Yet another day ends in the World Cup! The 2015 finalists are topping the table as of now, with New Zealand leading the group. The caravan moves to Bristol, where match number 11 sees Pakistan and Sri Lanka clash. However, there could be a third party intervention. RAIN. There is plenty of it forecast but hopefully, it is proved wrong. Join us at 10.30 am local (0930 GMT) on Friday, June 7, 2019. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Australian skipper, Aaron Finch, smiles and says that they just tried to hang in there. Mentions that the stand between Carey and Smith took them a little deeper and then the way Nathan Coulter-Nile batted was exceptional. Admits that he was nervous at 38/4 but they hung in there and he considers it outstanding that they got 280-odd from there. Tells that he had to keep taking wickets and steal some momentum from Windies' batting innings. Says that the output of the Aussie top order was disappointing and agrees that they have a lot of improvement to do.
West Indies skipper, Jason Holder, says that he is disappointed as they were well in the game. Rues the fact that there were a few irresponsible shots played. States that there are still many positives from this game. Tells that they dropped Coulter-Nile on 60 odd and he got plenty at the end. Feels that their batters need to take more responsibility. Terms the run out of Shimron Hetmyer costly. Mentions that they still believe in themselves and it's early days in the tournament. Wants to get consistent with their performance.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is chosen for the Man of the Match award! Says that he didn't think he will get that many with the bat. Tells that the plan was to stick around a little bit and admits that the luck went his way too. States that they backed themselves at the halfway mark as they have two world class bowlers in their team. On the surface, NCN replies that the pitch was a bit up and down. Praises Starc for his brilliant spell.
West Indies had plenty of positives. The seamers dismantled Australia in the first hour and a half, then the batsmen showed that they can chase down any total irrespective of whether Gayle fires or not. But if they just manage to play those crucial moments better - for example, not taking the foot off the throat when on top and not throw it away when in a good position. Who is your Man Of The Match? Starc? Or Coulter-Nile? Tough choice. Here comes the presentation...
Positives for Australia? No one performing but the glue showing its effect. Precocious Steven Peter Devereux Smith. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Smith showed what Australia have been missing in the last 15 months. Nathan Coulter-Nile's 92 - showing that Australia's tail can wag. And Starc's 5-fer signalling that he is slowing come back to form.
1. First innings. Australia 79/5. West Indies let loose their grip and allow Carey and Coulter-Nile to take the game away, with 150 coming for the next 2 wickets. 2. Nathan Coulter-Nile dropped on 61. Australia were 238/6, added 50 more. 3. West Indies going nicely at 149/3, needing 140 from 137 balls, only for Hope to run Hetmyer out. 4. West Indies have the match in control at 190/4, needing 99 from 91 balls. Cummins is probably bowling the last over of his spell. Hope loses patience and brings Australia back in the game. 5. Russell blitzes away, gets the target down to 73 from 68 balls. Finch forced to go to his main bowler Starc. Dre Russ misreads the situation, throws it away due to over-attacking and Australia are back again. 6. 252/6 - 37 needed from 28 balls and Brathwaite and Holder lose the plot, handing Starc a double-wicket over. So if you can see, who was tilting the balance? West Indies, every time. But then, due to their own folly, kept getting Australia back in and eventually, paid the price for it.
While we go ga-ga over Australia, West Indies will be gutted with themselves. They had the match in control, only to throw it away at crucial moments. Australia were not necessarily better but they played out the nervous moments nicely. Those are the ones where the game shifts due to the momentum. Let us count.
Credit to Australia for getting their 10th straight win. They showed character and nerves of steel when the going got tough and probably slight inexperience from the West Indies helped them. But Australia will not mind, as they get their second victory of this World Cup.
FOUR! Make it four in a row but still that won't do for the Windies. AUSTRALIA WIN BY 15 RUNS! A pitched up delivery outside off, Ashley Nurse gets on the front foot and strokes it through the gap between mid off and extra cover for a boundary. 16 from the over but they needed 32. Well tried in the end but Australia are the deserving winners.
FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Nurse is doing well in a losing cause here. Short and down the leg side, Nurse turns and pulls it past the diving short fine leg fielder for a boundary.
FOUR! Fuller in length and outside off, Nurse drives this time and finds the gap at covers for a good-looking boundary.
FOUR! Too little too late. Short and on middle, pulled behind square leg and it raced away to the fence.
Short and going down the leg side, Ashley tries to pull but misses and it deflects off his arm-guard to the thigh pad before lobbing up to the keeper. Carey collects and appeals but the umpire has shut his shop for the day.
Fullish and outside off, Nurse drives it off his front foot to mid off.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to bowl the last over. 32 needed for West Indies.
Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Brilliant effort and awareness shown by Maxwell! Short in length on middle, Nurse somehow gets on top of the bounce and pulls it to deep square leg. Stoinis in the deep runs across to his left and puts in a premature dive. Still gets a hand to it but ends up parrying towards the rope. Now, the brilliance of Glenn comes into play. He speeds across to his right from deep mid-wicket, gets down low at the right time and flicks it inside. Saves three runs for his team.
Gets forward to a full ball and drives it back to the bowler.
Fuller in length on middle, Nurse drives it off the inside half towards wide mid on.
A yorker this time, around off, Ashley digs it out back to the bowler.
Good length ball on off, Nurse defends it off his back foot. 33 needed off 11 balls.
A yorker on middle at 147 kph, Oshane does well there to have his bat down in time. End of an exemplary spell by Mitchell Starc - 10-1-46-5!
Slants in a full ball on off at 147 kph, Thomas is forward and defends it solidly.
A corker of a yorker around leg, angling down, Thomas fails to dig it out and it goes behind to the keeper.
Oshane Thomas is the last man in. 33 needed from 15 balls. If West Indies cannot win, can they come close and reduce the defeat margin?
OUT! Stumps are shattered! Starc gets his 6th ODI fifer and is all pumped up. What an impact bowler he is when he gets it right! Cottrell exposes all his stumps even before the bowler has delivered. Starc keeps it in line at 143 kph, Sheldon swings and misses to find his stumps rattled. No Sheldon, you cannot do that against this bowler.
Full and fast it is. Angling down the leg side, Nurse fails to flick and it goes off his pads. They cross for a leg bye.
What is the plan? Short ball? Or full and fast?
Square leg comes up.
Starc speeds in from 'round the wicket and hurls a full toss outside off, Nurse swishes and misses.
Mitchell Starc to bowl out here. Can he get a fifer?
Knocks a full ball down through mid on for a run.
The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Shout for an lbw! Not given. Stoinis wanted but Finch is not taking it. A full toss on off, Nurse tries hitting across the line but misses. He is hit on the pads, the bowler appeals but the umpire shakes his head. The replays detect a big inside edge. Good call by Finch who also got some help there from Smith, we feel as they were seen having a word. The batsmen for the record crossed.
Beaten! Stoinis smartly follows the batsman down the leg side with a fuller length ball. Nurse gives the charge and tries to hoist it over the bowler's head but fails to make any connection.
Stoinis goes short this time, around middle and leg, Nurse allows it through hoping for a wide. Not given.
A yorker outside off, Ashley tries his best to dig it out but fails to connect.
Sheldon Cottrell comes in at number 10. It is all upto Nurse now. Get those inside edges, outside edges, some clean shots and who knows, it might be West Indies running home. That is the fun of watching 9, 10 and 11 bat. Never know what to expect when. Marcus Stoinis has been given the ball now. 2-0-14-0 so far.
OUT! Starc, you beast! Two wickets in the over and this match has completely turned in the favour of the Aussies. He hurls in a short delivery around the rib cage, Holder stands tall to pull but the bounce gets big on him and he ends up gloving it towards short fine leg. Adam Zampa takes an easy catch and this is wicket number 150 in ODIs for Mitch - fastest to reach this mark. Meanwhile, a disappointed Holder walks back leaving his team sinking.
Full toss again, on the slower side, Holder swishes and misses.
Nearly a yorker on middle, Holder digs it out at the last moment.
Ashley Nurse is the new batsman.
OUT! Brathwaite holes out! Starc outsmarts the big guy with a slower one. Looks for a yorker but it turns out to be a low full toss on middle. Carlos though has not picked the variation in pace and is early into the swing of his bat. It catches the toe end and flies straight down to Finch at long on who makes no mistake. The Aussies won't go down without a fight. 37 needed off 27 balls.
Played to the point region by the batsman. No run.
Lands a length ball on middle and off, Holder brings down an angled bat and pushes it to the right of the point fielder for a single.
Mitchell Starc returns into the attack.
Shortish again, angling down, Holder offers no shot and then tries to move away from the line of fire. However, it brushes his left arm and goes down to fine leg. They cross and the umpire gives it as a leg bye. Didn't look like offering the shot but maybe he was taking some evasive action. 10-3-41-2, Cummins completes his outstanding spell.
Cummins keeps coming at the batsman. Fires in a sharp short ball around off, Holder somehow fends it off on the off side.
Holder has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 39 needed more.
NOT OUT! Brathwaite packs a punch to a length delivery and Warner at mid on makes an outstanding stop. He has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Coulter-Nile collects it and has a shy at the striker's end. The keeper collects the ball and breaks the stumps. Carey appeals and it's taken upstairs. The replays find Jason safely in.
Is that a run out? Jason Holder seems to have stretched out but to the naked eye, looks to be in. Yes... replays show that the long levers have helped him.
Short again on middle, Carlos doesn't time his pull shot well but it just clears mid on. A couple of runs taken.
FOUR! A boundary from the bat of Carlos Brathwaite! Finally, he connects with one. Shortish and on off, Carlos throws all his power behind it and flat-bats it over the bowler's head for a boundary down to long off.
Holder opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single. 10 from the over.
SIX! This one has disappeared. NCN digs in a short ball outside off, Holder pounces onto it and unveils a powerful pull shot to send it packing over mid-wicket, ten rows back in the crowd.
Fifty for Holder, his 9th in ODIs! The skipper will now look to stay till the end and see his side home. Short ball on off, it's pulled firmly to deep mid-wicket for one.
Inside edge! Shortish and on off, change in pace from NCN. It's the slower one and Holder tries to pull across the line. He is early into it and gets an inside edge onto the body.
Fractionally short in length around off, shaping back in, Holder brings down an angled bat and runs it wide of third man for a couple of runs.
Holder is also playing and missing quite a bit now. Shortish delivery around off, Jason swings and misses.
Ripper by Pat! Bends his back and digs in a short ball on off. It shoots off the surface around off and Carlos is hurried up in defense. He somehow fends it down safely on the off side. Top over by Cummins, he has one more over left.
Spears in a full ball on middle, Carlos tries to whip it across the line but closes the face of his bat early. It takes the leading edge and rolls to mid off.
Swing and a miss! Cummins offers width outside off, Brathwaite throws his bat at it and misses.
Short again, outside off and jumping onto the batsman, Brathwaite goes on his toes and taps it down to point.
Short in length on middle, pulled behind square leg for a single.
Almost drags it on! Good length ball outside off, Holder reaches out for it to push it through covers but gets an inside edge onto the back pad.
Pat Cummins is back on. 8-3-33-2, so far.
Good length delivery outside off, Carlos moves across the stumps and then tries to keep it out. Fails and it brushes his pads on its way behind to the keeper. Carey appeals a bit but the impact was clearly outside off.
The batsman defends it from within the crease.
Mid-wicket drops back. Mid on and mid off are up. Down the ground is a safe shot at the moment.
Goes for the drive but it takes the outside edge and runs down towards third man for a run.
Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single.
Up and just over the bowler! Nearly a wicket this time. Back of a length ball angling into the batsman, Carlos stands back to power it across the line but it takes outer half of his blade and loops over the bowler. Coulter-Nile tries his best to catch it over his head with a jump but only manages a few fingertips on the ball. Technically a dropped catch but too tough.
Nearly a drag on. A length ball angling into the batsman, Brathwaite stays back to defend but it takes the bottom edge and goes closely past the stumps to the keeper.
The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. That it is for Adam Zampa - 10-0-58-1. Was not consistent with his bowling today.
EDGED, FOUR! Second boundary of the over. Outside off, Holder looks to punch but the ball runs off the outside edge, past short third man and into the boundary!
The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot.
Outside off, Holder looks to drive but misses.
FOUR! Nicely driven! Full and outside off, Holder leans and drives it through the covers!
A wrong 'un, short in length, punched down to long on for a single.
Powerplay 3 about to begin. 68 needed more. Australia can now put 5 fielders outside the circle till the end. Also, there is a bowling change. Adam Zampa to roll his arm.
Play and a miss on the last ball to complete the 40th over.
FOUR! Gets one on the middle of the bat and sends it over mid-wicket. A length ball has been angled into him around off, Holder swings his bat and fetches a boundary for himself.
Lands it on a length around off, Jason stays back and defends it to the off side.
Too full in length around off, Jason pushes it down off the inner half to mid on.
Back of a length ball on middle, Holder tries to pull it but misses and is hit on the body.
Good length delivery outside off, Holder pushes inside the line and misses.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is back into the attack.
On middle and leg, worked through square leg for a single.
Time to make your name again - Carlos Brathwaite is the new batsman with 73 runs needed more.
OUT! Where is the ball? Where is the ball? It is Maxi who has quietened all! The entire stadium has been silenced. Dre Russ has come. Dre Russ has gone. The game opens up again. This is the way he plays - if it comes off, it is great. Else, it looks bad. One might argue there was no need for this. But on the flip side, with the off side up, Russell thought I will go over the off side. Starc smartly changed the pace, bowled a slower one but Russell was already through his shot. Looked to go inside out but all he managed was a top edge. Now here is where Glenn Maxwell came into play. He raced behind from point, ran after it, kept his eyes on the ball, circled under it, lost it for a while but then eventually took it. The Australians are pumped up. They will feel they are on top now. But the match is not over yet. 73 more needed from 67 balls.
FOUR! Starc overpitches around off, Russell goes hard at it and spanks it down the ground through mid off for a cracking boundary.
Two leg byes! Starc smartly follows the batsman down the leg side with a shortish ball. Russell tries working it around but misses. It clips his thigh pad and speeds behind. Coulter-Nile in the deep dives to stop two runs for his side. Good effort.
Starc alters his length to go short this time. Around leg, Russell hops back again to play the pull shot but fails to connect.
Swing and a miss! Starc delivers it fuller and just outside off, Russell backs away and tries to force it through the line but misses.
Tossed up ball around leg, Russell makes space and drills it down to long on for a run. 12 from the over, 79 needed off 72 balls.
Very full and on middle, Russell digs it out back to the bowler.
FOUR! Russell goes again, this time straight over the bowler's head and it's a one bounce boundary. Flatter and fuller on middle, Andre clears his front leg and clobbers it down the ground. It falls just before the fence and the umpire after getting confirmation from the third umpire, signals four.
Quicker one, fuller and on off at 100 kph, Russell blocks it from the back foot.
SIX! Russell has sent this out of the stadium! This is what the crowd has come to watch! Zampa delivers a full ball around off, Andre latches onto it and launches it over long on. Onto the roof and out of the park. 1000 ODI runs for Andre Russell as well.