[St Charles Owl]

Rajapaksa looked like he was in the mood to break it wide open and then tamely hits a slower ball in the air and Roy was right there to take the catch. Crucial wicket for England!!

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Asking rate above ten an over, but a Sri Lanka counter-attack on. This partnership is crucial.

---

Just when it was looking ominous, two massive wickets for England to swing the pendulum back. Sri Lanka need 30 from 13.

---

And another! All done bar the shouting.

[Lord Snooty]

It's coming home. 

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Week Three Roundup A

Back-to-back wins for England all but assure them of a place in the semis, with net run-rate providing a safety net in case of mishap against South Africa next weekend, as the Proteas look to cement their own position ahead of Australia. Scotland resume their unhappy Super Twelve campaign on Wednesday against a strong New Zealand, doubtless hoping to regain the giant-killing form they showed on the opening night against Bangladesh, but Wednesday's major event will be the clash between unlikely strugglers India - who realistically need to win every remaining match to have a prayer of making the semis - and an Afghanistan team who, having mopped up the minnows of the group, are currently staring at their best-ever opportunity of progressing to the knock-out phase of a major tournament.

With his first ever T20I century and the first ton of the tournament, Joseph Charles Buttler has exploded to the top of the run chart, trailed by Sri Lanka's dogged batsmen who've spent the weekend swashbuckling to no avail. Meanwhile, buoyed by a hat-trick against South Africa, Wanindu Hasaranga has now taken a healthy lead in the wicket stakes though Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid and Rashid Khan are all creeping up on the top five.

Leading Run-scorers

1. Jos Buttler (ENG) - 214
2. Pathum Nissanka (SRI) - 170
3. Charith Asalanka (SRI) - 163
4. Bhanuka Rajapaksa (SRI) - 155
5. Mahmudullah (BAN) - 150


Leading Wicket-takers

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (SRI) - 14
2. Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) - 11
3. Josh Davey (SCO) - 9
4. Maheesh Theekshana (SRI) - 8 [for 116]
5. Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) - 8 [for 190]

[ritchiebaby]

At the halfway point in their match against New Zealand, Scotland have restricted their opponents to 70 for 3. It looks like Guptill will be the deciding factor in this match and must be the one player the Scots need to get rid of quickly. Otherwise there will be a big-hitting finish from New Zealand to put the result way out of Scotland's reach.

---

The first part of my prediction (unsurprising and requiring little cricket knowledge) came true in big style, despite some intermittent fine performances from individual bowlers. Wheal did get rid of both Phillips and Guptill in 2 consecutive deliveries, but far too late to give Scotland a realistic chance of an achievable run rate. Guptill scored 93 including 7 sixes in only 56 balls. A long (maybe short) hot day ahead at the crease for the Scots, chasing a target of 173.

[ritchiebaby]

Scotland made a decent fist of it, matching NZ in the first 10 overs, but never scored quite enough in the second half of the innings, falling only 16 runs short. This despite Leask hitting 42 runs from 20 balls and Cross taking 5 successive fours off Milne to keep the Scots in the hunt. A pretty strong performance with Guptill's 93 being the difference between the sides.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Week Three Roundup B

One weekend remains of the group stage, with England looking to make it a clean sweep against South Africa, while Australia will hope to see off West Indies and nick a semi-final spot. Meanwhile, Afghanistan have one more chance to stake their claim on second place in Group B if they can just get the better of New Zealand on Sunday morning, with Scotland wrapping up their hard learning experience versus Pakistan in the late game, and India possibly having a final opportunity themselves to make second place, depending on Sunday's results, when they face Namibia on Monday.

Sri Lanka may be on the plane home, but their players have certainly made a mark in the tournament, with Asalanka and Nissanka departing as the top two run-scorers and Wanindu Hasaranga standing a decent chance of holding his position at the top of the wicket chart till the tournament's end. But the big guns are starting to make their presence felt in the bowling stakes, with Australia's Adam Zampa and South Africa's Anrich Nortje in the top five; each will have one more group match to add to his tally, after which one of the two will be on his way home.

Leading Run-scorers

1. Charith Asalanka (SRI) - 231
2. Pathum Nissanka (SRI) - 221
3. Jos Buttler (ENG) - 214
4. David Wiese (NAM) - 201
5. Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) - 199


Leading Wicket-takers

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (SRI) - 16
2. Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) - 11
3. Adam Zampa (AUS) - 10
4. Josh Davey (SCO) - 9
5. Anrich Nortje (SA) - 8 [for 70]

[Lord Snooty]

So England have been set 190 to win.

They will qualify for the semis if they reach 87.

They will top the group if they get 106.

---

For South Africa to qualify, they have to win but also keep England under 131, which would knock Australia out.

[St Charles Owl]

Roy goes off injured, not sure what part of the left leg yet but doesn't lok good. Crushing blow for England not just in this game but in the tournament as a whole.

---

England reach 87 so have qualified for the semis.

---

Nice shot of an England/West Brom flag!!

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Recorded the match and just got through watching. Probably best to get the inevitable defeat out of the system while there's chance to bounce back, but losing Roy will hurt. I'd imagine Bairstow will be shifted up top, and then it's just a question of whether to stick Billings in the middle order or add Tom Curran in the lower order for the extra bowling option while retaining some six-hitting potential.