Today's Match Eng v WI 7th ODI

[sostenurter]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

sostenurter
Well apparently the groundsman reckons a score of 320 would be a good one on this pitch! Personally I think he's been smoking too many of those 'whacky' home rolled cigarettes they love so much out there!

Anything over 250 will be good in my mind and I think WI will struggle to get to 250.

Scott

Scott

After the start we've had, I'd have wanted to restrict the WI to 225, but having seen Dwayne Smith come in and carry on where he left off in the last match, might want to revise that upwards. IF Smith and Sarwan stay in for a bit, the WI could be looking at 300 odd. It's a big if though - we don't know if Smith can play a longer, more mature innings.

sostenurter

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by sostenurter

After the start we've had, I'd have wanted to restrict the WI to 225, but having seen Dwayne Smith come in and carry on where he left off in the last match, might want to revise that upwards. IF Smith and Sarwan stay in for a bit, the WI could be looking at 300 odd. It's a big if though - we don't know if Smith can play a longer, more mature innings.

sostenurter

They want to peg them back to 250 or under here, England do not want to be chasing much more than 250 on this pitch in my mind. I think they brought Batty on for two reasons - to try and get Smith out and to try and dry up the runs from one end - he's not been that successful on either so far.

This is a dangerous partnership - England need to break ASAP, as they're both now starting to push the run rate up to over 4.5 an over and as you say - Smith can be a 'power-hitter' if you let him and destroy a lot of the good work England have achieved so far. They must break this partnership or risk these two pushing the total over an amount England really don't want 250+

Scott

[Whips_off_the_bails]

A great combination from Gough and Read to get Smith out: Read right up to the stumps had Smith playing much more circumspectly, then Gough slips in the length ball, Smith plays across the line and is given lbw.

[Scott-Wozniak]

159-5!

Goughy gets his revenge for being pulled for 6 in the previous over and traps the danger man Smith LBW with a fuller ball swinging in which Smith simply misjudged - great bowling!

Can't tell you how pleased I am to see the back of Smith - that guy can be really dangerous!

I think Gough was brought in with the sole intention of getting a wicket.

Scott

[Mike]

I am pleased for Gough that he got the dangerous D Smith out after reading an article on CricInfo that was a real hatchet job. Suggesting that Gough had no "punch" left and was all but a spent force. Gough has no "guile"? Smith's wicket was cleverly worked out and could be the decisive factor in giving England a chance to win this match. Obviously, Sarwan is still there and has to be removed soon. Who will get his wicket?

[Scott-Wozniak]

193-6!

Another inspired bowling change by Vaughan gets him the breakthrough he needed - Freddy comes on and takes out Bravo's off stump, simply trying to drive a good length ball that wasn't there to drive! Good bowling from Freddy!

Scott

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Mike

I am pleased for Gough that he got the dangerous D Smith out after reading an article on CricInfo that was a real hatchet job. Suggesting that Gough had no "punch" left and was all but a spent force. Gough has no "guile"? Smith's wicket was cleverly worked out and could be the decisive factor in giving England a chance to win this match. Obviously, Sarwan is still there and has to be removed soon. Who will get his wicket?

Mike

Not sure - Sarwan looks well set, I suspect the only way they'll get his wicket is if he tries to ramp up the run rate and plays some risky shots - which they will have to do soon!

Gough isn't a spent force - he's still as good a one day bowler as anyone else in th ODI side, he's got a few years left in him yet!

Scott

[Whips_off_the_bails]

Freddie and even Lara are quoted on sporting-life earlier saying that they thought Gough was still a quality bowler. Unfortunately, that story is now gone from the s-l news page.

[sostenurter]

I also thought the cricinfo article about Gough was harsh.

WI are 229-6 now with four overs left. I would like it if we could get out one of these two batsman - at this stage, the only way you will keep runs down is with wickets.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by sostenurter

WI are 229-6 now with four overs left. I would like it if we could get out one of these two batsman - at this stage, the only way you will keep runs down is with wickets.

sostenurter

I wasn't far off in my estimation of 250 - this is a 250 pitch, I think the WI did well to past that total, and only did so via an excellent innings from Sarwan, despite some really good all round bowling from England particularly in the last 10 overs.

I still maintain England will win this game.

Scott