Published: Mar 13, 2015, 07:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 13, 2015, 07:30 PM (IST)
England’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 campaign came to an end and they finally managed another win. Thanks to persistent rain at Sydney, the match between England and Afghanistan was almost called-off and had that happened, both the sides would have ended their campaign with three points and that would have meant the worst ever World Cup performance by England, as previously they never won fewer than two games.
When the rain stopped the game for the third time, it seemed like the social media, even the rain gods were having fun at expense of the English side but they did show some mercy and when play resumed, England had to chase 101 in 25 overs. It was an easy chase, led by an Ian Bell fifty, England got to the total in the 19th over. What helped them was terrible fielding from the Asian side, they dropped catches and there was plenty mis-fielding. It seemed that the Afghan side failed to cope up with the wet SCG. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Points Table)
When the play was stopped for the final time, Afghanistan were reeling at 117 for seven after 36.2 overs. Chris Jordan, who picked up two wickets for 13 runs was adjudged the man-of-the-match. The English side finally managed some smiles after almost a torrid month in this World Cup campaign.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan 111 for 7 in 36.2 overs (Shafiqullah 30; Chris Jordan 2-13, Ravi Bopara 2-31) lost to England 101 for 1 in 18.1 overs (Alex Hales 37, Ian Bell 52*) – by nine wickets
