The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 16, Episode 21: What the hell? The record (the real record) for most expensive over in first-class cricket has stood for decades, and then it gets both equalled and broken within three days? Mamma mia. The T20 World Cup is coming to its end, as Adam's wedding anniversary comes around. Also this week, farewell to Frank Duckworth, Kane Williamson doesn't like the Super Smash, Afghanistan's position in world cricket shifts, David Warner's long goodbye finally ends, a Brazilian star makes her mark in England, and the Blaze figure out how to win.

Your Nerd Pledge number this week:

1.49 - Jason Wilkins

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Title track by Urthboy

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2024 T20 World Cup, Day 27, second semi-final: India v England

It wasn't the biggest margin, but it was an outclassing in all departments. India ran the game in Guyana, seeing off every challenge with enough versatility to brush off England. Rohit Sharma led the way again, while Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah continued to be unhittable. Another final beckons. Matt Roller joins Geoff Lemon.

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Title track by Urthboy

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2024 T20 World Cup, Day 26: South Africa v Afghanistan

No sense being vague here - it was an absolute thrashing. South Africa's quicks took apart Afghanistan's top order and that was the game. But it was played on a dreadful pitch in Trinidad that made even a tiny chase into a dangerous prospect - in medical as well as in sporting terms. Bharat Sundaresan joins Geoff.

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It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, the aftermath of September 11 in Pakistan cricket, a revolution at Lancashire, the little-known link between Launceston and Antigua, and the day that Don Bradman showed he was the forefather of AB de Villiers.

Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:

2.14 - Dominic Davis

3.21 - Ed Henty

3.43 - Sam Ashworth

3.29 - Liam Dalton

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Title track by Urthboy

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2024 T20 World Cup, Day 24.2: Afghanistan v Bangladesh

Another knockout in the group stage, with three teams having a chance based on the result, and Afghanistan did everything they could to not win it, until the point where they started doing things to win it. In the meantime, Bangladesh seemed equally confused about whether winning was actually a good thing. Strange, scrappy, and at times comical, but a tense finish sees the Afghans through.

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Title track by Urthboy

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2024 T20 World Cup, Day 24.1: India v Australia

What a performance from India’s captain. With Australia needing to win to realistically keep their hopes alive, he never let them settle with a bombastic display of power play hitting. From there, everything needed to go right for Mitch Marsh’s team and it didn’t. Geoff watched live it in the flesh at St Lucia; he’s with Adam who has a fever. Fun!

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Title track by Urthboy

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2024 T20 World Cup, Day 23.2: South Africa v West Indies

It was effectively a knockout, so the spectre of a South African choke was always on. They bowled well, restricted the scoring, then saw the rain come down and change the equation. Andre Russell wasn't letting the game go, nor was Alzarri Joseph, but could Marco Jansen flip the script?

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Title track by Urthboy

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2024 T20 World Cup, Day 23.1: England v USA

Despite it being not even eight days ago, it feels an eternity since England were on the brink of being bounced out of this tournament early. Well, they're now the second team qualified for the semi-finals and hitting the best form as we enter the games that matter most. Which isn't to say there wasn't plenty riding on this: not only did Jos Butter's side have to beat the USA, they had to do it quickly... and did they ever, the captain blasting 83 not out to make sure of an early bath. Daniel Norcross saw it all at Kensington Oval in Barbados and he's with Adam Collins.

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2024 T20 World Cup, Day 22.2: Australia v Afghanistan

After their all-timer in Mumbai at last year's one-day World Cup, and the boycotting of bilateral series, this encounter was always going to have some extra interest. And on a difficult track in St Vincent, Afghanistan showed up to the party ready to dance. Gurbaz and Ibrahim started it, Gulbadin finished it off, but along the way they had to confront and shut down the Glenn Maxwell machine. A night for history.

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2024 T20 World Cup, Day 22.1: India v Bangladesh

After a polished performance against Bangladesh, this increasingly feels like the question – can anyone match India when they are close to their best? What’s certain is they have every base covered and are hitting their high notes at just the right time. Adam and Geoff are back together to review the favourites and reflect on another poor showing from Bangladesh, who have well and truly run their race.

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Enter the Westfield UK competition: win gift vouchers or your own T20 World Cup final party at Sixes. westfield.com/united-kingdom/tfw

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