World T20 Champs, Second Round, Oct 22 - Nov 13

[alfie]

English batting has lately been ... unreliable ? Certainly they have had issues when chasing. Not the only ones though : SA have just ended their campaign early by capitulating to a spirited Dutch team in vain pursuit of 159...Major shock and another entry in the Massive Choke Hall of Fame. Pakistan and Bangladesh now playing off for the right to meet NZ...

The pitches do not seem to be easy for batting under pressure . Contrast to the previous WC : teams might all now be looking to bat first in these finals.

Malan looks very unlikely for Thursday so England will have to adjust their order : I would be leaving Stokes at three as I reckon he suits the measured build up role far better than coming in late expected to tee off immediately. I know he often attacks from the off in Tests ; but I think all his best innings even in the longer format have come when he has started carefully and gradually gone through the gears.

Big thing England have going for them is the variety and number of bowling options. Rashid getting a confidence enhancing PoTM performance against Sri Lanka is a plus leading in to the finals. And if Curran and Wood can keep up their fine form there are a few reasons for optimism...

[alfie]

Netherlands beat South Africa to knock them out

Didn't see that coming.

Calling it now: Pakistan are going to win this tournament. Whenever they seem down and out in the group stage and get the exact series of results they need to sneak into the last 4, they always seem to then string together two good performances in the knockout to take the trophy.

I'd never bet - for or against - Pakistan ; as you never know which version will turn up on a day

They have to beat Bangladesh to get in anyway so no guarantees ; but I suppose this has some echoes of their 1992 Fifty over WC win in Australia when the stars (and a wet weather escape in an early round) aligned for Imran and his boys. Reckon that was a much better team though : this outfit seems to me to rely too much on a couple of bats and a couple of bowlers - and their fielding can be almost comical at times. TBH I would strongly favour NZ (the most impressive side of all through the group stages , I think) against either opponent. But t20 is always a bit of a raffle...

[alfie]

Bangladesh off to a decent start : might be glad to be batting first , 64/1 after nine despite the early loss of Litton Das - and have already benefited from some very Pakistan dozy fielding...

Have a feeling this one will be close.

[bigfluffylemon]

Bangladesh lost their way, Pakistan are cruising.

[alfie]

Bangladesh lost their way, Pakistan are cruising.

Cruising and Pakistan rarely go together for long...a couple of wobbles and that RRR was stretching for a while there - but that productive 14th over should have settled Pakistani nerves.

Still time for Something To Go Wrong though

[alfie]

Yeah Pakistan all but home now as Bangladesh fielding and death bowling stutters under the pressure. Couple more boundaries will do it...

So it will be NZ/Pakistan and India/England - unless Zimbabwe upset India which I suppose we can't rule out

[Arthur Crabtree]

Shame for SA that they had the only rained off game in the group, v Zimbabwe.

But... they only had to beat NL to go through and blew it.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Minnows have been ok in this competition.

[Durhamfootman]

Netherlands beat South Africa to knock them out

Didn't see that coming.

Calling it now: Pakistan are going to win this tournament. Whenever they seem down and out in the group stage and get the exact series of results they need to sneak into the last 4, they always seem to then string together two good performances in the knockout to take the trophy.

well, well, well

are there any circumstances under which SA won't choke?

Pakistan were absolutely dead and buried at the start of the super 12's, so yes..... probably

[GarlicJam]

Netherlands beat South Africa to knock them out

Didn't see that coming.

Calling it now: Pakistan are going to win this tournament. Whenever they seem down and out in the group stage and get the exact series of results they need to sneak into the last 4, they always seem to then string together two good performances in the knockout to take the trophy.

beating India in the final...

sporting drama demands this result.

[Durhamfootman]

unfortunate start for Zimbabwe

[andy]

unfortunate start for Zimbabwe

Still don't understand why sean Williams only bowled 2 overs for 9 runs and didn't bowl again..especially given the seamers went round the park

[Arthur Crabtree]

beating India in the final...

sporting drama demands this result.

India should beat England. But I fancy NZ to beat Pakistan. I don't believe all this mercurial voodoo stuff. NZ are the stronger team, especially in the conditions...

[Durhamfootman]

what about the NZ choke, or does that only happen in finals?

[alfie]

Oh come on , chaps : isn't this all building to an England /NZ final , decided by a super over ?

Seriously , I reckon any of the four of them could win it. Though it might be asking a lot of Pakistan to win five games in a row - for all their flair , I reckon they've had a couple of lucky breaks to get this far.

If the pitches are at all similar to those of the last few days , the toss and the chance to bat first might play a big part in the semis.