The group stage of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 ended with the last two games deciding the last two quarter-finalists. Such was the openness of the tournament that three of the top eight One-Day International (ODI) teams were in danger of missing out on the quarter-finals. Ultimately, England were the only ones to not make it. Shiamak Unwalla retraces the top five most thrilling encounters of the group stage. Top 10 batsmen in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
1. Ireland vs UAE, Pool B Match 16 at Brisbane: Ireland won by 2 wickets
Before the tournament began, few would have expected UAE to last 50 overs more than once. The fact that they managed to score over 250 on multiple occasions speaks volumes of how with a bit more encouragement from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Associates can spring a surprise or two. Against Ireland at The Gabba, UAE batted first. Amjad Ali scored a useful 45 while Khurram Khan made 36. At 131 for six in the 35th over, it seemed that UAE might not last the distance, but then came arguably one of the best innings witnessed at ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Shaiman Anwar, batting at No. 6, showed just why associates ought not to be taken lightly with a power-packed 83-ball 106 — the first ever World Cup century by a UAE batsman. Along with Amjad Javed he added 107 in just about 12 overs as UAE finished at a commanding 278 for nine. Top 10 bowlers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
If Ireland were intimidated by the steep total, they showed no signs of it early on. Though Paul Stirling was out for three, William Porterfield (37) and Ed Joyce (37) steadied the ship before Niall O’Brien and Andy Balbirnie put in useful performances. At 171 for five in the 39th over, the match hung in the balance. In walked Kevin O’Brien to join Gary Wilson. The duo added 72 runs in lightening quick time, with the younger O’Brien scoring a 25-ball 50. Wilson kept going after O’Brien’s dismissal, and was out for a terrific 80 with 12 runs to win in 15 balls. Alex Cusack and George Dockrell knocked off the remaining runs to complete a thrilling two-wicket win with just four balls to spare.
Brief scores:
UAE 278 for 9 in 50 overs (Shaiman Anwar 106; Paul Stirling 2 for 27) lost to Ireland 279 for 8 in 47.3 overs (Gary Wilson 80, Kevin O’Brien 50; Amjad Javed 3 for 60) by 2 wickets.
2. Afghanistan vs Scotland, Pool A Match 17 at Dunedin: Afghanistan won by 1 wicket
There is romance in sport. Anyone who thinks otherwise need just watch a 6’2” giant in flowing black hair on his knees and screaming in ecstasy at having awarded his country their first ever World Cup win. When Scotland took on Afghanistan at Dunedin, there would have been very few spectators — whether live or watching the games at home — who would have been genuinely interested in the outcome of the match. It was, after all, a contest between two of the lowly minnows. Scotland batted first, and were bowled out in exactly 50 overs for 210 with as many as seven players getting to double figures but no one crossing 31. Top 10 fielders in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Javed Ahmadi smashed a run-a-ball 51 in response, and for a while it seemed that Afghanistan would win with about 20 overs to spare. However, from 85 for two Afghanistan suffered a panicked implosion and crashed to 97 for seven. Samiullah Shenwari, batting at No. 4, was witnessing the carnage at the other end when Dawlat Zadran came in to offer some resistance. The duo added an invaluable 35 before Dawlat’s dismissal.
Hamid Hassan was the penultimate batsman, and he proved to be the ally Shenwari was looking for. Hamid proved to be unshakable, and though neither batsman was scoring runs at a frenetic pace they ensured that another wicket did not fall. With the target inching closer, Shenwari finally cut loose. He got to his 50 off 113 deliveries, and was on 78 when he opened up against Majid Haq, hitting the off-spinner for three huge sixes in the 47th over of the innings. He was out off the fifth ball of the over, having added 60 with Hassan for the ninth wicket. Afghanistan were still 19 runs adrift with the last wicket remaining, but Hassan and Shapoor held their nerves to pull off perhaps the single most emotional ODI win since India lifted the World Cup four years ago. What was more, they did it with just three balls remaining in the match. Top 10 wicketkeepers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Brief scores:
Scotland 210 in 50 overs (Matt Machan 31, Majid Haq 31; Shapoor Zadran 4 for 38) lost to Afghanistan 211 for 9 in 49.3 overs (Javed Ahmadi 51, Samiullah Shenwari 96; Richie Berrington 4 for 40) by 1 wicket.
3. New Zealand vs Australia, Pool A Match 20 at Auckland: New Zealand won by 1 wicket
It was billed as the clash of titans. The tournament co-hosts and favourites, Australia and New Zealand, doing battle for not only a World Cup win, but the Chappell-Hadlee trophy as well. With the intense build-up both countries were subject to, an absolute cracker was on the cards. However, 32.2 overs into the game it seemed like the spectators would be subject to an absolute anti-climax, as Trent Boult led New Zealand in routing Australia for a mere 151. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Pool-wise Team Standings
Brendon McCullum then proceeded to play as only he can, thrashing 50 off 24 balls to get the Black Caps off to a blazing start. Mitchell Johnson was taken for 68 in six overs, but his fellow Mitchell (Starc), decided that Boult wouldn’t be the best left-arm pacer on the day. Having taken out Martin Guptill, he bowled two stunning yorkers to get rid of Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott in successive deliveries. Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson then steadied the ship with a 52-run stand, but from 131 for four, Starc led another fight-back to reduce the Kiwis to 146 for nine. Boult played out two of the toughest deliveries he will ever face in his career to allow Williamson the strike, and he responded by ending the match with a six off the first ball of the next over as New Zealand won a humdinger by one wicket.
Brief scores:
Australia 151 in 32.2 overs (Brad Haddin 43; Trent Boult 5 for 27) lost to New Zealand 152 for 9 in 23.1 overs (Brendon McCullum 50, Kane Williamson 45*; Mitchell Starc 6 for 28) by 1 wicket.
4. Ireland vs Zimbabwe, Pool B Match 30 at Hobart: Ireland won by 5 runs
It is a testament to Ireland’s mental strength that they made it to this list twice, and ended up on the winning side on both occasions. Ireland batted first, and were boosted by Ed Joyce (112) and Andy Balbirnie (97) to end at a commanding 331 for eight. A year ago Zimbabwe would have folded up for under 200, but this Zimbabwean side, coached by Dav Whatmore, is made of sterner stuff. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
Chamu Chibhabha, Sikandar Raza, Solomon Mire, and Hamilton Masakadza were out with only 74 runs on the board, but Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams then went on to put on a scintillating 149 runs for the fifth wicket. Taylor fell for a superb 121 in what was the penultimate innings of his Zimbabwe career, but Williams carried on after that as well. With the score at 300 for six, Williams looked to clear midwicket. John Mooney took what proved to be a very controversial catch — one that led to a scathing attack on Mooney’s reputation by a Zimbabwean newspaper — but Williams himself walked off. Alex Cusack bowled a decisive spell, and Ireland managed to cling on to a five-run win. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
Brief scores:
Ireland 331 for 8 in 50 overs (Ed Joyce 112, Andy Balbirnie 97; Tendai Chatara 3 for 61) beat Zimbabwe 326 in 49.3 overs (Brendan Taylor 121, Sean Williams 96; Alex Cusack 4 for 32) by 5 runs.
5. Bangladesh vs England, Pool A Match 33 at Adelaide: Bangladesh won by 15 runs
If anyone was asked which team not from the top eight ODI sides in the world would reach the quarter-finals, the most obvious answer would be Bangladesh. Likewise, if anyone was asked which of the top eight ODI sides in the world would not reach the quarter final, the two teams chosen would in all likelihood have been West Indies and England.
Batting first, Bangladesh rode on Mahmudullah’s maiden ODI ton — also Bangladesh’s first World Cup century — to score a commanding 275 for seven. Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim contributed as well. In response, England got off to a steady start. Each of the top four batsmen got going, though none were able to get a big score. However, Bangladesh kept pegging away till they reduced England to 163 for six.
Jos Buttler then took centre stage, slamming a 52-ball 65 in partnership with Chris Woakes (42 not out) to take England close. Just when things were looking good for England, Buttler and Chris Jordan were dismissed off back-to-back balls. Woakes played a few more big hits to take England within striking distance before Rubel Hossain got rid of Stuart Broad and James Anderson in three balls to seal the game for Bangladesh and knock England out of the World Cup. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 275 for 7 in 50 overs (Mahmudullah 103, Mushfiqur Rahim 89; James Anderson 2 for 45, Chris Jordan 2 for 59) beat England 260 in 48.3 overs (Ian Bell 63, Jos Buttler 65, Chris Woakes 42*; Rubel Hossain 4 for 53) by 15 runs.
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and cricket fanatic. You can follow him on Twitter @ShiamakUnwalla)
Written by 
