2025 ICC Champions Trophy

VillaMad

Wow England's bowlers are being absolutely destroyed.

66 runs off the last 4 overs.

They are a shambles in the field.

VillaMad

It is an absolute belter of a pitch which is why England could easily chase down this target of 325 but that was absolutely shambolic from England in that last 30 or so minutes.

Jos Buttler clinging on to his captaincy by a fingernail at the moment. A poor performance with the bat and you could well imagine this whole team being completely ripped up.

MFPM

Didn't see Afg getting the 300 near mind beyond it..scoring 43 off 2 overs will help though. As has been said, it's a good pitch, England should chase this down.

MFPM

England 2 down 30/2 off 6

MFPM

England in a bit of trouble,4 down, 191 from 28 overs needed so just under 7 per over,it's doable but they can't keep losing wickets.

StormForce13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123211927#Comment_123211927

Last chance saloon for Buttler - and possibly Livingstone.

VillaMad

Gotta feel for Joe Root as he gets another century as all the rest of them bar Duckett are completely out of nick.

The wicket of Root is key but Afghanistan are still favourites from here as one of England's lower order is going to have to something special to aid Root.

MFPM

This is really tight...48 off 30..

VillaMad

Root gone. Massive blow for England.

MFPM

Root gone!

MFPM

Looking like England now...

VillaMad

Archer dropped with the first ball. Pressure!

VillaMad

Overton hits it straight to long-off. Absolutely no need to that whatsoever as England only needed a run a ball.

Strumms

poor by Overton, what the hell did he do ? He just had to keep the ball on the deck.

“What have you done Jamie Overton ?! ” is the exclamation from Nasser, he can’t believe it. Just a chip.

8 down and needing 16, from 2. I think the Afghans will get the win, let’s see.

Archer goes all in and he’s out. Again, wrong decision. Can’t do that being 8 down.

VillaMad

Archer gone. That should do it. England crumbling under the pressure.

MFPM

13 off 1 over, 1 wicket remaining.

VillaMad

Afghanistan beat England again and will face Australia in a knockout game on Friday.

Time for the usual internal review for England.

They have been disastrous at the format since Morgan retired.

MFPM

Afghanistan win, fantastic and merited victory. Root brilliant for England but without real support. England out, they weren’t going to win the trophy with that side. Buttler will go as captain and probably as player, others will follow I suspect.

StormForce13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123212340#Comment_123212340

Not to worry they've still got the appalling Hundred to juice themselves over. 🤢

Strumms

Nasser here talking a lot of sense re: Jos Butler’s captaincy, quite fair but very critical. I agree with him.

Barrett

Rain hasn't been kind to this tournament. I wonder if this is generally a rainy season in that part of the World. If it is then they shouldn't be scheduling such a short tournament in this time of the year when every match is crucial for each team.

StormForce13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123219186#Comment_123219186

I assume that everything must bow before the IPL Schedule, which now appears to dictate fixture scheduling throughout world cricket.

The 2029 ICC Champions Trophy will be held in India. It is expected to be played in October and November 2029, although that may change - if it doesn't suit the BCCI. 🙄

MFPM

Salt's terrible tournament continues, goes for 8, now Smith gone for 3 - England 20/2. Not much on the game really, England playing for a bit of pride in Buttler's last match as captain, SA virtually guaranteed semi-final spot, England would need to beat them by about 200 runs for Afghanistan to make the semis ahead of SA and that's not happening with this England team. Ground is virtually empty.

MFPM

Duckett gone now for 24 - ENG 37/3.

MFPM

England collapsing here, 114/6…not even halfway through their innings.

VillaMad

Goodness me some of the batting by England. Fair enough Smith has no experience at 3 but what an awful, awful tournament he has had and Phil Salt bats like a tailender. Liam Livingstone doesn't seem to take batting seriously at all.

They badly need a reset but by appointing Brendon McCullum as head of all their teams, they have only doubled down on the madness.

Their obsession with 90mph all-pace attack supposedly with the intention of unleashing it at the Aussies at the Ashes is also foolish and unproven. Boland and Hazlewood have been taking wickets for fun in Australian conditions and aren't by any metric quick. Skill beats raw speed any day and England should know this more than anybody having had Anderson and Broad lead the way for years. Sure having a Wood or an Archer can be a great addition to a bowling attack but bowling attacks need to be varied left-armers, right-armers, high pace, medium pace, etc.

VillaMad

Simple win in the end for South Africa.

You now have the crazy situation of both South Africa and Australia not having any idea of where their next match is.

If India beat New Zealand:
SF 1: India vs Australia in Dubai
SF 2: South Africa vs New Zealand in Lahore
If New Zealand beat India:
SF 1: South Africa vs India in Dubai
SF 2: New Zealand vs Australia in Lahore

As the semi-final is in Dubai on Tuesday, it has meant that both Australia and South Africa have opted to fly to Dubai tonight so that they would have enough time to prepare for a possible game on Tuesday. One of the teams will have to turn around and fly back to Lahore which is on the Wednesday. Ridiculous carry-on by the ICC.

Gillespy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123222932#Comment_123222932

Farcical isn't it? Everything is stacked in India's favour again, just like in the last T20 world cup. All because they hold the purse strings to the game. Cricket should be bigger than that.

MFPM

India 74/3, a bit of a recovery from 30/3. NZ going well..

Gillespy

So it's the South Africans that made the wasted journey to Dubai and are on the plane back to Lahore. Probably a bit relieved watching how the Indian spinners strangled the life out of the Kiwis. Should be two great semifinals, Australia vs India on Tuesday and South Africa vs NZ Wednesday.