Key occasions
2nd over: England 7-1 (Malan 1, Root 4) Fazalhaq greets Root with an virtually similar supply, however Root is sweet sufficient to the touch it effective for 4. The following ball hits Root excessive on the pad after swinging again sharply. That is getting fascinating.
He’s out! Bairstow walks off chuntering furiously. There have been two yellows for umpire’s name – the place it pitched and the place it could have hit the stumps – so the on-field choice was important.
Now. Then.
Bairstow performed round a basic inswinger and was hit on the pad. I assumed it was possibly lacking leg – and Bairstow has reviewed – nevertheless it was given out on the sphere. He would possibly get away with this.
WICKET! England 3-1 (Bairstow LBW b Fazalhaq 2)
Yep, it is going to be Fazalhaq Farooqi to share the brand new ball. England will goal the tempo bowlers, although they’ll need to be cautious of Fazalhaq’s swing.
Very cautious: Bairstow has gone first ball!
1st over: England 3-0 (Bairstow 2, Malan 1) Mujeeb tends to take the second over of the innings, so it is a slight change of method from Afghanistan. I’m wondering what the pondering is.
It’s a quiet and really fast first over, through which England decide up three low-risk singles.
No he received’t – Afghanistan are opening with the offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
It’s time for enterprise. The pacy left-armer Fazalhaq Farooqi will bowl the primary ball to Jonny Bairstow.
Thanks Daniel, hey everybody. Properly, we requested for an in depth sport and/or a shock at this World Cup, and possibly we should always have hold our mouths shut. This may very well be a slippery chase for England, particularly as they’ll bat within the data that defeat is unthinkable.
Loads is determined by the Delhi dew. In idea the pitch ought to quicken up after 15-20 overs of the England innings; if that occurs, they’ll most likely win comfortably. However nothing comes with a assure. If the pitch performs because it did within the first innings, when England’s sluggish bowlers had mixed figures of 5 for 94 from 24 overs, Afghanistan’s spinners will likely be a critical handful.
Righto, my watch is over. Right here’s Rob Smyth to coax you thru the chase.
Livingstone, in the meantime, says it seems to be an honest pitch and he’s happy with how the ball got here out of the hand right now. Being a sixth bowler, you don’t all the time get a great deal of motion, he explains – earlier than right now, he’d by no means bowled all 10 for England – and batting is extra pure to him. However his leggies are in respectable nick, he’s engaged on his offies every time he can, and prides himself on having the ability to contribute to the group in varied methods.
Afghanistan set England 285 to win!
It’s a goal, however given the best way Afghanistan began, they’ll be disenchanted it’s not larger; England, in the meantime, will likely be glad sufficient however a bit involved about Woakes and Curran.
WICKET! Naveen-ul-Haq run out (Buttler) 5 (Afghanistan 284 all out)
Naveen tries a wild pull, misses, the batters attempt stealing a single, and Buttler underarms into the stumps.
fiftieth over: Afghanistan 284-9 (Naveen 5, Fazal 2 Farooki forces to mid on they usually run one, then Naveen tries a ramp however Topley’s too vast; a single follows.
forty ninth over: Afghanistan 282-9 (Naveen 4, Fazal 1) Each Ikram and Mujeeb batted fairly nicely, however they have been left an excessive amount of to do after the center over melted away, and now this remaining pair are trying gor something they’ll get. Wooden, although, is a nasty proposition ands he assaults the stumps when Farooki arrives within the center, an honest block yielding a single. Three dots comply with, however them Naveen, provided width, makes room and flings fingers, sending 4 racing away someplace on the off aspect. What can the final pair make of the ultimate over?
WICKET! Mujeeb Ur Rahman c Root b Wooden 28 (Afghanistan 277-9)
Mujeeb backs away, sends a carve excessive within the air, and Root, releasing arms and calling for the catch, holds his fourth snaffle of the innings.
WICKET! Ikram Alikhil c Curran b Topley 58 (Afghanistan 277-8)
Slower one from Toley and Ikram thrashes at it however, on the lengthy on fence, Curran pouches nonchalantly with out having to maneuver his toes.
forty eighth over: Afghanistan 277-7 (Alikhil 58, Mujeeb 28) Topley continues and after Mujeeb takes one, Ikram will get down on one knee and smites a slower one over midwicket for six! That stayed hit! He misses out subsequent ball although, a large yorker yielding only one, and when he backs away the bowler follows him; he forces yet another off the pads. A beamer no-ball/single follows, so Mujeeb has a go at a free hit … and flicks off the tootsies to midwicket, the place Woakes’ wonderful tumbling cease saves a boundary as they run three.
forty seventh over: Afghanistan 263-7 (Alikhil 50, Mujeeb 23) Normally, Woakes would bowl now, however Buttler goes for Wooden – maybe due to his additional tempo, but in addition, I believe, as a result of he’s bowling higher and England are nonetheless repairing their web run price after the New Zealand tousing. Ikram takes a single to midwicket, then Mujeeb swings arduous, edging excessive over the keeper for 4 earlier than shifting down the opposite finish with one edged to effective leg. So Wooden tries a boompah and it’s far too scorching for Ikram, who gloves two vast of Buttler’s dive to effective leg. That’s his fifty, and he’s batted nicely; the partnership is 30 off 18.
Let’s not neglect that ‘placing a jumper on’ isn’t an answer for having chilly fingers,” chides Andy Flintoff, “and neither is ‘placing gloves on’, notably if you happen to’re doing one thing that includes dexterity.”
Right here’s Denis Regulation proving on the contrary and as for toes, some form of sock is likely to be so as?
forty sixth over: Afghanistan 255-7 (Alikhil 47, Mujeeb 18) Ikram jams Curran away for one, then Mujeeb completely cleanses him from outdoors off to the fence at midwicket! It sat up pleading for therapy acquired it, after which the subsequent supply, a no ball, slips out of the bowler’s hand so Mujeeb goes once more, smashing a failed yorker by way of level for 4 … then turns away from the free hit, clobbering six over midwicket however! That’s 15 from three balls, a two follows, and the over yields a mere 18! 4 extra biggies for Afghanistan, and who is aware of?
“As I hold reminding Mrs McMahon, Daniel,” says Simon McMahon, “rising up in a home the place the heating went on for one week in January didn’t do me any hurt. Now I, like my father earlier than me, am doing my bit for the planet. Although I hope to not die alone in a freezing chilly home like he did.”
No accounting for alternative.
forty fifth over: Afghanistan 237-7 (Alikhil 46, Mujeeb 2) 4 singles full (one more) telling spell from Rashid, who finishes with 3-42 from his 10 overs. You merely can’t beat a dependable, wicket-taking spinner – in any type of the sport.
WICKET! Rashid Khan c Root b Rashid23 (Afghanistan 233-7)
What a seize that is! Rashid clears the entrance pad and hoiks throughout the road as Root chases across the fence in direction of vast long-on, eyes centered on the ball, earlier than flying right into a terrific diving catch. That’s so arduous to drag off, and it was the hassle put into the primary two yards that made it doable.
forty fourth over: Afghanistan 233-6 (Alikhil 44, Rashid 23) Curran’s first two overs went for 26, and he received’t have loved being rusticated to the rope till now. He returns nicely although, ceding simply two singles, and this Afghanistan innings is tapering off in disappointing vogue.
“I don’t get all of the fuss in regards to the dwelling heating being on or not at the moment of yr,” writes John Starbuck. “First, it relies upon the place you might be, second, you are able to do away with the trouble of deciding by mechanically having the heating come on when the temperature drops beneath 20C and off once more when it rises. Granted, I do placed on one other garment if the solar is shining on the entrance of the home and I’m within the again, nevertheless it’s no huge deal. Sure, ladies do are inclined to really feel the chilly greater than males nevertheless it varies loads, so no rule works for everybody.”
I believe it’s as a result of conserving payments down is kind of a sport however, since issues went wild, additionally a necessity, and people meters that inform you how a lot power they use and at what price, are devastating for these unable to focus and eager to show the whole lot into some form of contest.
forty third over: Afghanistan 231-6 (Alikhil 43, Rashid 22) Afghanistan haven’t been capable of convert their begin, however them getting it tells us – if we didn’t already know, which we did – that they’re creating as a aspect. What they want now could be time – extra video games towards groups higher than them – and cash – redistributed from richer nations to maintain going. Within the meantime, although, they take a two and two singles from Rashid’s penultimate over; certainly, with Curran returning, they’ll now look to chuck fingers?
forty second over: Afghanistan 227-6 (Alikhil 42, Rashid 19) Ikram has cemented his spot within the aspect and provided a bit width he opens the face, guiding 4 by way of third man. That’s a very nice shot as a result of Topley is working in, however he can’t handle something from the subsequent 4 balls, redeeming issues barely by tucking the ultimate ball of the over to 2 to midwicket, sprinted arduous – and simply as nicely, as a result of Bairstow’s shy is an efficient one.
thirty ninth over: Afghanistan 221-6 (Alikhil 36, Rashid 19) England’s Rashid returns, and his significance to this aspect – to this period – actually can’t be overstated. His introduction to the assault altered the movement of this match, his bravery in seeking to spin the ball and take wickets additionally mirrored in his dependable economic system. With Afghanistan needing boundaries, he cedes 5 singles, and although the partnership is now 31, scoring has been far too sluggish given the circumstances.
fortieth over: Afghanistan 216-6 (Alikhil 33, Rashid 17) Excellent news for England: Topley returns to the assault. His dad Don, Graham Gooch’s previous Essex mate, was within the crowd, and he’ll have felt that pang when his boy pulled up – he didn’t take a look at all glad, and I’m wondering if directions to not dive, ever, had been disbursed. Anyroad, three singles begin the over, then Ikram glances effective for 4 to effective leg; a large, a single and a dot comply with.
thirty ninth over: Afghanistan 207-6 (Alikhil 27, Rashid 15) Eeesh, Wooden hurtles in on the velocity of sunshine and after Rashid takes a single, Ikram geese into what the person himself would name a “lift-ah” and wears a proper sair yin on the shoulder. He takes a breather, then two additional singles comply with,” and Afghanistan should go some within the remaining 10 overs to place England below strain.
“It was a petty tussle between the controllers of the Delhi & District Cricket Affiliation on one aspect & the Delhi State & Central Govt on the opposite aspect,” returns Yogi on the Gautam Gambhier stand. “Two totally different political events. The previous Kotla floor was to be renovated for WC2011 & the Govts withdrew permission on the final second. Consequently the taking part in space needed to be moved 50m to the North West which squeezed the world accessible for the GG as it’s again to again with the previous Delhi Soccer stadium. We even have the previous dilapidated unique pavilion which was declared a Heritage constructing & can’t be demolished.”
thirty eighth over: Afghanistan 204-6 (Alikhil 26, Rashid 13) Livingstone begins his remaining over and Ikram takes one to mid off, then Rashid cuts and someway avoids gully – although in equity, he acquired an honest quantity of bat on ball. A single follows, so the Lanky man ends with figures of 1-33 off his 10. On the PA, they play Rema’s Calm Dow so once more, I ask: what’s the verse and what’s the refrain of that track? And when was the final time a single when world wide like that? Anyone That I Used To Know?
thirty seventh over: Afghanistan 198-6 (Alikhil 25, Rashid 8) Rashid can bat a bit and the gang chant his identify as Wooden springs in … then he presents the complete face, caressing a beautiful drive by way of additional for 4! Wooden’s bowling quick now, however Rashid isn’t arsed, going at one and slicing between fielders for 4! That is thrilling stuff, Wooden is such an brisk presence – Steve Harmison, say, used to virtually amble in after which generate delivery-stride tempo from nowhere, whereas Wooden is an elastic drive; you may see each single click on of the 69,034mph at which he bowls.
“You make an excellent level in regards to the asymmetry of the heating conundrum,” returns Brian Withington. “Nevertheless, my chilly spouse is curiously unpersuaded in regards to the deserves of slipping a hoodie on to take a bathe, even on the bidding of the Guardian’s best…”
I’m not advocating denying scorching water, simply scorching pipes! You’re a braver man than me, that’s for certain.
WICKET! Nabi c Root b Wooden 9 (Afghanistan 190-6)
Wooden returns, unleashes a psychopath that will get huge on Nabi, and all he can do is look a straightforward one to Root at quick backward level/deep gully, relying in your bent.
