World T20 Super 10 Group 1, SL, SA, WI, Eng, Afghan

[backfootpunch]

I'd love to know how many balls bowled by the seamers in that match would have hit off stump

Can't be more than a handful

[hopeforthebest]

Stop complaining about our bowlers, they did a great job of lulling SA into a false sense of security.

[Aidan11]

Never in doubt.

[sussexpob]

Still can't believe that match. Just brilliant.......

Test match cricket can die a death, I'd this is it's replacement, bring it on

[GarlicJam]

Still can't believe that match. Just brilliant.......

Test match cricket can die a death, I'd this is it's replacement, bring it on

It certainly surprised me, looking at the scorecard when I got up.

Are they the two highest scores in T20 internationals? It must be the highest successful run chase. Well done England.

[dan08]

Still can't believe that match. Just brilliant.......

Test match cricket can die a death, I'd this is it's replacement, bring it on

It certainly surprised me, looking at the scorecard when I got up.

Are they the two highest scores in T20 internationals? It must be the highest successful run chase. Well done England.

Nowhere near the highest score. It's the 2nd highest run chase after WI 236 last year.

[Durhamfootman]

highest run chase in a world cup

[Durhamfootman]

Going around to my daughters to watch the highlights was a good hour, well spent

[The Professor]

Root at his best is sublime. It will be between him and Virat Kohli to decide who will be the defining batsmen of this decade.

[ianp1970]

What a match to miss

Taking Grandchildren on holiday is great, but no chance of three hours off in the afternoon to watch willow on leather!

At least the 6 nations finale tomorrow is close to his bedtime

[alfie]

What an extraordinary match !

I am glad I sat up to watch it all - though wasn't game to come on here after the way SA started for fear of flying axes

Have to say the England bowling - apart from the spinners , and perhaps Willey , was awful. As was much of the fielding. Though I guess the SA batsmen deserve credit for intimidating England from the off...

At half time it really did look impossible : but just two overs of Roy and Hales batting without any inhibitions brought it back to a tough - but achievable - target. Roy really did a job arguably as important as Root in transforming the momentum of the match. But Root , calmness personified , bossed that chase so well you always felt while he was there England were likely to get home. A fantastic effort all over given they were playing for survival in the tournament with all the pressure that entails

Looking ahead : further progression isn't a done deal by any means. Really ought to beat Afghanistan ( insert usual anxious England fan reservations) but the Sri Lanka game could turn into either a knock out for a semi final spot or a quest to ensure the best run rate , depending on how other results go (could easily end up with three teams with three wins and a loss in the group)
Hence the need to sort this bowling. Topley has to go - out of confidence , don't need two left arm swing bowlers , and he's a camel in the field - so either Plunkett or Dawson must come in , depending on conditions. I know a lot of people will say ditch Jordan too ; and it may happen. But I'm inclined to retain him for now - he bowled better than most against WI , and potentially brings something the other quicks don't at the death , though it didn't happen here ! He wasn't alone in that...

And best keep batting second , Eoin ? Unless we see a pitch like the ones NZ have been playing on.

Unlike Sussex , I'll still take a Test Match any day. But a t20 as good as that one goes a long way to justify the existence of the format - for all it sometimes seems organizers would be happy just setting up bowling machines and watching batsmen tee off...

[Gingerfinch]

Topley imo is more likely to take wickets than Jordan, though I expect there's a stat that will disprove that? I'd actually keep the same side, or bring in Dawson for Jordan, depending on the wicket.

Knowing England we'll now lose the next three

[Durhamfootman]

the England match started on page 16 and ended on page 35

that's some serious posting and, for once, the match lived up to it

[Aidan11]

I don't usually look at the tables early on but I saw one on SSN this morning and I'm confused...


WIs & SL have won a game and have 2 points. We have now won a game but only have one point. Why is that?

[hopeforthebest]

I don't usually look at the tables early on but I saw one on SSN this morning and I'm confused...


WIs & SL have won a game and have 2 points. We have now won a game but only have one point. Why is that?

Just a misprint Aidan.