05 June : IND V SAF @ Southampton
I didn't follow the game ball by ball, but I think IND was so comfortably winners that it's hardly possible to identify one such indecent. Match apparently looks much closer, but IND was always in command, once FaF decided to bat first on a 10:30 start. Still, if I am to pick one, I'll take Sharma-Rahul partnership. For a very little period SAF was in the game when they got Kohli out with RR at around 3.5, and another wicket before 75 could have exposed IND middle order against fresh SAF pacers, but that partnership made it clinically boring.
BD V NZL @ Oval
This was a really close game that changed it's fortune several times over the course. Kiwis had their nose ahead most times, but just BD could have won it with a win at one critical moment. Among several such moments, I think most people can identify the top 2 - both involving Mushfique. First he got run-out to an impossible single, that too at the right arm side of arguably the best fielder in world, then he let Williamson off a confirmed run-out like a novice when Kiwis were panicking.
Of the 2, I actually will pick the first one - Mushfique's unnecessary run-out, when the partnership was flourishing.
The reason being, these days below 250 sort of targets are near impossible to defend, more so for a team like BD without many strike bowlers. When the target is playing out 50 overs (& you win the game), I don't think BD has much to offer with bowling - they can make it really interesting, but experienced sides will always chase it down. In last few months, only AFG & PAK had failed to do that, otherwise IND, WIN, NZ have edged past the target. Had Mushi got Williamson run-out, still I am sure Kiwis had enough depth to win it - today game became too close because of Latham's poor shot (& a great catch), otherwise it was never that tight.
In contrast, games are won often from a head start. BD openers gave a decent start, then both got out to poor shots, but Kiwi pair also matched them almost identically. What was the difference is that after the openers, Kiwi No. 3 & No. 4 put a partnership, steadied the ship and kept the asking in control. Mushi and Shakib did exactly same and that left-right combo got better of Kiwi weak overs, RR was raising consistently and at 110-2 (23'4), BD was well on course to reach close to 300, at least 275+, which I think would have been enough. ODI games are set by partnerships at the top and that one wicket actually resulted in all-out with 5 balls to spare. It was such a foolish attempt for that single that, even Kiwis were probably surprised.
The game was decided with that run-out, rest were just exciting near about moments.
