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The first few matches of the World Cup proved to be a damp squib. There were few surprises though, reports Vijayhardik. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Ten brilliant teams, 48 matches, and 11 iconic stadiums!
That’s how the ICC World Cup 2019 was announced to the world at the Opening Party for the World Cup. The ICC World Cup, the quadrennial tournament is the marquee event of the world of cricket. Like the FIFA WC is to football.
After the captains of the teams were paraded to a sparse crowd in the chilly weather of London, it was graced by legends of the game of cricket and an influential person from each participating country for a mini-exhibition of cricket.
To give the event heft and hype it up, the team captains of the participating nations met with Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace.
To give the event heft and hype it up, the team captains of the participating nations met with Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace. The opening ceremony followed this ceremonial event. This set the stage for the beginning of the act. The beginning of the World Cup!
The first act of a play, the first scene in a movie or the pilot of a TV show is the moment which gets the audience hooked. Following the template, the organisers pitted the heavyweights against each other in the initial set of matches to get the attract the eyeballs of the viewers and spectators for the matches.
Cricket fans and enthusiasts across the globe expected these encounters to be high octane, nail-biting thrillers with teams slugging out against each other to eke out a win. Alas, these games turned out to be a damp squib.
Cricket fans and enthusiasts across the globe expected these encounters to be high octane, nail-biting thrillers with teams slugging out against each other to eke out a win. Alas, these games turned out to be a damp squib. All the games were a one-way street.
In the opening game of the World Cup, hosts England took on the fancied Proteas. In the clash of the Titans, it was a battle between the batting might of England against the most formidable bowling attack in the World Cup.
A surprise move by South Africa bringing on the leg spinner in the first over caught everyone by surprise. It also got English batsman Jonny Bairstow caught behind.
On a green-tinged top at The Oval, South Africa put England into bat after the coin flipped in their favour at the toss. It started out on a positive note. A surprise move by South Africa bringing on the leg spinner in the first over caught everyone by surprise. It also got English batsman Jonny Bairstow caught behind. After the early jolt to the innings, the English batting set up was back in familiar territory, piling on the runs quick and fast.
Half-centuries from top order batsmen Jason Roy, Joe Root, and Eoin Morgan set the stage for the explosive England batting line-up to put on board and a large score and bat South Africa out of the game.
But a few quick wickets after the fall of Morgan took the sting out of the English batting. The job of helping England cross the 300 mark fell on the shoulders of the talismanic Ben Stokes.
But a few quick wickets after the fall of Morgan took the sting out of the English batting. The job of helping England cross the 300 mark fell on the shoulders of the talismanic Ben Stokes. A stroke-filled 89 by Stokes saw England put on 311 in their stipulated 50 overs.
The game was nicely set up. Only history and the England bowlers were standing in the way of a famous South Africa win. It would have been the first time South Africa would have chased down a score in excess of 300 in a World Cup.
South Africa began their chase on the wrong foot. The English right arm quick, Jofra Archer troubling the batsmen with his pace and bounce, got one to rise and hit the grille of South Africa’s batting mainstay Hashim Amla. Amla had to walk off the field due to injury.
Apart from a spirited batting effort from Quinton de Kock and van der Dussen who scored half centuries, the remaining South African batsmen wilted
Apart from a spirited batting effort from Quinton de Kock and van der Dussen who scored half centuries, the remaining South African batsmen wilted in the face of the still target and a spirited bowling performance by England led by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. They marched England to a massive victory winning the game by a huge 104 runs.
The next day, two of the most temperamental and unpredictable teams of the tournament squared off against each other. A resurgent West Indies with a knack for flair and flamboyance and an unpredictable Pakistan who are just like a newborn Targaryen (never know which side the coin flips). It made for a mouth-watering context.
On a cloudy day at Trent Bridge, Jason Holder won the toss and put Pakistan into bat.
Pakistan after an early stutter were making good progress before they ran into the indomitable Andre Russell.
Pakistan after an early stutter were making good progress before they ran into the indomitable Andre Russell. In a fiery spell of fast bowling, Russell bounced out two Pakistani batsmen in a span of three overs giving away just four runs.
Pakistan found themselves in a pickle. They had gone from a decent score of 35, losing one wicket in the bargain to a wobbly 45 for 3. From then on it was a procession of Pakistani batsmen walking into bat and going back into the pavilion after losing their wickets.
In a feat reminiscent of the West Indian team of the 70s, they bowled out Pakistan for a paltry 105.
The West Indies fast bowlers had all the cricketing enthusiasts enthralled as they transported everyone back in time. Tall, big fast bowlers coming in at full throttle and skittling out teams with sheer pace and bounce. In a feat reminiscent of the West Indian team of the 70s, they bowled out Pakistan for a paltry 105.
It was one-way traffic from there on. Chris Gayle took the centre stage biffing a 34 ball 50 en route becoming the player with a maximum number of sixes in the World Cup. The formalities were completed by the other batsmen as Windies romped home to a 7-wicket victory in just 13.4 overs.
After two disappointing one-sided games, all cricket lovers were hoping to see a contest between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
After two disappointing one-sided games, all cricket lovers were hoping to see a contest between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Two teams with good records in ICC events set the tone for an exciting match.
Locking horns against each other at Cardiff, on a pitch with grass evenly sprinkled over New Zealand, won the toss and decided to field first.
The New Zealand team hit their stride from the word go. Their quicks Trent Boult and Matt Henry were making the ball talk. Sri Lanka too was up to the task in seeing off the new ball and scoring runs at a sedate pace after the loss of an early wicket. A double strike from Henry put a spanner in the works for Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan innings did not recover after Henry’s twin strike. New Zealand were all over Sri Lanka. The Lankan batsmen folded like a pack of cards.
The Sri Lankan innings did not recover after Henry’s twin strike. New Zealand were all over Sri Lanka. The Lankan batsmen folded like a pack of cards. A late rally from Thisara Perera and a captain’s innings from Karunaratne took Sri Lanka to 135.
When New Zealand came to bat, it looked like they were batting on a completely different surface. On the same pitch where Sri Lanka was bundled out on a meagre total, the Kiwi opening pair of Guptill and Munro were smashing the ball all around the park. They each scored a half-century apiece and took New Zealand home without losing a wicket.
After three dull affairs, people were looking for some zing to be injected into the World Cup. The Cricket gods answered the prayers of the cricket aficionados in resounding style.
On the cards, South Africa was pitted against Bangladesh. A rising Asian cricket nation against the formidable Proteas.
On the cards, South Africa was pitted against Bangladesh. A rising Asian cricket 
nation against the formidable Proteas. Apart from the Bangladeshi fans, everyone was betting on South Africa to win.
On a sunny Monday morning, South Africa sent in Bangladesh to bat after winning the toss. The decision proved to be a boon for Bangladesh. Their batsmen made good use of the field restrictions in the powerplay and scored runs quickly.
Owing to a record partnership of 142 for the 3rd wicket between Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim and some good hitting in the latter part of the innings Bangladesh registered their highest score ever at the World Cup.
They built a solid foundation for the Bangladesh middle order to capitalise on. Owing to a record partnership of 142 for the 3rd wicket between Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim and some good hitting in the latter part of the innings Bangladesh registered their highest score ever at the World Cup. They put on a huge score of 330 in their 50 overs.
South Africa had another chance of creating history. They needed to chase down 331 runs to claim glory. South Africa got off the blocks scoring quickly but kept losing wickets too at periodic intervals which were proving to be a hinderance.
South Africa carries the dubious tag of ‘chokers’ for losing matches from positions of strength.
At one stage they looked in command at 202 for 3 in 35 overs. But the wicket of the destructive David Miller made the chase tricky. South Africa carries the dubious tag of ‘chokers’ for losing matches from positions of strength. Once again, they lived up to the name letting the pressure get to them and gifting Bangladesh an unexpected win, losing the game by 21 runs.
With Pakistan too, winning against the much-fancied hosts England, things have gotten interesting. Let us hope the World Cup lives up to its promise of being an interesting one after ICC reduced the number of teams participating in the World Cup. After a few insipid matches at the beginning, the World Cup seems to be finding its groove.
Photos sourced by the author from the Internet
