14th June - 1st Semi-final - England v Pakistan

[Black_Warrior]

gonna be a battle of the bowlers here me thinks..England are clear favourites but the Pakistani bowlers will probably be the toughest test of the England batting line up they have faced in this tournament so far..

Pakistan's best bet is to bowl their best, take wickets to create inroads and restrict opposition to a below part total - the template they have followed so far in CT.

The problem with that template is that it is incompatible with England's template. England do not slow down after losing wickets. The strike rate of the new guy is higher than the guy just dismissed. So no matter how well you bowl, 300 is on the cards. You might bowl them out for 300 or you might take 8 wickets. But that total is comfortably beyond reach of Pak based on this tournament

 

[Daemon]

No
No
No
No
No

548

 

[smash84]

1. Will the captain who wins the toss opt to bat first? No
2. Will a wicket fall in the first 5 overs? Yes
3. Will a batsman make a hundred in the first innings? No
4. Will the side batting first score 300 or more? No
5. Will any spin bowler take three or more wickets? Yes
TB: How many legal deliveries will be bowled in total? 579

 

[Black_Warrior]

Well I heard that Australia had the best attack in the world. Make short work of them despite a shaky start.

Also because 270 was a below par total and not really defendable against this England side

 

[CricAddict]

Semi final LMS

1. Will the captain who wins the toss opt to bat first?
2. Will a wicket fall in the first 5 overs?
3. Will a batsman make a hundred in the first innings?
4. Will the side batting first score 300 or more?
5. Will any spin bowler take three or more wickets?
TB: How many legal deliveries will be bowled in total?

1. No, chasing is the modern trend
2. Yes, and I hope so. Otherwise I lose quite some money
3. Yes. Root or Azam
4. No, same pitch again and good bowling lineups
5. No, good spin playing batsmen and not so great spinners
6. 582

 

[Adders]

The TB question is a little contentious considering Pakistan (Amir) are playing

 

[Black_Warrior]

So I'll be starting work late tomorrow and got the approval..Manager in good mood..wondering whether I should try my luck and ask for Monday but then again..that would be expecting the miracle today

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

1. Will the captain who wins the toss opt to bat first? No
2. Will a wicket fall in the first 5 overs? No
3. Will a batsman make a hundred in the first innings? No
4. Will the side batting first score 300 or more? No
5. Will any spin bowler take three or more wickets? No
TB: How many legal deliveries will be bowled in total? 576

 

[marc71178]

No
No
No
Yes
Yes
580

 

[91Jmay]

Weather looks solid in Cardiff, not as warm as some parts of country are at the moment but should be set fair.

 

[Moonsorrow999]

Isn't Roy/Hales the worst opening partnership since the world cup? Pretty sure they had that stat come up in the S.A series. Basically when Hales is off form, Roy is on it and visa versa. Why not just open with Joe Root? He's used to doing it in ODIs by now, as well as test matches isn't it standard for England to be 35/3 inside the first 10 and for the likes of Root/Bairstow, sometimes Stokes/Ali to carry them? So he basically opens those two formats.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Pakistan will win today is my valuable prediction

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Amir doubtful with back spasm according to cricinfo.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Amir has a back spasm. Rumman Raees likely to play instead of him.

 

[theegyptian]

Pakistan should def play Shadab even with the short straight boundaries. Generally think England are too good/professional to lose this against Pakistan, however the fact that it's apparently the third time this wicket has been used so far should narrow the gap between the teams.

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah if that new bloke who hits a long ball (Ashraf?) does bowl as quick as Kimber makes it out, they should look to play Shadab for Amir really.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Ok Amir out confirmed. That should reduce a lot of the expectations and nerves going into this game.

 

[WalkingWicket]

Not sure who the plot armor is with today - England have the 'England ODI revival' story whilst Pakistan have the 'cornered tigers' story - I could see either team winning it.

 

[Adders]

Isn't Roy/Hales the worst opening partnership since the world cup? Pretty sure they had that stat come up in the S.A series. Basically when Hales is off form, Roy is on it and visa versa. Why not just open with Joe Root? He's used to doing it in ODIs by now, as well as test matches isn't it standard for England to be 35/3 inside the first 10 and for the likes of Root/Bairstow, sometimes Stokes/Ali to carry them? So he basically opens those two formats.

This one time at bandcamp.

 

[Howe_zat]

The cricinfo headline is 'Amir out, Bairstow in'

Good pickup for Pakistan.