Incredible finish to the match, and I bet all the bookies are loving the outcome.

Also a good description of today's match. That had more drops than a Murray 5-setter.

You have to hand it to England !

The organisers produce a seemingly mind numbingly boring unimaginative schedule, 2 groups of 7, first 4 in each group to QFs with 4 of the 8 top test teams in each group.

Let's get some interest going, calling England !

Netherlands manage to score 292-6 against them and set England what was ultimately the 3rd highest successful run chase in World Cup history ( now 4th, see later  ! ). With 296-4 with 14 balls to spare, in the most interesting game to this stage, England WIN.

India score 338 leaving a seemingly impossible task in scoring what would be the greatest World Cup run chase win in history if England were to win. However, England with a magnificent 158 in 145 balls from Andrew Struass seem on course at 280-2 after 42 overs and then err not quite so on course at 297-6 after 46 overs and finally 338-8 !  In the most exciting match to this stage, England TIE

England score 327-8  ( from 272-2 after 42 ) with a nice kind finish leaving Ireland a vague sniff, not that anyone had ever successfully chased down such a total in World Cup history. At 113-5 after 25 overs it seems clear that they won't get close.  But no, what's this !  World Cup fastest 100 by Kevin O'Brien ( 113 off 63 balls ) and with 5 balls to spare Ireland reach 329-7, succeeding in the World Cup record successful run chase England just managed to tie against India. So in the first real shock, England LOSE.

Well done Ireland !   England urgently need bowling and fielding improvement, because if the batsmen also stop scoring runs...hmm.

South Africa, Bangladesh and West Indies to come.  Need at least one more win and if just one proves to be enough that almost certainly has to be against Bangadesh ( who most would consider the best of the 3 "weaker" teams in the group and who have already beaten Ireland ). 

Certainly doesn't look as if they are peaking too early !

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 3rd of March 2011 03:19:19 AM

Wow. I had been watching all morning but turned over to the Ireland - India as we were getting hammered. Saw that we had got back in it and turned back over when SA were six down. Incredible finish.

I'm in no way convinced we will progress too far in the tournament, but I think we would beat Pakistan in the quarters if we get them. But no too many weak points in the team and bad captaincy to get to the final for me.

Oh dear.

After snatching defeat from the jaws of victory twice already, they're now trying to do it the other way round.

This match has had more twists than a Boggo v Evo match.

So what are the chances of Bangladesh beating South Africa AND West Indies beating India? That way this group has gone, who knows....


-- Edited by RBBOT on Thursday 17th of March 2011 04:46:54 PM