Tigers learning and growing

After more than five weeks of high-octane cricketing action, the 2019 World Cup has boiled down to three matches and four teams. Two of those -- India and New Zealand -- will face off in the first semifinal at Old Trafford today with each side knowing that they need just two good performances to take home cricket’s most coveted trophy.

There is a chance of light rain in Manchester today, but a complete washout is a slim possibility as unlike the group stage, there are reserve days for the semifinals and finals. If rain does stop play today, the teams will continue the match tomorrow from the score they end on today.

While New Zealand have struggled into the knockouts, India have cantered into the last four as the top-placed side. However, while India are ahead, they are not clear favourites as there is precious little to separate the four semifinalists after a group stage that none have escaped unscathed. Neither side are strangers to the pressure cooker atmosphere of World Cup knockouts, although India have had a better experience in semifinals overall, winning three out of six. New Zealand, on the other hand, lost seven semifinals before winning their first one in 2015 against South Africa and then finishing runners-up to Australia.

India skipper Virat Kohli was well aware of the pressure of World Cup knockout games being different from the league matches, likening it to the ‘toughest situations’ in Test cricket.

“League stages, when you know that you need a victory to qualify, the team is a bit more relaxed and you know you can go out and try a few things,” said Kohli in the pre-match press conference yesterday. “But I think in knockout games you need to be very precise, at the same time being intense. This is more similar to the toughest situations you get in Test cricket where you have to be absolutely precise but your intent cannot go down, so decision-making will be crucial.”

While India are known for their batting prowess, the match well may become a fight between two of the best bowling lineups in the World Cup. India’s seamers -- Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya -- have been the most successful fast men in the World Cup, scalping 51 wickets. India will also feel that they have the edge on non-subcontinental teams with two leg-spinners in the right-handed Yuzvendra Chahal and the left-handed Kuldeep Yadav. With off-spin-bowling all-rounder Kedhar Jadhav also in the mix, they will certainly have a lot of options when forming the ideal bowling combination to run through the Kiwis.

New Zealand, meanwhile, have been the only team among the top four to have conceded runs at less than five an over. Their seam attack is a varied one, with Trent Boult and Matt Henry providing movement up front, Lockie Ferguson providing high pace and Colin de Grandhomme’s cutters and change-ups keeping batsmen guessing in the middle overs. Completing the picture is left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who has kept a tight lid on scoring in the middle overs.

While their bowling is in rude health, New Zealand should be worried about their top order. Opener Martin Guptill has just scored 166 runs in eight matches, and New Zealand have lost 13 wickets in the batting Powerplay in the group stage. They have been overly reliant on skipper Kane Williamson, whose 481 runs have constituted an astonishing 28.73 per cent of New Zealand’s runs. The partnerships between Williamson and Ross Taylor -- who is the team’s second-highest scorer with 261 -- have proven integral in New Zealand’s wins.

“No, I don’t really look at it like that. I look at my role as a role and that’s one of 11 guys that do try and play their role to the best of their ability,” Williamson said when asked if his and Taylor’s were the key wickets for opposition. “And there’s so many guys that have had significant contributions over the last few years that have gone a long way for us to win cricket matches and we all have that same opportunity going into tomorrow.”

With a maximum of two games left to play, it will all come down to which side holds their nerves better on the day. If New Zealand’s top order can come to the party, it may well be a great contest to kick off the knockouts.

New Zealand reached their second World Cup final with a stunning 18-run win over shell-shocked India at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

New Zealand stunned India to reach their second successive World Cup final as they survived Ravindra Jadeja's late heroics to clinch a thrilling 18-run win at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

It was a superb display by the underdog Black Caps, who came into the match on the back of three straight defeats by Pakistan, Australia and England and only qualified for the semi-finals on net run-rate, while India topped the 10-team group stage.

New Zealand will face the winners of Thursday's second semi-final between Australia -- the team that beat them in the 2015 final -- and hosts England in Sunday's title match at Lord's.

Two-time world champions India lost key batsmen Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for just one run each.

They slumped to five for three in pursuit of a target of 240 and were 24 for four when Dinesh Karthik was out.

New Zealand pacemen Matt Henry (three for 37) and Trent Boult (two for 42) did the damage with the new ball.

India, one of the pre-tournament favourites, were all but beaten at 92 for six when Jadeja came in to bat alongside veteran former captain MS Dhoni.

The pair gave India hope during a World Cup record seventh-wicket stand of 116, all-rounder Jadeja boldly leading the way with 77.

Jadeja hit well-struck sixes off both Jimmy Neesham and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner during a 39-ball fifty.

With 10 overs left, India were 150 for six and needing a further 90 runs off the final 60 balls of the innings.

Jadeja got them closer with a superb straight six off fast bowler Lockie Ferguson and, with five overs left, the target was down to 52.

But with India in sight of an amazing win, left-hander Jadeja's 59-ball innings, featuring four fours and four sixes, ended when he skyed Boult to New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

It was a fine, if ultimately futile, effort from Jadeja, dismissed as a "bits and pieces player" by former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, after he had also taken one for 34 with his left-arm spin and been brilliant in the field.

With India needing 31 off two overs, Dhoni uppercut Ferguson for six to the delight of the massed ranks of India fans in the crowd.

But going for a second run to keep the strike, the 38-year-old Dhoni, India's 2011 World Cup-winning captain, was just run out by Martin Guptill's direct hit for 50 off 72 balls.

- Shock victory -

With 23 required off the last six balls, tailender Yuzvendra Chahal glanced Neesham for four.

But the match finished with three balls to spare when Chahal edged to wicketkeeper Tom Latham, a review confirming his dismissal and New Zealand's shock victory.

Sharma, who had already made a five hundreds at this tournament -- a record for a single World Cup, began the procession of top-order dismissals when he was caught behind off Henry.

Kohli fell next, lbw to a superb inswinger from left-armer Boult.

Kohli reviewed but replays upheld English official Richard Illingworth's original out decision on umpire's call.

India were then five for three when Rahul was brilliantly caught by a diving Latham after edging Henry.

At that stage, India had lost three wickets for one run in 10 balls.

Neesham then held a brilliant superb one-handed catch at backward point to dismiss Karthik off Henry.

Rishabh Pant holed out for 32 when he was caught at deep midwicket by Colin de Grandhomme following a lofted sweep off Santner.

India suffered another setback when Hardik Pandya, slogging across the line, skyed Santner to Williamson at midwicket as he fell for 32.

Earlier, New Zealand added 28 runs in the remaining 23 balls of their innings to finish on 239-8 after rain had stopped play on Tuesday.

Ross Taylor, who resumed on 67 not out, top-scored with 74 after Williamson had made a masterly 67 in awkward conditions.

(AFP, Manchester)

Dhoni run out

A maginificent throw from Martin Guptill as Dhoni wants two but Guptill's direct hit takes off the bails before Dhoni could scamper back. India's last hope possibly gone after Dhoni run out.

Boult removes Jadeja

Trent Boult came into the attack in the 48th over to pick up the wicket of the dangerman Ravindra Jadeja. All hope rests on Dhoni as India neede 31 runs in 2 overs. Jadeja fell after scoring 77 off 59 deliveries.

Dhoni-Jadeja star in century stand

India have come back into the match courtesy of a 100-run partnership between Jadeja and Dhoni. The partnership cam in just 97 deliveries after India were struggling at 92 for six in the 31st over. India need 42 runs in four overs.

Jadeja smashes fifty

Ravindra Jadeja has been in exquisite touch on a day when most of the top order Indian batsmen have failed miserably. He gets to his fifty off just 39 balls when he clipped away an James Neesham delivery in the 42nd over to take a double. 

Dhoni, Jadeja star in fifty-run stand as India look to fight back

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja stitched together an ongoing 67-run seventh-wicket stand after India were left struggling at 92 for six in the 31st over. The partnership between the duo has revived some hope for the Indians who have been struggling from the start of today's game. India require another 90 runs from 60 balls with four wickets in hand.

Santner removes Pandya with Kiwis firmly on top

The required run-rate was escalating and Hardhik Pandya, looking to get some momentum into the innings looked to heave Mitchell Santner over mid-wicket only to get holed out as the ball looped up after taking the top edge of the bat. Captain Kane Williamson ran back to take the catch with India in big trouble after losing their sixth wicket. Santner bags his second of the match as Ravindra Jadeja comes to the crease to accompany Dhoni. Pandya leaves after scoring a 62-ball 32. India need a further 146 runs from 19 overs.

New Zealand on top after Pant dismissal

Rishabh Pant goes for a wild heave off a Mitchell Santner delivery over the midwicket but only finds the fielder. India were looking to build a good partnership through Pant and Hardik Pandya after their early slump. The duo had strung together a 47-run stand before Pant lost his pateince and fell prey to a Santner delivery in the 23rd over. India in deep trouble in the first semifinal of the World Cup at Old Trafford in Manchester today.  

India lose four as New Zealand on top

Dinesh Karthik was sent back as Matt Henry gets his third.

Neesham dived to his left to grab a scintillating catch to dismiss Karthik who never looked comfortable on the field. He took 22 balls to open his innings but as soon as looked to get a start, Henry showed his skills to send Karthik back.

KL Rahul nicked one to the New Zealand keeper Latham as India find themselves in trouble.

Top three of the Indian batting line-up could not make themselves comfortable in the middle as the New Zealand seamers run havoc on the field. The batsmen look to have no answers to the bowling spell by Trent Boult and Matt Henry. 

Latham threw himself to his right and grabbed the ball with both hands in front of Ross  Taylor at first slip. It would have been better if Rahul left the ball alone. Instead, he nicked with it. Rohit Sharma was sent back in the same manner.

Dinesh Karthik came out in the middle to rescue struggling India

Virat Kohli sent back as India lose wickets within three overs.

The Indian skipper was sent back by Trent Boult as he was caught leg before wicket. Considered as one of the best chasers of the game, the departure of Virat was a huge blow to the Indians.

Rohit Sharma was sent back to the pavilion by Matt Henry.

Fuller than a good length ball angled in towards off stump as it straightened away aat the very last moment. The line prompted Rohit to play the ball. A huge blow as the in form opener was sent back in chase of 239 runs.

New Zealand post 239 for eight on reserve day

New Zealand posted a challenging 239 for eight in their semifinal against India, which resumed today after being suspended yesterday due to persistent rain at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

After being suspended for persistent rain yesterday, New Zealand resumed today from where they had left off yesterday -- 211 for five in 46.1 overs. With 23 more balls to play, New Zealand added 28 more runs on the board, losing three wickets on the day. Ross Taylor, who resumed the day on 67, was the first one to fall to a run out after scoring 74 off 90 deliveries. After that the Kiwis could only manage 239 for eight with Santner scoring nine off six balls and Trent Boult with an unbeaten run-a-ball 3.

IND v NZ: Play resumes on reserve day

After being suspended due to persistent rain yesterday, the semifinal between India and New Zealand has resumed on the reserve day today at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

Cricket’s global crown will find a new resting place today when perennial bridesmaids England and New Zealand square off in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s. By the end of the final, cricket will have first-time world champions for the first time since 1996, when Sri Lanka etched its name into cricketing folklore.

England, the top-ranked ODI side, had been tipped for a maiden trophy before the tournament started, but New Zealand’s second successive final may have surprised some. Today’s final at Lord’s, starting at 10:30 am (3:30 pm Bangladesh time) will pit two contrasting cricketing philosophies against each other -- the pace-setters versus the adapters.

Since being booted from the 2015 World Cup at the group stage, England have undergone a renaissance. Fearlessness has been the mantra for the hosts -- they are arguably the only team capable of accelerating throughout the 50 overs of an ODI. They proved that for the umpteenth time in the semifinal against a formidable Australia. Having bundled their old foes out for 223, openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow did not give much space to Australia’s feted pacers, putting on 124 in just 17.2 overs. Even after their dismissals, England kept accelerating and romped home with 17.5 overs to spare as Joe Root and skipper Eoin Morgan ensured that the pressure on the Aussies does not relent.

Fittingly, England’s hyper-aggression was seeded by none other than New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup. Under Brendon McCullum’s captaincy, New Zealand had displayed the same streak of fearlessness as they romped unbeaten to the World Cup final before the wheels came off against Australia. Morgan had said before that it was their defeat to New Zealand, apart from the Adelaide loss against Bangladesh that sealed their exit, that brought home how far England lagged in terms of being at the cutting edge of ODI cricket.

“I think he has had quite a bit to do with it,” Morgan said at the pre-final press conference at Lord’s yesterday when asked about McCullum, whom he had just chatted with on the way to the press meet. “You could say about world cricket. We are close mates and he’s taught me a lot about leadership and I think in 2015 the way that New Zealand played, very similar to the way they are playing at the moment. They proved to everybody that you can perform at the highest level and get to the top by being yourselves and not trying to be somebody else, or a different team, or be somebody that is a bit of a novelty for everybody else, so that’s quite cool.”

Now, however, New Zealand are the adapters chasing England’s pace. That does not necessarily mean that they will be clear underdogs in the title-decider. They have proven to be remarkably awake to situations on the pitch. While McCullum blazed a new trail in 2015, Kane Williamson’s men are performing a function that has been a reality of New Zealand cricket since inception. Being a small country with a tiny talent pool, recognition of limitations has been their tried and tested method to success. And that is what they have done throughout the World Cup -- be it in pacing their chase against Bangladesh on June 5 and winning by a whisker, or resetting targets when batting in Manchester in the semifinal against India, when they bucked a three-match losing streak to beat the pre-tournament favourites in a match that rain had extended to the reserve day on July 10. Their adaptability has seen them through to the finals despite being the only team other than Afghanistan not to have scored 300 in the edition.

England captain Eoin Morgan and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will both look to etch their names into history when the sides square off in the World Cup final at Lord’s today. PHOTO: Twitter/AFP

“I think most teams expected scores to be a lot higher than what we have seen, but the reality of it is that they have been quite tough surfaces and there’s been surfaces that have aged throughout perhaps a match on one day,” Williamson said. “Trying to make those adjustments are really important. I think both sides looked at the surface [in the semifinal], thought it was a really good one, and thought perhaps 300 was going to be at play, but after 15 overs or so, we were saying ‘this is really quite difficult and 300 looks like a long, long way away’ so if we are able to perhaps achieve something a little bit more realistic on that surface, then that gives you every chance to win. And we have done it on a number of occasions but we will have to be good at doing that tomorrow.”

The pitch at Lord’s bore a green look and that may favour the Kiwis a little more as their seam attack has been the most consistent in the World Cup so far. Their bowling attack is the only one to have conceded runs at less than five an over and against a side that have scored at more than six an over throughout the tournament, that will probably be the main battle in deciding the new champions.

While England, having won their league match comfortably on July 3, will start as favourites, both sides have shown that the tools at their disposal -- aggression and adaptability -- can win the day. As Williamson said, it will all come down to responding to conditions and realities on the day.

A magnificent rearguard effort from India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja could not offset the early damage done by seamers Trent Boult and Matt Henry as New Zealand secured a second successive World Cup final berth with an 18-run win in a pulsating semifinal at Old Trafford yesterday. New Zealand completed the win on the reserve day set aside for the semifinals and finals after rain had forced a suspension on Tuesday, which ended with the Kiwis on 211 for five in 46.1 overs.

The Black Caps will meet the winner of today’s second semifinal between Australia and England in the final at Lord’s on July 14. If Australia win, it will be a replay of the 2015 World Cup final and if England win, there will be a new world champion come Sunday night.

Chasing 240 to win, India had brought the chase down to 37 from the last three overs with Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the crease. Having hit four sixes while dragging India back into contention, Jadeja perished trying for a necessary fifth to be caught in the ring off a Boult slower ball. Dhoni started the next over from Lockie Ferguson, which began with India needing 31, with a six over point but off the third ball a precision throw from deep square leg from Martin Guptill found Dhoni just short of his crease in his attempt to complete his 51st run. Guptill’s pinpoint accuracy was one of the examples of fortune favouring the brave after skipper Kane Williamson had gone for wickets early on and gambled by bowling his best bowlers out before the last two overs.

Ferguson bowled Bhuvneshwar Kumar with a slower ball and then Jimmy Neesham had Yuzvendra Chahal caught behind as India were all out for 221 with three balls to spare.

New Zealand’s win over the more fancied India was based on doing what no other team had managed against the 2011 World Cup champions in this edition so far -- dismissing Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli within the first 10 overs. After New Zealand had added 28 runs for the loss of three wickets in the morning yesterday, three wickets from Henry and one -- that of Kohli -- from Boult cut the Indians down to 24 for four after the first 10 overs. The significance of those early blows can best be illustrated by the fact that in their eight league games, India had lost just four wickets in the first 10 overs.

But the two-time champions’ chasing pedigree came through later on, when Jadeja dominated a 116-run seventh-wicket stand with MS Dhoni, who was handing the strike over to the left-hander in red-hot form. Jadeja came to

the crease with India reeling on 92 for six in the 31st over with Dhoni playing slowly and the match all but lost. He hit a 59-ball 77 in the partnership that lasted 17.2 overs and nearly pulled off a miracle.

Earlier, in ideal swing-bowling conditions, captain Williamson’s gamble to go all out for wickets was rewarded by two bowlers who executed that plan to the letter with highly accurate and incisive spells. Henry drew first blood in the second over by having Sharma -- who scored five centuries in eight league games -- caught by the keeper with an edged away-swinger. Boult worked Kohli over with a sequence of two outswingers and two inswingers, with the right-hander playing across the line and being trapped in front by the second inswinger. Lokesh Rahul repeated Sharma’s error -- poking without conviction at an away-swinger -- to leave India on a woeful five for three in the fourth over. Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant fought hard to survive with Boult constantly keeping the batsmen guessing and playing late. Neesham then completed the Powerplay dominance by snaffling a superb catch at point millimetres off the ground diving to his left when Karthik checked a drive to another outswinger from Henry and got a thick outside edge in the 10th    over.

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner did his part by bowling a tight line and Pant, realising the need for some quick runs, attempted a maximum but was instead caught off a slog sweep at deep midwicket in the 23rd over. The pressure also told on Hardik Pandya, whose wild slog in the 31st over off the same bowler was caught by Williamson in the ring, leaving India in a seemingly hopeless position. Jadeja’s innings followed, as did a late Dhoni fightback in what could be the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman’s last ODI, but the early ground ceded to the brave Kiwis proved too much to recover.

Bangladesh's World Cup ended with a crushing defeat against Pakistan at Lord's on Friday. It was an anticlimactic finish to an otherwise fantastic run by the Tigers in the showpiece event that had started brilliantly for them with a fabulous victory against South Africa more than a month ago.

Interestingly, the harsh reality after Friday's chastening defeat is that we are no longer talking about how well the Tigers have played but how badly they have signed off.

The Pakistan game was a dead rubber for Bangladesh. The only thing at stake for the Tigers was to win the game and finish fifth, just beneath the four semifinalists. It could have been a logical conclusion after a campaign that saw the Tigers beat West Indies and Afghanistan apart from that near-miss against New Zealand and two closely-fought battles against Australia and India respectively. There was also a washout disappointment for the Tigers against the Lankan Lions.

But those were blurry amidst the punishing defeat by Pakistan, a team that also blew hot and cold throughout their own campaign.

It was arguably only the second of Bangladesh's nine league games where they were outclassed by the opposition after that heavy England defeat.

They bowled badly and fielded even worse, allowing Pakistan to post a commanding 315. It was a tough task to chase down that total on a slow wicket. The Tigers fans were still hoping that it was possible considering that the Tigers had scored three 300-plus totals in the tournament so far against quality attack.

It would be cruel to say that the batting unit, the most impressive of the three departments, did not try, or that they threw their wickets away. The truth is that they were outsmart by a fantastic young Pakistan bowler -- Shaheen Shah Afridi. The left-arm pacer took six wickets and earned all of them.

His immaculate line and length, subtle changes of variation and pace and those searing yorkers were too hot to handle for the Tigers. Shaheen turned up with his golden arm whenever the Tigers tried to wrest the initiative from the firm grip of Pakistan.

Shakib Al Hasan tried hard. He was out there to complete his seventh fifty-plus knock in eight completed games before being dismissed by Shaheen.

It was a game where Bangladesh's weaknesses in two departments -- bowling and fielding -- were exposed for the umpteenth time. After the game it came under the scanner, which is quite logical.

But the emotional override after that defeat was not all that rational, especially when the criticism targeted Tigers captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who took only one wicket in the whole tournament. There was a lot of speculation about Mashrafe's participation in the last game against Pakistan. Thankfully, he played what was his last World Cup game, which was a logical decision.

The fans perhaps expected him to make an announcement of his retirement in that game. But he preferred to buy some time to make his decision, which is also understandable. He said it was his last World Cup. He has served Bangladesh cricket on those bad legs with extreme dedication and is the man behind taking Bangladesh to a position of strength in the one-day format.

Mashrafe is a born fighter. We can be critical about his performance in the World Cup. But he also deserves to make his own decision.

What every stakeholder of the game now needs is to allow enough time for the overflowing emotions to die down.

After the Champions Trophy semifinal defeat against India in England in 2017, Shakib was having a chat with a few Bangladesh reporters ahead of the post-match briefing. Asked what areas Bangladesh needed to improve on to be more competitive, Shakib said: "We are all emotional at the moment. I think we should allow it to subside and then sit together so that we can make that decision rationally."

It was as true then as it is now. The reality is that Bangladesh's glorious chapter with Mashrafe is all but over. It is time to take a deep breath and plan for the 2023 World Cup.

Choose a new leader wisely, think of a new set of coaching staff if necessary and harness a combination most suited for Indian conditions where the next World Cup will be held. It will only help to dream big.