ODI World Cup.

[Donny]

Poms 1/59 after 12 overs v. Afghanistan.

[K]

England won toss, elected to bat.

England 1/92 (18 ). Drinks. I've noticed drinks don't come at the same time over-wise in every game. Maybe it depends on how quickly the bowling side is getting through overs, so it's also a time thing.

Not a bad start by Afghanistan. The punters don't agree, but how is this worse than what was expected? [Well, I didn't see the pre-game odds, so maybe they haven't changed.]

Odds: England 95%, Afghanistan 5%.
Line: 335.5.

cricinfo forecasts 314.

[K]

Roy is out for this game injured, of course. I'd like to see him ruled out of the tournament, if only so we can see England squirm about the replacement, after they and their Irish captain threw Hales under the bus and then repeatedly backed the bus back over his corpse.

I'd have preferred it if Morgan were long-term injured, but he's recovered from his back spasms in time to lead England for this game.

[Donny]

After 26 overs, 1/145.

Bairstow 79*, Root 38*.

[K]

Afghanistan badly need a couple of wickets now. Bairstow is closing in on a century, but in the circumstances I wouldn't rate that very highly.

Root is cruising along very smoothly so far in this tournament.

The British commentator is talking about Vince failing to convince.

[Donny]

29 overs gone.

1/163.

[K]

Bairstow gone, c&b. 90 (99).
Relief for Afghanistan.

2/164 (29.5).

Odds: England 96%, Afghanistan 4%.
Line: 336.5.

[K]

Morgan gets a start, courtesy of a free hit 6 (followed by a regular-ball 6). Your intrepid Nickster commentator is getting annoyed. More back spasms would be welcome.

[K]

The British commentator suspects England already have enough runs now (under 200, with 16+ overs to come).

On Morgan:

"He has his lean moments..."
(... prompting me to check his ODI ave.: 39.54.)

"He's so much better with his bowlers than when he started."
(Translation: he used to be very bad.)

On Root:

"... a happy-go-lucky character..."

"It'd be interesting to see how Joe Root copes with that" (bad team performance when you're captain).


They are discussing Hales now. They're suggesting he was unpopular in the England dressing room.

[K]

England 2/255 (40).

Odds: England > 99%.
Line: 358.5.

The Afghanistan team is a rabble.
Rashid Khan's bowling has been slaughtered.

[Donny]

4th. fastest hundred on WC history for Morgan.

2/293.

[K]

This is a waste of a team spot in the WC. Ireland or some other country would have been better than this Afghanistan team, rife with internal conflict, off-field issues, players sent home, etc.

They are performing like a D-grade club side, not because there is zero talent there, but because there is zero intent and zero unity.

[Donny]

44 overs gone.

2/302.

Morgan 104*, Root 76*.

[K]

The line is now 380.5.

We can only hope for the sake of cricket that they don't score over 400. What a disgrace.

[Donny]