1st Semi Final - India v New Zealand

[cnerd123]

Ganguly fawning over Jadeja after he misfields

Maybe it's time to switch over to Hindi comms

 

[vandem]

I know the pitch is flat, but I really don’t think batting first was the right play.

Batting first was OK, but not if you are going to defend 95% of the balls in the first 10 overs. It's like we are stuck in the 1980s Wright and Edgar 220-240 era again.

Stat from the Guardian: New Zealand are seven for one after five overs. At the same stage of the 2015 semi-final, they were 71 for none.

 

[Athlai]

I've heard and read nothing but fans saying we're going to get smashed.

Waaaaah

 

[trundler]

That reliable dab down to third man again

 

[OverratedSanity]

Hope hardik's trashy bouncers succeed in forcing one of these two into a bad pressure release pull shot.

 

[CM Punk]

Have to give credit to the Indian bowlers, they've bowled brilliantly and kept things tight.

We need to be looking to get 250-260 and hope our bowlers are able to do the same.

 

[trundler]

Nicholls must be low on confidence

 

[Stapel]

I know the pitch is flat, but I really don’t think batting first was the right play.

If it's gloomy, with a decent chance of the sun coming out later in the day, you have to bowl first, me thinks. In all other situations, you bat first.

It's gloomy out there in Manchester, not?

 

[vcs]

ok that's an excellent banner

windia, lose zealand

ewwww mark nicholas

Coming to you from the country that can't think past Kings/Royals/Knights when it comes to naming a T20 franchise.

 

[straw man]

I know the pitch is flat, but I really don’t think batting first was the right play.

It's so hard to say when the opener's are as bad and/or tentative as this - it just makes it hard to get a good read on the conditions.

 

[Flem274*]

im going to feel suicidal after 30 minutes of these two commentators, but because i am from the greatest nation on earth i have the strength to push through

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Guptill's been an awesome ODI player throughout his career and his overall WC record looks fine too thanks largely to him slamming that double against the West Indies, but against top-7 teams across three World Cups now his record is abysmal.

Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

One of those two fifties was against Sri Lanka in this WC too -- hardly a scary opening bowling combination, and they were chasing about 130 too.

I don't think he's choking under pressure or anything like that (double ton against the West Indies being a good example of that - it was against a poor side but a very important game), but I think it says something for my theory that Test bowlers so often being rested from JAMODIs can create a bit of a different game entirely for openers to what happens in the World Cup proper now.

He's also become very hit or miss ... I did some stats the other day, since the 2015/16 season, he's scored under 10 in 13/48 innings. 10-29 in 15/48. But then 5 50s and 6 100s. Average was 40ish I think, due to the tons being big or not out.

Those numbers seemed hit or miss to me, anyway, but then I couldn't be bothered comparing them to anyone else to see if they were or not.

 

[Moss]

Never seen Kane look this intense at the crease.

India are bowling really well, though I suppose NZ's age old strike rotation problems aren't helping them. Even if slow, need to get a partnership going.

 

[CM Punk]

A boundary finally

 

[Moss]

Finally. More of that please Nicholls, can't allow the bowler to keep getting away with overpitching it.

 

[harsh.ag]

Great ball followed by a great shot. Good cricket

 

[Bahnz]

Yes Hairy Nips, that’s the way.

 

[straw man]

Nicholls intent boundary! Good.

 

[Prince EWS]

Never seen Kane look this intense at the crease.

His first few Test innings down at 6 against India had an even more intense vibe to them IMO.

 

[cnerd123]

So what's a par score here? Reckon 250 makes it competitive, 275 wins it for NZ.