The All New World Cup 2023 Thread.

[mikesiva]

Warner and Marsh!

[Arthur Crabtree]

End of the innings was a flop though.

[mikesiva]

Australia 367-9

Afridi 5-53

[sussexpob]

I guess this one is in the books already, unless Pakistan can pull off the 4th highest chase ever...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Great start for Pakistan, but still a touch on the slow side.

[Durhamfootman]

I thought oz might get a few more than that tbh

[Arthur Crabtree]

Still a chance Pakistan could do this.

[Durhamfootman]

This is the part where Australia let things slip a little, so Pakistan do have time

[mikesiva]

Pakistan 305 all out

Zampa 4-53

[Arthur Crabtree]

England could go third if they win tomorrow. But really will be lodged in a logjam of teams with two wins

[GarlicJam]

I thought oz might get a few more than that tbh

yeah, 400+ was on the cards right up to around the 45th over. Full points to Afridi and Rauf for holding them down to a relatively low score. Rauf did well after being punished so heavily earlier. Disappointing for Aus, but they were already in a strong position.

I liked Afridi's congratulations to Warner. Very gracious of him.

The Warner/Marsh partnership was an exhilarating thing for Australia fans at least. It made a Pakistan win less far likely by the 30th over.

[Durhamfootman]

Yes, a comprehensive and much needed win

[mikesiva]

Shame no West Indies.

This format is way too long, considering that it's just 10 teams. They're playing 45 matches!

At a time when other sports are expanding their World Cups to include a greater number of teams, cricket is contracting. The rugby World Cup started with 20 teams.

Add four more teams and have two groups of seven each. That way, you could have two matches a day, move more quickly, and have room to include maybe Zimbabwe, Ireland, Scotland, and possibly the West Indies.

The qualifiers in Zimbabwe were far more exciting than this.

It's almost as if this format was chosen to make sure we don't have a repeat of 2007 when India got knocked out too early

Thanks to this current format, there's less interest in the World Cup in those countries that missed out.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Neds are coming to earth with a bump.

[GarlicJam]

then a world cup record 7th wicket partnership takes them to 224/7, about a 130 run partnership. They'd have hopes right now of 250+