will take the first ball. Hafeez, the 38-year-old offspinner, will take over one from the Nursery End. PLAY!
Brian Withington has dropped me a line.You can too. “Prompted by febrile Net Run Rate angst, I was intrigued to see in the Cricinfo league table that Australia is reported as having an NRR of exactly 1,” he says. “On closer inspection it would appear that there is some rounding down going on in the fourth decimal place, so that the figure should perhaps more strictly be presented as 1.000 (correct to 3 decimal places) - pleasingly I see that the Guardian adopts said convention.”
We aim to please.
Speaking of outstanding. We’re getting a Wasim Akram TV package at lunch. Our own Vic Marks makes a very good point on it: how many left-arm quicks bowled around the wicket before Wasim? He changed the game. On that, what a top finish for Mustafizur, the rapid young southpaw getting his name on the Lord’s board.
Thanks, Rob. Before going anywhere with this conversation can I ask one question: WHERE HAVE THESE RED BANGLADESH AWAY KITS BEEN ALL TOURNAMENT? Absolutely outstanding. I can’t look away. I need one.
That’s it from me.Adam Collins will be with you for what should be a thrilling runchase, so please email him at adam.collins@theguardian.com. Thanks for your company, bye!
Related: Cricket World Cup final will be on free-to-air TV if England qualify
50th over: Pakistan 315-9 (Sarfaraz 3, Shaheen 0)No hat-trick for Mustafizur, with Sarfaraz taking a single off the last delivery. But two World Cup five-fors in a row isn’t bad, and he has taken a shortcut to second on the list of leading wickettakers at this tournament.
That means Bangladesh need 316 to win and finish above Pakistan in the table. It’s safe to say New Zealand will be in the semi-finals; to move above them, Pakistan need to bowl Bangladesh out for 7.
Back-to-back five-fors for the Fizz! He deceives Amir with a slower bouncer that is thin-edged through to the keeper, so poor Sarfaraz will have to come out for the final delivery.
Imad slashes Mustafizur high to third man to end a fine innings of 43 from 26 deliveries. There are two balls remaining.
49th over: Pakistan 308-7 (Imad 37, Amir 8) The impressive Imad Wasim slams Saifuddin through the covers for four to take Pakistan past 300. He flat-bats the next ball over the top for another boundary, too. This is a terrific cameo: 37 from 22 balls. Actually, Imad isn’t a million miles away from the ultimate statgasm, when a batsman’s average is higher than his highest score. Imad’s ODI best is 63, and his average 44.
“Whose idea was it to have the World Cup final and the British F1 GP on the same day?” asks H&J Goodman. “What if England are one of the finalists and it is on free to air TV as Sky said today and Channel 4 have the GP live!”
48th over: Pakistan 295-7 (Imad 27, Amir 5)
This is a sensational catch from the big man! Shadab, trying to turn an attempted yorker to leg, got a leading edge back towards Mustafizur. The ball was only a few centimetres off the ground, but Mustafizur - who is a very tall man - got down and changed direction in his follow through to claw it with his left hand. That was so good.
47th over: Pakistan 288-6 (Imad 26, Shadab 1) Pakistan are effectively seven down, in view of Sarfaraz’s injury.
After Imad Wasim drives a sweet six over long-on, Wahab is cleaned up by an immaculate yorker from Saifuddin. Beautifully bowled.
The Spin
The latest episode of our all-singing, occasionally dancing World Cup podcast is available. And while I’m disappointed they ignored my suggestion to play the popular pub game, ‘Name the England XI from the first ODI v New Zealand in 1994’, it does include:
Related: England qualify for the semi-finals … plus panto catches - The Spin podcast
46th over: Pakistan 279-5 (Imad 19, Wahab 1) The resourceful Imad Wasim, who batted so impressively against Afghanistan on Saturday, drags Pakistan closer to 300 with consecutive boundaries. He has 19 from 13 balls.
“Phase v faze,” says Anthony Fletcher. “Stuart Sanders going through a bad phase, leaving Smythe unfazed.”
Sarfaraz’s elbow injury is too painful for him to continue, so he walks off the field to be replaced by Wahab Riaz.
45th over: Pakistan 267-5 (Imad 9, Sarfaraz 2) “As Haris Sohail was half-way through his shot I thought to myself he was taking part in a strenuous catching-practice session,” says Romeo. “All a bit dumb.”
There’s been a slight end-of-term feel to the innings since it became apparent they couldn’t reach 400. As someone whose productivity from 4-5pm on a Friday has consistency left everything to be desired, I can empathise with that.
44.2 overs: Pakistan 257-5 (Imad 3, Sarfaraz 0) Imad Wasim smashes Saifuddin straight into the elbow of Sarfaraz at the non-striker’s end. That looked so painful, and there’s a long break in play while he receives treatment.
44th over: Pakistan 256-5 (Imad 2, Sarfaraz 0) “Faze not phase!” says Stuart Sanders of my unforgivable typo in the 42nd over. It’s been a long tournament.
Mustafizur takes his 100th ODI wicket! Haris cuts a short ball towards the cover boundary, where Soumya Sarkar takes a comfortable catch. Pakistan have lost three wickets for nine runs.
43rd over: Pakistan 248-4 (Haris 1, Imad 0) Mehidy Hasan ends a parsimonious day’s work with figures of 10-0-30-1. Had he not played silly buggers in the 33rd over, they would have been 10-0-26-1.
“I think I have the response to Paul’s concern (33rd over) on the Zaltzman/DLS proposal,” says Sumit Rahman. “If a team wins by 20 runs, they batted first and completed their innings. Whether they finished all 50 overs or were bowled out before the 50th, they will have used all their ‘resources’ (in DLS language). There is no reason to give them more or less credit depending on whether they lost 2 wickets, 9 wickets or 10 wickets by the end of their innings; they knew at the start of their innings that they’d have 10 wickets and 50 overs to score as many runs as possible. The team chasing has their wickets fallen taken into consideration because they have not had the chance to use up all their resources (specifically, they won’t have had the chance to face all 50 overs). So the use of DLS in this way seems fair to me. The alternative is to make the second team keep on batting even after they have won the game, until 50 overs or 10 wickets, to find out what they ‘really’ won by in terms of runs.”
Hafeez slog-sweeps Mehidy straight to deep midwicket, where Shakib takes a comfortable catch. Bangladesh are right in this game.
42nd over: Pakistan 246-3 (Hafeez 26, Haris 0) Although Pakistan are on top, this runchase won’t phase Bangladesh, who have posted some big scores batting second in this tournament.
Imam-ul-Haq scores a classy maiden World Cup century from 99 balls - only to tread on his stumps next ball. That was a peculiar dismissal, as he went back too far to work Mustafizur off the hip, but he played seriously well. He now has seven hundreds in only 36 ODIs.
41st over: Pakistan 243-2 (Imam 99, Hafeez 24) Hafeez drives Shakib inside out over extra cover for four, a graceful and classy stroke which he follows with an efficient tickle to the fine-leg boundary. Imam then cuts for two to move within one of a fine century.
40th over: Pakistan 230-2 (Imam 96, Hafeez 14) An overthrow takes Imam from 95 to 96, with one ball of Mehidy’s over remaining. He ignores the dangerous temptation of instant glory with a straight drive along the floor that is fielded by the bowler.
39th over: Pakistan 225-2 (Imam 93, Hafeez 14) Imam, down on one knee, smears Shakib back over his head for four, the first Shakib has conceded today.
“Net run rate is a bit like penalties in football,” says Kevin Wilson. “We don’t like them, particularly when our team loses out. We agonise about alternatives, all of which are flawed. Then we realise that actually they are the best solution, as bad as they are, and the best way to avoid them is to actually win your games in the first place.”
38th over: Pakistan 216-2 (Imam 87, Hafeez 11) Imam, on the charge, slaps Mortaza over extra cover for four. He is 13 away from a seventh ODI century, which is spectacular going for somebody who has only played 36 matches. Especially as he’s also been abused by fans for most of his career.
37th over: Pakistan 209-2 (Imam 81, Hafeez 10) Shakib is so hard to get away. He hasn’t conceded a single boundary in his eight overs, the last seven of which have gone for only 24 runs.
“Net run rate is an imperfect tie-breaking system, but so are they all,” says Keith Smith. “The real problem is the bloated tournament format. If there had been three groups of six teams, each would play five games, so there would be more hanging on each individual match. That would have provided the exact same number of total group games (45), got associate nations involved, and allowed the insertion of a quarter-final round (top two in each group plus the two best third-placed teams). Alas, the ICC preferred to guarantee nine games to each of the money-spinning teams...”
36th over: Pakistan 204-2 (Imam 79, Hafeez 8) Hafeez, who can be a dangerous hitter when the stars align, drives Mortaza over extra cover for his first boundary. But there are only three runs from the other five deliveries, which leaves Pakistan needing around 200 from the last 14 overs. Nice one.
“How about a French Cricket decider,” says Mark Hooper. “Played on the nearest beach, one hand one bounce, can’t be out first ball.”
35th over: Pakistan 197-2 (Imam 78, Hafeez 2) Shakib returns to the attack and concedes just three singles.. I think Pakistan have settled for trying to win the match rather than trying to reach 400.
34th over: Pakistan 194-2 (Imam 76, Hafeez 1) Imam flashes a back cut for four off Saifuddin, an excellent stroke. The scoreboard suggests he’s going fairly slowly but he’s only had around 35 per cent of the strike. His 76 has taken only 71 balls.
33rd over: Pakistan 187-2 (Imam 69, Hafeez 1) The first boundary off Mehidy comes from ... Mehidy, who collects a straight drive from Imam, flings the ball back at the batsman and watches in horror as it beats Mushfiqur and runs away to the fence.
“I heard the system proposed by Andy Zaltzman on TMS and liked the sound of it as well, but I was slightly concerned by the idea that a team winning by runs (i.e. defending) might end up benefitting over those chasing,” says Paul Billington. “The way it was explained it sounded like a team winning by 20 runs would get those 20 runs credited to them, whereas the team winning in a chase would have the DLS applied to get their credit; the former doesn’t take into consideration wickets fallen, which may be the catch, unless I’ve not been listening or that thing I found on the carpet wasa piece of my brain.”
32nd over: Pakistan 180-2 (Imam 63, Hafeez 0) Pakistan were just starting to motor before the loss of Babar; the last three overs have gone for 32 runs.
“How about the approach taken in gymnastics and some other sports – take out the best and worst individual NRR performances and calculate the NRR from the remaining matches?” says Martin Gilbert. “Rewards consistency and makes sure that a couple of terrible performances (either for or against the team) don’t unduly weigh on the end result.”
Babar Azam falls four runs short of a charming century. He walked across to flick a yorker from Saifuddin to leg, missed and was given out LBW. He reviewed the decision instantly, hoping it was sliding down. In fact it was hitting the inside of leg stump, so he’s on his way and Pakistan have lost their review. It was a masterful innings: 96 from 98 balls with 11 pristine fours.
31st over: Pakistan 166-1 (Imam 59, Babar 87) Were it not for Mehidy, Pakistan would still have a chance of getting the huge score they need. He has now bowled seven overs for 16.
“Disappointed to see Millings (19th over) pushing the anti-tall agenda,” says Matt Dony. “Just another member of the insular elitist cadre of closed-minded short people. All fun and games until he needs something from the top shelf. And, when that day comes, we will be gracious enough to help out, because we are all brilliant, kind, warm, giving individuals. As a sign of goodwill, we’ll even playfully tousle (what’s left of) his hair.”
30th over: Pakistan 163-1 (Imam 57, Babar 86) A short ball from Mustafizur is flogged through midwicket for four by Babar Azam, who is on course to become the third Pakistan batsman - after Rameez Raja in 1992 and Saeed Anwar in 1999 - to make two hundreds in a World Cup. He moves to 86 with two thrilling, fast-handed pulls for four more off the last two deliveries of the over. What a player this chap is.
“Andy Zaltzman is in favour of a DLS system for tie-breaking,” says Robert Taylor, “and it’s not as complicated as you’d think. If a team wins/loses by a number runs then that’s their net runs for the game. If the team chasing wins batting second, the margin of victory is the difference between their score and the DLS par score for that point in their innings.
29th over: Pakistan 148-1 (Imam 55, Babar 73) The thrifty Mehidy returns to the attack. Four singles from the over (again), which gives him figures of 6-0-13-0.
“Has anyone else noticed the Groundhog Day element to the latter stages of this World Cup?” says Damian Ainsworth. “Favourite wins toss, bats first, racks up a decent score that always looks just out of reach of the underdogs who, despite occasionally threatening heroics, always fall short. Rinse and repeat. After it looked as though it would really get going with some great middle period matches it’s all gone a bit flat; unlike Yorkshire’s sensational Championship victory on Monday at the home of cricket, North Marine Road, Scarborough.”
28th over: Pakistan 144-1 (Imam 53, Babar 71) Yet another exquisite stroke from Babar, who flicks Mushfiqur wristily through midwicket for four. Babar then survives a very optimistic LBW appeal from a ball that pitched well outside leg stump.
“I’d like to add my support to Mac Millings’ proposals,” says Tom Hopkins. “Partly because they’re objectively better, partly because I want to see more of Doug the Rug.”
27th over: Pakistan 137-1 (Imam 52, Babar 66) Babar dances down the track to drive Mosaddek on the full to the extra-cover boundary. That’s another beautiful stroke. He has just gone past Javed Miandad, whose 437 runs in the 1992 World Cup were a record for Pakistan. He is such a good player, and it might not be too long before we are talking about world cricket’s Fab Five.
Imam gets four more with the aid of a dismal misfield from Saifuddin, and an edge through the left hand of Mushfiqur takes him to a 52-ball fifty. Technically that was a dropped catch from Mushfiqur, though it was an almost impossible chance. He misses Babar later in the over as well, although again it was a big deflection and therefore a very difficult chance. He couldn’t get a hand on the ball, which instead hit him painfully on the knee.
26th over: Pakistan 123-1 (Imam 45, Babar 60) A change of pace, with Mustafizur returning to the attack - and he has Babar dropped at backward point. That was a sharp but essentially straightforward chance to Mosaddek, who tried it take it two-handed to his left. Imam gets a rare boundary off the last delivery with a vigorous pull stroke through midwicket.
“I think Net Wickets Taken is a debate worth having,” says Martyn Fairbrother. “Currently there is no reward for a team getting 350 for no loss of wicket compared to 350 all out over the same number of overs. NRR can even reward the 350 all out team just because they happen to get their 350 quicker than the 350 for no wicket team. Maybe this is an aspect of the game that should have a small reward, in the form of being the second factor taken into consideration for qualification.”
25th over: Pakistan 113-1 (Imam 40, Babar 57) A sharp offspinner from Mosaddek is almost defended onto his own stumps by Babar, who sees it bouncing towards his furniture and gets his body in the way. Four singles from the over. I feel like I’ve typed that a lot today.
24th over: Pakistan 111-1 (Imam 38, Babar 55) Three singles from Shakib’s over, which he bowled in about two minutes flat.
“Barring New Zealand who have chased successfully on four occasions (albeit shorter targets), the table toppers - Australia, India and England have won just a match chasing,” says Mukundhan. “Interspersed between England’s poor show (at the end of the SL game) and their superiority (ahead of the semi-finals) were two matches where England got to bat first. Does it mean the semi-finals are going to be reduced to a game of tosses?”
23rd over: Pakistan 108-1 (Imam 37, Babar 53) Babar rocks back to drive Mosaddek through extra-cover for four, another lovely shot that brings up a 62-ball half-century. He secretes class.
22nd over: Pakistan 103-1 (Imam 37, Babar 48) Bangladesh’s spinners are racing through their overs, which is making it difficult to keep up - and, more importantly, for Pakistan to hit boundaries. Five singles from Shakib’s fifth over. We’ve still had just six fours in this innings.
21st over: Pakistan 98-1 (Imam 36, Babar 46) Mosaddek Hossain comes into the attack to bowl some offspin. If this was a normal game, Pakistan would be going along nicely. As it is they need around 10 an over to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals.
20th over: Pakistan 94-1 (Imam 33, Babar 42) “In answer to Jezz Nash’s question, the pavilion is undersubscribed,” says Michael. “Tickets were made available to MCC Members, then Associate members and then Middlesex members. But it still didn’t sell out so the club has invited a few hundred local schoolchildren into the pavilion for the day which is, in my view, marvellous. The atmosphere is fantastic and the kids all clapped the players through the long room. Most of my fellow members I’ve spoken to seem delighted with the initiative. Pretty cool for the kids I’d have thought. Also probably brings the average age in the pavilion down into the 50s...”
It’s a lovely initative but let’s not get carried away.
19th over: Pakistan 91-1 (Imam 32, Babar 40) Babar uses his rubber wrists to flip Mortaza towards the square-leg boundary, where Saifuddin saves to runs with a fine tumbling stop. Seven from the over, all in ones and twos.
“A much fairer way to split teams level on points, if you ask me, would be by average squad height - shortest takes all, of course, as that negates the unfair advantage bestowed, in both cricket and life, upon the very tall,” says Mac Millings. “My own modest stature has, naturally, not influenced my suggestion in any way. Other bias-free tiebreaker suggestions: most balding; least respected by work colleagues; most-laughed-at-by-their-wife-during-their-marriage-vows.”
Sky Sports will make the #CWC19 final available on free-to-air television should #ENG make it to the showpiece event at Lord’s on Sunday, July 14.
18th over: Pakistan 84-1 (Imam 28, Babar 38) After an expensive first over, Shakib is into his parsimonious work. An excellent third over to Babar includes five dot balls; that’s drinks.
17th over: Pakistan 82-1 (Imam 28, Babar 36) “Pakistan’s loss to West Indies feels about equivalent to an 8-0 drubbing in soccer - something that should inflict permanent damage on your goal difference/net run rate and could come back to bite you,” says Andrew Gladwin. I’m not sure whether there is a better, relatively simple tiebreaker than Net Run Rate for cricket – unless you bring in something more mathematically complicated like Duckworth Lewis which the public doesn’t always understand or trust. I think the main reason for some dissatisfaction that we haven’t necessarily got the ‘right’ top 4 is all the rained off matches – most of which would have a significant impact on the fourth qualifier (New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka x2).”
Yes, and the fact New Zealand go into the semi-finals in unprecedentedly bad form. The other thing is that Pakistan have had chances to improve their NRR; instead they focussed purely on winning games. I understand why - I thought India would beat England - but they must now regret not trying to beat New Zealand by a much heavier margin.
16th over: Pakistan 76-1 (Imam 27, Babar 31) Pakistan continue to pootle along. They’ve only hit six boundaries but they have nurdled nicely, Babar in particular.
15th over: Pakistan 72-1 (Imam 25, Babar 29) “As irrelevant as this debate may now be, I’m perplexed by the apparent consensus for Pakistan having to bat first,” says Josh Hadfield. “I am quite convinced they had to bowl in order to have the best chance of progressing (although perhaps not of winning the match).”
There was, it says here, no way they could qualify by bowling first. I assume this is because they need all 100 overs in play to effect a sufficient swing in their net run-rate. Even if they bowled Bangladesh out for 0 in 50 overs, they would then need to score 300-odd themselves, which is not possible when chasing 1 to win.
14th over: Pakistan 64-1 (Imam 18, Babar 28) Shakib Al Hasan, one of the players of the tournament, comes into the attack. His first ball touches the pads of Babar and runs away for four leg byes. Actually, they’ve been given as wides, which is a little harsh as I’m sure it hit the pad. Six singles make it a very good over for Pakistan.
“If New Zealand had lost to the West Indies,” says Jane van Teeuwe, “their attitude and selection in their remaining games would presumably have been very different?”
13th over: Pakistan 53-1 (Imam 15, Babar 25) I hadn’t realised that the MCC have invited around 200 schoolchildren into the pavilion for this match. That’s a fine gesture, and I’m sure all the members are thrilled to have such vivacious, shrill company for the day.
Meanwhile, on the field, Babar berates Imam for missing out on a potential second run. It’s seems he still believes in miracles.
12th over: Pakistan 49-1 (Imam 13, Babar 23) A lucky escape for Babar, who edges a short ball from Mustafizur through the vacant first-slip area for four. Bangladesh had only just moved their slip into a wider position.
“Instead of Net Run Rate or the head-to-head result, how about using net wickets taken/lost?” says Martyn Fairbrother. “This would keep the excitement going in the end games of the tournament, be easier to calculate for mere mortals than NRR and fairer than head-to-head.”
11th over: Pakistan 45-1 (Imam 13, Babar 19) The captain Mashrafe Mortaza, playing his 24th and final World Cup game, repliaces Mehidy (5-0-9-0). Seven from the over. Babar, the silken assassin, has quietly raced to 19 from 18 balls.
“Have the members turned up to watch?” says Jezz Nash. “If I were one, I couldn’t imagine not wanting to be there today for what should be a fantastic game on a glorious day.”
10th over: Pakistan 38-1 (Imam 11, Babar 14) The left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman comes into the attack, and Babar forces him through cover point for four off the back foot. Gorgeous shot.
“Morning Rob,” says Dominic Nozahic. “Hope you’re settled in and enjoying the game. For me this match represents one of the great things about high-level sport: the sheer sense of hope and promise it provokes. Pakistan’s progression remains entirely unlikely, but it’s mere possibility is enough to whet the appetite. Whether Pakistan make 482-3 or are skittled for 119, a match like this is so exciting partly because of what might happen. I hope the exciting Babar Azam ends his tournament (or prolongs it!) with a big century today.”
9th over: Pakistan 31-1 (Imam 10, Babar 8) We can forget the miracle. In a way that’s a good thing, because it allows complete focus on what is intrinsically a huge game. Babar takes three off Mehidy’s fifth over.
8th over: Pakistan 28-1 (Imam 10, Babar 5) “I understand the sentiment of wanting to keep something riding on the last set of matches, but I don’t think Net Run Rate manages this, at least when there’s so many group games,” says Philip Reilly. “It’s so rare that an average over 9 matches could be altered meaningfully by a good performance in just one.
“How about this: semi-final seedings, and ties between three or more teams are settled by head-to-head, then net run rate. But if two teams are tied for fourth/fifth then we have a play-off to decide who makes the semi-final. Makes the last round of games exciting, as teams jockey to make the play-off, but also means that one terrible performance won’t put a team out the World Cup. Plus, teams will have less incentive to play defensively and protect their NRR. This time, the play-off could’ve been scheduled for Monday.”
Fakhar’s miserable tournament ends with another failure. He slashed a wide, full delivery from Saifuddin straight to backward point to end a scratchy innings of 13 from 31 balls.
7th over: Pakistan 23-0 (Fakhar 13, Imam 10) Another quiet over form Mehidy, whose figures of 4-0-6-0. I hate to break it to you, but Pakistan aren’t going to score 400.
“In one of those other sports happening at the moment, Bernard Tomic was fined £45,000 for not putting in the expected level of effort,” says Matt Dony. “Considering the amount of time I’ve spent listening to TMS and following OBOs during work hours over the last few weeks, I’m a bit concerned my manager might get ideas. The fact that today’s match looks like it should be a really interesting match-up is not helping.”
6th over: Pakistan 22-0 (Fakhar 12, Imam 10) Imam plays a lovely shot, driving Saifuddin through the covers for his second boundary. He looks calm in his strokeplay, if not necessarily his running.
“I am from India and a die-hard fan of England,” writes Amit Sebastian. “I am so delighted to see Morgan and the lads in the semis after 27 years. All day when England have matches I wear an England jersey and my whole bay in the office is decorated with English flags and players’ photos.”
5th over: Pakistan 17-0 (Fakhar 11, Imam 6) A good over from Mehidy to Fakhar, with just a single off the last ball.
“Whilst idly attempting to check on the etymology of ‘preambulation’ (walking ahead) I was instead directed to the entry for ‘perambulation’ which has a pleasing cricketing connotation of sorts,” says Brian Withington. “As well as the everyday meaning of walking around, this has historically included beating the bounds, namely touring the boundary of a parish - not sure if St. John’s Wood counts, though? Curiously, the Great Perambulation was an act of significantly reducing England’s forests circa 1300, thereby kickstarting all this climate change palaver even earlier than suspected.”
4th over: Pakistan 16-0 (Fakhar 10, Imam 6) Imam survives a run-out chance when Mehidy’s close-range throw misses the stumps. Pakistan look a little frantic, as would you and I if we needed to score at least 400; they should probably just forget about the tournament situation and try to win the match. Imam gets his first boundary off the final ball of Shaifuddin’s over with a tuck behind square onthe leg side.
“As someone who isn’t a huge follower of cricket, I’m intrigued as to what the ‘ethics’ would have been of Bangladesh winning the toss,” says Zach Gough. “Would letting Pakistan bat first, even if Bangladesh actually wanted to, be considered ‘gentlemanly’ or would that not be ‘in the competitive spirit’ of the game?”
3rd over: Pakistan 10-0 (Fakhar 9, Imam 1) Fakhar is almost dismissed twice in Mehidy’s second over. First he plays a miscued drive that bisects a couple of fielders; then he runs two-thirds of the way down the track before realising Imam hasn’t moved. Thankfully for him, there is enough time to get back.
“I know you’ve more important things on the go today, but you were fairly spot on with your Tim Murtagh numbers yesterday,” says Martin Gilbert. “Match winner with 10-1-21-5. And a gentleman too – my son was mascot for the England ODI at Malahide and my wife said Tim Murtagh was lovely to them both. I’d be very happy if he kept bowling for another 10 years.”
2nd over: Pakistan 7-0 (Fakhar 7, Imam 0) Mohammad Shaifuddin shares the new ball. After a slow start - 1 from 8 balls - Fakhar scythes a short ball through point for four. He’s had a disappointing tournament, with only one half-century against India, but maybe he can bat with the freedom of the damned today.
“Morning Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Just taken my seat at Lord’s with Mrs McMahon in time for the toss, big cheer from the Pakistan fans. As Russ Abbot liked to say, what an atmosphere. It’s my first time at HQ and it looks magnificent, the sun is out, the champagne is chilled and the picnic sausage rolls are warm. What’s not to like? Pakistan 501-0 and Bangladesh 185 all out is my prediction. Hat trick from Amir to seal the deal. I think it’s 99.94% certain, don’t you? Let’s hope for a cracker anyway.”
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Fakhar 1, Imam 0) Fakhar Zaman comes crawling out of the blocks, with four dot balls from the offspinner Mehidy Hasan to start the innings. He drives a single into the off side, and that’s it.
“NRR seems such an unsatisfactory way to go out, virtually penalising a team for one bad performance,” says Neil Harris. “Surely the head-to-head result should come first?”
It’s time for some cricket. Just imagine the #scenes if Pakistan pull this off.
Bangladesh Tamim, Soumya, Shakib, Mushfiqur, Liton, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek, Shaifuddin, Mehidy, Mortaza (c), Mustafizur.
Pakistan Fakhar, Imam, Babar, Hafeez, Haris, Sarfaraz (c/wk), Imad, Shadab, Wahab, Amir, Shaheen.
Pakistan realistically need to score at least 400, ideally 800. The next few hours could be fun.
Bat first. I meant bat first.
“Thought for the day,” begins Michael Suffield. “If Carlos Brathwaite had levered an extra yard or so from his final heave against NZ, we would now be awaiting the match of the tournament. Margins.”
Oof, yes, because New Zealand’s run-rate would be within reach for Bangladesh, and Pakistan would just need any old win.
“In all seriousness though, I think this Bangladesh team should pip Pakistan today,” says Matt Turland. “They’ve got a really good core that have been a little unfortunate this WC. They have a steady consistency that, if taken up a notch, could see them separating themselves from the chasing pack and nestle in behind Australia, India, England and New Zealand. Admittedly, still some way short of their overall quality but certainly moving in the right direction. They’re also providing a template of sorts for Afghanistan to follow.”
A lot depends on their regeneration, because the spine of their side are all in their thirties. They have players with oodles of potential, though: Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mehedi, Mustafizur, Saifuddin. And I agree that they’ve been pretty unfortunate. Had they won that tight game against New Zealand early in the tournament, I suspect they’d have made the semis.
Bangladesh are aiming for a fifth consecutive ODI victory over Pakistan. That would be quite an achievement - especially as, before that run of victories started, they had lost 25 in a row. They are a serious team now. (NB: Clip contains some effervescent language.)
“Don’t care if Bangladesh bat first,” says Matt Turland. “Whatever happens, I reckon this is going an absolute belter of a match. The Win Predictor thingymabob is going to go into meltdown today.”
I think you might be right.
World Cup bits and bobs
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Good morning. On 21 December 1983, an association football match took place in Seville. Spain hosted Malta, needing to win by 11 goals to qualify for the European Championship ahead of the Netherlands. They won 12-1. And although there have been allegations ever since of the game being fixed or Malta’s players being drugged, the match remains clean.
The strangest things can happen in sport. Pakistan need something even more unlikely if they are to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals. They must beat an excellent Bangladesh side by a world-record margin of at least 316 runs (the actual margin of victory depends on how many they score) if they are to drag their net run-rate above New Zealand’s. They may be the Ethan Hunts of world cricket, but this surely is impossible.
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