That is all from us today. Thanks to Tanya for steering the OBO tiller in the earlier shift and I appreciated all your emails, comments and shenanigans* this afternoon.
We’ll be back to cover the semi-finals on Wednesday and Thursday. India v New Zealand and Australia v South Africa duking it out for a spot in the final on Sunday.
*Only right that the penultimate word on this OBO should go to Mark Beadle:
“In hindsight I could’ve picked a different time to take the rubbish out James… enjoy your tea, hopefully it’s not too cold!”
It was baltic, Mark, but worth the wait. Just like your co-commentary. Goodnight!
Updated
Here’s India’s bowler extraordinaire captain, Rohit Sharma:
Since we started the tournament it was all about one game at a time. We never wanted to look too far ahead. It is a long tournament, eleven games in all if we go all the way. It was important to break it down and focus on each game. I’m very pleased at how we’ve played in these nine games, we’ve been very clinical from game one to today.
“We are playing in India, there will be expectation. We wanted to do the job at hand. It’s one thing to talk about it but for everyone to buy into it is very important. We enjoy each other’s company. We wanted to play with enjoyment on the field.”
They certainly did that today, with Virat, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill and Rohit himself all getting a go with the ball. I don’t reckon we’ll see any of them turn their arm over against New Zealand on Wednesday… the memories of the semi-final game against the Blackcaps four years ago should keep Sharma and co on task.
Here’s the Netherlands captain, Scott Edwards:
It’s a little bit of a tricky one at the moment when it comes to where we want to be. We are pretty confident with the style we play, the tournament was always going to be tough… India are as good a side going around. We will have to be a lot better going into theT20 World Cup next year. They showed pure class with the bat… when you are three down with ten overs left, you are going to score some runs.”
I think he can be very proud of his side, they overcame the odds to get to the tournament in the first place and showed they aren’t just here to make up the numbers with wins over Bangladesh and an in-form South Africa. They didn’t wilt under the Indian batting barrage and came out playing some shots when it came to their innings, only coming unstuck when spin was introduced. They need investment of course, resources, fixtures and the rest, but they have plenty of talent and are a young side in terms of age.
Shreyas Iyer scoops the Player of the Match for his 128* off 94 balls:
I’m very happy. The scores I got in the last few days helped me. The wicket was playing tacky, a bit two paced. I wanted to capitalise on the start… I was trying to hit straight, and keep my head down.”
I enjoyed this. Reminded me of those players who make a breezy untroubled score and then when asked how the wicket is playing afterwards they describe it as a snake-pit. “Only got 128. Probably worth double that, actually.”
India win by 160 runs (Netherlands 250 all out)
Rohit Sharma gives himself a bowl with a wide grin spreading across his chops. He trundles in and is hammered away over midwicket by Nidamanaru, that brings up his fifty off just 38 balls.
All over next ball though! Nidamanuru plops it straight down long-on’s throat to hand India a comprehensive win. Sharma is beaming, as well he might. Not only has he robbed a wicket but more importantly his side have nine wins from nine as they head into a home World Cup semi final against New Zealand on Wednesday.
Played: 9
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 12, 2023
Won: 9
India's formidable tournament continues.#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/geob0YXCc0
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47th over: Netherlands 243-9 (Nidamanuru 48, van Meekeren 2) Paul van Meekeren is the last man outta the hutch. He digs out a yorker to get a single and off strike first ball. Bumrah gets the yorker wrong for once and a full toss is well dispatched through square by Nidamanuru.
“Mark Beadle, you little beauty!” hollers Simon McMahon. “A wicket in his first over. Kohli-esque. And economy of delivery that Benaud would have been proud of.”
Very much agreed Simon. My only note would be on timekeeping. *Coughs a dry cough*
Updated
WICKET! Aryan Dutt b Bumrah 5 (Netherlands 236-9)
The well disguised Bumrah slower ball does for Dutt! India need one more to complete the perfect group stage.
46th over: Netherlands 236-8 (Nidamanuru 43, Dutt 5) Jadeja continues, a full ball is muscled over the boundary for six by Nidamanaru! This is a nice little cameo from the middle-order batter, when he hits them they tend to clear the rope.
45th over: Netherlands 227-8 (Nidamanuru 37, Dutt 2) Bumrah in his eighth over, how he doesn’t clean up Aryan Dutt I’ll never know. A yorker must graze the stumps as it passes but the bails stay put. So does Dutt after somehow coming through six balls unscathed and un-toppled.
WICKET! Roelof van der Merwe c Mohammed Shami b Jadeja (Netherlands 226-8)
Fun and games for a few balls as van der Merwe clubs Jadeja for a ginormous six and a switch hit four but perishes on the third swipe – caught in the deep by Shami. The Dutch lose their eighth wicket. I still haven’t had a slurp of tea.
44th over: Netherlands 226-8 (Nidamanuru 37, Dutt 1)
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43rd over: Netherlands 214-7 (Nidamanuru 36, van der Merwe 6) Roelof van der Merwe replaces the dearly departed van Beek and his first act of note is to smear Kuldeep high and proud over midwicket for six. No messing about.
WICKET! van Beek b Kuldeep 16 (Netherlands 208-7)
“Miss, hits. Easy peasy.”
Nailed it Mark. Worth the wait.
Updated
Right, here’s Mark Beadle to cover the action…
42nd over: Netherlands 208-6 (Nidamanuru 36, van Beek 16) Shami serves up a wide full toss and is scythed for four by van Beek, Rohit dived over the ball, “He was like the Sydney Harbour Bridge there” chimes Shane Watson on the commentary.
41st over: Netherlands 200-6 (Nidamanuru 35, van Beek 10) Great shot from Nidamanuru! He picks the googly from Yadav and deposits it high and proud over long on for SIX! van Beek sweeps for two and the double ton is notched up by the Dutch.
40th over: Netherlands 190-6 (Nidamanuru 28, van Beek 7) Shami comes back into the attack and is worked off the hip by van Beek for four. Nicely timed.
Updated
39th over: Netherlands 183-6 (Nidamanuru 26, van Beek 2) Kuldeep is despatched for a huge six down the ground by Nidamanuru.
Shreerang Sarpotdar is entering the spirit: “Maaaaaaaaaaaaark?”
No sign of Mark. My teabag stares at me forlornly, devoid of milk… and hope of being drunk. We could have had something Mark.
Updated
WICKET! Engelbrecht b Mohammed Siraj 45 (India 172-6)
Siraj scuds one through Engelbrecht in the first over after drinks. I’m sure Mark is going to elaborate. He’s got it covered. Every faith.
Logan van Beek is the new man. Mark?
38th over: Netherlands 169-5 (Nidamanuru 17, van Beek 1)
Updated
Mark? Mark Beadle?
37th over: Netherlands 169-5 (Engelbrecht 44, Nidamanuru 16) Kuldeep does indeed replace Suryakumar, is that the end of India’s high jinx? Just a single off the over and the players are going to take a drink…
“Hi James,”
Wotcha Mark Beadle.
“In the spirit of this game how about you take a few overs off and let the rest of us OBO’ers have an over each?”
DEAL Mark. I’m off to make a cup of tea. You do the over after drinks yes? Double dare you. I’m typing nothing – got to let my Yorkshire Gold brew. Don’t be too good though, I need this gig.
Updated
36th over: Netherlands 168-5 (Engelbrecht 43, Nidamanuru 16) Siraj returns to the fold, he’s put down a few catches in the field and so will want to make amends with the ball in hand. A full ball clips the legs of Nidamanuru and whistles away for four. I’ve been propositioned in my inbox…
35th over: Netherlands 162-5 (Engelbrecht 42, Nidamanuru 16) Well played Teja Nidamanuru, he decides enough is enough and launches SKY over long on twice in succession for two huge sixes. That might be enough for Rohit to call it a spell.
But what’s this? A theory from Vibhanshu Bisht:
“Hi James, I think you are missing the fact that Rohit has already started the mindgames for the semifinals. It is quite clear that this is an attempt by Rohit to befuddle any NZ analysts who might be watching the game to prepare for the semis. Instead of 5, now they will need to prepare strategic plans for 8…and maybe more bowlers.”
Updated
34th over: Netherlands 149-5 (Engelbrecht 42, Nidamanuru 3) This is very much akin to Graham Gooch’s much maligned quote about the NZ side of the eighties – like facing the World XI from one end and Ilford 2nds from the other. Bumrah is nailing the bouncer/yorker and looks mightily impressive. Suryakumar is given the nod for another…
Updated
33rd over: Netherlands 148-5 (Engelbrecht 42, Nidamanuru 3) Suryakumar gets his first bowl in an international match, cripes, the ball is so slow it barely makes it down the other end. Rohit will be on before you know it. There were four singles off it. Drosstastic stuff from India.
Updated
WICKET! Bas de Leede b Bumrah 12 (Netherlands 144-5)
Yorker. Sayonara. Bumrah has Englebrecht dropped on the boundary by a sprawling Siraj and takes matters into his own hands by detonating off stump. Teja Nidamanuru is the new man at the crease. Lordy, Suryakumar Yadav is being given his first bowl in international cricket. Brace yourselves.
32nd over: Netherlands 144-5 (Engelbrecht 40, Nidamanuru 0)
Updated
31st over: Netherlands 140-4 (Engelbrecht 37, de Leede 12) Inexplicably, Shubman Gill is given another over. Can’t really bring myself to type except to say four singles are taken off it. That’s all you are getting. Let’s all move on.
Updated
30th over: Netherlands 136-4 (Engelbrecht 35, de Leede 10) From the ridiculous to the sublime as Bumrah is recalled for the over after Shubman. Just a single off it to de Leede.
“Only Rohit is left. Might as well have a bowl. He has a IPL hattrick afterall” chirps Arul Kanhere.
Don’t rule it out.
29th over: Netherlands 135-4 (Engelbrecht 35, de Leede 9) Fair to say Gill is clearly no bowler. I’m not even sure how to categorise it… floaty nonsense? He drops short and is smeared to the fence by de Leede. This smacks of a village game where the bloke who was called up at the last minute and has “driven a fair way this morning” is given a bowl. That or a beer game. In fact – my stag doo match last summer was more competitive than this Gill over, that’s saying something. Wisden’s Phil Walker no doubt still having nightmares about getting out to my left arm dross. I never remind him. That would be crass. Ahem.
Updated
28th over: Netherlands 128-4 (Engelbrecht 33, de Leede 1) DROP! Jadeja can’t hold on to a sharp caught and bowled chance offered from de Leede. That was hit hard but it is chalked up as another missed chance. Ian Smith thinks India have been a bit lackadaisical in the field today. There is a slight end of term vibe to them, bring in your boardgames and wear your own clothes type thing. That is only reinforced by the fact Shubman Gill is coming on for a bowl.
27th over: Netherlands 124-4 (Engelbrecht 33, de Leede 1) Kohli continues for another over. You try prising the ball out of his mitts after that first ODI wicket in nine years… Five off the over, a mixed bag of dobblers and full tosses.
26th over: Netherlands 119-4 (Engelbrecht 29, de Leede 0) Englebrecht uses his feet to Jadeja and gets a meaty edge behind for four runs. DROP! Next ball is slashed to Rohit at point but he can only parry it. Another drop for India. Salt meet wound, wound meet salt. Engelbrecht punches down the ground and a mis-field sees the ball travel to the boundary. Smidge sloppy from the Indian side.
WICKET! Edwards c Rahul b Kohli 17 (Netherlands 111-4)
VIRAT STRIKES! Erm, well, he spears one down the leg side and Scott Edwards gets a tiny feather that is extremely well taken by KL Rahul. The crowd go bananas and Edwards has to trudge off.
Bas de Leede is the new man and Kohli is now channeling Richard Hadlee, three dots finish the over.
25th over: Netherlands 111-4 (Engelbrecht 20, de Leede 0)
24th over: Netherlands 110-3 (Engelbrecht 20, Edwards 17) A loosey goosey over finally from Jadeja, he spears down the leg side for four leg-byes and is then paddled away fine by Edwards for another boundary. Twelve runs in total are leaked off the over, the Dutch need a whole lot more.
23rd over: Netherlands 98-3 (Engelbrecht 17, Edwards 12) Here comes Kohli, the crowd whooping and hollering at the opportunity to see the great man do his lesser spotted thing with the ball. He trundles in… it is slooow. The caption has him down as medium pace but I think Trade Descriptions might want a word about that. He is nurdled for three singles before inducing a thick edge from Engelbrecht that flies away for four wide of KL Rahul. Seven off the over.
22nd over: Netherlands 91-3 (Engelbrecht 12, Edwards 10) Just a single off Jadeja’s latest over. I’ve got steam coming off my fingers. Virat is coming on for a bowl – what larks!
21th over: Netherlands 90-3 (Engelbrecht 12, Edwards 9) Yadav gets in and out with just four singles coming off it. A huge cheer goes around the stadium as Virat Kohli seems to be doing some warm-ups.
20th over: Netherlands 86-3 (Engelbrecht 10, Edwards 7) The squeeze well and truly on with the introduction of spin. Just three runs off another rapid Jadeja over.
“Rocket-ship grease down the cracks of my knuckles
Karate bandana, warp speed chic
Hair down to there, impressive moustache”
5min 54 in should do it:
19th over: Netherlands 83-3 (Engelbrecht 8, Edwards 6) Yadav sends down his fifth – he has 1-10 from half his allotment.
Siraj took the dropped ball in his throat a few overs back. Easier to use your hands for mine (arf).
A painful one for Mohammed Siraj 🤕 pic.twitter.com/OmLzIk8Skt
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 12, 2023
18th over: Netherlands 81-3 (Engelbrecht 7, Edwards 5) Stop it Jadeja! He whirls through an over, Scott Edwards nudges a single off the last ball.
17th over: Netherlands 80-3 (Engelbrecht 7, Edwards 4) Yadav nearly cleans Engelbrecht up with one that spits back but then drops short and is hauled away to the fence on the leg side.
A dusty (hungover) Dean Kinsella is on the wires – “This is my all time favourite autumnal song which kinda shows my age. But I was obviously too young to understand your reference to Mr Bellamy’s PLUGHOLE.”
Ramble on eh? Could be an OBO feemtoon.
WICKET! O'Dowd b Jadeja 30 (Netherlands 72-3)
The lustrously haired Ravindra Jadeja comes on and skittles O’Dowd (no slouch in the follicles department) with his first ball!
Dutch skipper Scott Edwards is the new batter and he punches through midwicket for two straightaway. Jadeja is rattling through his over in warp speed as is his wont. I love the guy but he’s an OBO scribes nightmare, blink and you miss it.
16th over: Netherlands 75-3 (Engelbrecht 3, Edwards 3)
Updated
15th over: Netherlands 72-2 (O’Dowd 30, Engelbrecht 3) DROP! Yadav should have had another as O’Dowd miscues a full ball high into the Bengalaru night sky, Siraj has time to settle under it but the ball slaps his palms and hits the turf. Gooober!
14th over: Netherlands 70-2 (O’Dowd 29, Engelbrecht 2) Four runs off Shami’s over as Engelbrecht gets off the mark with flick into the leg side and the batters rotate strike well enought. Quieter than it was when Ackermann was playing his shots.
WICKET! Ackermann lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 35 (Netherlands 66-2)
Spin does the trick for India as Ackermann drops to his haunches to sweep but misses a straight ball from Yadav. Three reds on the review and the fun cameo has to end.
The marvellously monikered Sybrand Engelbrecht is the new batter and he can’t get any of the five deliveries Yadav fizzes down at him away for a run. Wicket maiden for the spinner.
13th over: Netherlands 66-2 (O’Dowd 27, Engelbrecht 0)
Updated
12th over: Netherlands 66-1 (O’Dowd 27, Ackermann 35) Shami is picked off for three singles.
Elsewhere, Rob Key has been doing the rounds on the back of England’s problematic tournament:
Senior players like @benstokes38 & @root66 could still be part of England’s World Cup plans in 4 years time.
— Adam Mountford (@tmsproducer) November 12, 2023
Managing director of England men’s cricket Rob Key says he’s not drawing a line under anyone. #BBCCricket #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/rRViiuDvHT
11th over: Netherlands 63-1 (O’Dowd 26, Ackermann 33) Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack for India’s first use of spin. This will be a different challenge to the Dutch batters after the pace of Bumrah, Siraj and Shami looked relatively comfortable on this wicket. Just a single off Kuldeep’s first over, a shorter ball worked to point by Ackermann.
10th over: Netherlands 62-1 (O’Dowd 26, Ackermann 32) Max O’Dowd comes to the party by bashing down the front door and marching straight towards the ghetto blaster – a shimmy down the track sees him loft Shami for four back over his head for four. The bowler responds with a bouncer that O’Dowd picks up early and clobbers into the stands behind deep square leg. Six runs. Fearless and skilful stuff from the men in orange.
9th over: Netherlands 52-1 (O’Dowd 16, Ackermann 32) Yes please Colin Ackermann. He plays a booming drive ON. THE. UP. off Siraj and the ball skims to the fence like a pebble on glass. Some shot, he looks in fine fettle. That brings up the fastest fifty against India by any team in this World Cup.
Updated
8th over: Netherlands 46-1 (O’Dowd 15, Ackermann 27) Shami replaces Siraj but he can’t stem the orange flow (apols) as Ackermann glances away for four of his pads and then unfurls a cover drive that Bumrah does well to haul inside the boundary sponge. The batters take three runs. ‘mon the Dutch!
7th over: Netherlands 37-1 (O’Dowd 14, Ackermann 19) Fantastic approach from the Dutch here, they are playing some shots and showing lots of intent, “showing off their skills on the biggest stage” says Ian Smith on commentary. Bumrah overpitches and is driven handsomely away for another four by big Col.
6th over: Netherlands 29-1 (O’Dowd 12, Ackermann 13) Colin Ackermann looks in supreme touch as he nails three boundaries off Siraj! Two well-timed clips off his pads and a textbook cover drive to a ball outside the off stump. Bootiful.
5th over: Netherlands 17-1 (O’Dowd 12, Ackermann 1) Bumrah is clipped for a brace by O’Dowd who follows up with a nicely played late glide behind point for another boundary. Lovely batting.
“Hi James”
Hello to you Jeremy Boyce.
“I always found this did the trick, even though the Mozz-meister has lately morphed into something other than This Charming Man. It takes me back to a day I spent in Blackpool one November with a lovely lass from Wigan (hi Debbie), ending in several Brandy-Macs in a beach-side hostelry...
And it is Sunday! What more do you want?”
I want for nothing Jeremy. I’m not going to enquire where your ellipsis was heading… and will keep it clean by mentioning that my pa is from near Wigan (Hi Ian!) not sure he’s ever had a Brandy-Mac though I have witnessed him inexplicably sip on a Jagerbomb at my brother’s wedding. “Very warming”.
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4th over: Netherlands 11-1 (O’Dowd 6, Ackermann 1) Shot! O’Dowd leans on a full ball from Siraj and it traces away over the turf to the fence. The Samson-haired opener holds the pose for good measure and why not.
New Zealand beware…
3rd over: Netherlands 5-1 (O’Dowd 1, Ackermann 0) Bumrah sends down a threatening maiden over, O’Dowd does well to keep out some booming inswingers.
Zia Faruqui has seen something in the stars… “The fates are aligning. Looks like a NZ vs South Africa final. Which bridesmaid is going to make it this time!”
Not sure which celestial plains you have been interpreting Zia but I’ve very much got it down as an Australia v India final. Discuss.
WICKET! Barresi c Rahul b Mohammed Siraj 4 (Netherlands 5-1)
Siraj induces a big snickeroo and it is snaffled by KL Rahul diving forward behind the stumps. They check the catch on the DRS but it is clean as David Bellamy’s freshly Dettox’d plughole. One for the kids there. Colin Ackermann is the new man and Siraj keeps him honest with three dots.
2nd over: Netherlands 5-1 (O’Dowd 1, Ackermann 0)
Updated
1st over: Netherlands 5-0 (Barresi 4, O’Dowd 1) Jasprit stutters in with that inimitable run up and releases the bull-whip action. His first ball strays onto the pads and is clipped away confidently by Barresi for a single. Next ball smashes into O’Dowd’s front pad and there is a sizeable appeal but it looked to be sliding down leg. India wisely opt against the review. O’Dowd drops and runs to third and Barresi cloths a drive through cover but picks up three for it. Five runs off the first.
The OBO mailbag is very much open if you’d like to drop me a line with any thoughts, theories, jokes, philosophical musings, Autumnal song suggestions*.
*This is my ear worm at the moment.
Max O’Dowd and Wesley Barresi stroll out to the middle for the Netherlands, the crowd hype man does his thing and the spectators go wild. Jasprit Bumrah prowls around at the top of his mark like a coiled jaguar. Gulp. Let’s play!
Thanks Tanya. Cripes – that was some display of hitting from India, they look so good it is hard to see anyone running them close at the moment. Their batting is sumptuous and their bowling, as I’m sure we are about to see, is scarily good. New Zealand memorably pipped them in the semi-final four years ago and the two sides will go head to head for a place in the final on Wednesday.
Can the Dutch give Bumrah and Shami a decent tune up and make a fist of what is an imposing target? Will it be a pastel blue hued steamrollering under lights in Bengalaru to make it nine from nine for the host nation? We’re about to find out.
Updated
That was brilliant by India – famous last words but they just look unbeatable. So much firepower, so much confidence. “The plan was clear,” says a cool as ice Rahul afterwards, “Get as many runs as possible, enjoy yourself.” They certainly did that. Thanks for joining me today and for your emails. Jim Wallace is ready to take you through the second innings – enjoy!
Netherlands need 411 to win!
50th over: India 410-4 (Shreyas 128, Suryakumar 2) A timely acceleration! Fabulous hitting from Suryakumar and Rahul – a partnership of 208 off just 127 balls. Rahul’s century came off just 62. But until the last ten overs, the Dutch did well to keep the lid on India’s incredible firepower. India’s third 400 of the total. A side in peak form.
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WICKET! KL Rahul c Engelbrecht b de Leede 102 (408-4)
Electric! Rahul reaches his hundred with two consecutive sixes off de Leede’s first two balls. Takes off his helmet, modestly raises his bat, smiles, as the self-made joy flies about the stadium. But then goes for one hit too far and is caught on the rope.
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49th over: India 393-3 (Rahul 89, Shreyas 127) The Bangalore sky turning pink and purple with dusk, as Shreyas pancakes van Beek’s first ball for six. And the next, this time a few degrees squarer. Two more big hits, brings just two singles – then a wide. And then a contemptuous slap square by Shreyas, just over the fielder for six more. The final ball coaxed, with a gentle tickle, over extra cover for four glorious more.
48th over: India 368-3 (Rahul 88, Shreyas 104) Van Meekeren puts his hand on his nose and breathes heavily as Rahul flicks a slower ball off the ankles for four. But it is the only boundary of the over which I think he can consider a win.
47th over: India 360-3 (Rahul 82, Shreyas 102) Can India reach 400? The Dutch giving it their all. Van Beek’s first three balls are sensible singles, but then Rahul lofts him straight, it looks big but in fact only dribbles to the rope. The next shot is an incredible bit of engineering, as Rahul chops and yet the ball flies into the stands for six.
A hundred for Shreyas Iyer!
46th over: India 346-3 (Rahul 70, Shreyas 100) Rahul slams de Leede through backward point for four. Then three gentle singles – the crowd on tenterhooks for the hundred – he collects it with a single, raises the bat, gets a hug from Rahul gulps a bottle of water. Done with style, off just 84 balls.
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45th over: India 337-3 (Rahul 64, Shreyas 95) Rahul misses an attempted shimmy behind, and the next ball is a slower ball that he plays and misses. But he fetches the next, leans back and cuts for four. But seven from the over feels like a small Dutch triumph.
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44th over: India 330-3 (Rahul 59, Shreyas 95) A second six for Shreyas who stands and delivers straight and up off van Meekeren. Then it is Rahul’s turn: a fly swat, for six, into a sea of excited blue shirts. A free hit from a no ball is swatted – but just for one. 17 from the over. Van Meekeren shakes his head and walks away – but actually India have a way to go to hit their highest total ever.
Fifty for KL Rahul!
43rd over: India 313-3 (Rahul 51, Shreyas 87)Rahul completes a fifth fifty of the innings – every member of the top five getting their eye in for the semi on Wednesday. Off just 40 balls – which, I think, counter-intuitively, has been the quickest of them all. . And the non-striker’s stumps are flattened again, this time by Shreyas, before he turns van Beek off his hip and it scampers away for four.
42nd over: India 304-3 (Rahul 49, Shreyas 80) Decent from de Leede: two dots, a single. Spoke too soon – another wide, then Shreyas slams a short not particularly brutish one for four.
“Hi Tanya, hope you’re well?” Hello Phillip Wainwright!
“Would you have picked LL and SC in your touring party? A lack of alternatives?
“LL, with about 100 runs and nowhere near double figures for wickets in last 10 matches, indicates he must have some dirt on Butter/Mott/Key?
“SC has been awful for longer than he’s been good, as well. (Though not peeped ar his recent stats, admittedly).
“Strange calls, especially when you factor in Malan’s treatment. “
Tricky, because I’m not sure whether anyone has been rested rather than dropped. Malan surely deserves his place. I’d probably have taken Livingstone on what he can do. Not sure about Sam Curran…
41st over: India 296-3 (Rahul 47, Shreyas 75) Pressure on the Netherlands. Rahul cuts for four, then another with a gentle turn of the wrists.
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40th over: India 284-3 (Rahul 37, Shreyas 73) Bang – Shreyas flambees van Meekeren flat and fast for six – then immediately shakes his left arm, as if the vibrations have travelled down the bat handle. Out comes the physio – Shreyas takes off his helmet and we get to see his two enormous diamond earrings – but all seems ok. A super diving stop on the rope from de Leede.
Some glorious celebration kurtas (?) on show here by India.
We are #TeamIndia 🇮🇳 and we wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Diwali 🪔 pic.twitter.com/5oreVRDLAX
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 12, 2023
39th over: India 274-3 (Rahul 36, Shreyas 65) An arm-wheeling van der Merwe roars in sorrow that no-one has swallowed an impossible chance, as Rahul cuts between keeper and slip. Four.
38th over: India 266-3 (Rahul 29, Shreyas 64) KL Rahul fires a single into the boot of van Meekeren, then a drunk punch for four over deep midwicket.
37th over: India 257-3 (Rahul 22, Shreyas 62) KL Rahul tucks into a full toss from van der Merwe, sweeping it for four. Six off the over, as the Dutch, and the crowd, wait for the all-out-attack of the final ten.
Ali on Rob Key, who puts his hand up and says mea culpa.
36th over: India 251-3 (Rahul 17, Shreyas 61) The non striker’s stumps are broken for the third time in the day, this time by Rahul’s straight drive. Another wide from de Leede, but also three dots. Shreyas dances wide of leg stump and lofts over extra cover for four.
35th over: India 244-3 (Rahul 16, Shreyas 56) A wristy four from Rahul.
Fifty for Shreyas
34th over: India 235-3 (Rahul 10, Shreyas 54) Shreyas, with military moustache, pulls de Leede, navel level, dismissively to the boundary boards. Rahul drives , with high elbow for single. And then another four, sent, like a morning kiss, through extra cover, for his fifty – off 48 balls. “Temperament,” is what Rahul Dravid apparently said was Shreyas’ USP.
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33rd over: India 224-3 (Rahul 9, Shreyas 44) A pocketful of singles off Ackermann, and they take DRINKS.
32nd over: India 219-3 (Rahul 7, Shreyas 41) Better from de Leede, who pushes his long fringe out of his eyes. Think a young, blond, Tim Burgess. Just two from the over. In the dug out, Kohli wrings out his hands.
31st over: India 217-3 (Rahul 6, Shreyas 40) A nearly-but-not-quite four for Shreyas over the head of midwicket.
30th over: India 211-3 (Rahul 5, Shreyas 35) de Leede starts with a couple of wides, his radar slightly awry today. Serves up another juicily on leg stump and KL Rahul pulls for four, past a sprawling fielder.
“Happy Diwali,” and to you Krishnamoorthy.
”Let me clear up your confusion on Dravid wearing orange
The ruling party , the right wing nationalistic BJP leaves no opportunity to appropriate every popular thing . The training jerseys in orange is one such move.”
”You may like to look up the name if the stadium where the final will be hosted.” Ah, the Narendra Modi stadium. This is one habit I am happy the UK has not – yet – taken up.
29th over: India 200-3 (Rahul 0, Shreyas 31) Kohli stares at the broken stumps in disbelief, fumes at the blameless soil, before examining his bat and stalking away. Around the ground, people get up, stretch, scratch.
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WICKET! Kohli b van der Merwe 51 (India 200-3)
From nowhere! Kohli, leans back to cut, misses, and the ball pings back the top of off stump. Silence drops like a winter night.
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Fifty for Virat Kohli
28th over: India 198-2 (Kohli 50, Shreyas 30) Four, as Shreyas pulls van Meekeren, forward of square to the rope. And, finally, the Virat fifty as he pulls van Meekeren and takes the single. Pumps the bat briefly, grins, bumps gloves. 53 balls.
Apparently there are huge numbers of Virat Kohli cut-outs at the ground today. I can’t find any picures, but here are cut outs from Eden Gardens.
The Cricket Association of Bengal installed cut out of Kohli's all 48 💯 outside of Eden Gardens#INDvsSA #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/5SPM7PNU5V
— Cricket Skyblogs.in (@SkyblogsI) November 5, 2023
27th over: India 190-2 (Kohli 48, Shreyas 24) Van der Merwe, totters in, left arm over. Kohli content to pick the gaps and take the singles. An uncharacteristic misfield, a sprawling dive-over at short third man, brings two more runs to Shreyas. The crowd chant Koli’s name, as he faces the last ball on 48. No run, and he grins.
26th over: India 184-2 (Kohli 46, Shreyas 20) Shreyas swings at van Meekeren and misses. A single brings up the fifty partnership off 48 balls, another jogged single to make a pair. Then Shreyas tees off, four skewed up and over wide mid off. The batters are brought towels and drinks.
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25th over: India 178-2 (Kohli 45, Shreyas 15) Nearly a run-out, as Shreyas drops his bat in the sprint for the second run. If de Leede’s throw had been flatter – he’d have on his way home. Carefully done by Dutt – just five from the over.
24th over: India 173-2 (Kohli 44, Shreyas 11) Kohli again, pulling, through the gap for four. Eye now fully in.
23rd over: India 165-2 (Kohli 37, Shreyas 10) Wow, pin-point accuracy from Kohli, threading a needle, a back foot running stitch through cover off Dutt. Delicious.
22nd over: India 158-2 (Kohli 31, Shreyas 9) Someone put coal in the Kohli engine – a bottom handed welly over mid on, followed immediately by a stylish four.
21st over: India 147-2 (Kohli 20, Shreyas 9) The Kohli swagger, as he kneels to sweep, sweetly, for four. But, they say on comms, the Dutch have done well as he is “forced to play a shot he doesn’t usually play.”
A parochial English county cricket/Thomas the tank engine tweet, but I always hated Henry being bricked up in the tunnel. And poor, ignored, Sam Hain.
Let the #HainTrain free, Rob Key. https://t.co/5k8FGktGLJ pic.twitter.com/X0ZmqbQ8PQ
— Warwickshire CCC 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) November 12, 2023
20th over: India 140-2 (Kohli 14, Shreyas 8) de Leede continues. Shreyas picks up his first boundary through mid on. Shreyas and Kohli grin in the middle
19th over: India 133-2 (Kohli 13, Shreyas 3) In the crowd, the de Leede family sits en masse. Dutt returns, and has a much better time now that Rohit and Gill are gone. Beats the outside edge of Shreyas’ bat. Then Kohli’s, who pulls his head back in frustration and roars.
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18th over: India 130-2 (Kohli 12, Shreyas 1) Virat gets his first boundary with a wristy flick – the sort of shot that sells Christmas aftershave. A wide, a single, then the wicket as a slightly-out-of-timing Rohit gets it wrong.
WICKET! Rohit c Barresi b de Leede 61 (India 129-2)
Cross seam from de Leede, Rohit goes high, higher, and the ball falls safely into the hands of long on. And with that, Bas takes the leading Dutch World Cup wicket taker mantle from dad Tim!
17th over: India 123-1 (Rohit 61, Kohli 7) For a micro-second, it looks as if Kohli has been dropped – but instead it is a great take in the covers. A shout for lbw against Kohli, then Rohit misses a cut, inelegantly. Van der Merwe wrinkles his brow. Drinks.
16th over: India 122-1 (Rohit 61, Kohli 6) de Leede’s turn in the lions’s den. Starts with a wide. Kohli drives – hard – just six inches short of the diving mid-off. And with Gill’s departure, the fireworks have temporarily quietened.
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15th over: India 119-1 (Rohit 60, Kohli 5) Rohit sweeps -lazy-daisy- for SIX. Kohli happy to deal in singles.
Fifty for Rohit Sharma!
14th over: India 109-1 (Rohit 48, Kohli 2) Van Meekeren keeping Kohli quiet. He pulls over his shoulder, but without timing. Rohit keeps the sweeties coming – driving gorgeously rhrough the covers, 52 off 44 balls.
“No chance of Indian wickets being cheered unless you-know-who is coming in next.” writes Sahil Agarwal. “Indian crowds are infamous for being extremely myopic and partisan.. I agree about the post-wicket hush, it is so weird.”
13th over: India 104-1 (Rohit 48, Kohli 2) Kohli off the mark with a languid rock and drive. Then a textbook defensive, a single and he keeps the strike.
12th over: India 100-1 (Rohit 46, Kohli 0) Rohit calls for his pipe, and calls for his bowl and also some new gloves/bat. Van Meekeren’s first ball is a head high wide. Gill picks ups fifty with a wristy single, off just 30 balls, before holing out. Enter, the king.
WICKET! Gill c Nidamanuru b van Meekeren 51 (India 100-1)
Excellent catch, on one leg on the b of the boundary edge, as Gill pulls to wide fine leg.
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11th over: India 95-0 (Rohit 44, Gill 49) The field spreads, and the Netherlands get some respite. van der Merwe leaks just four singles.
10th over: India 91-0 (Rohit 42, Gill 47) Van Meekren looks as if he wants to disappear into his beard, as Gill hoolas him over long-on for six. A brief pause for a couple of dots, then he pulls him, slightly cramped, forward of square for another four. End of the powerplay
9th over: India 79-0 (Rohit 42, Gill 35) Van der Merwe nearly creates a chance, as Rohit mistimes, skimming mid-on but reaching the boundary anyway. A breather for the Dutch – just six from the over
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8th over: India 73-0 (Rohit 37, Gill 34) Van Meeken gets the gig. Gill breaks the non-strikers stumps again, driving so straight, as Rohit dives disgruntledly for safety. Gill scythes at the next, inelegantly, but it falls safely. And then six from the last ball – low and vicious over midwicket.
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7th over: India 64-0 (Rohit 36, Gill 26) Rohit – biff – through the covers, then a straight drive into the top tier of the stadium. He now has the most ODI sixes in a calendar year – 59 if you were asking. Colin Ackerman’s first over not stemming the flow.
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6th over: India 53-0 (Rohit 25, Gill 26) Anything Rohit can do… Gill shovels van Beek for two fours and a six – over deep backward square leg – slightly confusing to distinguish what is in realtime and what is replay as the television merges the two.
5th over: India 37-0 (Rohit 25, Gill 10) Dutt’s most economical over: four dots … and two boundaries, a divine Rohit off drive and a powerful cut.
4th over: India 29-0 (Rohit 17, Gill 10) Just two singles and a leg bye – and a blow in the box to Rohit. The physio runs out with his box of tricks, and Rohit plays on.
3rd over: India 26-0 (Rohit 16, Gill 9) Dutt again, and Rohit powers a cut off the first ball for four. Then a series of gentle prods until Gill decides to hammer the ball out of the ground – missing only by an advertising board at the top of the stadium.
“Interesting selections by England, and possibly already record breakers. This is surely the biggest number of “nouns as surnames” in any squad ever “ says Jeremy Boyce.
“But(t)ler, Brook, Duckett, Jacks, Pope, Salt, Tongue and Turner.
“Meanwhile, a good chance today for you-know-who to move up the aggregate individual runs table, especially with them batting first, and all to play for in the semis and final.”
Have to admit I looked up a Duckett – “A windowed, box-like structure mounted to the top or side of the brake van of a train,” or a pet name for Marmaduke.
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2nd over: India 15-0 (Rohit 11, Gill 3) Van Beek at the other end, more miserly. Gill drives straight back powerfully and hits the non-striking stumps, but a diving van Beek can’t get a paw on it. They steal a single from the last.
1st over: India 11-0 (Rohit 10, Gill 0) The Dutch start with the offspin of Aryan Dutt. The first ball… is a legside wide. The second…gets swept by Rohit high by for four, to electric roars. The fourth goes the same way. “Rohit, Rohit, Rohit,” chant the crowd. The sixth is met politely, with a head over knee, forward defensive.
“I hope the partisan Indian crowd cheer for the Dutch too,” writes Arul Kanhere. “Associate teams need these stages much more. They do not need the weird hush that follows after the opposition hits a four or takes a wicket.”
Here we go! Sorry if my email address was wrong earlier – should work now.
The Anthems. First, the jaunty Dutch one, which sounds like, at any moment, it is going to break into “On the first day of Christmas…” Now the Indian, roared to the stadiumtops by the celebrating crowd.
“As a cricketer this is what you strive to work for,” says Bas de Leede, confusingly wearing blue while Rahul Dravid, interviewed earlier, wears orange. Bas has 14 World Cup wickets, needs another one to overtake dad Tim – who is watching in the crowd.
Here is a gratuitous link to an interview with de Leede, just because he was such a great chap.
Teams: Netherlands
Netherlands: Max O’Dowd, Wesley Barresi, Colin Ackermann, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (c and wk), Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren.
Teams: India
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
Key event
Temperatures look divine – between 16 and 28 degrees.
Scott Edwards would have batted first too. He says it looks like a pretty good wicket. “I think we’ve been pretty good overall – this is going to be the biggest crowd we’ve had for the tournament, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
Both sides are unchanged.
India wins the toss and will bat!
Rohit Sharma in mirrored shades says he’ll have a bat because they’ve done it before and have done pretty well….
England name new look ODI and T20 teams to tour New Zealand
Out with the old, in with the new: just six survivors from the World Cup.
ODI squad (15 players)
Jos Buttler (captain – Lancashire), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), John Turner (Hampshire).
IT20 squad (16 players)
Jos Buttler (captain – Lancashire), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Moeen Ali (Warwickshire), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Tymal Mills (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Reece Topley (Surrey), John Turner (Hampshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Preamble
Good morning and a very happy Diwali! India celebrates with the very last match of the World Cup Group stages, game number 45, or is it 145? The hosts – India the unbeaten – play the Netherlands, down at the foot of the table but with two notable scalps, South Africa and Bangladesh, in their satchel.
India already know where they are heading – to the Wankhede Stadium to play New Zealand in Wednesday’s semi-final. The Netherlands will fly home, but would love to end their plucky campaign by giving India a bump on the nose. The chances look slim – India have been magnificent – but a scare might do India a favour, just a little one to get the juices cooking.
Play starts in Bengaluru at 8.30am, please join us.
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