[themaclad]

Zimbab through Scots out

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Week One Roundup C

A truly phenomenal turnaround for Ireland, who spent the first seventy overs of this tournament ploughing the same moribund furrow as last year, only to spring into life in the back end of Wednesday's chase and then inflict a thorough and well-deserved hiding on the West Indies to progress on Friday to England's group. No such joy for Scotland against Zimbabwe, though they gave it a fair go; the Africans go through to their first ever "super" group stage, while Caledonian cricket has some things to rue but plenty of others to take pride in from 2022.

Leading Run-Scorers

1. Sikandar Raza (ZIM) - 136
2. Max O'Dowd (NED) - 129
3. George Munsey (SCO) - 121
4. Michael Jones (SCO) - 110
5. Kusal Mendis (SRI) - 103


Leading Wicket-Takers

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (SRI) - 7 [for 63]
2. Bas de Leede (NED) - 7 [for 68]
3. Alzarri Joseph (WI) - 6 [for 83]
4. Blessing Muzarabani (ZIM) - 6 [for 95]
5. Jason Holder (WI) - 5

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Week Two Roundup A

The first weekend of the Super 12 brought few major surprises as New Zealand saw off Australia, England swept aside Afghanistan, Sri Lanka bested Ireland and Bangladesh survived a late scare to beat the Netherlands. Farcical scenes in the rain, with players sustaining injuries due to slippery conditions underfoot, eventually curtailed South Africa's derby encounter with Zimbabwe, but the tournament highlight so far was India's last-gasp charge to steal victory from Pakistan, complete with umpiring controversies and Virat Kohli at his six-smoking best.

Leading Run-Scorers

1. Kusal Mendis (SRI) - 171
2. Max O'Dowd (NED) - 137
3. Sikandar Raza (ZIM) - 136
4. George Munsey (SCO) - 121
5. Michael Jones (SCO) - 110


Leading Wicket-Takers

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (SRI) - 9 [for 88]
2. Bas de Leede (NED) - 9 [for 97]
3. Maheesh Theekshana (SRI) - 7
4. Alzarri Joseph (WI) - 6 [for 83]
5. Blessing Muzarabani (ZIM) - 6 [for 95]

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Week Three Roundup A

A couple of upsets in the tournament's second week, with England continuing their hallowed tradition of losing to Ireland at World Cups, and Zimbabwe hanging on at the death for a one-run triumph over Pakistan. With Australia liable to reach seven points in the group, and New Zealand at least that many, it's now win-or-bust for England against the Kiwis on Tuesday.

At this stage, the scoring charts are still dominated by players who had a head-start through the prelims, Ireland's Lorcan Tucker leading with the bat and Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga excelling with the ball. But Virat is the first of the big boys to get his foot in the door, and all credit to Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza who currently appears in the top five for both wickets and runs.

Leading Run-Scorers

1. Lorcan Tucker (IRE) - 191
2. Kusal Mendis (SRI) - 180
3. Max O'Dowd (NED) - 161
4. Virat Kohli (IND) - 156
5. Sikandar Raza (ZIM) - 145


Leading Wicket-Takers

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (SRI) - 10
2. Blessing Muzarabani (ZIM) - 9 [for 126]
3. Bas de Leede (NED) - 9 [for 130]
4. Sikandar Raza (ZIM) - 9 [for 132]
5. Maheesh Theekshana (SRI) - 9 [for 147]

[themaclad]

There is a certain irony we could hold both the 20 and 50 over World titles at the same time both of which are being downgraded to accomodate the blundred

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Week Three Roundup B

The Super 12 concluded with England completing a tense victory over Sri Lanka to reach the semi finals at the expense of Australia, where they'll face Group 2 champions India on Thursday. In one of the tournament's biggest upsets, Netherlands managed to complete an African clean sweep as they added to the scalps of Namibia and Zimbabwe that of South Africa, securing themselves a guaranteed berth in the 2024 tournament in the process, while allowing Pakistan to progress at the expense of the Proteas.

As all sides who played in the prelims head home, Netherlands' Max O'Dowd can take pride in the 242 runs that may let him cling on to a top 5 place come the tournament's end, though Virat Kohli has gained his perhaps-inevitable place at the top of the rankings, with Suryakumar Yadav chasing in 3rd. Anrich Nortje poked his nose into the wicket rankings just in time for South Africa's departure, where Wanindu Hasaranga and Bas de Leede - both also on the plane home - lead the way. Of the players remaining, Sam Curran, Shadab Khan and Arshdeep Singh are the most likely to displace the existing top 5 with their 10 wickets apiece, while New Zealand's Glenn Phillips hovers in run-scoring contention courtesy of his 195 from four games so far.

Leading Run-Scorers

1. Virat Kohli (IND) - 246
2. Max O'Dowd (NED) - 242
3. Suryakumar Yadav (IND) - 225
4. Kusal Mendis (SRI) - 223
5. Sikandar Raza (ZIM) - 219


Leading Wicket-Takers

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (SRI) - 15
2. Bas de Leede (NED) - 13
3. Blessing Muzarabani (ZIM) - 12
4. Anrich Nortje (SA) - 11 [for 94]
5. Josh Little (IRE) - 11 [for 189]

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Chasing 138 in the final, 32-2 after four, Buttler and Stokes at the crease. Come on England.

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New ball swinging round corners, but Buttler ramps a length delivery for six! 43-2.

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Aaaaargh, Buttler edges behind. 45-3.

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77-3 halfway. It's on.

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Movement off the seam and fielders pulling out all the stops. Dot balls accumulating. This is an enthralling final. 82-3.

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The pressure worked, Brook's gone. 84-4.

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Stokes finds the boundary! 97-4, five left, 41 needed from 30.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Four and six from Stokes back to back! 110-4, four remaining, 28 needed from 24.

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Moeen joins the fun, middles a lofted four through extra-cover then pulls another over fine leg. 118-4.

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Mo top-edges over the keeper's head for a third four in the over. 126-4, three left, 12 required from 18, all over now unless Pakistan get wickets pronto.

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Tick-tock, tick-tock. 131-4, two remaining, 7 needed from 12.

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Mo gone, stumps clattered by a Wasim yorker! Livingstone the new man, 132-5, 6 needed from 10.

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Four from Stokes! His first T20I half-century, and scores are level.

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BENJAMIN STOKES! REMEMBER THE NAME!

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Unlucky for Pakistan, they bowled incredibly well in defence of a low score, and losing Afridi scuppered their gameplan at the death. But England are deserved world champions, and the first men's team to hold the 50-over and 20-over trophies at once.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

After the damp squib of last year's tournament, where the bat dominated the ball and climate conditions consistently favoured chasing teams to the extent that most matches were won and lost at the toss, this World Cup served up some great games with bowlers to the fore and a few major upsets along the way. With all eyes on the batting firepower of India and the disciplined bowling attack of Pakistan, somehow it was the old reliables of the England white-ball side, seven of whom were in India in 2016 for the ultimate final-over heartbreak, who shook off the post-Morgan blues to bring the trophy home and write their legacy into history.

Not much change in the individual rankings during the final stages, but fittingly, champions England nosed their way in with Jos Buttler placing fourth for runs, and Sam Curran second for wickets after his man-of-the-match performance in the final bagged him 3-12.

Top Run-Scorers

1. Virat Kohli (IND) - 296
2. Max O'Dowd (NED) - 242
3. Suryakumar Yadav (IND) - 239
4. Jos Buttler (ENG) - 225
5. Kusal Mendis (SRI) - 223


Top Wicket-Takers

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (SRI) - 15
2. Sam Curran (ENG) - 13 [for 148]
3. Bas de Leede (NED) - 13 [for 169]
4. Blessing Muzarabani (ZIM) - 12
5. Anrich Nortje (SA) - 11 [for 94]