ICC Champions Trophy 2025

@nzzp said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@canefan said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@nzzp said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@Canes4life said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Hopefully one of our top three score big today to anchor the innings.

Got that wrong eh! Set your sights higher

It ended up being some sort of bizarro reverse jinx!

I like it. Well done.

Mods may need to lock the finals thread to avoid jinxing ...

No need. We have next to no chance in the final against a team who

1. Has played all their games at the same venue so know the conditions very well

2. Is basically playing at a home away from home considering the level of Indian expat support

3. Has had to do no travel, or adjustment to time zones (assuming Dubai is in a different time zone to Pakistan?)

4. Already beat us comfortably in our previous encounter

That's pretty much the perfect ODI performance for the Black Caps - even down to players getting out at the right times. Important to give Phillips enough time (but not too much time) to bat at the end.

Scoreboard pressure by the spinners then squeezed the South Africans until the wickets fell. Wasn't that impressed with Miller's century at the end - he seemed to bat cautiously in order to make the chase impossible and then cashed in at the end. Not all his fault as wickets were falling at the other end but I detected he wanted a performance for himself out of it.

Sir SatNav came up trumps again when it mattered. Varied his pace and length brilliantly. Built pressure.

Agree @KiwiPie on the batting side of things. The foundation set by two batsmen that weren’t going to up the scoring rate so needed to either try or get out to allow Mitchell and GP the freedom and time to do their thing. Nice little cameo from Bracewell too.

Everything is stacked against us for the final but bring it on. How good was watching our 'greatest ever' bat with potentially one of our greatest ever. Some superb batting after Williamson struggled early doors. Ravindra definitely likes ICC events in the sub-continent, you won't see better than some of the shots he played over night.

@Bones said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@Canes4life said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Rachin brings up his 5th ICC tournament 100. Fantastic innings. Time to hit the hay. BCs in a great position and should post a massive total from here.

Ridiculous when they showed it compared to Astley etc.

I never thought he’d give up the record but there you go

@MN5 said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@Bones said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@Canes4life said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Rachin brings up his 5th ICC tournament 100. Fantastic innings. Time to hit the hay. BCs in a great position and should post a massive total from here.

Ridiculous when they showed it compared to Astley etc.

I never thought he’d give up the record but there you go

Bit of a let down to be honest.

@Canes4life said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Everything is stacked against us for the final but bring it on. How good was watching our 'greatest ever' bat with potentially one of our greatest ever. Some superb batting after Williamson struggled early doors. Ravindra definitely likes ICC events in the sub-continent, you won't see better than some of the shots he played over night.

He was imperious

@ACT-Crusader said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Sir SatNav came up trumps again when it mattered. Varied his pace and length brilliantly. Built pressure.

Agree @KiwiPie on the batting side of things. The foundation set by two batsmen that weren’t going to up the scoring rate so needed to either try or get out to allow Mitchell and GP the freedom and time to do their thing. Nice little cameo from Bracewell too.

For a guy who has been maligned on here and in the media (with good reason), how good is Mitch right now? And a bouquet to another guy who cops a lot of stick, well done to coach Steady for leading us to another final

@Canes4life said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Everything is stacked against us for the final but bring it on. How good was watching our 'greatest ever' bat with potentially one of our greatest ever. Some superb batting after Williamson struggled early doors. Ravindra definitely likes ICC events in the sub-continent, you won't see better than some of the shots he played over night.

..and in favour on India

Ravindra in full flight is incredible to watch - some of those shots he hit wow.

A really enjoyable team to watch is this Black Cap ODI team.

Give it everything in the final. Santner is a terrific ODI captain supported by a lot of smart cricketing brains so we have a real shot.

Hopefully the medics can get Matt Henry's shoulder right for Sunday

Every non-Indian fan will be with us. Not that it translates into runs and wickets, but if we manage to win the entire cricket world outside India will rejoice

@Canes4life said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Ravindra definitely likes ICC events in the sub-continent, you won't see better than some of the shots he played over night.

Those three fours in Jansen's 4th over were great to watch. All to different parts of the field.

Kane: how to pace an innings

South Africa choking again

@NTA said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

South Africa choking again

More outclassed by a better side IMO.

@Canes4life Agree but the longer it goes on the more the choker tag must become a thing.

@KiwiMurph said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Ravindra in full flight is incredible to watch - some of those shots he hit wow.

A really enjoyable team to watch is this Black Cap ODI team.

Give it everything in the final. Santner is a terrific ODI captain supported by a lot of smart cricketing brains so we have a real shot.

Hopefully the medics can get Matt Henry's shoulder right for Sunday

Santner seems like a very calm guy and happy to talk to other players to discuss the tactics. And he's at the peak of his bowling powers. Guys like Phillips and Bracewell are very handy to have - you don't want them coming into bat too early and you don't want to have to rely on them bowling 10 overs - but they can contribute in all areas. Having 4 spinners is a real bonus - they aren't as dangerous as India's spinners though. I think the Black Caps need to bat first to have any hope - or bowl first and hope Dubai delivers a seaming greentop!

@dogmeat said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@Canes4life Agree but the longer it goes on the more the choker tag must become a thing.

91, 95, 99, 03, 07….. yep it was a real.

Back to the cricket

@ACT-Crusader My fave is 2015 against us

@KiwiPie said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@KiwiMurph said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Ravindra in full flight is incredible to watch - some of those shots he hit wow.

A really enjoyable team to watch is this Black Cap ODI team.

Give it everything in the final. Santner is a terrific ODI captain supported by a lot of smart cricketing brains so we have a real shot.

Hopefully the medics can get Matt Henry's shoulder right for Sunday

Santner seems like a very calm guy and happy to talk to other players to discuss the tactics. And he's at the peak of his bowling powers. Guys like Phillips and Bracewell are very handy to have - you don't want them coming into bat too early and you don't want to have to rely on them bowling 10 overs - but they can contribute in all areas. Having 4 spinners is a real bonus - they aren't as dangerous as India's spinners though. I think the Black Caps need to bat first to have any hope - or bowl first and hope Dubai delivers a seaming greentop!

The Indian's will rig the toss so they bat first anyway. Everything will be against us.