<<

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2019 16 - washout sets record Heavy rain meant no play was possible in Bristol, resulting in a third World Cup washout in five days AFP | Bristol

ri Lanka’s World Cup match against Bangladesh World Cup 2019 standings Swas abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain in Bristol yesterday. Team Played Won Lost Tied No result rate Points The umpires’ decision left 3 3 0 0 0 2.163 6 tournament organisers with the 3 2 1 0 0 1.307 4 unwanted record for the most 2 2 0 0 0 0.539 4 number of abandoned games at 3 2 1 0 0 0.483 4 a World Cup, surpassing the two Sri Lanka 4 1 1 0 2 -1.517 4 each at the 1992 tournament in West Indies 3 1 1 0 1 2.054 3 Australia and New Zealand and Bangladesh 4 1 2 0 1 -0.714 3 the 2003 edition in southern 3 1 1 0 1 -2.412 3 Africa. S Africa 4 0 3 0 1 -0.952 1 It was the second successive Afghanistan 3 0 3 0 0 -1.264 0 World Cup match at Bristol that had fallen victim to bad weather, Today’s match with Sri Lanka’s group game against Pakistan at southwest county Gloucestershire’s head- Groundkeepers brush water from the covers as rain delayed the start of play quarters on Friday another KNOW WHAT no-result washout that did not be reserve days in the group matches scheduled to take place fall, the umpires -- after several witness a single . phase, Bangladesh coach Steve in Bristol produced any play, inspections -- bowed to the inev- Rain has also been forecast for Rhodes, a former England wick- champions Australia launching itable by calling the game off at today’s match between Australia et-keeper, said: “Yes, I would their title defence with a sev- 1:57 pm (1257 GMT). Both sides Rain has also and Pakistan in Taunton. (have them). en- victory over outsiders received a point for the washout. No reserve days have been “I know logistically it would Afghanistan. It was the second World Cup been forecast for scheduled for the 10-team have caused problems. But we Heavy overnight and early no-result in as many days after today’s match round-robin stage, despite the can put a man on the moon, so morning rain delayed the sched- rain meant only 7.3 overs were between Australia Australia vs Pakistan well-known risks of rain during if we have to travel a day later, uled 10:30 am local time (0930 possible in the match between and Pakistan in (12:30pm) a British summer. so be it.” GMT) start of yesterday’s match. South Africa and the West Indies Taunton at County Ground Taunton, Taunton Asked whether there should Only one of three World Cup And with rain continuing to in Southampton on Monday.

Today’s match ICC won’t change bails after Australia vs Pakistan Glenn Facts Babar Maxwell World Cup wicket problems » Defending champions Australia are looking to get Azam back to winning ways after suffering their first defeat AFP | London of this year’s tournament against India. » Pakistan were frustrated by the rain, which forced he International Cricket their match against Sri Lanka to be abandoned, but TCouncil have ignored pleas they beat England in their previous game. from World Cup stars to resolve » Australia geared up for the World Cup by whitewash- the bail controversy that threat- ing Pakistan in the UAE, in a series in which Aaron ens to spoil the tournament. Finch was in red-hot form. India and Australia skipper Australia Pakistan joined forces to condemn the “unfair” problem on Sunday. 1. Australia arrived in England in resurgent ODI form 1. Pakistan’s ODI form looked to have deserted them as Australia’s and kicked off the World Cup 2019 with two wins. they came into this tournament on the back of their avoided being bowled early in They bowled Afghanistan out for 207 to start with a thrashings against Australia and England. That was his side’s unsuccessful run- seven-wicket win and then defended 288 against West even more the case when they folded for just 105 on chase against India when he Indies next up – a win which owed much to Mitchell their way to an opening seven-wicket defeat against deflected Jasprit Bumrah’s de- David Warner looks on as the ball hits the stumps but fails to dislodge the bails Starc, who claimed 5-46. West Indies in this tournament. livery onto the wicket via his 2. Their winning start was ended by India last time out, 2. They bounced back against England, however, after boot. when the ball hits the wicket, wooden style. however, as some excellent late hitting left Australia powering to 348/8 thanks to half-centuries from Not for the first time in this failing to come off when hit. “We wouldn’t change any- chasing 353 to win. , David Warner and (63 from 66 balls), tournament, the ball struck the But despite calls for a change thing mid-event as it would all passed 50 but, ultimately, the scoreboard (84 from 62) and (55 from 44). In stumps but failed to dislodge to the bails from Kohli, Finch compromise the integrity of pressure proved too much and they were eventually reply, England were rarely too far behind the asking the bails, meaning Warner and former England captains the event - the equipment is the bowled out off the final ball for 316. rate but Pakistan came back well late on to restrict earned an unexpected reprieve. and Nasser same for all 10 teams across all them to 334/9. It was the fifth incident in the Hussain, tournament organ- 48 games,” the International Probable XI Probable XI tournament of the ‘zing’ bails, isers have no plans to make a Cricket Council, the sport’s’s which contain lights that flash switch back to the traditional global governing body, said. Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, , Steve Imam-ul-Haq, , Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Smith, , , Alex Carey (wk), Ahmed (c, wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Asif Ali, Shoaib Nathan Coulter-Nile, , , Adam Malik, , , , Moham- Zampa mad Amir Finch hopes washouts don’t hurt Australia PITCH REPORT AFP | Taunton Heavy rain has forced two looks good across the country A dry and cloudy start to the day is expected, but chances of rain thereafter might result no-results in the World Cup for the remainder of the tour- in a shortened game. With the pitch expected to offer some assistance for fast bowlers ustralia captain Aaron so far and Finch has been anx- nament. early in the day, captains would be tempted to field first AFinch hopes the holders iously eyeing the forecast to see “So it’s important that you don’t become the latest World if Australia could be the next get early wins on the board be- Head to Head Cup team to be derailed by bad victims when they face Pakistan cause you don’t want to be on weather. at Taunton today. the wrong end of a couple of • Australia were in dominant form when these two teams last met, as Aaron Finch’s excellent batting led them to a 5-0 Pakistan’s match against Sri washouts that might leave you series win in the UAE as both teams geared up for this tournament. Finch was named man of the series, after hitting Lanka was washed out on Fri- just outside that top four.” two 50s and two centuries on his way to more than 450 runs in the five games. day before the clash between Australia failed to qualify • It means Australia have won 67 of their previous 103 ODI matches against Pakistan, with 32 defeats, one tie and three South Africa and the West In- for the semi-finals of the 2017 no results. Their last World Cup match in England, of course, was the 1999 final when Australia won their first title. dies was abandoned after less Champions Trophy in Eng - than eight overs play on Mon- land following their rained-off day. matches against New Zealand There is rain predicted in and Bangladesh before they lost Australia call-up Marsh after Stoinis’s side strain the Taunton area today and to England on D/L method. Finch conceded luck with the If the match does get under- AFP | Taunton Stoinis sustained the injury the approval of the World Cup’s weather could play a role in way, Finch expects unpredicta- during champions Australia’s event technical committee. who makes the semi-finals from ble Pakistan to provide a stern ustralia are flying Mitchell 36-run defeat by India at the International Cricket Coun- the 10-team group stage. test. AMarsh to England as cover Oval on Sunday. cil regulations allow injured “I think it (weather) might They lost to the West Indies for Marcus Stoinis after his fel- Australia, however, will wait players to be replaced during play a huge part in the next few by seven in their open- low all-rounder suffered a side to decide whether to bring in the World Cup but they cannot days,” Finch told reporters yes- ing match, but shocked tourna- strain that ruled him out of to- Marsh as a permanent tourna- then rejoin their squad if they terday. ment favourites England with a day’s World Cup match against ment replacement for Stoinis regain full fitness later on in the Australia’s captain Aaron Finch “Next week it starts fine and fine performance. Pakistan in Taunton. -- a decision that will require tournament.