Story England's World Cup Dream:England vs. Zimbabwe: England make good start!

[formula1man]

Kenya will set 230. Good work.

 

[thesweepmaster]

Kenya innings
England fight back but only after Tikolo century!​

At the end of the 50 overs, Kenya set a very respectable total of 281 for England to chase in their reply. Steve Tikolo was the man of the hour as he scored his first century of the tournament, plus having a 206 run partnership with Modi in the process. After they were gone, wickets began to tumble but some late hitting by Collins Obuya and Ouma pushed them over the 250 mark. During overs 31-50, 123 runs were scored including 13 fours and 2 big sixes but 7 wickets fell.

At the one end, Panesar bowled another 2 overs and only conceded the 5 runs off them leaving him with figures of 7-0-38-0, something which he could work on and England may have wanted some wickets off him. Michael Vaughan also turned his arm for 3 overs and wasn?t as expensive as some people thought he would be as he went for 3-0-15-0 which wasn?t too bad for the part-time spin bowler. Flintoff then replaced Vaughan for the final 5 overs and he got 4 wickets which were Tikolo, Modi, Otieno and Ouma, but he was very expensive as he went for 10-0-63-4.

At the other end, Anderson bowled 2 spells. In his first, he went for 10 runs off 1 over and his second spell got him the wicket of Patel but other than that not too much celebration for his bowling as his figures were 10-0-52-2, something which England didn?t want from an opening bowler. Collingwood replaced Anderson after his first spell to bowl 4 overs but sadly couldn?t repeat the feat that he did against Canada as he went for 4-0-26-0, very disappointing for the Durham man. Mascarenhas came on after Anderson had finished his second spell and did take the 2 wickets of Obuya and Ongondo as he finished with very respectable figures of 6-1-29-2, certainly proving his worth in the England side.

Kenya have put up a very good total on this pitch and England may struggle to get it. What the Kenyan bowlers have to do is bowl very tight lines and try and stifle the runs off England so they panic and lose wickets due to stupid running or shots. England really need to top 4 now as nobody believes that Bell and Collingwood can do the incredible again but they can take their time and cannot worry about the run rate increasing because they do have the firepower to get quick runs.

Highlights
Modi dismissed after brilliant innings

Tikolo dismissed after tremendous century!

Scorecard

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok sadly only one person entered the quiz and that was F1MAN who wins 1500 VCASH, anyway sorry if it looks a bit rushed but I've had a hectic few days with cricket for my club. Hopefully the Sky Sports analysis will be up tomorrow!

 

[Pakistani Army]

Well that was simply fantastic batting by the Kenyens. Hats off to the skipper Tikolo. England will be a bit nervous going into to bat as they might end up losing this.

Fantastic works Bob. Loving this story!

 

[gutterman]

great come back by england kutgw

 

[thesweepmaster]

Sky Sports analysis centre with David Gower, Ian Botham and Dipak Chudasama​

DG: Hello there and welcome to the Skysports Analysis centre with me, David Gower, Ian Botham and Dipak Chudasama, a former Kenyan international cricketer. Welcome to both of you and if you haven?t noticed Kenya won the toss and elected to bat. They scored a superb 280-9 in their 50 overs which included a stunning century from Captain Steve Tikolo and a brilliant supporting 89 from Hitesh Modi. Right then Dipak you may go first and talk about the Kenyan innings considering it?s your team.

DC: Thank you David. Well I am very surprised at how well we have done today, I expected us to crumble under the pressure with a place in the Super 8?s on the line but Tikolo and Modi are very experienced players and have done a superb thing for the younger guys in the squad. Now I can see us winning this game now as we do have a young bowling attack but England also have to chase on a very tough pitch.

DG: Thanks for that Dipak, I?m glad that you seemed pleased by their batting. Anyway moving to you Ian, did you feel that the England bowling could have done more?

IB: Well yes really, we didn?t bowl in the areas that we were supposed to be bowling in. They seemed to lack the discipline and drive that they needed then, they should have had Kenya out for less than 200 but I?m sorry, the only plus points in this bowling display are, Flintoff getting 4 wickets, all be it expensive and Mascarenhas being very disciplined with his bowling. It was a shocking performance by them all and really Sidebottom should be dropped.

DG: Wow! I?ve never heard you so mad Beefy, I hope you don?t punch some walls or get your gun and start shooting the players. Anyway back to you Dipak, what have Kenya got to do now to make sure that this game is?

DC: It?s very simple, they have to be discipline and sharp in the field, if they don?t do this then England will almost certainly win this game but also it is very important that Tikolo supports his bowlers throughout the innings.

DG: Thanks for that Dipak and now Beefy a quick word from you?

IB: England have to start aggressively, this is the game that the top 4 have to prove themselves and if they don?t then they should be dropped, it?s as simple as that really.

DG: Right, I can tell I?m not going to get a better answer than that from you Beefy, so we will go back to the action where England have to chase down 281 to win. Can they do it? We will know soon enough!

 

[Pakistani Army]

Nice little analysis there Bob. Nice to see Chudasama as a commentator. This will be an uphill task for England to win this game. The key will be to maintain wickets.

Great works Bob. Reps for your hard work. Looking forward to the next update mate!

 

[gutterman]

nice analysis there mate. england will definately have to start agressively and continue to mount the pressure. nice pres kutgw

 

[thesweepmaster]

England innings
England make good steady start as openers both fall​

After 15 overs, England had the slight upper-hand in their innings as they remained close to the run rate required. Matt Prior got lucky on several occasions but was finally out for 30, Andrew Strauss played a much more composed innings but fell for 21 trying to go for a big shot and Michael Vaughan played gloriously to be on 27 not out with Ian Bell on 0 after facing 2 balls. In this period, 83 runs were scored including 13 boundaries but with 2 wickets falling.

Suji opened the bowling for Kenya and didn’t start off too bad but eventually Prior and Vaughan managed to get hold of him leaving him with figures of 8-1-49-0, a little disappointing for the Kenyan seamer. At the other end, Aga bowled the first 3 overs without success but causing Prior to edge a lot of runs through the vacant slip area giving him figures of 3-0-18-0 but then Ongondo came on and got the wicket of Prior with his first ball and then teasing Strauss with a ball that could have been easily hit out of the ground only for it to go to the fielder leaving him with figures of 4-0-16-2, very good indeed.

England seem to have a habit of getting above the run rate only to lose a wicket causing it to slow down again but the way they are going at the moment, they shouldn’t have trouble getting to the total especially with Vaughan and Bell at the crease. Kenya didn’t seem to have the discipline in the early going but Ongondo has changed that and has now put England under pressure to perform.

Highlights
Prior dismissed

Strauss dismissed

Scorecard

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheers for the comments Pakistani Army and Gutterman, really appreciated . Anyway it's competition time. The rules are 2000 VCASH if spot on, 1500 VCASH for the closest but if doesn't happen then everyone who takes part win 1000 VCASH each! So Good Luck!
How many overs will it take England to get to Kenya's total?
Pakistani Army: 48 overs
Gutterman: 45 Overs
Highlander999: 44 overs
Age_Of_Fall: 46 overs
Shefellover93: 49 overs

 

[Pakistani Army]

England are in trouble here as their run rate has slowed down. Kenya are firm favourites to win this match. KP will have to play a Twenty20 Innings aswell.

Great works Bob. Loving this story!

To answer your question, 1) I don't think England will achieve Kenya's total but if they do then I think it will be 48-49 Overs.

 

[gutterman]

england going ok

ill say itll take them 45 overs

kutgw mate

 

[Highlander999]

44 overs

Poor start by England, they need to get a partnership going. Excellent work mate, keep it up

 

[age of the fall]

46 overs, Good luck dude!

 

[thesweepmaster]

England innings
Things are getting exciting!​

Thanks to some good stroke making from Michael Vaughan and some aggressive shots from Ian Bell, England reached 158-3 after 30 overs meaning an exciting climax is on the cards with England requiring 123 off 120 balls to win the game. It looks easy but as we have seen in the past, a few wickets falling could result in the match being turned on its head and the favourites going on to lose the game.

Michael Vaughan reached his half-century off 56 balls which included 7 fours and a six thanks to the delicate shots he played, he is now on 54 off 71 balls. Ian Bell continued his fine form with some delightful shots and even smashing Collins Obuya for 20 runs off one over but will be very disappointed that he fell for 45 when he really should have got his half-century as well and Kevin Pietersen seems to be struggling but is off the mark with 1 off 9 balls.

Ongondo finished his 10 over and will be very pleased with himself as the English batsmen failed to really smash around the park as he finished with 10-0-38-2, something which the Kenyan cricket team will see as a huge positive. Suji had one over at each end as he also finished his 10 overs with figures of 10-2-58-1 with the only positive being the wicket of Ian Bell when he seemed to have his number, otherwise it was a poor performance by the seamer. Tikolo replaced Suji for 1 over and bowled very tightly with Michael Vaughan unable to hit the ball on his legs, his figures of 1-0-2-0 show there is more to come from him. At the other end, Collins Obuya bowled 6 overs and will be very disappointed with his figures of 6-0-42-0 which included a 20 run over thanks to Ian Bell.

England seem to be slightly in the driver’s seat at the moment but they may have just picked up the Kenyan hitchhiker at the edge of the road on the long, empty motorway with the Kenyan ready to beat him up to take the car and win the game.

Highlights
Vaughan reaches 50

Bell dismissed

Scorecard

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheers for the comments guys! You can still join the quiz btw, it's on the first update of the England innings against Kenya!!!

 

[Pakistani Army]

Ohhh that is going to be a tight climax to this game. I still think that Kenya have a chance of winning this game if they keep their focus on and get KP early.

Great works Bob. Loving this story mate!

 

[shefellover93]

Really good work and I can't wait for the climax. I think England can get it in the 49th over