[themaclad]

What a sack of poop we really are, no doubt they will blame the four day game for it

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Pretty much nailed on to be our worst ever tournament now, as 2015 pales in comparison. The million dollar question - or, more aptly, the 220 million pounds a year till 2028 question - is whether this format, and by extension the World Cup, still carries enough global prestige for the ECB to react as they did in 2015. Back then it mattered to them that we get the job done on home soil in 2019, but now? Not sure they'll care, sadly. Certainly not enough to prioritise domestic 50-over cricket at the expense of their own hobby horse.

[Lord Snooty]

If this isn't a wake up call to get rid of The Hundred, then what is?

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Unexpected thriller unfolding in Chennai: after Pakistan collapsed to 270 all out and South Africa looked nailed on to knock off the runs with time to spare, they lost 4 middle-order wickets for 44 runs and now need 17 to win from 44 balls with Maharaj and Ngidi trying to carry them over the line, while Pakistan can wrap it up with two more wickets.

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Wide from Afridi, 16 to win.

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Outside edge from Ngidi, who runs a single, 15 to win.

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Afridi finishes with 3-45 from his ten overs, and nearly had Maharaj caught behind off his final ball.

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Ngidi runs a leg-bye, 14 to win.

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Make that a couple; 13 to win.

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And another, 12 to win. Pakistan need to conjure something from somewhere, this pair are ticking off the runs and not risking any glory shots.

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Wide from Wasim, 11 to win.

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Even a maiden would be gold-dust for Pakistan right now, just to pile the pressure on and mess with the batsmen's heads.

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WICKET!

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They pulled in the fielders and stuck a slip in for Ngidi against Haris Rauf, and he didn't like it one bit. First ball inside edge, second ball a loose drive, third ball caught and bowled off a leading edge.

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Shamsi gets a thick outside edge on his first ball faced, picks up a couple; 9 to win. Into single figures!

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Rauf sends one down the leg-side and appeals. It flicked the pad, but the umpire gives it wide... 8 to win.

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Appeal for LBW, turned down but reviewed by Pakistan. Desperation?

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Umpire's call! Agonising for Pakistan!

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Another leg-side wide from Wasim, not what Pakistan need at all right now. 7 to win.

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Maharaj plays into the offside, picks up a single, 6 to win.

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Shamsi picks up a single to deep third, 5 to win.

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Shamsi turns Nawaz into the onside for a single and brings Maharaj on strike, 4 to win. Last chance saloon for Pakistan.

---

Too late - Maharaj helps the ball through backward square to the boundary, South Africa win by 1 wicket.

[themaclad]

Umpires call with 6 needed went SA way as well

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Week Three Roundup

A thrilling last-over victory for Australia and a second scalp for the Netherlands set us up for the final fortnight of the group stage, with South Africa top of the pile at least until England get bulldozed by India tomorrow. A significant gap has opened up between the semi-finalists elect and the chasing pack; whoever triumphs when Sri Lanka face Afghanistan in Pune on Monday will almost certainly end the other team's semi-final hopes and boost their own dark horse potential. Meanwhile Pakistan aren't quite dead yet, but only wins will do them from here.

Leading Run-Scorers

1. Quinton de Kock (SA) - 431
2. David Warner (AUS) - 413
3. Rachin Ravindra (NZ) - 406
4. Aiden Markram (SA) - 356
5. Virat Kohli (IND) - 354


Leading Wicket-Takers

1. Adam Zampa - (AUS) - 16
2. Mitchell Santner (NZ) - 14
3. Marco Jansen (SA) - 13 [for 290]
4. Shaheen Afridi (PAK) - 13 [for 296]
5. Gerald Coetzee (SA) - 12

[Lord Snooty]

The garbage goes on. After restricting India to 290, England are now chucking another one away.

Abysmal. I can't watch it.

[themaclad]

Seriously missed most of it apparently our coach only realised what the qualifications for the Champions Trophy 90 minutes before the started hazard a guess we are that crap we won't qualify for that

[themaclad]

Sri Lanka lose by 300 runs to India who become first team to qualify

[themaclad]

Thank goodness we are out, Aussies put us out of misery