My News
17.05.10
World T20 Final
England v Australia
I was looking forward to a really close match, full of tension that went right down to the final over. However this wasn't to be.
What a performance by England!
The Poms came out and had Australia reeling from the outset. Three wickets to Sidebottom and Bresnan in the first 13 balls for 8 runs put Australia in a hole that needed an amazing innings by someone to get out of.
I thought Pup was going to be the man for the job. He dug in and got the scoreboard ticking over with D. Hussey at the other end.
Unfortunately, D. Huss just couldn't get going which put a bit of pressure on the skipper to push harder. In the tenth over and scoring at better than a run a ball, which was a good result considering the teams position and the fact that D. Huss was 8 from 20 balls and was just not seeing that well, he tried to force a ball through mid wicket only to see Collingwood dive to his left and take a blinder!!
This brought Bear, White, to the crease and after taking an over or so to settle, provided some much needed aggression. He managed to drag Huss along with him and get the Aussies moving the scoreboard. Still Huss couldn't get on top of the bowling though.
Bear eventually got out trying to really lift the tempo.
M. Huss came in and must have given his younger brother the big brother speech! They both started to find the boundary regularly and put on 47 from 22 balls. After being 30 from 41 balls, D. Huss ended up on 59 from 54.
England’s bowlers did a great job. Swann, Sidebottom, Broad and Bresnan each kept the pressure right on throughout the innings.
In reply, The Aussies started perfectly. Nannes and Taity both had really good first overs and Australia would have thought it was game on.
In fact, even at the half way point, with England on 1/73 and with 75 from 60 balls required, Australia were still right in it.
Pieterson and Kieswetter had built a really good launching pad and done exactly what England required. However, a couple of quick wickets to the Aussies would have had them with their noses in front.
This was the big moment in the match. I thought whoever took control in the next couple of overs would win the match.
KP and Hobnob, Kieswetter, then launched the Australian attack and, in successive overs, took 16, 15 and 14 from the Aussie attack reducing the target to 30 from 42 balls and killing the contest.
For years Australia have won these moments and made tight matches look one sided. This time England repaid the favour and strolled to the line afterwards.
It all came down to those 3 overs. Well done England.
If possible, I am sure this contest will add even more spice to the Ashes later this year. I am sure our boys will want to even the ledger!
To the ICC, the tournament was great. It flowed really well and held the public’s interest all the way through.
I think it also highlighted how T20 has eclipsed 50 over ODI’s as the most exciting limited over format of the game.
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