headache

all this cricket has given me a headache. So, no blog. South Africa won - they will go through. New Zealand won, no big news there. Next up its Pakistan against Bangladesh and Australia against India. Bangladesh need to win in order for Australia to have a chance to advance. So if they lose then Australia is knocked out and the game against India will be for pride. I'm cheering for Bangladesh. Go Tigers!

Historic first ebb!

James is apparently trying to keep it a close competition.

So much cricekt, so little time

In today's first match Australia took on the West Indies and the really needed a win, they did not get one. They batted first and scored a total of 178 -not bad, but nothing to write home about. The West Indies had little trouble chasing it down however and won by 6 wickets. Half century to Gayle - glad to see he showed up.

In the second match Bangladesh was trying not to look to bad against India. They were marginally successful, but not really. They batted first and got to 138. Wah Waaa.... Anamul Haque got 44 - so close but not quite. 3 wicket haul to Mishra. India really had no trouble reaching the mark in 18.3 overs with 8 wickets to spare. Half centuries to both Sharma and Kohli.

So India lead group 2 with 6 points and it looks like Pakistan and the West Indies will battle for the 2nd slot through to the semis. For Australia to go through they'd have to win their next matches and have both Pakistan and the West Indies lose theirs. Actually looking at the schedule that can't happen since Pakistan and West Indies have to play each other in a few days so someone will win. I guess Australia is out, looks like I have a captain change in my future.

Tomorrow New Zealand plays the Netherlands and England plays South Africa. New Zealand and England both need another win to keep them in the hunt. If South Africa win they pretty much guarantee their advancement.

A few notables in our crowd. Mom is making gains on James - will it be enough? Aunt Katy is quietly, oh so quietly passing people in the middle. Watch out for that one. And finally Michael is a mere 31 points behind Catherine. Watch out Catherine or your son will be passing you the sweaty teddy.

Enjoy the games tomorrow.

More of the same

Let's hear it for O-R-A-N-G-E!!

Well it was a good day for orange. First the Netherlands played South Africa and they didn't win. But, they did give SA a run for their money and redeemed themselves from their showing against Sri Lanka. The started off by restricting SA to 145 with a 5 wicket haul from Ashan Malik! Anyone have him? Major bonus points if you did. Then Myburgh stayed in there for 51, all was looking very very bad for SA and very very good for Netherlands. But they just couldn't finish what the they started. The wickets started to fall and the went all out after 18.4 overs. Too bad for them because they were only 6 runs away from winning. So well done Netherlands, and well done South Africa for coming through in the end. They needed the win to stay in the hunt for the semis but they sure could have used a better run rate advantage than they got.

Then the second orange team took the field against Sri Lanka. England was the underdog here I think and the beginning of the match was much as you might have expected. England did not field well and they allowed Sri Lanka to rack up 189 - a tall order for them to chase. Dilshan and Jayawardene had a 145 partnership! They only dropped 4 wickets so not a lot going on with England's bowlers. Then England came out to bat, and bat they did. But the first over was bad, real bad. Two ducks in that first over. But Hales and Morgan went balls to the walls. Hales earned the first century of the tournament and made some fantasy cricketers very happy - not me of course but somebody. Kulesakara earned the only 4 wickets and he couldn't pick up enough slack to give Sri Lanka the win. What happened to Malinga and Mathews?? Anyway, England won by 6 wickets with 4 balls remaining! Well done England.

Check the worm - there's action there, there's action - not from me but from somebody.