ICC Champions Trophy 2017

Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan played at Sofia Garden, Cardiff on 12 June 2017 

Sri Lanka 236 All Out (N Dickwella 73, AD Mathhews 39, Junaid Khan 3/40, Hasan Ali 3/43, Fahim Ashraf 2/37 and Mohammad Amir 2/53) lost to Pakistan 237/7 (Sarfraz Ahmed 61*, Fakhar Zaman 50, Azhar Ali 34, Mohammad Amir 28*, N Pradeep 3/60) by 3 wickets.

Player of the Match: Fahim Ashraf (Pakistan)
 
If cricket a game of glorious uncertainty Pakistan is a team that perfectly matches with that. The bottom ranked team in the tournament surprised many through qualifying for the elite group of four in ICC Champions trophy 2017 knocking out Sri Lanka by 3 wickets in an action packed last match of round robin league. Sent into bat Sri Lanka appeared cruising at one stage at 161/3 till 32nd over. 

Dickwella and Mathhews were going great. But with the oldish ball Pakistani pace trio Amir, Junaid and Hasan Ali bowled excellent spells. Some spectacular catches were taken; suddenly Sri Lanka was reduced to 167/7. Four wickets were gone for only 6 runs. Pakistan restricted Lankans to manageable score of 236 all out. Fragile Pakistan batting also saw them on the brink at 7/167 till captain courageous Sarfraz and Amir pulled them out from the depth of despair to an exciting victory. Pakistan will not meet the host England at Cardiff in the first semi-final. 

A comment of a Cricinfo fan Sunny sums up the match beautifully. 

Quote 

This predictably unpredictable Pakistan team has once again unpredictably gone on to win the match after a predictable collapse with some unpredictable batting from Amir. Great to see the lower order perform.

Unquote 

The very unpredictable nature of the game cricket truly unfolded in this Champions trophy. From Group-A two favourite teams were Australia and England. Likewise, from Group-B recent form and ranking suggested that India and South Africa would qualify. England is the only team among the favourites managing to advance smoothly. 

India though finishing top in their group, succumbed to a defeat to Sri Lanka. Australia and South Africa returned home empty handed. Bangladesh and Pakistan joined the elite group of four for semi-finals. ICC could not ask for more. All three matches from here on will be definitely sold out with more dramas expected.

Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka

They were not pre-tournament favorites being two bottom teams of the ranking. But their group match turned out as virtual quarter finals. Pakistan suffered a huge defeat against traditional rival India. But bounced back against strong South Africa. On the other hand, Sri Lanka lost first match to South Africa but won a great match against India. So when the two giant killers met it was any body’s game. Both the teams are going through rebuilding phase with mostly youngsters. Hence there was no lack of energy. 

Sri Lanka batting first appeared to be cruising at one stage strongly positioned at 3/161. Opener Dickwella and Captain Matthews were piloting them. Few calculated 300 plus score. Amir knocked out Matthews with a spectacular fast swinging delivery triggering a middle order collapse. Junaid and Hasan Ali joined the mission. Four Sri Lankan wickets fell in no time. Tournament witnessed the best spells from three talented pacers. 

Lankan pride was suddenly punctured being reduced to 7/167 from 3/161 in three overs. The tailenders did well reaching 236 before getting all out. Pakistan pace battery Junaid Khan (3/40), Hasan Ali (3/43), debutant Fahim Ashraf (2/37) and Amir (2/53) teamed superbly in destruction mission.

Target of 237 appeared not easy to assail for fragile batting line up against quality Lankan attack. Rookie Fakhar Zaman scored hard hitting half century exactly 50 in 36 deliveries. After a solid opening stand of 74 some irresponsible stroke play coupled with good Sri Lankan bowling and fielding reduced Pakistan to 7/162 by the 30th over. Captain Sarfraz was left with Pakistan tail enders. Fortunately for them they battled with resolution taking their team across with an unbeaten 75 runs partnership. Pakistan moved into semi-finals. Sarfraz score unbeaten 61. 

Pakistan Vs England

They will meet at Cardiff. This match would bring back into memory the world cup final at Melbourne Cricket Ground which Imran Khan’s cornered tigers won through brilliance of Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Imran Khan and Injmam-ul-Haq. The present team lacks quality and depth in batting. But bowling is equally strong and as sun is shining they are looking menacing. England is firm favourites. But their attack is not that great. 

Bangladesh scored 300 plus in the opening match. We are sure Pakistan attack will create headaches for English batting. If they field well Pakistan will definitely make a match of it. Pakistanis will definitely play Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali better than most. Yet Pakistan has to bat well to make a contest in the match. No team of the world can afford to relax against an unpredictable team like Pakistan. England is a clear favourite but Pakistan may cause surprise. 

Bangladesh Vs India Semifinal

Like England Vs Australia gradually the encounter between Bangladesh and India in limited over cricket is gaining the same level of attractions. Since 2007 World Cup when Bangladesh surprised a very strong Indian team winning and knocking India out of the tournament the bilateral contest in World Cup, Asia Cup, T20 world Cup have witnessed Bangladesh proving equal to their formidable opponents. 

Though this time in a pre-tournament practice match India won easy yet the semi-final will not be cake walk for them. Bengal tigers have advanced fair step by step maturing with every match. They batted superbly against England but bowled poorly in the match against England. They batted and bowled equally poorly against Australia and escaped defeat with rain interruption. But they blew out New Zealand bowling and fielding appreciably well and producing the most spectacular batting display of the tournament. The momentum is with Bangladesh. On their day they can beat any team of the world anywhere.

India on the other hand destroyed arch rival Pakistan in their first match. But they were terribly shaken and caught off guard by brilliant batting of Sri Lanka in the second match. The last match against strong South Africa became a virtual quarter final. India looked really a dangerous team while knocking South Africa out of the tournament with strong bowling and brilliant batting display.

Bangladesh will play India at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Tiger fans wanted this as they thought they deserve another win against India in a major tournament. But that to happen Bangladesh needs major improvement in all three departments. The high quality strong Indian batting needs to be restricted with well-planned bowling and tight fielding. 

Right from Rohit and Dhawan down to Jadeja and Dhoni India has match winners. It is not one or two Bangladesh would need wickets in clusters. Mashrafe has to bowl his tramp cards Mustafiz and Taskin very smartly. Hope Bangladesh by now has worked out what went wrong with their batting in their practice match against India. Hopefully seniors Tamim, Mushfiq, Shakib, Mahmudullah will lead the way. Soumya and Sabbir are also due for a characteristic aggressive innings. 

Indian and Bangladeshi fans troll each other on social media. But it is only a game of cricket. The better team on the day would win. This tournament has seen early exit of favorite teams like Australia and South Africa. There will be no surprise if India lose and Bangladesh advance.

An England-India final is likely. But Bangladesh and even Pakistan causing upsets and playing against each other even cannot also be ruled out. It is great that three South Asian neighbours are in the elite group of four in global event. ACC must be revived as soon as possible. 

All three Asian teams-- Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have massive crowd following in England. All three matches from now on will be selling out. Perhaps billions would watch the Bangladesh-India match on social media. Wonder how cricket has turned it to ONE WORLD!

BDST: 0906 HRS, JUN 13, 2017
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