The ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17

#t20WorldCup is quite interesting. I've not really payed much attention to #T20 historically, but being ill it's quite nice to just lay back and let it play out in front of me without having to think too much.

Currently #Canada are looking like getting through their 20 overs against #NewZealand without losing a wicket. Quietly rooting for them. 110-0 of 13.2 overs.

Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
Ah.. put the kiss of death on that. 116-1 - Bajwa caught hitting deep into cover.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
You've got to think that Canada won't be bowled out, but they probably need to put some runs on now. 118-1 off 14.4 overs. Do Canada have the bowlers to challenge New Zealand ? Really don't know, but I'm looking forward to finding out.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
Nice to see #Canada's Samra get his century. He's got 102 of 58 balls. Canada now on 150-1 on 17 overs.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
Samra's gone. It's the final over though. He got 110 off 65. Really a fine innings. Shame he couldn't hold out. Canada on 164-4 on 19.2 overs. The new batsman comes in, Heyliger and hits a six off his first ball. :-D
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
.. and Canada are done at 173-4.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
First New Zealand wicket gone. Seifert caught off Zafar. #NewZealand at 30.1 off 2.4 overs.
Show threadShriram KrishnamurthiFeb 17
@tealeg Minnows have created a disproportionate number of scares this WC!
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
@shriramk yeah. This is really helping me get through the flu! Can't believe they got Finn Allen straight after.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡

@shriramk I think this is perhaps a result of global migration. Lots of young players coming through who either had parents that emigrated from a cricket playing nation to a non-cricket playing nation or immigrated from a non-cricket playing nation into a cricket playing nation.

Either way, it's a boon for the game.

Feb 17 at 7:42amWeb
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
@shriramk having said that, just as with England vs Italy yesterday, you've got to think that New Zealand will have enough depth to win the day in the end.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
@shriramk #NewZealand are pretty much cruising now. Glenn Philipps leading the way, and now they only need 20 off 39 balls.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
@shriramk #NewZealnd wind up winning by 8 wickets. No upset here.
Show threadJTWFeb 17
@tealeg @shriramk Part of it is that the ICC loosened requirements a few years ago so that you can play for a country based on residency after living there for three years. This comes up a lot with #USACricket as well, where many of the men's players are from countries like India, Pakistan and South Africa, but have moved to the US. The women and U19 teams are mostly US-born, but with e.g., Indian heritage.
Show threadThe ol' tealeg 🐡Feb 17
@jtwcornell91 @shriramk I think it's a good thing. Having more teams be competitive at this level will help them raise the profile of the sport in those countries and the home-grown talent will surely follow.
Show threadShriram KrishnamurthiFeb 18

@tealeg Thanks to my Italy trip last year, I decided that if I had to root for a team this WC, it'll be Italia. And gli azzurri have done pretty well! Not well enough, sadly.

South Africa's biggest export commodity right now seems to be cricketers!