*Official* T20 Tri-Series in NZ (NZ, Pakistan, Bangladesh)

[Athlai]

Incidentally, I absolutely loved Glenn Phillips going into the crowd to check on the person who got hit. Such is his passion, I reckon he would've done it at Eden Gardens over a barbed wire fence or 50 rows back at the MCG. I also enjoyed him saying they were trying to bowl **** height to Pakistan the day before

That is very sweet of him

 

[ataraxia]

That a drop, if it wasn't a wide?

Also why are our finger-spinners being so inaccurate - and shockingly, generating movement at times.

 

[ataraxia]

y'know, Macewell might actually be not that bad a T20 bowler. nevertheless hehe player who learnt how to bowl offies two years ago get best batter in world out

 

[ataraxia]

And a grand welcome back to HRH Scotty Stevenson.

 

[straw man]

Bad start by Santner, dropped short what 4 times in 8 balls? Nowhere near the standards set by Bracewellitharan.

edit: that helps though

 

[straw man]

A lot of analysis (rightly) of Kane's sub-par T20 form. The way I see it, he was able to play that format when he was at the absolute top of his game, and plays like this when he isn't. We've seen it before. I remember Doull copping it in 2018 because he (again, rightly) wanted Kane to give away T20 and he then found subsequent form. Now he's not on top of his game again due to injuries, burnout, fatherhood whatever it is, and he's just not capable of functioning as a T20 player when he's not hitting it well. Especially on our decks where he has to work harder to time it.

Honestly, I can see a world where he goes to Australia and hits it OK if the pitches allow. And I still hold faith that he's got more runs in him in Tests + 50 overs. But he's never going to find form in this format in this series.

Yeah I think KW, being an excellent player but not power hitter, can strike at 140-150 when in form by using every ounce of his timing, inventiveness and batting-craft. But it's a stretch and not going to happen when anything about him is sub-par.

At the same time I'm still wondering about that left elbow. The shot for his dismissal last match ended up the most limp of aerial pushes to mid-on - did he really intend to only chip/time that ball over the mid-on who was up in the circle? Or did he want to hit through the ball hard and was unable to do it? Again, maybe I'm just looking for excuses. If he could hit a couple of sixes in front of square this series that would suggest the elbow isn't too bad. When was the last time he did that?

 

[straw man]

I guess Pakistan probably haven't faced a spinner the quality of Bracewellitharan before.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Is Macewell now the world's best T20 bowler?

 

[straw man]

That's an extremely questionable third umpire decision - relying on the visual possible edge and snicko noise being separated by one frame to say no edge present.

Edit: Sodhi robbed, though would have been another entry into the Sodhi hall-of-fame of absolute pies getting wickets.

 

[straw man]

This is good, though Pakistan's spinners on this worn pitch also going to be difficult to get away. Pakistan need to struggle to 130 first.

 

[straw man]

131 won't be a straightforward chase against the spinners on this slow wicket, though it's probably 15 shy of par. There were 5 overs there where we took 3/17, but were very loose after that - Southee not at his best earler, Tickner meh as always, that Phillips over worth a try but released pressure.

Macewell and Sodhi comfortably NZ's best bowlers today, not something you'd expect but they've been good.

 

[Bahnz]

Looks like a great last over from Southee to rescue his match figures.

 

[thundaboult]

Allen's make or break chance for the first 11 in the WC I feel. Needs something of real substance here.

 

[TT Boy]

Quality shots considering the struggles batsman have had today. Allen's pretty much won the game before Pak's spinners get a chance.

 

[straw man]

Lovely innings from Allen - that impetus exactly what players like Conway and Williamson (and Guptill if selected) need to bat around.

 

[Bahnz]

Feels like this could be it for Guptill. Allen is only likely to get better over the next year and with KW undroppable and Conway well and truly entrenched in the side, I'm not sure where 2-toes is going to get another opportunity.

 

[thundaboult]

Proper power, intent, aggression. Bonafide six-hitting ability. Fun to watch. Brilliant. Thank you Finn Allen.

 

[straw man]

Feels like this could be it for Guptill. Allen is only likely to get better over the next year and with KW undroppable and Conway well and truly entrenched in the side, I'm not sure where 2-toes is going to get another opportunity.

Yeah short of injury it's not happening.

 

[ataraxia]

lol at Allen's monopoly on 6s btw, sad to see that being discontinued

 

[Fuller Pilch]

No 50 for Conway unless KW plays out a maiden