CRICKET WORLD CUP KICKS OFF

[nookiebear]

Well another nailbiter...The Windies threw it away!!

[isanbirder]

England are good at living dangerously!  West Indies and Bangladesh both have to lose their final matches in the group  section for England to progress to the quarters, though.

[nookiebear]

England are good at living dangerously!  West Indies and Bangladesh both have to lose their final matches in the group  section for England to progress to the quarters, though.

Very True,,,another enthralling chapter to come??

[isanbirder]

Great fun today.  Netherlands 306 (a ten Deschoate ton), with the last four wickets falling to runouts in the last four balls of the fiftieth over.  Ireland 177 before a wicket fell.

[isanbirder]

England through to the quarters.  Australia beaten at last, by Pakistan, so Pakistan go top of Group A.  In a few days, the real thing starts!

[nookiebear]

It could have gone either way at one stage

[nookiebear]

India clobber the Windies!!

[isanbirder]

Now we're down to the real thing, with the minnows disposed of, some with honour, some without.

The quarterfinals pit Pakistan v. West Indies and India v. Australia in one half, and New Zealand v. South Africa and Sri Lanka v. England in the other.  The first match is on Wednesday.  I would forecast an Australia/South Africa final... with Pakistan and England being the loose cannons who could beat anyone (or lose to anyone!).

[nookiebear]

I'll go for India to win!!!!

[isanbirder]

Well, we're on record, Nookie.  I'd love Sachin to get his 100th 100 in the World Cup... but I don't think India have the bowling to win.

[nookiebear]

True their bowlers are the weakness but they've got some big hitters

[garytaffy]

i will go for Wales.... i mean Sri Lanka 

[isanbirder]

I forecast an Australia/South Africa final;  now both of them have been beaten in the quarters!  Great win by New Zealand last night.

Now who will win?  I'm retiring from the forecast business!

[nookiebear]

I forecast an Australia/South Africa final;  now both of them have been beaten in the quarters!  Great win by New Zealand last night.

Now who will win?  I'm retiring from the forecast business!

I'll stick with India

[isanbirder]

So the World Cup final will be India vs. Sri Lanka.  India were lucky to get there, too, as their batting wobbled badly... Tendulkar made the highest score, but was dropped four times.

I'll back Sri Lanka to win, on the strength of their bowling... but with my forecast record, that's almost as good as giving India the game!