Group B - Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

[Poker Boy]

NZ remind me of the Gloucestershire team that dominated English LO cricket in the early years of this century - solid, unglamerous but they can get the job done. Must be the John Bracewell factor...PS - fun and games tomorrow - Pak v SA -a QF in all but name with the winner taking all....

 

[TT Boy]

Wow, I've been kind of underestimating these Kiwis...man they are pretty darn good.

I am quite impressed and in fact if India goes out of the CT, I am rooting for NewZealand.

Come Sunday and you might be getting your wish.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Pakistan v South Africa should be a good match. I'm going for a Pakistan win, Yousuf, Younis and Hafeez are all in top form. Smith needs to make a few runs, as does Gibbs, so they should be looking forward to life without Asif and Akhtar.

 

[Bouncer]

man i havent seen harshall Gibbs explode in a long tme...i wish he does some special trick against Pak....i think SAaaafis will win this game, they are more organized than pak and more likely to win the game after initial shocking defeat in their first game.

 

[PhoenixFire]

He exploded big style against Australia in that massive scoring match. That's as good as I'v ever seen him play, even if it was the flattest track I've ever seen.

 

[Bouncer]

He exploded big style against Australia in that massive scoring match. That's as good as I'v ever seen him play, even if it was the flattest track I've ever seen.

I didnt watch that game live So i am not counting that!!! Tonight's game i am probably going to watch live

 

[godofcricket]

I just read in cricinfo that afridi wants to bat at no.5.....thats one of the most risky positions to bat on considering the inconsistentcy in his batting, there are around 80 percent chances that if pakistan loose 2 quick wickets (which is very likely), afridi is bound to fail under pressure, i would think it would be wise to send in malik at number 5, Razzaq at number 6 and afridi at number 7, thats becuase sending afridi as late as possible is the best option for pakistan considering hes out of form, and thats the only place where he can play when theres less pressure, and mind u if he hits some out of the park thats only gonna be a bonus for pakistan and if he fails, its not gonna hurt pak to that extent.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He exploded big style against Australia in that massive scoring match. That's as good as I'v ever seen him play, even if it was the flattest track I've ever seen.

Wasn't he dropped once or twice in that innings and didn't he play a whole lot of unashamed slogs? I don't see how people can consider unadulterated slogging on a totally dead pitch to be brilliant batting. Effective batting perhaps, but Gibbs has played better innings.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Wow, I've been kind of underestimating these Kiwis...man they are pretty darn good.

Everyone does. We keep winning

 

[PhoenixFire]

Wasn't he dropped once or twice in that innings and didn't he play a whole lot of unashamed slogs? I don't see how people can consider unadulterated slogging on a totally dead pitch to be brilliant batting. Effective batting perhaps, but Gibbs has played better innings.

Not slogging from Gibbs. Most of the 6s he hit were pretty good inside out extra cover drives. Believe it or not, there wasn't really that much slogging going on that match, just **** bowling. He was dropped at least once (I can't remember if he was again), but that doesn't all that much difference. One lapse of concentration doesn't mean that an innings was scratchy and loose.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Not slogging from Gibbs. Most of the 6s he hit were pretty good inside out extra cover drives. Believe it or not, there wasn't really that much slogging going on that match, just **** bowling. He was dropped at least once (I can't remember if he was again), but that doesn't all that much difference. One lapse of concentration doesn't mean that an innings was scratchy and loose.

I've seen the highlights of Gibbs' innings, and it wasn't exactly classy stuff.

 

[JASON]

Hope Pakistan can knock SA out of CT and go through .

 

[magsi23]

we need some asian team in Semi's for sure

 

[JASON]

we need some asian team in Semi's for sure

Why ? Its not Asian Champions Trophy is it ? It's (World) Champions Trophy isn't it ?

 

[silentstriker]

My ideal Semi:

India, West Indies, New Zealand, and South Africa.

You aussies have won enough. Time for someone else.

 

[Turbinator]

India should stay in, this way the fans will still be interested and show up in large numbers.

But tbh, not saying this because I am Indian, but I really feel India is going to come back with a bang and really destroy the Aussies next game. The dissapointment on Dravid's face told the whole story, plus it's his 300th ODI against Australia on Sunday, he'll come up with something special. Sehwag, who is under lots of criticism, will also contribute well.

 

[haroon510]

I just read in cricinfo that afridi wants to bat at no.5.....thats one of the most risky positions to bat on considering the inconsistentcy in his batting, there are around 80 percent chances that if pakistan loose 2 quick wickets (which is very likely), afridi is bound to fail under pressure, i would think it would be wise to send in malik at number 5, Razzaq at number 6 and afridi at number 7, thats becuase sending afridi as late as possible is the best option for pakistan considering hes out of form, and thats the only place where he can play when theres less pressure, and mind u if he hits some out of the park thats only gonna be a bonus for pakistan and if he fails, its not gonna hurt pak to that extent.

i agree with u here
what i was thinking that number five is a position where inzi, yousuf and younus is more suited. they can handle the pressure and they have done it for along time now. i see it this way if pakistan open with imran and hafiz, then malik on three yonus on four, yousuf on five, and afridi at seven, it is a much better option then right now. as u know malik has such a wonderful record playing on number 3 then why they are moving him around when they already have openers like farhat and hafiz at the top order. on the two matches in which malik had scored well if he would have batted on number 3 spacially against new zealand he might have made a difference in the result of the match.

 

[Dick Rockett]

You aussies have won enough. Time for someone else.

Hear hear. I love how much not winning the CT gets under their skin

 

[Burgey]

Hear hear. I love how much not winning the CT gets under their skin

Honestly, we'd like to win it of course, but I don't know too many people whose skin it gets under.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Honestly, we'd like to win it of course, but I don't know too many people whose skin it gets under.

I can't speak for the fans, but I know it bothers Ponting a lot, for example.