What a thriller last night, the West Indies beating New Zealand after the match being tied 139-all after 20 overs and winning in the one over eliminator. Thus the Windies stay alive while the Kiwis are eliminated.
Meanwhile George Bailey’s under-rated Aussies have hit the ranking system for a six!
Ranked no. 10 in T20, below Ireland and Bangladesh a few weeks ago, Australia appear favourites to lift the title.
Buoyed by opener Shane Watson’s all-round brilliance, Australia beat higher-ranked West Indies and then annihilated India by 9 wickets and South Africa by 8 wickets with overs to spare.
It was as if Watson has decided to single-handedly hit the ranking system for six as he carried his country on his broad shoulder with both bat and bowl.
As on Monday evening, he has scored the most runs (234 runs at 78.00 with a strike rate of 163.33) and taken most wickets (10 wickets at 11.80). He has also hit the most number of sixes, so far, 15.
He is the only man to win four successive Man of the Match awards in any international tournament.
The semi-finalists from Group 1 have been decided after last night’s matches between West Indies and New Zealand, and between Sri Lanka and England.
Tonight, 2 October, will decide as to which two teams from Group 2 will go in the semi-final after matches between Australia and Pakistan and between South Africa and India.
Australia is the only undefeated team in this Group, having convincing victories over India and South Africa to secure four points. Pakistan defeated South Africa but lost to traditional enemies India. Both Pakistan and India are level on two points each.
Australia is the leader with a net run-rate (NRR) of 1.712, followed by Pakistan with a NRR of -0.426, India (-0.452) and South Africa (-0.605).
Still Australia is not certain to enter the semis if they lose to Pakistan badly and India thrashes South Africa tonight. This is not impossible, the way Virat Kohli is batting and fielding.
Then Australia, Pakistan and India will be level on four points and the NRR will be the deciding factor as to which two of these three will make it to the semis.
But if the Proteas trounce India and Pakistan loses to Australia, then they have a slim chance of making the semis.
In ‘Mr Versatile’ Watson and David Warner, Australia has aggressive opening batsmen. So far, Mike Hussey has the best batting average in this tournament, 83.00, thanks to some not-outs.
Both medium-fast Watson and quickie Mitchell Starc have bowled with accuracy and fire.
There is a spring in the step of the Aussies, having won five T20 matches in a row – one against Pakistan in UAE three weeks ago and four in the 2012 World T20.
They strut on the field like champions. Their body language is positive. Some credit must go to captain Bailey – whatever Ian Chappell may say.
The berth to semi-final is wide open. I had not given the Aussies a chance when World T20 started a fortnight ago. But the re-born Australians look confident to hop, skip and jump over their rivals to win their first ICC World T20 title on Sunday night.
Paradoxically, it was the peculiar ranking system which placed Australia behind Bangladesh and Ireland that has brought back their old Aussie-aggro-mojo.
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