Ireland deliver a gift
Last night Ireland played Sri Lanka, one of the three remaining games in New Zealand’s super 8 group that I mentioned in my last post. As expected, Ireland lost – but not by much. They managed to get within 10 runs of Sri Lanka’s total.
With the win over Ireland, Sri Lanka consolidate their position at the top of the table, with 4 points over NZ’s and Pakistan’s 2 each. However, the close loss has decapitated their net run rate. From +0.95 after their game against Pakistan, they have shrunk to +0.7. This remains a good net run rate, but it is a gift to New Zealand. Less than a day after I wrote about the challenge to New Zealand in getting through to the semis (and followed up in the mainstream media), Sri Lanka has smoothed our way somewhat.
To get through to semis we still need to beat Sri Lanka. However, all we need is a win. Even a tie for that matter. With our net run rate now above Sri Lanka’s, a win will keep it above Sri Lanka’s, ensuring we qualify above them.
June 15th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Yes a win is all u need but a TIE will NOT be enough.. a tie will leave NZ on 3 points, below SL and Pak (if they beat Ireland).
Though technically there can’t be a tie. it will go to the super over.
June 15th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Yes a win is all u need but a TIE will NOT be enough.. a tie will leave NZ on 3 points, below SL and Pak (if they beat Ireland).
Though technically there can’t be a tie. it will go to the super over.
You’re right of course, a tie won’t do it. And I don’t think they have super overs until the semis.
June 15th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
True, it gives us a good chance. Bad news is, we’re playing Sri Lanka. 3Ms to destroy us.
Ireland really justifying their growing reputation as the best Associate team.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:17 am
They have the Super Over in the Super 8s I think.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Sri Lanka’s batting problems showed up in the match against Ireland. New Zealand should target that in their match.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
But hang on, NRR can go down even with a win (if the win was narrower than previous wins).
OK, so with just NZ-SL to go, the table looks like this:
Pakistan 4 +1.185
Sri Lanka 4 +0.700
New Zealand 2 +0.943
Can NZ narrowly beat Sri Lanka, causing their NRR do go down and SL’s to climb sufficiently for Sri Lanka to qualify?
June 17th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
But hang on, NRR can go down even with a win (if the win was narrower than previous wins).
It doesn’t matter now, but you can’t raise your NRR over a team if you lose to them. If NZ had narrowly beaten SL, they both would have lost NRR but NZ’s would have stayed above SL’s.