2014 ICC World Twenty20

Classic game between South Africa & New Zealand.South Africa won by 2 runs.With 7 still required off the last over,Steyn took 2 wickets & ran out Taylor off the last ball.

Sri Lanka bowled out the Netherlands for 39 - and won by 9 wickets with 15 overs to spare !

This type of result was always on the cards.

(24-03-2014 15:32 )Billy_Nomates Wrote:  Sri Lanka bowled out the Netherlands for 39 - and won by 9 wickets with 15 overs to spare !

This type of result was always on the cards.

And Netherlands are one of the stronger "minnows". I still think the pre qualification system is a good one though.

Sri Lanka are strong contenders to go all the way.This latest win is their 12th in a row in all formats in international matches.Malinga & Mendis are 1 & 2 in wickets in the history of World T20.Kulasekara is the highest ranked pace bowler in International T20.
They may lack the explosive batting of Australia,West Indies,India & New Zealand but Jayawardene & Sangakkara will both bow out of International T20 cricket after this competition & will want to go out on top.

(24-03-2014 14:13 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Classic game between South Africa & New Zealand.South Africa won by 2 runs.With 7 still required off the last over,Steyn took 2 wickets & ran out Taylor off the last ball.

Sides batting second are falling short from good positions. New Zealand would have expected to finish the job against South Africa yesterday, but South Africa themselves expected to get home against Sri Lanka but didn't and Australia looked to be getting the better of Pakistan but fell short as well. It shows that T20 is not just about hitting boundaries, but but about winning matches by taking wickets at key moments.

West Indies were way too strong for Bangladesh,winning by 73 runs.Batting first West Indies made 171-7,but only Smith 72 (49) scored freely adding 97 with Gayle who scored a run a ball 48.Four wickets fell in their final over.Wickets fell steadily throughout the Bangladesh innings.

So far i think this tournament has once again shown the importance of having genuine wicket taking bowlers. Lucky for us we have Tim Bresnan and James Tredwell

^^ That exactly the reason England keep plugging away with Dernbach who can be a wicket taker but also a liability going at 9 or 10 runs per over.

We have no mystery spinners & not 90mph bowlers,our ranking of 8th is about right.

(25-03-2014 23:10 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ That exactly the reason England keep plugging away with Dernbach who can be a wicket taker but also a liability going at 9 or 10 runs per over.

We have no mystery spinners & not 90mph bowlers,our ranking of 8th is about right.

Completely agree, for me Giles is only coach because he is one of the old boys network! There are some lads in the county game I would have loved to have seen brought into the team last summer, guys who have cut their teeth playing 20/20.

Wood of Hampshire, Liddle of Sussex, Topley of Essex (yes not 90mph, but lefties which is a nice variation).
Overton of somerset who can crank the pace up.
Napier of Essex also tops 90mph, yes he is not young, but he bowls straight and adds some lower order hitting too.

Spin wise, i like Rafiq of Yorkshire in my opinion a clever bowler, who i would look at for all forms of the game.

Batting wise, i fail to see how Ian Bell is a better option than James Taylor & James Vince!!

^^ Great points,Bell is a Warwickshire pick,Taylor needs to get a go at T20 level if not in all formats,he's played some amazing knocks.
Napier,Yes if Australia can pick 43 year old Bradley Hogg then why not,Whynot.
If David Willey had been fit he'd be perfect,bowls left-arm but not rapid,can bat & field.
Rafiq's had his injuries,but has been working hard this winter,he has something about him.