NPR

Today was the last game in the Cricket World Cup League 2.

Unlike the Super League for the Test nations, this has been tight and competitive all the way through and there's barely been a dead rubber at any point in the last three years.

The last game today was Nepal v UAE, in Nepal, in front of a big crowd in Kirtipur. Nepal had won 10 of their last 11 games to put themselves in position to take the last automatic place in the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe later this year, and need to win this final game to overtake Namibia and claim the spot. UAE, after having lost 8 of their last 10, needed to win this to keep 5th place in the table and retain ODI status.

UAE batted first and hit a challenging 310, a cracking 101 from 42 balls from Asif Khan batting at 7 looking like it'd taken the game away from Nepal. But they pushed on with contributions from all the middle order to stay close.

The end was one of those moments when you laugh and say 'serves you right'. UAE had been deliberately pursuing a slow over rate, playing for bad light and a win on Duckworth Lewis. But 20 runs from the 42nd over, Gulsan Jha doing the hitting, all of a sudden put Nepal ahead, and the umpires called it for bad light two overs later. Normally I'm not a fan of games ending like that but given UAE had been painfully slow deliberately in order to get the light, it's hilarious.

You can see the crowd and the UAE reaction to the bad light here.




This competition has been a great success. But of course the ICC are going to bin it now and go to regional qualifiers for the next world cup, which will mean far more one sided games and less competition. So less development of associate cricket, which is their general agenda anyway.

The second test between NZ and SL is due to kick off at the Basin Reserve in about 30 minutes, but...

...it's absolutely pissing down in Wellington and the weekend forecast looks very gloomy indeed.

Can't see the covers coming off any time soon.

From Cricinfo:

S Nash: "I've got some unexpected free time in Welly, trying to hide from the boss! Hoping to get along to the ground this morning - fingers crossed it clears up"

Play to start in 25 minutes.

SL has won the toss and will bowl.

109-1 is an excellent start having been put in.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:50 pm From Cricinfo:

S Nash: "I've got some unexpected free time in Welly, trying to hide from the boss! Hoping to get along to the ground this morning - fingers crossed it clears up"

Not wanting to derail a cricket thread but I thought demotion in the Cabinet rankings today but keeping all his portfolios was a weak response for a serial offender. Maybe Cabinet position is a bigger deal than I realise but it felt like a Clayton’s punishment.

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 3:41 amNot wanting to de-rail a cricket thread but I thought demotion in the Cabinet rankings today but keeping all his portfolios was a weak response for a serial offender. Maybe Cabinet position is a bigger deal than I realise but it felt like a Clayton’s punishment.

Agreed, he should be gone. He still could be, if there are any more skeletons to fall out of his cupboard.

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 3:41 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:50 pm From Cricinfo:

S Nash: "I've got some unexpected free time in Welly, trying to hide from the boss! Hoping to get along to the ground this morning - fingers crossed it clears up"

Not wanting to de-rail a cricket thread but I thought demotion in the Cabinet rankings today but keeping all his portfolios was a weak response for a serial offender. Maybe Cabinet position is a bigger deal than I realise but it felt like a Clayton’s punishment.

Possibly a matter of needing space fillers?

Agree on the score. Excellent start.

Time for Nicholls to step up.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:18 am Time for Nicholls to step up.

step up and sweep

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:20 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:18 am Time for Nicholls to step up.

step up and sweep

or cut to the keeper

A life for Nicholls. Hopefully he can cash in.

Adding to the above, UAE took four hours to bowl 44 overs in their ODI yesterday, and 40 minutes to bowl their last 6. Shameful time wasting and I’m glad it came back to bite them in the ass.

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:46 amA life for Nicholls. Hopefully he can cash in.

He brings up his 50 and buys himself another 20 tests.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 11:04 pm

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:46 amA life for Nicholls. Hopefully he can cash in.

He brings up his 50 and buys himself another 20 tests.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 11:04 pm

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 4:46 amA life for Nicholls. Hopefully he can cash in.

He brings up his 50 and buys himself another 20 tests.

He’s in his fifth hundred partnership with Williamson. The stats don’t lie, Henry Nicholls makes Kane Williamson a better player. He is a mainstay of the team

Haha, yeah I really shouldn't be churlish. Well batted that man - hopefully he goes on to make a big ton.

Meanwhile, Kane Williamson casually brings up his 28th test century.

Kane makes it look absurdly easy

And just like that, he's on 150. Fair motoring along now.

Nicholls brings up a very welcome century. Hooray, Henry!

I wonder what the highest score is after having been put in to bat.

Kiwias wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:20 am I wonder what the highest score is after having been put in to bat.

I asked something similar on PR re. worst starts when put in. There was the famous Ashes test when Hussain chose to bowl and Australia got through to about 350-2 after day one. I think they finished around 500.

Edit: they made 492 but were 378-3 so this is a worse start for Sri Lanka than that.

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:26 am

Kiwias wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:20 am I wonder what the highest score is after having been put in to bat.

I asked something similar on PR re. worst starts when put in. There was the famous Ashes test when Hussain chose to bowl and Australia got through to about 350-2 after day one. I think they finished around 500.

Cheers

Terrific partnership.

I'm just quietly proud of my unstinting support for Nicholls.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:40 am I'm just quietly proud of my unstinting support for Nicholls.

We all are.

Kane brings up his sixth double century.

Legend.

Double ton for KW...

true to form, he started this innings relatively slowly and then the acceleration just steadily increases.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:09 am Double ton for KW...

true to form, he started this innings relatively slowly and then the acceleration just steadily increases.

171 deliveries for the ton and 114 for the next ton.

Kiwias wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:14 am

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:09 am Double ton for KW...

true to form, he started this innings relatively slowly and then the acceleration just steadily increases.

171 deliveries for the ton and 114 for the next ton.

It’s Bazball with a touch of class. The Bazball you would take home to meet your mother.

Williamson gone for a wonderful 215.

This is the perfect chance for Timmy to promote himself to no.5.

Partnership broken at a mere 363

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:19 am

Kiwias wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:14 am

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:09 am Double ton for KW...

true to form, he started this innings relatively slowly and then the acceleration just steadily increases.

171 deliveries for the ton and 114 for the next ton.

It’s Bazball with a touch of class. The Bazball you would take home to meet your mother.

Fuck Bazball. That was Kanedance.

10 more, if not out, would lift Mitchell’s average to 60.

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:30 am 10 more, if not out, would lift Mitchell’s average to 60.

Someone commented on Cricinfo regarding KW...

"In his 94th match and after 164 innings, Williamson just improved his batting average by a whole number - not even a fraction of 1, a whole 1. Incredible."

Declaration has to be on the horizon... how would you play it?

Give yourself 10-15 overs before stumps?

Cricinfo published a comment before play started yesterday that if Sri Lanka won the toss, not even Williamson could stop them winning.

If there’s a Sri Lankan equivalent of ‘Theo’, that was a hey it moment.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 3:34 am Declaration has to be on the horizon... how would you play it?

Give yourself 10-15 overs before stumps?

I’d give Nicholls a crack at 200 and then pull the pin. The way he’s going that should give them something in the 10-15 range and if Mitchell stays with him, we’d be around 600.