*Official* Pool B Discussion

[Gilly18]

I think the ruling is that if say there are 3 teams on equal points then the team who has the most victories against the other two teams goes above them and the team with the least wins against the other two sides is last. If the teams have 1 win agianst each other each then NRR comes into it. So if for example, Kenya, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are level on points then Kenya will be on top of them because they won both their games against NZ and SL and NZ will be below Kenya and SL because they lost to both of them. I think this is how it works.

 

[marc71178]

I don't know if I missed part of his interview, but it sounded like he was saying run-rate came before who's beaten who.

He'd be wrong then - perhaps International players could do with lessons in the regulations (Banger)

 

[Anil]

SL into the SS. Who will follow? It looks like it will be between SA, NZ and Kenya for the next 2 posts. WI look like they are pretty much out of it now.

 

[Tim]

NZ badly needed West Indies to beat Sri Lanka, and now they need Bangladesh to beat Kenya which is looking very dodgy at this stage.

I guess if Sri Lanka roll up & beat South Africa then that pretty much means that S.L, Kenya & NZ go through.

 

[Neil Pickup]

(All assuming NZ beat Canada)

If Sri Lanka Win
Kenya (8), Sri Lanka (4) and New Zealand (0) Qualify

If South Africa Win
If WI beat Kenya - it's a 4-way tie on 16pts with NZ. Kenya beat SL & NZ, and SA beat Kenya & NZ, so South Africa (4/8) and Kenya (4) Qualify.

SL (0) and NZ (4) then go down to run-rate, which favours SL currently, although heavy results on Monday could change that...

If Kenya beat WI - Kenya win the group on 20pts, SA, SL and NZ all have 16pts. SA beat SL, SL beat NZ and NZ beat SA, so it all comes down to Net Run Rate.

If it's SL & NZ Then it's Kenya (8), SL (4) and NZ (0)
If it's NZ & SA Then it's Kenya (4), SA (4) and NZ (4)
If it's SA & SL Then it's Kenya (4), SA (8) and SL (0)

 

[V Reddy]

Kenya have qualified . But feeling very sad for WI who looked very very good at some times. But now India has a very very good chance of making it to the semis .Hope they don't run into AUS and AUS get beaten by others in the semis.

 

[Choora]

Aus is still the best team in the tour, India is surely the second best. I just hope India doesn't have to play Semis at Durban under light batting second otherwise.....

 

[V Reddy]

Aus is still the best team in the tour, India is surely the second best. I just hope India doesn't have to play Semis at Durban under light batting second otherwise.....

The top 1 and 4 teams play in SS wil play there. I don't think India will be no.1 and i don't think they will be the fourth team either. I hope AUS bat second there as it will be more of an even match then.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Right... (evil glint in eyes)

1st in Super Sixes - Probably Australia
4th in Super Sixes - Maybe England (hey, if we Qualify, it will be in 4th)

England win toss. Bat. Durban. Lights. Anderson. Dodgy Umpiring decisions. Maybe, just Maybe.

Then we can beat India in the final

 

[Anil]

Kenya have qualified . But feeling very sad for WI who looked very very good at some times. But now India has a very very good chance of making it to the semis .Hope they don't run into AUS and AUS get beaten by others in the semis.

Yeah, especially after they were sort of described as the dark horses of the tournament, it is a sad exit for WI even after beating SA. IMO, packing the side with batsmen and playing with only 3 specialist bowlers backfired for them big time.

India have a good chance to make the semis now. Hope they maintain this momentum going into the SS. I don't think it will be wise on India's part to take even Kenya lightly. Remember, we have lost twice against them.

As for anyone beating Australia, I guess they are human beings and it is possible, doesn't look too probable now. Maybe if they play that semi in Durban and bat second and McGrath, Hayden, Gilchrist and Ponting get injured and....

 

[marc71178]

Yeah, especially after they were sort of described as the dark horses of the tournament, it is a sad exit for WI even after beating SA. IMO, packing the side with batsmen and playing with only 3 specialist bowlers backfired for them big time.

Ironic that, after the criticism India got for only playing 4 specialists!

I still think that could be their downfall, but you never know.

 

[Kimbo]

(All assuming NZ beat Canada)

If Sri Lanka Win
Kenya (8), Sri Lanka (4) and New Zealand (0) Qualify

If South Africa Win
If WI beat Kenya - it's a 4-way tie on 16pts with NZ. Kenya beat SL & NZ, and SA beat Kenya & NZ, so South Africa (4/8) and Kenya (4) Qualify.

SL (0) and NZ (4) then go down to run-rate, which favours SL currently, although heavy results on Monday could change that...

If Kenya beat WI - Kenya win the group on 20pts, SA, SL and NZ all have 16pts. SA beat SL, SL beat NZ and NZ beat SA, so it all comes down to Net Run Rate.

If it's SL & NZ Then it's Kenya (8), SL (4) and NZ (0)
If it's NZ & SA Then it's Kenya (4), SA (4) and NZ (4)
If it's SA & SL Then it's Kenya (4), SA (8) and SL (0)

SA beat Kenya & NZ, so South Africa (4/8) and Kenya (4) Qualify.

but SA lost to NZ

 

[Langeveldt]

Well, an important match tomorow, a pity it will probably be decided by the toss!

I couldnt call it, I reckon SA are better, but SL are the form team (discount their mishap against kenya). SA have looked really average this world cup, I think it must be the pressure!

 

[Anil]

Ironic that, after the criticism India got for only playing 4 specialists!

I still think that could be their downfall, but you never know.

When did I say that four specialist bowlers would cost India dear? Most of the times, I was saying that the four best bowlers namely Srinath, Zaheer, Nehra(on current form) and Harb(I completely disagreed with Kumble's selection over Harb against Pak and I was proved right with figures of 10-0-51-0) should play and the 5th bowler should be a bunch of useful part-timers like Sehwag, Sachin, Ganguly, Yuvraj etc. Occasionally, I advocated the inclusion of Bangar or our idol, AA in place of Kaif(but that was before the Pak match) or Mongia because I felt that their form was not good enough to warrant an inclusion in the team. They(Bangar or AA) would add a significant fifth bowler option to the team plus being capable of a some good tonks towards the end of the innings(Mongia is/was a liability both ways right now). It's not that I think they are the greatest(you know what I think of AA), but I felt there were very limited options otherwise.

Another thing, 3 specialists is a very different situation from 4 specialists in that the part-timers have to complete 20 overs instead of 10. That's why I said it was a big gamble. Besides, packing a side with batsmen alone won't strengthen the lineup, the batsmen have to deliver. Only then will a long lineup be justified. The West Indian batsmen, in good form coming into the WC didn't exactly justify that, did they?

As for the lack of the fifth bowler leading to their(India's) downfall, I don't think so. I mean, they could fall, but not due to that. it could be a variety of reasons ranging from batting collapses to 2 or 3 of the main bowlers having an off-day on the same day or both....We really should not pick a fifth bowler quite simply because we don't have a good enough fifth bowler of the specialist variety(unless we play two spinners and I don't feel even Kumble is good enough to merit the fifth bowler's spot).

 

[krkode]

Poor Kumble Wish he was at his best again

 

[Neil Pickup]

SA beat Kenya & NZ, so South Africa (4/8) and Kenya (4) Qualify.

but SA lost to NZ

Sorry, meant that "SA beat Kenya & SL"

 

[Anil]

SL vs SA is tantalisingly poised right now. SL has done well to get to 268 for 9 and set up a competitive total. SA is looking good at 75 for 1 in 14.2 overs. Looks like it's gonna be a close match and both teams are virtually fighting for their lives.

 

[Anil]

SA 229 for 6 in 45 requiring 40 in 5 at 8 an over, Boucher and Klusener at the crease. This is developing into a real thriller. Klusener has a chance to redeem himself for the goof-up in the last WC semifinal.

 

[luckyeddie]

The rain is pouring, the teams are off.
There's 45 minutes to finish the game.
The teams are about level on D-L.
Fun

I didn't know that New Zealand HAD a rain god.

 

[Anil]

The rain is pouring, the teams are off.
There's 45 minutes to finish the game.
The teams are about level on D-L.
Fun

It will be a sad ending if it is washed off at this stage. What does "about level" mean? Are they exactly the same or is one team a few decimals higher? Is it the end of the road for SA?