Test Match Special - Jacks & Ahmed stun New Zealand in Colombo

Episode Date: February 27, 2026

Daniel Norcross is alongside 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley and Aatif Nawaz for reaction to England's thrilling victory over New Zealand in Colombo. Hear from player of the match Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Harry Brook and Mitch Santner.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. This is not the future we were promised. Like, how about that for a tagline for the show? From the BBC, this is the interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life.

And all the bizarre ways people are using. the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Henry, into Jacks. Well, he's got a fair bit on that. He's going to run away for four. And England have won the game.

Short and pulled round the corner. And England have won by four wickets with three balls to spare. New Zealand are not yet through to the semifinals. And England will top. the group and I don't know how that's happened. It's come from nowhere. England have won an extraordinary game here at the R Pramadasa Stadium to clinch top spot in their group. They were already through to the semi-finals but now they have won three out of three by defeating New Zealand by four wickets

in dramatic and thrilling fashion. I'm Daniel Norcross alongside me is World Cup winner Alex Hartley as we reflect on what was a absorbing, fascinating game of cricket on a very unusual surface. The The first thing that everybody needs to understand here is that these pictures are nothing like the ones we get in India. And this one particularly today turned so extravagantly. England ended up bowling 16 overs of spin. Actually, New Zealand ended up just bowling 4.3 overs of seam themselves. They've bowed 15 overs of spin.

We've seen 31 overs of spin out of 39.3 overs. and the spinners on top throughout had England in all sorts of trouble having set them 160 to win when they were six down for 117 with three and a half overs to go needing 43 at that time they looked absolutely dead and buried

but somehow Rayan Ahmed and Willjax in a blistering display but well they've taken down Glenn Phillips they've taken down Mitchell Santner and they finished it off off Matt Henry to ensure that New Zealand will have a little nail-biting 24 hours,

uncertain of their future progress in this tournament for England. Again, it's a tale, Alex Hartley, of winning a game somehow without anybody really dominating. You look at their scorecard today. The top scorer was Tom Bantor was 33 out of a total of 161. No one went on. The other day, Harry Brooke did. He got his 100, but it's about contributions throughout. and England had done that.

They did that with a ball. They used plenty of spinners. Five of them think in the end. Everybody chipped in to a certain degree. And for New Zealand, it'll be, well, not heartbreaking because they are still in the box seat. They know that Pakistan need to win handsomely against Sri Lanka in candy in the last game of this group. But they had that game and they've let it slip and that must be a bit galling. Yeah, you'd be so frustrated as a new.

New Zealand player when it just looked like they were going to walk it, looked like it was going to be one of those games that just peters out and it is a bit of a dead end to the game. But brilliant. I mean, obviously Ray and Ahmed hasn't played a single game in this World Cup until today where they're on a used surface. They knew it was going to turn so they tactically changed their team. Jamie Overton who's played most of the games or he's played every game since the first

one where Luke Wood played. They swapped him out and ends up winning the game for them in the end. Yeah, we'll take you back. to the beginning when New Zealand won the toss elected to bat put pressure on England on a pitch that we already expected would turn and would only get worse

was the expectation and the inning started very untypically for the rest of the match Joffra Archer, open the bowling for England and bowled a maiden he nearly had a wicket in the first day one that was overturned on review and we thought then, or at least watching it

you were thinking oh there's a bit of nibble in here the paces could have a bit of fun but that was a bit of a false dawn for the Seams because thereafter, Liam Dawson opened at the other end, not Will Jax, another sign of Harry Brooks' flexibility in his captaincy. We've seen Will Jax open the bowling before, as he did against Pakistan, wasn't it? Up at Candy or at Sri Lanka. So flexibility there, but once Liam Dawson came on

and it started to become clear that the ball was going to turn, you then thought, well, Harry Brooke, he's got this phalanx of spinners, He added to it, as you said, with Rayan Ahmed, who is playing in place of Jamie Overton. And that was the tale, really, a really good start from New Zealand. Yes, and presenting the Mad of the Match award is Simon Dull to Will Jacks. 32 with the bat, extraordinary off 18 balls and two for 23 with the ball. Congratulations. You've done this before. This is your fourth player of the match to the tournament.

How does this one rate? I reckon this is the best. I'm absolutely buzzing with that. to be not out of the end in a tight finish. When I went out there, it was on a bit of a knife edge, and I'm over the moon. How did you hold your nerve at the end there? You've got yourself a bit of a reputation now as a finisher for this team.

So how did you hold your nerve? It's just about keeping it simple. I think Rayhan played an absolutely brilliant innings. Everyone who came out on that pitch struggled straight away, and it took time to get the pace of it, how slow it was. And I think that 60 hit second ball off Glenn Phillips kind of up to the ante and just put them on the back foot. and then I was able to play off him there.

The game was kind of laid out for us with how they were going to bowl and the outfield and the conditions, so I just tried to utilise that. What were you two talking about in the middle in terms of how you get this total? Was it just one ball at a time? Or were you thinking bigger picture?

Well, at the overall Phillips we spoke about, we need to take a risk gear. I think it was 15 and over and off spinners to two right hand as we thought that was our matchup. And then for the other two, we talked about just hitting the gaps hard and running hard. It's a massive boundary out this side, slow surface. So you're not always going to be able to clear the field.

And we picked up a couple of twos, which are crucial that over. You also got two wickets, so it's been a great night out for you, but that finish was superb. Would you say that you personally are peaking at the right time of this tournament? Yeah, I feel really confident right now. I feel calm in the middle, which I think is like another string to your bow. If you're calming and you know what you're trying to do, then, yeah, that could be more vital than anything.

And going into the semifinals now, I think myself and the team, we're going in the right direction, three wins in the super eights against three strong. sides we're very happy. Yeah well congratulations and joy tonight we'll see it the semi-final. Thank you. Well there he says England are going to be very confident three wins against three strong sides.

They have been very very good in the super eights in the sense of getting over the line and you've got to applaud them for that and Will Jack's a fourth player of the match. That's absurd. He's having great World Cup isn't he? He's finding he's helping the team find ways to win I mean he's just been so he's probably one of the only players actually that has been so consistent when it comes to having the bat in hand and you look down the order and you go okay

they've got a bit of breathing space a bit of wiggle room because you know you've got will jacks coming in so so late yep well we'll come back to him let's first return to the new zealand innings because tim seifut fin allen after that very sticky first couple of overs really got motoring tim cypher did a couple of monster sixes 35 or 25 for him with a couple of sixes fin Allen he only dealt in sixes didn't hit me for us, 29 off 19. And it was the same old story for New Zealand, wasn't it, that top order of Seifut and Finn Allen, 64 without loss, which they felt ahead of the game

because you sort of thought there's something in this pitch, there was something for Archer, and then you could see we're starting to turn. And it felt kind of ominous. And kind of, I mean, in my mind, I was thinking 150, 155 would be defendable on here with the number of spinners that they got. And that probably would have been,

had it not been for the incredible assault from Ray and Ahmed and Will Jacks at the back. back end. So again, are the causes for concern for England that they let New Zealand get away? It's quite rare for them not to pick up wickets and a power play. And today, they didn't quite manage that. Yeah, no, it's, I don't think there's any concern. I mean, obviously there is when it comes to Josh Butler. You know, there's a lot of talk around him. And I just, I just feel sorry for him now. Like, really, really feel sorry for him because you could just see when he got out today, he was almost like, are you joking? Like, you're actually winding me up. Like, this is just going from

bad to worse. I've got no doubt that he will score runs at some stage. But, no, I think the encouraging thing is that they're finding ways to win, and that's how you win tournaments, you get yourself over the line in situations where you possibly shouldn't. And so, look,

with the ball, we've just seen five minutes ago how quickly it can change. So I don't think New Zealand got away from England and got too many. They probably got what was probably about par. Yeah, it probably was. It was up 159 they ended up with. And it was another tale of spin bowlers doing their thing for Harry Brooke and here in Sri Lanka.

Ended up bowling 16 overs a bit. Joffra Archer for the first time as an England player, bowled only three overs and it completed 20 over innings when England had bowled first. There's been one other time when he didn't bowl. And it was against Australia. He didn't bowl a fourth over. That was against the USA in the T20 World Cup when Chris Jordan, picked up a hat trick and the innings ended after 18.5 over.

So he was going to bowl the 20th. But this time it was the plan and it was a successful one because Rayan Ahmed who'd come into the team who bowled the 20th over. He ended up with 2 for 28. Adir Rashid picked up 2 for 28. He's now just one wicket behind. Isha Soli in fourth place of all-time leading T-29 wicket takers. Will Jacks, as you heard in that interview.

He picked up two. Two for 23. Liam Dawson got one. Sam Curran only bowed one over today. Joffar Archer only if old his three Even Jacob Bethel got a Got a little look in First over the tournament

After he had that problem with his finger So they're kind of looking at that Just to see if he's going to be useful Come the semi-finals His over went for 13 It wasn't a great over But it was the indication Wasn't it of how the pitch was playing

And after that opening partnership Was so successful There's a little stutter But at 123 for 3 in New Zealand We're actually well placed To get a well above par total They ended up rather stuttering getting just another 36 runs

losing seven wickets in the end overall and setting England 160. Now you've alluded to what happened next and we need to talk about this. We need to talk about Joss. And it's not just Joss, it's Phil Salt as well because although he hit that 60 the other day

this opening partnership which has been the bedrock of England's great run in T20 Internals for quite a while now is really spluttering just at the wrong time. Salt out very early on in the first over for two. to Josh Butler, who we thought might be freed from the chains of concern and fear.

The manner of his dismissal, Alex, is one that will cause more concern than the fact that he got out. If he got out caught the boundary, these things happen, but he didn't. He got out nibbling, and it was not nice. Well, the one thing that was different about the way he got out today was he actually came out of his crease and he used his feet. So it was on his mind and maybe realized he's been stuck in the crease on occasion throughout this World Cup. Yes, thanks very much. Mitch Sand, New Zealand captain is patiently waiting. Thanks for your time. Your reflections on the match overall. That was a good match. A tight match. Yeah, I think, you know, the way England kind of paced that chase, and then obviously the way Willie Jay and Rion kind of put the finishing touches was good batting.

Defeat not ideal, obviously, for you, but a narrow defeat, I suppose, is the next best option. Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously it would have made easy if we made our lives easy if we won. But, again, Again, you know, we played a pretty good game. There's obviously moments, both with the bat and the ball that you could probably look back on and kind of turn the game on us a little bit. But again, yeah, it creates England the way they played. When you look back at those moments, which would they be specifically? Yeah, I think we set up a good platform for, you know, to target the last few overs,

then lost a few there. We're only kind of scraped to 160. It could have easily been 170. And then I guess at the end, you know, you need 40 off kind of the last three. And, yeah, you know, I think they, the way they're able to take down, the off-y and obviously at the end was good batting. I was going to ask that about, because you got a good platform in the Power Play, 50-odd for non,

and you'd know from the game two nights ago that that score is a competitive one, but were you slightly underwhelmed with the final total after the first six overs? Yeah, I think I guess the other innings, we kind of lost wickets throughout, and then, you know, where were to get to a score through, I guess, the last four of us,

but, you know, tonight we kind of set a platform, got to the second time out in a pretty good spot, and then, you know, maybe took some tough options straight up for the timeout. But, again, you know, you need to kind of get runs. And we're thinking at that stage, 170, 175 would have been a really good score. And Rayan Ahmed coming in for his first game, a player that comes in like that. They're often dangerous, aren't they? Because they're on a shot to nothing, really, and nothing to lose.

Yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, Ryan showed his class with a bat, you know, the last kind of couple years. And obviously, a very good player of spin. So, you know, he wasn't really phased on that wicket. So, yeah. And I guess this partnership with Jackson, but also set up by Bans and Karen after, you know, just losing a few at the start. Well, thanks for your time, as always.

And you'll have a nervy weight, no doubt, but good luck over the next two days. Yeah, we'll probably be watching the game tomorrow, so, yeah, thank you. Thanks for your time. Harry Brooke is all smiles. Well, there were moments in the second half of their game there where you probably felt it was slipping away, but an extraordinary partnership in the last three or four overs there between Will Jackson and Ray and Ahmed. Yeah, and we've seen what Ray can do in the Nets and he's gone out there and played beautifully there and taking the game away from them. And alongside, Jack C, he's got his fourth man at the matches tournament, which is the most ever he's just told me.

So he's pretty happy with that performance. Ray and Ahmed was a conditions-specific selection for here. You go back to India now. He's put his name in the hat as well because Mumbai obviously may spin as well, which is where you'll be going. Yeah, and there's conversations to be had. but we said from the start of the comp and we said it to the group, we're going to select on conditions, and we thought today was the perfect opportunity to bring him in,

and he did an amazing job. And did you feel that New Zealand would be a really good marker for you this evening? You know, you hadn't put the perfect game together, and there are areas of weaknesses to work on, but also a good side to test yourself with the semi-final ahead. Yeah, absolutely, and they're a very strong side. I think they've gone unbeaten before now, So yeah, we've played against them before Christmas.

We knew how strong they were. And they do everything so well. They do the little things really well with the running between the wickets. And then they've got some extreme power with the batting. And likewise with the bowling, the very skillful outfit. Had to ask you about Josh Butler's form in the last game, obviously no runs. But is your response the same that he's a class player and you'll be backing him to come good? Yeah, I think there's been a lot said about Joss.

I said the other day that he's played 150 games for England. and people probably need to take a little step back from that. He's probably the best whiteball player to have ever played the game. He's in a little bit of a rut now, but I think that's an exciting thing for everybody in the world to know what he could produce in the next couple of games. And yeah, he's obviously got a lot of fire in the belly and he wants to go out there and show everybody what he's made of.

Look, he averages 34, striking at 145 in 150 games. And yeah, he's a phenomenal player, and I have no doubt, he'll go out and do well. You mentioned Will Jack's fourth player of the match award. You made the decision a little bit before this tournament to bat him in that finishing position, which is not his custom position. What gave you confidence that he'd be able to transfer to a different role? He's just a proper batter.

There was one instinct we played against the West Indies at the start of our summer and he came out and he just lent on his first ball for four through the covers or two or whatever. And that's just a good sign. I think a lot of lower order batters come out. and they block it or they try and hit a wild swing. But he's a proper batter. He's got first class hundreds. He's played test cricket. And as we've seen tonight, he's got immense power as well.

It is Mumbai for you now. You don't know your opponents yet. It's going to be India or West Indies. Dare I ask, who you would prefer to face? We're not bothered. We've just got to go out there and whoever we're facing. They're going to be a tough opponent anyway. We've already played against West Indies at the Wankady already.

So a little bit of experience there. It's nice to go back to a lot of. ground that we've already played on as well. So yeah, both sides are very strong, very powerful teams and we've just got to go out there and try and do the little things well again. And do you sense after an unbeaten super eight stage that your team is peaking at the right time? I think so, yeah. We still haven't played that perfect game. We haven't, we haven't had, yeah, the starts that we'd like to with bat and ball. We've done well with the ball, but the bat's been a little bit off, but we've managed to get over the line in some very close games. And I think in

World Cups that holds you in really good stead going into the final stages of it. Well, well done tonight, semi-final in Mumbai 8. It's good luck. Thank you. You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. This is not the future we were promised. Like, how about that for a tagline for the show? From the BBC, this is the interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about out what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

A couple of things there that immediately struck me. Firstly, that Mitchell Satner seems to know every single England player's nickname. I mean, called Will J. Bants had done this, and this like the other, which kind of tells you something about the way these players, they know each other inside out, they've played against each other time and time again, and the game was played in a fabulous spirit.

But also, Josh Butler, we need to discuss this because we were in the middle of talking about it when we were so rudely interrupted by the captains. Out for another duck, another single-figure score, he's got a massive vote of confidence from his captain there. The question that we were talking about during the break, I'd like to put to you, which is, can England win a T20 World Cup?

if Joss Butler isn't in the team and isn't firing? Yeah, yeah, absolutely they can. They've proven that they can win games of cricket when Just Butler's not performing because he's not performing and they're still winning and they were the first team to qualify for a semi-final. They've finished top of the group. England don't absolutely need him to win a World Cup. But I think I agree with Harry when he was saying,

just give him a bit of slack. you know, he's obviously human. You can't be at the peak of your game all the time. But he has played 150 games for England. You know, he's the best that they've produced. So, yeah, I'm not concerned by it. And I think, but when you look at the numbers, I can see why people are.

I mean, it strikes me that England have got such a deep batting order that they're going to risk it anyway. If it is a risk, I mean, is it really a risk? He's such an all-time great for England. And when you saw today, for example, Ray and Ahmed walking in at number eight, and we had that stat earlier about how the bottom five have got 38 first class hundreds, and the top five we got 37 first class hundreds. So there's a real depth to England's batting.

And in a sense, especially with Harry Brooke now happy to go up at number three, and he went and did it today after England lost that early wicket. They were two for two at one stage, an appalling bother. and he did I mean he wasn't truly spectacular today 26 off 24 they bowed very well to him

he did hit 1-6 that was truly amazing the kind of flick there was nothing more than a flick that hit the the big screen and knocked out a few pixels so it was an amazing shot

so England have got that firepower but they are still stuttering we saw Jacob Bethel get out again to the same sort of shot caught in the deep trying to access the long boundary we saw Banton getting out to a long hop court at deep midwicket Bantin top scored with 33 but that's sort of been England's

I say a problem maybe it's maybe it's how they are going to win a World Cup it doesn't have to have somebody getting 80 maybe people get everybody gets 30 if you look at how England played in the last World Cup the T3 World Cup that they won in 22 3 22 they had it was like this it was bitty it was everyone chipped in was bearer of the tournament, wasn't it? Yep.

So, right, Artifton was, has joined us. Hello. Firstly, your reflections on the end of that game because we haven't quite gone through all that side. I mean, England subsided to 58 for four. A partnership was put together. Got them to 100 for 5. Sam Curen chipping in with 24 alongside Banton.

But then when Banton and Curen were out, England needed at that stage, 43 off 19. There was a dot off that ball. They needed 43 off the last three o'clock. was on a pitch where people were struggling, 160 was par almost just above it really, it was turning sideways, and in the blink of an eye, Rayan Ahmed and Will Jaxx have won the game and off a Pakistani lifeline. They have, and it really was quite extraordinary to watch as well, just because it looked like it was done, you know. I was sort of watching just behind you guys the game

resigned to it really because, you know, New Zealand had played a brilliant game of cricket, and it looked like they had the equation very much in hand, completely against the run of play. You know, Rayan Ahmed came out. His first World Cup match, his first run in this World Cup, on probably one of the most difficult pitches to bat bat on at this World Cup, and just played with the kind of freedom that just, it felt like he was the visual representation of what Brendan McCullum wants from his players

to go out there and feel absolutely no fear and just try and hit these big shots so comfortably down the ground, retain his composure, you know, just be attacking, have that positive intent. It was superb. And then Will Jax, alongside him, you know, what can he say about Will Jax? He's just a match winner for England. He just wins games over and over again. You know, we've talked about a Bitty performance from England prior

and all the way kind of through this World Cup, other than that one Harry Brook Masterclass where he sort of carried the team. But, you know, I feel like this is where Will Jax is going to flourish for the majority of his T20 career in playing these short but impactful innings for England that take them over the line in crunch situations. It probably helped that there wasn't an enormous amount of pressure on the game for England, like knowing that they were going to go through the semifinals either way. But, you know, we hear that word all the time from England, momentum,

and, you know, just keeping a good run going, stringing wins together. This will do them a world of good. They'll be feeling very confident, very pleasant on the flight over to India. It's a little unusual, though, because Will Jacks have spent his entire franchise life, opening the battings for an IPL 100. and when Butler does eventually hang up those boots whether it be sooner or later he would seem like an obvious fit to go up the order

but now I think that's looking at this and thinking is there anybody better to come and sort out like really nervy situations at the end of a match? Ray and Ahmed, he doesn't feel nervous so they just put Jacks up the top and just bring up Ray and Armad in? Yeah I don't mind that at all

but look he's adaptable And when Harry Brooks said he's a proper batter, I totally understand that, and I totally see that because he can bat anywhere. You know, he's proven that he's opened the bat and score hundreds and he'll finish games off. So they've got a wealth of options. We talked about Jacks earlier.

You've talked about Rayan Ahmed, but you've actually talked to Ray and Ahmed after Finawis. I have. Let's hear what he had to say. I'm with a very sweaty, Rehan Ahmed. Rayan, your first match in a World Cup, and it was pretty dramatic. Talk me through how you were feeling when he walked out

to the middle. I felt quite calm, you know, I think obviously the way the situation was and the way I was given the opportunity on something that's a bit more spin-friendly. Yeah, I felt at ease. We did a lot of training yesterday on similar wicket and yeah, I backed myself to take a couple of sixes straight and thankfully I got them. Your range hitting is like incredibly impressive. I'm thinking back to that range hitting competition, the six hitting competition you won in Pakistan a few years ago. Is this something a part of your game you've really worked on just hitting sixes? I think I just enjoy it more so that's why I end up doing it more but but yeah absolutely I think it's very vital especially the number I'm gonna bat is to be able to

clear the rope when the pressure's on so thankfully I got I got two of them today now talk me through that at the moment you're walking out to the middle to bat it looked like an impossible situation we're on commentary thinking New Zealand have got this more or less in hand you're walking out there what's going through your mind when you look at the equation I just I'll just say well I was just thinking hit four sixes there I wasn't thinking anything more I think four six is behind four balls behind and and With Jacksonie out there was very, very possible.

You know, we go, he had Phillips for one and then he finished the over off very well. So yeah, yeah, it was great. Now, you know, we've seen a lot of bad struggle to get going on this pitch today from both teams and actually all the way through the competition. How did you find sort of the pitch as you went in there? Coming in cold, your first game as well,

how did you find it out in the middle? It was good, I think, obviously back to the 100. We played on the exact same week as this at the rocket. So it wasn't too unfamiliar for me. And we've been training on similar wickets too. So it was just about, it's not going to spin if you're right next to the ball. So yeah, just getting to the ball and trying to take it. What's the vibe like with the England side right now?

Because you've strung together a sequence of wins going into the semi-final, lots of confidence, lots of momentum. Yeah, no, exactly. I think the way we started the comp, we just found ways to win. And that was very, very important for us. Obviously, we'll buy your hand off to be in the position we are now, if you told us to start the comp. So it was nice to get a win, another niggilyish win on a slower wicket,

But it all puts on from the semis and the finals, hopefully. It felt like the most complete performance from an England side in this competition. Would you read it the same way? I think whenever you win, it's a complete performance. So we've found a way to win every single time. So, yeah, I think we're always complete, especially as long as we're winning. It was thrilling to watch from up in the commentary box. Go get yourself a drink, Rion.

Because you're dripping with sweat already. But very well done again. Amazing batting. Superb to watch. Thank you so much. Thank you. That was rare, I'm head with Artic Tomaz. he said like a very, very happy young man

as England win. Three out of three in the Super 80 it has to be said, we do need to provide balance here that this is a group of the four teams that came second in the first round and the other group is the four teams that came first.

It's slightly lopsided way the groups have worked out on this occasion. So there probably will be stiffer tests, but New Zealand is quite the test and if you were listening earlier and you were screaming at Mitchell to whoever it was, it was saying New Zealand were unbeaten.

No, they're not. I mean, they did lose to South Africa earlier on in the competition by 17 balls. A standout team, but it looks like England are going to avoid South Africa by having finished top. The South Africa looked likely to finish top in their group, and will most likely play West Indies or India, who have sort of what looks like a straight shootout, almost quarterfinal. That's that group, but this group has now been given, well, it's given Pakistan a lifeline today. Artif Nawaz, you have been crunching the numbers, you put on your white lab coat, you've got out the big, the big white board and you've been doing equations.

What is the situation? What do Pakistan need to do to come second in this group and to keep us in Colombo? So, Pakistan will need to beat Sri Lanka by either 64 runs or chase whatever target is set of them in 13.1 overs to qualify for the semifinals. So it's quite steep either way. But at least they know exactly what it is they have to do, whether they're batting or bowling first. I think it should make their team selection pretty straightforward. I'd like to see some really bold selections tomorrow and to play some, you know...

What do you mean by that? Who are you thinking? All I'm thinking is I'd like for them to pick the 11 players who are most likely to either bowl out the opposition for a below par total or chase the runs down as quickly as possible. Ideally, a bit of both. Get that balance exactly right. You know, you're playing Sri Lanka in Candy. We've seen Sri Lanka successful in Candy. We saw them beat the mighty Australians in Candy.

well, you know, theoretically mighty Australians in candy. You know, so it's not going to be a walk in the park. They're not just going to, you know, crumble in front of Pakistan. But they are out. But they are out, so they've got less to play for. They've got less to play for, but they've got more freedom. They do. Well, yes, they do have more freedom.

And they will have their home fans. You'll still turn up in big number to watch that game. There's context to that game now. I'm really pleased because obviously we've got a four-hour drive there and a four-hour drive back tomorrow. So there's something on that game, which makes it a lot more of a, you know, it makes the drive feel more meaningful. Oh, it's going to be fun. We're going to have a great time.

It's going to be fun. If you're listening to us tomorrow, which of course I'm sure you will be, you should be. We will be banging on about that equation time and time and time again. It's not going to be a normal T20 international at all. It's all going to be about when, if Pakistan can win in the right amount of time. There's no point in them winning by 50 runs. That won't help them at all. There's no point in chasing it down in 13.5 overs.

That won't help at all. So it could be very dramatic. It could be very exciting to. watch and I hope to listen to. Just a reminder today, Ignat of 1, 3 out of 3. Top of the table. They're going to go to a semi-final

almost certainly in Mumbai. That side of the equation is sorted. We've got a really big one tomorrow. It's been Will Jackson's Day. It's been Rayan Ahmed's day. Who's turned up, Cherubic-faced first game picks up two for, a wicket with his very first ball, a six of his

second ball, takes his side to victory in a partnership of 44 off 16. balls with Will Jax. It was really, really thrilling stuff. Thanks to Artis Noirza and Alex Hartley. That's it from us here at the R Premedasa Stadium and then on Saturday we'll make that trip to candy to see if Pakistan can sneak

into the semi-finals against Sri Lanka and break Kiwi hearts. That starts at 130 UK time. Make sure you're subscribed to the TMS podcast so you never miss an episode. Thanks for listening. We'll speak to you next time. This is not the future we were promised.

Like, how about that for a tagline for the show? From the BBC, this is The Interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or,

wherever you get your podcasts.