1st over: Bangladesh 8-0 (Liton 6, Tamim 0) Good start for Bangladesh, Liton taking a single from Mujeeb’s loosener and two wides follow. Liton then cuts a wide one and Rahmat Shah makes a right pig’s arse of the stop, allowing the ball by him and to the fence. A single follows, and already Afghanistan are under pressure.
How would you make this competition better? More teams, I’d say, then maybe two big groups, and we probably need quarter-finals. On the one hand, that’s a lot of games to eliminate not a lot of teams, but those knockouts will draw casual viewers, tutor them in the ways of righteousness, and induct them into this thing of ours. With just semis and a final, we’re asking too much from just three matches.
Mathematics corner: I was wondering what people did in offices before the internet, and if the following equation is true.
Work facilitated by the internet = work not done on account of the internet. Otherwise, how has productivity taken a colossal nosedive?
“So, Virat Kohli has been filed his fees for showing dissent,” emails Amod Paranjape. “Dissent my ass. It was pure and simple bullying and intimidation. We should not go on to win the World Cup. But since the universe rarely gives people what they want, we are sure to win it. Eh.”
I see what you’re trying to do there. I don’t know, though – I suppose I tend to err on the side of caution when handing out punishments for stuff that’s central to the drama, edge and attitude of the game – if an umpire can’t stand up to a player, then I’m not certain the problem lies with the player. I also wonder what happens to the money.
Both captains have made two changes. Afghanistan leave out Aftab Alam and Hazratullah Zazai, replaced by Dawlat Zadran and Samiullah Shinwari. As such, Rahmat Shah moves up the order to open instead of Zazai.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, leave out Rubel Hossain and Sabbir Rahman, with Mosaddek Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin coming in.
I’m really looking forward to watching Afghanistan’s spinners – Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman offer such variety and nous. And, though Mark Nicholas and Ian Smith think their team should’ve batted, what’s the point in having good bowlers if they’re trying to defend 180?
Afghanistan win the toss and will field.
That sounds sensible to me – if they don’t bat well, the match is over before it’s started. On the other hand, their bowling is their strong suit, so if they deploy it at the start, they can take control and hang on.
While we wait, wrap yer peepers around this – I love love love Tony Cozier. Wendy Crozier, not so much – though these days, we’d probably call her Wendy Crozeiyay.
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It looks on the John Major side of grey in Southampton, but we should be good to go on time.
Summer summer summer time… Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images
Public service announcement: I just put on the radio, and heard a minute of a phone-in about Boris Johnson. With every fibre of my being, I urge you not to do the same, which is to say: thank expletive for cricket.
Preamble
At the risk of sound parochial, you’ve got to love Eoin Morgan’s brave, young England side. Not only are they the greatest one-day outfit there will ever be, but they are also the most altruistic. In deliberately losing to Sri Lanka, they have, in one fell swoop, revitalised their home World Cup. Because of their unique gifts, matches which meant nothing now mean something, and the world is a better place on their account.
Just ask Bangladesh. If they beat Afghanistan today, then India and Pakistan as well, they are through – provided Sri Lanka lose to South Africa, West Indies and India, and England only beat one of Australia, India and New Zealand. And they are capable of doing it. They have plenty of batting, canny bowling, and in Shakib al Hasan have an absolute star. Currently, he is the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer – with a higher strike-rate than both David Warner and Joe Root, who lie first and third – while his bowling is threatening, his leadership absolute and his mentality unflappable. If his team are to do it, it will probably be because of him.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, are 0 and 6, but just the other day gave India an almighty fright. That will have fired their confidence, and helped them believe that they can put everything together – they have plenty of talent, but are still learning the knowhow that will extract the most from it. Yes, they’re a dog, but they’re a live dog.
Play: 10.30am BST
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