Nickyc707

Good point. (always wanted to use this one 😊) would likely do the same as cricket continues to spread from the subcontinent. too.

In the 86 years since handball was first introduced to the Olympics only two countries from outside Europe have ever won a medal. Do you think that sport should be excluded? Afterall Europe consists of fewer countries and far fewer people than the Commonwealth. The introduction of cricket would mean that a lot of countries and parts of the world that never have the opportunity to compete in team sports at the Olympics would have a chance to do so. I'm thinking in particular of South Asia, Southern Africa and the Caribbean. The Olympics needs to stop being so Eurocentric.

So by extension handball is only an Olympic sport when it's held in Europe, presumably.

And manage to completely blow a winning position against . India needed 13 runs off the last 3 balls which while not impossible is incredibly tough. Pakistan then bowl a waist high no ball which Kohli hits for six to concede 7 runs and from there India scrape home off the last ball of the game. Epic match. Huge boost to India and massive downer for Pakistan. Match highlights. https://www.t20worldcup.com/video/2869705

In today's two games have comfortably beaten . Meanwhile, and are facing each other in front of a raucous crowd of over 90,000 at the MCG. https://www.t20worldcup.com/video

And a better view here. https://www.t20worldcup.com/video/2866725

Stunning catch by Phillips as complete an 89 run drubbing of . The Aussies NRR already a horrible looking -4.450.

That was bad luck but these things can happen when you try a sweep or hoick against the bowler. The truth is the Aussies have been comprehensively outplayed by NZ. Finn Allen gave the Kiwis an excellent start with 42 off 16 balls and they didn't look back. They've also had much greater variety in both their spin and pace attacks. Looking like real challengers, I think.

The second stage begins today with two matches in Group A. play in Perth later, while the first big clash of this WC is between and in front of a sell out crowd at the SCG. The Kiwis batted first and put up what looks like a decent score of 200/3 in what is one of the key matches in this group.

Mixed my flags up! It should be this one! Forgot the BVI have their own NOC.

British Virgin Islands I hope although it's difficult to see. It contains the island's coat of arms, i.e. St Ursula holding a flaming gold oil lamp surrounded by a further eleven lamps representing her 11,000 virgin followers. Apparently this derives from Columbus's naming of the islands. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_British_Virgin_Islands

Those four countries have always been the core of West Indies cricket certainly. Until the last thirty years or so all their international cricket was played in Bridgetown, Georgetown, Kingston and Port of Spain. I'm not sure about the future of the WI but the allegiances that existed in the post-colonial world in the Caribbean do seem to have dissipated and perhaps what has been a unique sporting collaboration between nations is at risk unless the current pattern changes.

With ten countries arcing around from Jamaica to Guyana in South America as well as five overseas territories of the UK, Netherlands and USA it isn't easy to organise, coordinate and bring a sense of purpose to West Indies cricket. plus They have produced some of the greatest players to ever play the game. Barbados alone has probably produced more cricketing talent per square mile than any place on the planet. However, it isn't always easy to bring such a disparate group of players from so many different countries together towards a common goal. West Indies have been at their best when they've had a strong captains, men like Sir Frank Worrell, Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv Richards, who have been able to create unity and provide a sense of purpose. That no longer seems to exist as players wander round the world making their earnings from the numerous T20 leagues now on offer. It is sometimes difficult to manage the players from one country as most teams have found at some stage or another, notably Pakistan, but it must be even more difficult in the unique sporting united nations that is the West Indies.

I don't know if anyone can remember a better start to a T20 WC than this. Lot's of close matches and both groups very tight with every team winning at least one match and none getting through unbeaten. Really looking forward to the next stage! 😎

beat in another close match to top Group B and complete the lineup for the next round. Group B 4 pts +0.200 Qualified 4 pts +0.105 Qualified 2 pts +0.304 2 pts -0.563 The final makeup of the groups for the next stage Group 1 Group 2

thrash the by 9 wickets to go through to the next stage. Having grown up watching the West Indies dominate world cricket for fifteen years its hard to watch them play so poorly. I met their great former batman and captain Clive Lloyd a couple of years ago and he would never have tolerated that standard of performance even from this group of players. If it was a sad day for the West Indies it was a great one for Ireland and well done to them, especially after being well beaten by . They were also in trouble against before a terrific match winning 5th wicket partnership of 119* between Curtis Campher and George Dockrell. Definitely the turning point of their campaign.

UAE pull off a surprise in a great game with Namibia to send the Netherlands through to the next round Group A 4 pts +0.667 Qualified 4 pts -0.162 Qualified 2 pts +0.730 2 pts -1.235 Amended groups for stage two. Group 1 plus the runner-up from Group B Group 2 plus the winner of Group B

If either game is rained off then Scotland and the West Indies are holding the aces.

4 pts 0.149 Run rate 2 pts 1.277 2 pts 0.600 0 pts -2.028 SL beat the UAE comfortably and now have a better run rate than the Netherlands so the Dutch will have to beat SL in their final round one match or hope that Namibia lose to the UAE. If SL finish second I believe they'll be in the same group as and in the next round which will be fun.

Two will qualify. If Namibia beat UAE as they should they are guaranteed a spot as they can't be overtaken by both the other two challengers. SL and the Netherlands will then be in a battle for the second spot. The Netherlands win and they're through. If not it comes down to run rate. We'll have a better idea of what the Netherlands needs to do after the SL v UAE game. If Netherlands maintains a run rate advantage after that then a narrowish defeat against SL might still be enough. Mind you the Netherlands will also qualify if Namibia lose to UAE but they won't want to rely on that happening.

Batting second or Going Dutch as we say across the North Sea. 😊

As I suggested yesterday its looking like a three way tie between and unless the Dutch beat Sri Lanka in their last group match. I'm certain Namibia will have a better run rate than the Netherlands so I'd make them favourites to qualify. As for Sri Lanka and the Netherlands the latter have a clear advantage at the moment but that's likely to close, perhaps even be eradicated if the Sri Lankans have a big win later on against . Ironically that game is potentially crucial to Dutch chances of qualifying if they don't beat SL themselves.

They were the only ones who successfully chased a total but they were up against arguably the weakest team. In the other three games the team batting second came up well short.