Best match
This is not a home town call but you'll go far to find a more thrilling, edge-of-the-seat match than New Zealand's one-wicket win against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday. It just goes to show, as if anyone needed reminding, that a bowler-dominated game can be far more exciting viewing than hefty runscoring against almost as hefty runscoring.
In a cafe yesterday morning, two strangers struck up a conversation about the match. One had been there, the other not. That's impact for you.
Worst match
West Indies' 150-run win over Pakistan. Fair play to the Windies, and Andre Russell was a blitzkrieg, but Pakistan were awful. They were four wickets down for one chasing 310. No stomach for the fight, and selector and confidant Moin Khan was about to be ordered home over a night at the casino.
Best innings
A few candidates. Kumar Sangakkara's century against England on Sunday; Chris Gayle's double ton battering of Zimbabwe, and Kane Williamson's cool-headed 45 not out against the Aussies, but we'll go for AB de Villiers' mauling of the West Indies in Sydney.
He had 19 off the first 18 balls, and finished with 162 in 103. Can he carry South Africa all the way to the final?
Finest bowling
A toss up. Tim Southee's seven for 33 against England; or Mitchell Starc's six for 28 against New Zealand on Saturday? We'll give it to Southee, who set up a win for New Zealand. Starc didn't, but only just.
Both wonderful exhibitions of swing bowling.
Who has surprised India, in a funny way. Class side but not expected to be so effective, particularly with the ball, in this neck of the woods. And Afghanistan, for totally different reasons.
Who has disappointed
1: Pakistan. No surprise. They're regular visitors to this category when you least expect it. 2: England. For obvious reasons. 3: And Scotland, who butchered a dead set chance for their first cup win against Afghanistan.
Catch
Not really any of those "whoa, did you see that!" moments, truth be told. So we'll go for Adam Milne's running, leaping two-hander at long on to dismiss Eion Morgan during the England rout.
Worst umpiring decision
That opening night blunder over England's final wicket takes some beating. Jimmy Anderson was adjudged run out on the same delivery after James Taylor had reviewed an lbw decision against him, which was overturned by the DRS.
The ICC admitted the officials blundered. But the rule around referrals should be changed.
A team should not lose a referral if the ball is shown to be flicking the top of the bails but the batsman given not out on an umpire's call.
A hairline technology decision. Too tough on the unsuccessful referrer.
Best crowd experience
A tie. Wellington for New Zealand's slaughtering of England; and Eden Park for Saturday's stunning big day out.
Best headline
Stand up the Melbourne Age: "World Cup Shock - England beat Scotland".
Biggest win
South Africa 257 runs against the West Indies in Sydney. And every bit as comprehensive as it sounds, too.
Tightest squeeze
New Zealand v Australia, plus Afghanistan v Scotland, one-wicket heartstoppers both. Closely followed by Ireland's two-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates with four balls left.
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