Cricket World Cup Qualifiers

Joe_ Public

Khan has really killed us....if we lose he'll have been the difference, no question about it.

evancunny95

That’s more like it Kev


Oh no

ScummyMan

Feck. Time to go out swinging.

205 @ Current Run Rate | 209 runs @ 6 RPO | 213 runs @ 8 RPO

force eleven

Agreed re Khan, really pinned us back. But we'll get around 210, not a foregone conclusion for the Afghans, pressure will be on, and they are not heavy scorers.

Patser

Well we're over 200

lambayire

The running has been awful today.

Murdoc90

Wilson out

BarryD2

Can't see 200ish being enough to defend against a team in a 'cup final' situation like this. Not easy peasy but should be straightforward if Afg keep their heads.

By way, what do people think of our decision to bat first? Was that showing a bit of lack of bottle and ambition? Maybe this team knew they were always going to struggle against the Afg bowling.

Joe_ Public

BarryD2 wrote: »

Can't see 200ish being enough to defend against a team in a 'cup final' situation like this. Not easy peasy but should be straightforward if Afg keep their heads.

By way, what do people think of our decision to bat first. Was that showing a bit of lack of bottle and ambition? Maybe this team knew they were always going to struggle against the Afg bowling.

Thats the thing you never know. Pressure does strange things to people. Zimbabwe yesterday as we saw. Nothing straightforward about it anyway, would be lovely if they went in thinking it themselves!

ScummyMan

209/7.

BIGT4464

209 will have to do. Come on the Bowlers

minitrue

"Cup Final" situation is exactly why you bat first, runs on the board creates a whole load of extra pressure. We saw at the death just how hard it is to throw the bat on this pitch, take some early wickets and 210 will look like a massive score very quickly.

lambayire

209 is a very slow pitch with an even slower outfield.

I reckon we're 20 runs short.

Collie D

209, not a completely foregone conclusion. Think Afghans have only scored 200+ once in this tournament and haven't chased it yet. Toughish ask for the Irish bowlers though but certainly not over

ItsChecoTime

BarryD2 wrote: »

Can't see 200ish being enough to defend against a team in a 'cup final' situation like this. Not easy peasy but should be straightforward if Afg keep their heads.

By way, what do people think of our decision to bat first? Was that showing a bit of lack of bottle and ambition? Maybe this team knew they were always going to struggle against the Afg bowling.

Think it was said that when Ireland have batted first against Afghanistan, we've won 4 from 5 so I'd say that was taken into account especially given the wickets condition

Richard Hillman

Would have liked another 20 Runs but very doable. Good line and length needed. May need 10 wickets but they'll chase hard and wickets will come.

gavinoontheweb

I think our poor death bowling may cancel out any nervy finish they may have, we need multiple wickets quickly. Keep the faith

BarryD2

minitrue wrote: »

"Cup Final" situation is exactly why you bat first, runs on the board creates a whole load of extra pressure. We saw at the death just how hard it is to throw the bat on this pitch, take some early wickets and 210 will look like a massive score very quickly.

Hopefully that's how it will turn out but you'd have to think it's advantage Afghanistan at the moment anyway

Mysterypunter

209 looks short, but Afghanistan were 54-4 against UAE the other day, if that happens, Ireland are certainties. Thats what they got, have to bowl and field well now

carltonleon

Yeah but don't forget that the pressure on Afghans batting will be immense and that can seriously debilitate you.. here's hoping

Murdoc90

Couple of early wickets will pile the pressure on

Murdoc90

Niall O Brien: "I think it is a decent score. The surface is slow and we have a good bowling attack. They have a useful bowling attack with Rashid, Mujeeb and Nabi. They fielded well too. The track is being used for a third time and hence the slowness. Didn't know about the landmark (100th ODI) till last night. We are up for it. We have a great bunch of lads and if they (Afghanistan) are going to get those runs, we are going to make it hard work."

kal7

think 209 looks doable, worried.

C'mon Ireland

Hammer Archer

Knowing how our death bowling is, I think we'll have to bowl them out early enough.

dulpit

BarryD2 wrote: »

What's the story here from those watching. Are the Afghans really tight on the bowling or are we putting in a bit of practice for the upcoming Test match?

Genuine lol:D

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

Reading on Reddit, the Afghanis reckon they only have 2 "specialist" batsmen, and one is past his prime.

After that, the middle order can't be relied upon to build a partnership, but they do have big hitters.

break the openers and Ireland will be ok I think.

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

4, 6

jaysis

Collie D

Need to get this lad early

Murdoc90

well that over soon turned into a nightmare ****

Richard Hillman

10 wickets needed