We've just witnessed 2 of the greatest cricket matches ever - Eng v NZ on Wednesday night and Pak v AUS the following night, both semifinals of the T20 World Cup.
Both matches were strikingly similar: Eng and Pak batting first in their respective matches, both amassing impressive totals.
The chasers - NZ and AUS - both appeared to be overwhelmed by the run chase, with the win predictor hitting a low 10% at one stage of their innings. However, the eventual winners showed great steel and composure to work their way back into the match against all odds.
AUS in particular suffered harsh setbacks. In the 1st over of the run chase, Shaheen Afridi bowled one of the most devastating overs ever witnessed to snare Finch for a duck and to come within a whisker of getting Marsh's wicket at least twice. Unplayable deliveries.
Shadab Ah Youfeez got 4 wickets, including the wicket of Warner at a crucial time in the most amazing circumstances. Everybody, including Warner himself, thought he had knicked the ball to the keeper. Back in the pavillion, he saw the replay which clearly showed the ball missing the bat completely. Anybody with some lip-reading ability could hear him explain to his teammates "I thought I hit it" . Nothing could be done now but to dwell on this misfortune and a likely NZ v Pak final.
Enter Stoinis and Matty Wade. They worked at pushing singles and getting a few boundaries, slow at first but at an increasing rate. They managed to work the equation to 65 runs needed off the last 5 overs, a task still seemingly out of reach, esp with an over from the freakishly deadly Afridi still to come.
Then came the 19th over, bowled by Afridi - another over for the ages.
AUS needed 22 off the remaining 12 balls.
1st ball - Stoinis knicks the ball on the underside of the bat, the ball falling tantalisingly short of the wicket-keeper. No runs.
2nd ball - Stoinis is rapped on the pad. Close LBW appeal fails, review showing ball pitched outside leg. Not out. 1 leg-bye.
3rd ball - Wide down Wade's leg side. 1 run to the total.
3rd ball re-bowled - Wade hoikes it short of the boundary, Hassan runs to take what should be a catch. Drops it. Poor bugger. 2 runs.
4th ball - Wade, 6 runs
5th ball - Wade, 6 runs
6th ball - Wade, 6 runs
AUS win with 1 full over to spare. AUS v NZ in the final of the T20 World Cup.
When: Sunday night / Monday morning, starting 1am
Where you can watch: FoxCricket, Ch 501
The timing of it sucks, not sure if most people will be able to stay up that long on a working night.
But one thing's for sure - if Sunday night's Final is only half as good as the 2 matches that preceded it, the cricket world is in for a treat.
Let's get our boys home.
Replies
Welcome mate, love my cricket, great first blog, go the aussies.
And the cricket loves you back mate.
Great summary and blog thanks very much Ruptecht . I watched the replay of the first final NZ v England then stayed up watching us in the other final live beat the Paki's which finished 4.30 am ( which is 8 hours past my usual bedtime . Paid for it yesterday !! ) . But definitely worth it and agree it was a memorable game of cricket especially if you are an Aussie cricket fan ( winning despite our opening bowlers Starc and Hazelwood's combined 8 overs , together both gave the opposition more than half of that team's total batting runs ) . I can't wait to punish myself again from 1 am Monday morning LOL . Can watch the replay Monday morning when I get up but tried that on a few other games and live is definitely better ( try watching a footy game replay - never the same even when the score is unknown? ) . I reckon this final could get more viewers than a Wallabies v All Blacks rugby match ?? . GO THE AUSSIES !!!!
My thoughts: Pat Cummins is my favourite but I would be very tempted to bring in Agar or Richardson in the final for him. I think we need Richardsons death bowling because otherwise we leak to many runs in the last overs. That way it also allows Starc to bowl two overs with the new ball. Hopefully Hazlewood poor bowling display was a one time thing because he has been amazing in every other game. Matthew Wade has proved many of his doubters wrong. Still waiting for Maxwell to perform this world cup after arguably being the best player in the IPL. Steve Smith should stick to his role of anchoring the innings rather than stupid risky shots. Finch's time to perform is running out. How good is it having Warner back in form.
Mitch fucking Marsh........just.....I mean if he........if he could just.....
C'mon Aussie and please, Mitch, please just fucking do it.
It was a such a stupid shot from him. Marsh is much better against pace so he should of just rotated the strike against Shadhab Khan. Warner could play the aggressive role because leg spinners traditionnaly struggle against left handed batsmen and Warner who is arguably the best IPL batsmen ever has had plenty of practice during his career on these pitches and any type of spinners.
In today's game, there is no such thing as an unchaseable target, especially in subcontinent conditions at night. It gets tfaf little but of dew on the surface because of the humidity which just quickens up the wicket a touch. Unlike red ball cricket, in the white ball game, win the toss, always bowl first.
No dew last night Brett.
NZ bowled badly apart from Trent Boult
Well currently at the half way mark of Aussies innings in reply it looks like the Aussies are likely to win . Marsh and Warner brilliant batting . They should keep me awake hopefully for the last hour or so of the game .
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