Group B Round Up

Group B in the Round 1 had an interesting composition. Zimbabwe - which is struggling to live up to the expectation of a Test nation, Ireland - knocking at the Test status, Netherlands - just now lost the ODI status, UAE - recently elevated to the ODI status. With this composition, it was evident that it is not going to be an easy ride for anyone in this group. 

But when the tournament started, Ireland were the clear favorites to make it to the next round in spite of Zimbabwe being a full member. The main reason being, Ireland had been consistent and Zimbabwe not. In spite of being very little to chose among the associates, UAE was still on the weaker side of the scale. But T20 is a format that could spring up surprises.

The first match between Ireland and Zimbabwe indicated what was was in store for the cricket fans in this group. It went to the last ball with all three results possible. Finally, Ireland held on to their nerves to get over the line. It was a disappointment for Zimbabwe but the result was somehow on the expected lines. In the next game debutante UAE choosing to bat first posted a modest total of 151. Their inning did not start the way they wanted to losing their openers early and required some consolidation from their captain and the keeper. In spite of that they were at least 20 runs short of the par score. In response, Netherlands openers just took away the game from UAE and after that Wesley Barresi together with controversial replacement Tom Cooper ensured that the openers' efforts weren't spoiled and finished the match with 7 balls remaining. The result was on the expected line though.

In the second round, Zimbabwe was facing Netherlands, another formidable associate. Netherlands won the toss and chose to bat, but Zimbabwe coming from a painful loss, rattled their top order dismissing 4 batsmen within 5 overs. But Cooper brothers rescued their team posting a decent score of 140. Zimbabwe in their chase were cautious but had their anxious moments and were in the similar situation as their previous game. All three result was possible at the last ball when Sibanda hit 6 of the last ball to take Zimbabwe over the line and keeping them in the contention of the main draw. In the next match between Ireland and UAE, Ireland were clearly the favorites. Ireland put UAE to bat and restricted them to a modest score of 123. UAE could not recover from a collapse after a decent start. Ireland were never in trouble during their chase. With the flood lights going off couple of times followed by showers, the game was  called off, with Ireland winning by the Duckworth-Lewis method. 

At the end of second round, though Ireland were the favorites to get into the Super-10, the position was up for grab for both Zimbabwe and Netherland as well. Zimbabwe had to win its game and hope that Netherlands defeats Ireland with a decent margin. Netherlands had no other choice but to win against Ireland and on top of it with a handsome margin. A win would have definitely helped Ireland's qualification but a match abandoned would also do. With all these equations, the last day was bound to be exciting. 

The first match on the final day was UAE v Zimbabwe. It was expected that UAE would have drawn some inspiration from Hong Kong's win against Bangladesh but on the contrary, they looked out of the league. UAE batting first lost their openers early and as it has been the case, it was left to Khurram and Patil to build the innings, but they could not score more than 116. It was good sign for Zimbabwe as they had good opportunity to up their NRR and go past Ireland. Chasing a meager total Zimbabwe found themselves in a state of bother losing 4 wickets with just 34 on the board in 8th over. NRR was important for Zimbabwe and they had no option but to win with a handsome margin. Elton Chigumbura gave the impetus to their innings with a quickfire 53 to complete the chase in 13.4 overs. The win ensured Zimbabwe moved ahead of Ireland on the points table on the basis of NRR.

Now the attention moved to the final match between Ireland v Netherlands. At the start of this match no one one would have had the slightest of the idea that it would be one of the most talked about games for the future. What was to follow was unprecedented in the history of T20I. Both the teams had to win and win with a margin to push themselves above Zimbabwe to make it to the Super-10. Ireland were still favorites. With Ireland batting first, they were at one stage 88/3 in 12.3 overs. Then Kevin O'Brian showed his outing against England in the world cup 2011 was not fluke. He together with Andrew Poynter put on 101 runs in the remaining 7.3 overs, leaving Netherlands to chase 190.

Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe had done what it could do to make it to the main draw. Ireland also would have thought it had done what it could do to make it to the next stage by setting up a formidable total. From Netherlands perspective, it had to chase the target in 14.2 overs to get into Super-10. 190 is a stiff chase in 20 overs, let alone 14. But they had no choice but to go after the bowling right from the word 'Go' and they had nothing to lose in the chase even if it goes not the way they wanted to. Captain Peter Borren knew that it had to be a brave display and he decided to lead from the front and opened the innings instead of Michael Swart. Myburgh, his opening partner hit the second fastest 50 and the chase was at a frenetic pace. When Borren was dismissed on the last ball of powerplay, Netherlands were 91. Myburgh and van Beek followed in quick succession only to raise some hopes for Zimbabwe. Ireland were still not out of the jail. But Tom Cooper who came after the third wicket ensured that the momentum was not lost and scored 45 of just 15 balls before he was dismissed in the 12th over. At that point of time Netherlands needed 29 runs in 3 overs to pip Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe were still watching this amazing run chase with bated breath. Now it was only either Zimbabwe or Netherlands, Ireland in spite of being the favorites right from the start of the tournament were out of the contention. Next 7 balls were relatively quiet by the standards that Netherlands had displayed in the chase scoring just 5 runs which meant that now the equation was 24 out of 11 (original equation being 24 out of 45 balls). If Ireland felt that they have seen all of the carnage, they were wrong. Wesley Barresi would not let his team's mammoth effort go down the drain. He along with Ben Cooper ensured that they got to the target in 13.5 overs replacing Zimbabwe on the top of the points table and making an entry into the main draw. It was anticipated that an associate will qualify from this group, so did an associate, only that it was Netherlands now.

What a dramatic end to the round 1 of the World T20. Both the groups had to wait till the last match to know who would enter the main draw. Coincidentally it was around the same time in the 2nd innings (14th over) of these games that we came to know of who would be making it to the Super-10 from these groups. This first round though not being the main event, served as a great advertisement for the game of cricket and would have definitely given hope to the other associates not part of this tournament.

UAE like Hong Kong had made an exit from the tournament before their last match. Hong Kong chose to make their last match count but UAE seems to have lost the plot and they turned out to be the only team among the 8 teams in the first round not to win any game. Their openers did not click and their fielding and catching were abysmal to say the least, but just turning out at this level would have provided them the exposure they needed. They are now a ODI team and will be playing the 50 over world cup and they can take this experience with them to put up an improved show there.

Ireland's exit from this tournament is more shocking than Zimbabwe's exit despite the fact that Zimbabwe is a full member. They were in the tournament till Netherlands innings started. This is definitely a disappointing result for a team that is aiming for a test status and the manner in which they lost the last match would be an insult to the injury. They have to forget this and start focusing on the world cup next year where they will get to play more number of games against the full members.

We can feel sorry for Zimbabwe, being a full member not qualifying for the main draw. They have not played international cricket for the last 6 months which answers all questions about their current performance. Though they showed all courage to fight it out against Ireland, won on the last ball against Netherlands and thrashed UAE. This might serve as some consolation. But they have to ensure that they get to play enough international cricket before the world cup next year to put up an improved show.

Netherland's entry into the main draw would have come as a surprise to them itself, not because they lacked the potential but the way it came about. They had lost both their warm-up games. Captain was not happy with his side's batting and it was ironic that it is their batting that got them into the main draw. Tom Cooper's inclusion (though controversial) made the difference. He contributed with both bat and ball. Their real test awaits them against the full members. But one thing is for sure, these full members would be facing a totally different Netherlands than what they would have expected.

The first round has come to an end. The qualifiers for Super-10 has been finalized. The Super-10 has started with a mouth watering contest between the arch rivals India and Pakistan. So the real tournament has begun. Let us see what more do we get from this edition. 

Group A round up

When the first round of world T20 began on March 16 with the Group A matches, Bangladesh were clear favorites to qualify for the second round from Group A. They were the lone test nation in the group and they were playing at home. They were bolstered with the return of Shakib, Mashrafe and Tamim. Equally favorites were Afghanistan. They had been there in this tournament's last two editions. Their recent win against Bangladesh in the Asia cup and their comfort level with this format did suggest that they could be a worthy contender to qualify for the Super-10 from this group.

On the other hand, we had Nepal and Hong Kong, who were debutantes in this tournament. For them, this was an exposure at the highest level. For all practical purpose, this was not exactly the main event, they were to play only one game against a test playing nation, but playing in front of huge crowd, TV coverage, media focus, etc. were totally new for them. Not much was expected from these two teams. Three years after starting out in Division Five, Nepal finished at the top of the World Cricket League Division Three in 2013. In addition to that Nepal had qualified for this event. Their story was no less than a fairy tale. On the other hand Hong Kong motivated by gaining the ODI status (which means they are in the top 6 associates), made their presence felt by defeating The Netherlands and Zimbabwe in the warm-ups.

On the very first day, when Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan comprehensively in the so called revenge game, it was safely assumed that Bangladesh would qualify for the second round. In the second match of the day, in the battle between the associates, Nepal trumped the higher ranked associate with a thumping margin. Nepal team's passion for cricket, their spirit and camaraderie was very evident in their win. On the other hand it seemed that Hong Kong were overwhelmed by the occasion.

Afghanistan jolted by their defeat in the first game had to win their encounter against Hong Kong and that too comprehensively, if they were to keep alive their hopes of making it to the next round. After bundling out for 69 in their first game, Hong Kong did well to post 153 batting first. At one point of time, a 150-plus chase looked tricky for Afghanistan but they were helped by dropped catches and finally achieved the target with two overs to spare. In the next match of the day, Bangladesh once again came strong against the spirited Nepal as if to make a statement that they are way ahead of these associates. Their arrogance was evident with the way Shakib refused a single when only one run was required to win and he finished the game with a six. Nepal on the other hand, with their first match against any full member, felt the pinch. However, they did well to play out the full quota of 20 overs and finish with a modest total to defend. With this win, Bangladesh were almost sure of making it to the next round, with a healthy run rate to support their cause in case they lost their last game against Hong Kong.

When the final round in Group A started with the match between Nepal and Afghanistan, it was very clear that with one win each, both the team had to win this game if they were to stake any sort of claim to get into the Super-10, obviously with a caveat that Bangladesh would lose to Hong Kong (which was a remote possibility). Nepal was in a better position to make it to the next round compared to Afghanistan as they had a much better run rate. Once again Afghanistan failed to live up to the expectation of being one of the strongest Associates. In a must win match, their batting again failed which handed Nepal their first win against Afghanistan and their second win in the global tournament. This win would have made Bangladesh a bit nervous as it meant that Bangladesh had no other choice but to win their encounter against Hong Kong. 

The way Bangladesh handed defeats to Afghanistan and Nepal, everyone thought that it would be an easy walk for them. But Hong Kong had something totally different in their mind. They wanted to prove that their elevation to the ODI status and their wins in the warm-ups were by no means fluke. They decided to keep their fellow associate Nepal still interested in this game. The match was set up perfectly by their bowlers who dismissed the formidable Bangladesh for a paltry total of 108 in the 17th over itself. It could have been worse for Bangladesh, had Hong Kong held on to all the catches that came their way. This gave Hong Kong a golden opportunity to win a match against a full member. What was more interesting was that if Hong Kong chased the target in 13.1 overs, it would have meant curtains for Bangladesh in the tournament and Nepal would have been through to the next round. Nepal were not even in the remotest of reckoning when this tournament started and now they found themselves in an enviable position. When Hong Kong's innings started, Irfan Ahmed who had been dismissed first ball on the previous two occasions in the tournament would have attracted the attention of the statisticians. He did not disappoint when he gave a return catch to Al-Amin on the very first ball. But it was not 3 out of 3 as Al-Amin did not hold on to it. Irfan made him pay for the mistake by dispatching him for a 6 on the last ball of the over. Irfan was going full throttle and Bangladeshis were sweating. He was eating into the small total and that too fast. When he was on the crease, Nepal definitely thought they had chance of making it to the next round. But Shakib provided Hong Kong the blow by taking two wickets in the same over. But the required runs had come down and Hong Kong had to stay there to get past the line. Obviously they had no interest to see Nepal through and thus they had no obligation to get the total in 13.1 overs when they could create a history by pipping Bangladesh by playing out the full quota as well. Hong Kong kept on losing wickets and it seemed Bangladesh would pull it off. But Munir Dar, the most experienced cricketer in their squad, hit some lusty blows to bring their side in the striking distance of the victory before he was dismissed in the 18th over, when they needed just 9 runs. Both dug outs went through nervous moments and Hong Kong finally prevailed to not only deliver the shock of the tournament but also got into the history books.

Nevertheless this defeat did not stop Bangladesh's journey in the tournament but it would have definitely grounded them. Now they would be joining the big league and they would have to tone down their flamboyance if they have to make any impact. No doubt that they have world class players, but this format of the game does not offer enough time to get back into the game after any mistake. 

Afghanistan, the next favorite in the group have much to ponder the way they approach their batting. They cannot have just one plan. They have to apply themselves too hard at this level. Else they will be lost like Kenya or Canada. There is no doubt that they have the potential but if the do not maximize it, they will pay the price more often than not. 

Nepal has everything to cheer about. Two wins in the group where no one fancied them is a big achievement. At one stage they were even in contention of getting into the Super-10. They too have to work on their batting but overall they seemed more organized.

After defeating Netherlands and Zimbabwe, Hong Kong's first two games proved to be a damp squib. But they delivered the knock out punch of the tournament with their win against the full member. Being their first appearance at the higher level, they will have to gradually learn to adapt themselves.

Overall, the Group A matches had all the ingredients of a block buster. It offered us a good view on how the gap is closing between Associates and Full Member countries, at least in this format of the game. Kudos to ICC for expanding the number of teams in this tournament. Although this is not the main event in itself but it showed the prowess of the associates and it also gave them the necessary visibility. This is excellent for cricket as a whole.

World T20I - Day 1 - 16:03:2014

Finally, World T20I has begun. Any organizer would like that everything starts on a positive note and once the event starts without a hiccup, it settles the nerves and they can get relaxed. As a team, especially the teams that are playing the first day, feel a bit of pressure as they would not have any history to bank on in terms of the nature of pitch, dew, etc. As a fan, even I have been looking forward to the start of this festival. A world cup is always exciting to watch. The shorter format offers a bit more excitement as there is always unpredictability associated with it. This time there are 16 teams participating and we will get opportunity to see what teams like Nepal and Hong Kong have to offer.

The first day of any tournament of this level is always exciting. The excitement in my opinion was even more because of the matches to be played on the first day. The games scheduled were Afghanistan v Bangladesh and Hong Kong v Nepal. Both these matches were important in their own respect. All four teams belong to the same group and only one team would qualify for the Super-10. From this aspect, the match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh assumed lot of importance. Without any disrespect to the other teams, it could be assumed that these two were the stronger teams compared to the other two. So the winner of this match had a very good probability of reaching the next stage. The other match was also important for the two teams. They were making their debut at this level. If there was any game that they were going to win it was this. I believe there were no better fixtures to start a tournament. Unfortunately for the fans (excluding Bangladeshi and Nepali), both games ended up as one sided.

Afghanistan had already impressed the world with its ascent to this level. They have played the previous two editions of the world T20 and they have now qualified for the 50 over world cup as well. To top it all, their performance in the Asia Cup suggested that though they lack experience at this level, they are here to stay. After their victory against the host Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, the expectation from them had increased for this game, as they seem to be more comfortable in this version of the game. On the other hand, Bangladesh skipper had already indicated how important this game was for them, calling it a 'revenge game'. They wanted to prove to the world that their loss to Afghans was just an aberration and nothing more than that.

Bangladesh were on the money right from the word 'Go'. The very first ball got them the wicket. Shehzad has to understand that he cannot always go after the bowling from the word 'Go'. Afghanistan's batting has always been a concern. From what I have seen so far, they do not have any plan B. They always come with one plan and their plan does not even change with the opposition. May be this has worked for them at associate level, but at the highest level, they cannot get away. Nabi seemed to attribute the dismal performance to their inability to play quality spin bowling. But in my opinion, they have struggled hard to rotate strike, which is basics of batsmanship. It was disheartening to see that they have not learned even after their exposure in the Asia Cup journey. On the other hand, it was cleat that Bangladesh was bolstered with the return of Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe Mortaza. Nothing much to say about their performance. It was exceptionally clinical. They were on field with a purpose. Good bowling, good fielding and finally good batting summed it up all. I do not see any possibility of upset where Bangladesh would lose to either Nepal or Hong Kong. So in a way, they are through to the Super-10.

In the other game between Nepal and Hong Kong, it was expected that they would match each other in all aspect. Nepal had defeated Hong Kong in their previous two encounters. Hong Kong were bristling with confidence before the game having won its warm-up games against The Netherlands and Zimbabwe. It was the game where both the team would have thought that this was their realistic chance to win a game. But it was Nepal who showed that they had the nerve as well as skill and for Hong Kong, probably the big stage got into them. Nepal had a good start batting first, but the openers fell in quick succession and then the 11 overs stand between skipper Khadka and Malla came to their rescue and they finally posted a formidable target of 150 for Hong Kong to chase. Hong Kong had the most forgettable start losing their first wicket on the very first ball of the innings. After that they kept losing wickets on regular intervals, some exceptional spin bowling by Nepal. The big stage probably let them down. The other two games are going to be a challenge too, but at least they would have come over the nerves by then.

The other games in this group will be of limited interest, but being a T20 version, you can never predict. Even the warm-up games threw lot of surprises. Anyway the event has begun, a lot more cricket to come. I have not tried to get into very technical aspects of the game and tried summarize things as a fan. I would try my best in the coming days.