In Case You Missed It: Jubilation for England and Pakistan, humiliation for India, South Africa
Our best content from the week gone by
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-Nov-2022
Just two will do: Alex Hales and Jos Buttler barely broke a sweat chasing down India's 168 in the semi-final • AFP/Getty Images
A month and innumerable twists and turns later, the two World Cup finalists, Pakistan and England, have deservedly booked their spots after clinically dismantling New Zealand and India. In the tournament's biggest upset, Netherlands knocked South Africa out of the Super-12s, but there might yet be an upset in store if the weather has its way in Melbourne - Sidharth Monga has one eye on the rain radar in his tour diary - with both the final day and the reserve day looking potentially soggy. Here are the stories of the week.
Near-perfect Pakistan make light work of New Zealand to storm into final
Pakistan's top order stutter - Osman Samiuddin couldn't believe he was watching Babar Azam struggling inelegantly - all but disappeared as the old firm of Rizwan and Babar did the job on the night, after Shaheen Afridi and Co had applied the squeeze and clinically demolished New Zealand to land themselves in the final.
Pakistan's top order stutter - Osman Samiuddin couldn't believe he was watching Babar Azam struggling inelegantly - all but disappeared as the old firm of Rizwan and Babar did the job on the night, after Shaheen Afridi and Co had applied the squeeze and clinically demolished New Zealand to land themselves in the final.
Alex Hales and Jos Buttler carry England into final with ten-wicket mauling of India
A pitch-perfect England needed just two batters, Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, to decimate India, for whom even 360-batter Suryakumar Yadav failed to fire. Sidharth Monga says the tacky pitch and their old-fashioned approach played a large part.
A pitch-perfect England needed just two batters, Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, to decimate India, for whom even 360-batter Suryakumar Yadav failed to fire. Sidharth Monga says the tacky pitch and their old-fashioned approach played a large part.
Shock defeat ends South Africa's World Cup as Netherlands script famous win
Netherlands qualified for the 2024 World Cup on the back of their upset of South Africa. It's as if South Africa got into a cage and slammed the door on themselves, Danyal Rasool wrote. Firdose Moonda says South Africa will have a tough time facing the future after their worst World Cup exit yet.
Netherlands qualified for the 2024 World Cup on the back of their upset of South Africa. It's as if South Africa got into a cage and slammed the door on themselves, Danyal Rasool wrote. Firdose Moonda says South Africa will have a tough time facing the future after their worst World Cup exit yet.
What might Australia look like at the 2024 T20 World Cup?
After the defending champions' Super-12s exit, Alex Malcom sees generational changes in the offing. There is likely to be a significant turnover of players but some positions look harder to fill than others.
After the defending champions' Super-12s exit, Alex Malcom sees generational changes in the offing. There is likely to be a significant turnover of players but some positions look harder to fill than others.
The story of the 2019 World Cup final, in the words of those who played in it
As England batter their way into another world final, Mark Nicholas watches a new documentary that throws fresh light on perhaps the finest game of ODI cricket there ever has been.
As England batter their way into another world final, Mark Nicholas watches a new documentary that throws fresh light on perhaps the finest game of ODI cricket there ever has been.
Has anyone scored more runs in T20Is in a calendar year than Suryakumar Yadav?
And is Rilee Rossouw the only batter to score consecutive T20I hundreds? Steven Lynch has answers to these and more questions in this week's Ask Steven.
And is Rilee Rossouw the only batter to score consecutive T20I hundreds? Steven Lynch has answers to these and more questions in this week's Ask Steven.
Travis Basevi, my friend who changed the way cricket was consumed
Vishal Mishra, who helped build Cricinfo, writes about a 30-year friendship that revolved around cricket scorecards, coding, and Beavis and Butthead.
Vishal Mishra, who helped build Cricinfo, writes about a 30-year friendship that revolved around cricket scorecards, coding, and Beavis and Butthead.