Today sees the first of 5 odi’s scheduled to be played between SA and the visiting team Sri Lanka. It’s also the first game AB De Viliers is playing since he was appointed captain of the SA one day team. I am definitely looking forward to something new with Gary Kirsten’s 2nd stint of odi’s and now with the captain that he wants to build with.
There was a breeze of excitement when it was announced that Dean Elgar had been picked for the team and the feeling that a good change is coming; unfortunately he injured himself and had to withdraw from the squad and Albie Morkel has been given a life-line after a few good scores resently. Rory Kleinveld is still making his return to international cricket after previously playing two T20 games for SA.
The ODI squad looks like this(only for the first two games): AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (Sunfoil Dolphins, vice-captain), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Nashua Titans), Albie Molkel(Nashua Titans), Jacques Kallis (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Rory Kleinveldt (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Robin Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Graeme Smith (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors).
The Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Kosala Kulasekera, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad, Dilhara Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne.
The Sri Lankans are the runners-up from the previous WC, but have since lost 3 odi series in a row. SA has the better over SL when it comes to odi’s in SA winning 12 and losing 5, with the last match played was one of the losses.
This game in Paarl starts at 14:30 and as always it’s weather permitting…………
i think today is going to be tight with the Paarl pitch benefiting the lankans a bit . Would be intresting to see if we play both Botha and Robin peterson ..
That would make me ask the question why Tahir is not in the ODI squad then …
@Zibbie (Comment 1) : I think they reckon that Tahir is more expensive with less of batting skill than these two, and I think they both gonna be playing…
so the probable team : Amla,Smith,Kallis,Duiminy,AB,faf,A. Morkel,Botha , Peterson , Lobsy
Cannot understand the exclusion of the two best fast bowlers in South Africa at the moment?!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 4) :
oops .. yes taking on SL with only 10 players would just be arrogant . include Steyn please
Philander , i assume , is the other one ?
@Zibbie (Comment 5) :
Nah, I wasn’t referring to your post at all.
I’m talking about the squad, how can both Philander and de Lange not be there?
Steyn is a great bowler, but is better in tests..
@Zibbie (Comment 5) :
And as for your team, I think they might play both Morkels at the expense of Faf or Peterson.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) :
Yea i think excluding Philander is a big mistake . De Lange . i dont know .. not sure about him in ODI’s yet
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) :
I think Paarl will be a bit of a turning track . and Peterson and Botha helps the batting (a bit)
@Zibbie (Comment 8) :
I don’t know the Paarl track at all, so I will take your word for it. If it is indeed a turning track, I agree with playing both, but again, our best attacking spinner isn’t there. But I trust Kirsten’s judgment in this matter.
de Lange is a special talent, and even if he is just sitting on the sidelines, he has to be there or there abouts. Lopsy has had his chances, and I don’t really rate him. Hopefully he proves me wrong.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) :
Yea with both Person and Botha averaging about 40 in the bowling department for ODI’s is not very encouraging . sad not to see Tahir there . I think we should use him .
Lopsy averages about 20 with the ball in ODI’s . I think he should be one of our bowlers that play . Morne on the other hand i think is in a bit of trouble . But we will see
@Zibbie (Comment 10) :
I have no idea of the current ODI form of any of these players, so my comments are based purely on what I’ve seen in the past (I don’t really follow the domestic cricket scene)
We will have to see if Kirsten can get the split between ODI’s and Tests right, as he did with India..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 11) :
Lobsy is coming back from injury now .
The ODI team is lacking something . what i dont know . we need a bit of a spark . Maybe bring in Levi to open the bating . we are missing a guy like Gibbs or a Klusener .
@Zibbie (Comment 12) : think that’s why they again looking at Albie…
@Zibbie (Comment 3) : I think incl Steyn your team is on the button there… But I would have played Philander ahaed of Lobsie just on resent for…
@Zibbie (Comment 3) : I think incl Steyn your team is on the button there… But I would have played Philander ahead of Lobsie just on resent for…
@Franshark (Comment 15) :
Whould have been interesting seeing Philander play . You said the squad is only for the first 2 ODI’s ? maybe he’ll come in for the last 3 ..
But you have to keep in mind that Paarl is a dust track like the subcontinent . so not much swing ect . Would like to see big Vern on a tour to India or the likes . See how he performs
@Zibbie (Comment 16) : yes I agree, must say in light of me not being a Smith fan I’d like them to drop him and try something new….. Levi for example
@Franshark (Comment 17) :
i think blaming everything on Smith is a bit rash .
i dont see us scoring 300 with our current squad .. and thats a bit of a problem
@Zibbie (Comment 1) : Tahir is taking over Paul Harris role of being the primary test spinner and botha and peterson the one day spinners, what the reason behind this is I honestly don’t know.
But if I have to guess it will have something to do with the fact that he doesn’t always have 100% control over the ball and is likely to bowl a wayward ball with witch you will get away in test but in ODI’s you are going to get punished.
@Zibbie (Comment 18) : not blaming him for anything, just not a fan of his….
@Zibbie (Comment 18) : Amla,Smith,Kallis,Duiminy,AB,faf,A. Morkel,Botha can all score big runs so I think this team should actually be able to score more than 300 on a regular basis
No rain forecast for the day, we should see 100 overs of play today..
AB starts well, winning the toss, batting first.
Albie in at 7, Petersen at 8. Long batting line up
Malinga back in blue for Sri Lanka, he is always dangerous..
GC Smith, HM Amla, JH Kallis, AB de Villiers*†, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, JA Morkel, RJ Peterson, DW Steyn, M Morkel, LL Tsotsobe
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 22) : that’s good news and good afternoon for you…
amla lucky, edged but didn’t carry
apparently it is 37 in the Paarl at the moment
Smit out 6(8) and his run of bad form in ODI’s continue
SA 9/1
sa 49/1 (10)
SA 50/1 after 10.1 overs
Kallis and Amla getting along nicely..
sa 69/1 (15)
SA 117/1 amla scores his first 50 vs lankans
SA 123/1 after 24.2 overs
Kallis just played a lofty straight drive off malinga.sa129/1 after 25 overs,rr 5.16
134/1 25.5 overs
6 singles off the 26th over,sa 135/1
136/1
4 runs thru extra_cover .and another 4 thru extra cover.kallis moves to 71 not out.was a good over by malinga till kallis drove those last 2 deliveries to the boundary.sa 144/1.
4 runs to amla.
SA 148/1 amla 63 not out
2 runs to extra cover boundary,sa 150/1 after 27.4 overs
Amla 65 nou out
Kallis is run out! Out for 72 .excellent throw from cover fielder(jayawardene).dropped kallis twice between 150 and 200 but doesn’t miss the run out attempt today.
SA 153/2
Amla plays the ball straight to the fielder and calls for the run..! Amla been involved in too many run outs and near-misses now.kallis was looking in superb form.
AB at the crease with a 91.3 strike rate.
156/2 after 29.2 overs
Kallis’ 72 scored from 80 balls
158/2
160/2
Successive boundaries by ab takes the score to 168/2.
Busy with batting power play
169/2
170/2 after 31 overs. Ab 12 not out amla 71 not out.
183/2 after 33
187/2 34 overs rr5.5
188/2
8 wickets ,sa 189/2
8 wickets in hand,sa 190/2 after 35 overs.still 90 legit balls left(if there isn’t some catastrophic batting collapse).
191/2
SA 200/2 after 36 overs
202/2
203/2
@bergshark (Comment 60) : 330 to 340 on the cards here…
50 run partnership off 48 balls.and ab promptly hits a four straight down the ground past the bowler.sa 207/2.and another two runs,sa 209/2.and 4 more,sa 213/2.
Great batting by AB now…
Rr 5.76
215/2
216/2
216/2..becomes 220/2 as ab drives to extra cover boundary.
226/2 rr 5.87
And ab hits successive boundaries again,50 from 36 ball with 7 fours,sa 235/2.
239/2
235/2 (39)
AB 50(36)
AB is besig om hulle uit nekaar te slaan
Will resume commentary again @6
260/3 43.2 overs AB out for 52 snorter of a yorker
after the wicket of AB every 2nd ball is a yorker now
busy writing to say Albie killing them now and then his out… 25 off 17 balls, 2 6′s in the last few balls….
and the very next ball # goes fora wide one and is caught by the keeper
Slinga on a hatick …. faf survived
scoring rate slowing down rapidly…. and out goes Duminy…. 1 from 2 balls
290/6 ; 2 overs to go.
296 one over
Faf draggs the ball onto the stumps out for 10 from 13 balls
300/7 2balls to go
Steyn bowled and 5 for Slinga…….
@bergshark (Comment 76) : @6 has come and gone
SA ending on 301 for 8
TARGET 302
Duminy gave his wicket away way too softly.
from 279/3 to 301/8 in 5 overs that’s 22 runs for 5 wickets in 5 overs…. ouch
Morne opening the bowling and a wicket with his 2nd ball… good stuff
one over SL 4/1
2nd over 2nd ball SL 2 wickets down, great catching by AB
4th over, 3rd ball 3rd wicket….. I’m just loving this
bowled by Lobsie
Who needs spinners if you bowl the team out before the ball is old….
aaaaaaand it is the 5th over the 4th ball and SL is 4 wickets down……
Sankakara out……
make that 6th ball and 5 wickets DOWN……
And nr 6 is down and its 3 for Tsobie
Holy Crap….now finish up boys
Wow! This is crazy. 13 for 6.
13/6 after 8 overs
for his first over
And Steyn comes in to bowl
and Steyn into the fun, picks up nr 7
What a first game as the new captain for AB
I like the way you can hear AB talk behind the wickets,specially with the spin bowling
and a spinner takes nr 8, good on you Peterson
wicket nr 9; nr 4 for Morne
43/9 in 20
make that 43 all out, 20.1 overs, Peterson takes the last wicket….
only one score in double figures
very very well played !!!! great performance !!! keep it up boys !!!
MOTM: M Morkel
Hope the boys can carry on like this
@juba_fan (Comment 106) : I like ab and is glad he is captain but any keeper is supposed to talk like that, happy he started of with a win but he didn’t do anything different while we were fielding.
good morning all….
first of all, the game is delayed, but play will start soon
AB won the toss, again, and choose to field first
sorry dude’s game is rain delayed at the moment
game back on
Game about to get underway.lankans batting.
change in tactics, Dale opening the bowling
@franshark: good morning.How about warner scoring 100 off 69 balls vs india (fastest hundred by an opener in test cricket)and tied for 4th fastest of all time.
Hope the lankans make some runs today.make a bit of a game of it today.
Maiden first over by steyn to tharanga.
Tsotsobe to bowl to dilshan.
oh yea, first wicket Dow, its a runout
Excellent ball to dilshan has him playing and missing outside off srump.
Next ball played in the direction of point..direct hit..!faf du plessis..is it out..?replay ..out..!
Dilshan run out for 0 .excellent fielding by faf du plessis at point.
Dish an out for 0, SL 0/1
Sangakkara in at 3.
That slight hesitation by dilshan made all the difference.
Lankans 0/1 after 2 overs
@bergshark (Comment 127) : good morning, carry on with the commentary, I’ll chirp from the side…..
yes I agree with you and think it’s gonna be a better performance from the SL’s
Over throws..to the boundaru..it is 5..tharanga gets 5.
@bergshark (Comment 123) : Crazy stuff, and going on to get 180, about half the Aus total score….
Sangakkara plays and misses a wide slower ball from steyn.lankans 6/1 after 3 overs.
@franshark: yes,some innings.wouldve been great to have had a 3rd test when aussies were in sa.
India trailing by 180 odd runs in their 2 innings.crazy things is they batting again at end of day2.
morne morkel replacing steyn
Morkel 83 one day intl wickets.best of 4/10 was achieved just the other day at paarl .
Lankans 6/1 after 4.4 as there is almost another run out..great to see sa so sharp in the field _except for the 4 over throws.
7/1
@bergshark (Comment 137) : was surprised that More got MOTM on Wednesday, thought that Amla and Kallis performance was more worthy of MOTM.
Amla steady the ship and still scoring at a good pace, Kallis killed them by attacking……
Not much happening ..good bowling and fielding by proteas.
I like that we are not going thru the motions and starting different, playing to the conditions.
@Franshark: worried about amla’s calling,judging of runs.been involved in a few close calls and run outs this season.kallis was looking in real good form.
Tharanga gets four to backward point boundary,11/1.
Lankans 13/1.
Sangakkara plays and misses morkel delivery.
Radio commentary is considerably quicker than the tv..
Lankans looking to consolidate .
14/1
4 runs thru the covers,tharanga.
Lankans 18/1
18/1 after 8.2 overs
Duminy looking lively in the covers as he stops a drive.
18/1 rr 2.00
Lankans can still end on 264 if they start batting at 6 to the over from now on.
Ave score at buffalo park is 243.
Tharanga miss pulls a tsotsobe delivery.
3 runs,lankans 21/1
Sangakkara out..! C ab b tsotsobe 3 (28 balls) .. Slower ball and what seemed like a lazy shot outside the off stump.
wow, this is good stuff by SA, they not giving an inch, good fielding, great bowling…. love it.
Chandimal leapfrogs to four.
Albie morkel to bowl the 11th over.included after elgar’s unfortunate injury.
21/2 in 10 overs SL struggling
No hot spot..doesn’t look out ..tharanga asked for the review..immediately asked for it.
21/2 10.3 overs .not a smart shot to play by tharanga,fortunately for him he missed.
Lankans 23/2.
Duminy to bowl over 12.
2nd slip wouldve caught that ..chandimal gets a run,lankans 24/2.
Duminy looking useful bowler in this over.
And tharanga uses his feet,6 over long on.lankans 30/2.
I like this review system, in the past Tharanga would have walked of the pitch, shacking his head and facing charges of a fine for showing his disagreement with the disition, now he stands his ground after knowing he did not touch the ball, and keep his wicket…..
@Franshark: outta here,need to go do something.hope the lankans can put some runs on the board so that proteas have a bit of a challenge.give spectators some excitement.
still a great catch by JP….
SA looking good…
But it could be that SL is poor these days…..
@bergshark (Comment 170) : I agree, and hope that they get something worth a chase
SL 58/2 after 20 overs,
They looking after their wickets, but I feel from a SL point of view they are going just too slow, less than 3 runs an overs is not putting any pressure on SA, if they loose a wicket then there is pressure on the batsmen coming in to lift the scoring…..
Tharanga nicks the ball but it fall short for AB……
SL 78/2 24 overs
Tharanga 50 from 69 balls
100 for SL in the 28th over,
SA giving the first extra away in the 26th over, great stuff
as SL thought of starting to up the scoring rate Morne takes a wicket, Tharanga out 66 from 85 balls
SL 105/3
106/3 30 over
Jara out SL 4th wicket gone…
SL 141/4 38overs
and another one goes down….. SL 167/5 40 overs
SL 199/5 45 overs
SL ended their innings with 236/6 Dale getting a wicket from the last ball
SA batting now, no fire works, one 6 earlier from Amla
28/0 from 7 overs
SA 49/0 from 10 overs
50 run opening partnerships Smith 21, # 28
Dont want to speak to early, but another comfortable win coming up for us
@JarsonX (Comment 189) : think so too,
SA now 75/0 after 15 overs
GS out for 28 from 56 balls, he got double I predicted
SA 81/1 17 overs
50 from 50 balls from #
that’s the wicket of # , clean bowled 55(58)
@Franshark (Comment 193) :
SA 94/2
JP Duminy joins Kallis in the middle, it’s either that he needs one game time, or that they want to get a lefty out there….
SA 110/2 25 overs
150 up in the 35th over
next over, Kallis out 37(51)
69 needed from 76 balls
the game a bid closer than I thought at this stage……
67 needed from 72
AB and JP running very well between wickets
59 from 66 needed
BIG BIG BIG 6 from JP
That ball is gone
JP Duminy 50 from 63 balls, good knock
Direct hit and AB’s 17(13) time at the crease is over…..
Faf in to bat now
41 needed from 54
200/4 41.5 overs
36 needed from 48
32 from 42 now
17 needed 30 balls
13 from 24 needed
very soft dismissal, Faf 18(16)out caught and bowled by Slinga
next ball Slinga drops one, Albie survives
9 needed from 18 balls
5 from 12 needed
JP really wants to finish it with one shot
missing two in a row
that’s the ball game, SA win by 5 wickets
JP 66 not out from 87
MOTM: JP Duminy