Story (05)A coach,2005 and beyond

[Jaztheman]

Oram played brilliantly there and if Saffers want to win they will need quick wickets in the morning in the next day. It seems no bowler has really stood out after the first day, although I think one will shine on the second day. A few pointers. At the end of each day try and do what I do in my story, saying the score, who's still in and their score, and the best bowlers up to that point. When you do wickets you don't have to put the other batsman's score either although the presentation is much better with the bolded parts.

Nice to see it improving and I'm enjoying this story, so keep it going.

 

[bladescape]

Second Day:

Early next morning Ntini struck removing Franklin before he had a chance to get going.
It was a importent early wicket.8-314.

James Franklin,bowled Ntini for 11 from 31 deliveries.

Oram was now with the tail and he responded in like.
He started with a blistering drive back over the bowlers head and a bit later brought up his 150 with a hard struck cover drive for 4.

Jacob Oram,151* from 253 deliveries.

He continued to attack throughout the morning.
A bit later,with over less then half an hour till the lunch break,Gillespie tryed to smash Klusener back over his head but only succeeded in knicking it to first slip!
However,Pollock must of been having a nap because he messed up the simple chance.
A little later he made up for that very drop with the wicket of Oram!9-370.

Jacob Oram,caught Amla bowled Pollock for 174 from 308 deliveries with 23 fours.

With 9 wickets down It was an easy task to mop up,And this time Pollock was wide awake!379.

Mark Gillespie,caught Pollock bowled Klusener for 17 from 48 deliveries with 3 fours.
Ian O'Brien,not out for 3 from 14 deliveries.

Scorecard:

Bowling Figures:

McKenzie and Gibbs were the openers after the luncheon break.
The proceeded along rather slowly with Gibbs being extra catious.
McKenzie then decided that the bowlers were dictating too much so he tryed to hit it the other way.
He only succeeded in getting out.
Not the start we wanted.1-45.

Neil McKenzie,caught Sinclair bowled O'Brien for 27 from 47 deliveries with 3 fours.

Gibbs just couldn't hold on too much longer.
Franklin bowled him a beauty to dismiss him.
Struggling now at 2-51!

Herschelle Gibbs,caught Fleming bowled Franklin for 13 from 51 deliveries.

Kallis and Amla had work on their hands.
They survived with some brilliant shots by Kallis.
For the Afternoon session Amla was strokeless,rarely even being able to find a gap for a single.
Kallis started after the break with yet another magnificent drive for four but Amla's choice of strokes was yet again lacking,with almost no runs in the parternership coming from Amla.
Kallis had the Pressure of trying to keep the scoreboard ticking over,which he succeeded in for a while but eventually was removed trying an expansive drive.3-123.

Jaques Kallis,caught Sinclair bowled McMillian for 43 from 89 deliveries with 5 fours.

With Duminy on debut,Amla suddenly was the experienced parterner.
He struggled still for the first little bit but what unstuck him was a aggresive cut which sped to the boundary and from there he raced from 23 to 40 odd.
He couldn't keep it up though and went after making a solid knock.4-149.

Hashim Amla,caught Fleming bowled McMillian for 43 from 121 deliveries with 5 fours.

De Villiers takes strike now with just 30 minutes until stumps.
McMillian wouldn't give up though and secured another breakthrough.
Again we were collapsing at the end of play.5-153.

A.B.De Villiers,bowled McMillian for 4 from 6 deliveries with 1 four.

Klusener didn't lose it this time with a steady hand to push SA through to stumps without another loss.
Duminy played with a cool head and might keep his spot when Smith comes back if he can convert his start into a 50 or 100.

End of Play,Day 2:SA 5-167
Duminy 14*
Klusener 9*
McMillian 3-19
Franklin 1-38

EDIT:How does it look now,Jaz.

 

[Jaztheman]

It isn't really going well at the moment for you at all is it? You bowled them out quite early and did well restricting their runs. Unfortunately though you couldn't get many big partnerships going and aren't in the best position at the end of the day. Duminy and Klusener will really need to put some runs on if South Africa want to do well in this match.

The presentation is much better for definite. Perhaps you could unbold the batsmens and bowlers scores in the end of days play and just italic them but I'm just nitpicking now. Good presentation, getting much better with every update. Keep this up.

 

[bladescape]

I don't know what it is with me and collapses at stumps!
It gets really annoying sometimes.

 

[bladescape]

Third Day:

Duminy and Klusener start slowly with Duminy playing a solid hand,not giving one chance while Klusener knicks one past the slips and then takes a big swipe at one and almost gets bowled.
However they still are making the runs,the first good thing to happen was them taking us past the follow on mark.
After we were relieved of that problem they started playing their shots with consecutive cover drives from Duminy for his first boundaries of the day.
soon after the 50 parternership was brought up,with Klusener being the bigger contributor.
This parternership went on,with the runs suppleing a revenue for relief after yesterday's shocking day.
After lunch there was another Milestone with Klusener bringing up his 50.

Lance Klusener,53* from 105 deliveries.

The very next ball,Duminy brought up his solid and patient half century.

Jean-Paul Duminy,50* from 149 deliveries.

That was the end of that over,the next over Oram bowled and Duminy was on strike.
The first ball Duminy took a sudden slog out of no-where and found himself caught behind.6/250.

Jean-Paul Duminy,caught McCullum bowled Oram for 50 from 150 deliveries with 2 fours.

Klusener was joined by Shaun Pollock and that seemed to give him a reason to attack and while sometimes through the fifty parternership he would be unable to find the bat's middle,other times consecutive balls flew to the boundary.
However everone new that this couldn't last and so it came to be.
Klusener smash one over the slips one ball and the next went straight to the hands of Fleming.7/318.

Lance Klusener,caught Fleming bowled Gillespie for 89 from 168 deliveries with 12 fours.

Dale Steyn wasn't expected to do much,I just hoped he could stay out there and let Pollock get the runs.
The first ball he took a big heave at and.........managed to hit it through the gap for a single!
the euphoria didn't last with him trying to take it to the bowlers and going out.8/319.

Dale Steyn,bowled Oram for 1 from 6 deliveries.

With a heave and a ho Ntini took a slog but he would have been back in the pavilion early but O'Brien spilled a chance in the deep.
He had a bit of fun for the next few overs with a sizzling straight drive to get off the mark.
McMillian's magic worked again with Ntini being unable to slog him.9/341.(deficit of 38.)

Makhaya Ntini,bowled McMillian for 15 from 27 deliveries with 2 fours.

Just next over Terbrugge departed for us to be all out for 342.

David Terbrugge,lbw.Gillespie for 0 from 4 deliveries.
Shaun Pollock,not out for 39 from 68 deliveries with 3 fours.

Scorecard:

Bowling Card:

Ripper!!!!
Dale Steyn opened the bowling against Fleming,the first ball left Fleming wondering what he did wrong.
The fast inswinging yorker left him clean bowled!1/0.

Stephen Fleming,bowled Steyn for 0 from 1 delivery.

The combo of Papps and McMillian fought back until there had to be a change in the bowling.
Papps being a slow and almost impossible blocker and McMilian the adventurous batter.
Pollock did Papps in fourth ball he bowled.2/54.

Micheal Papps,caught McKenzie bowled Pollock for 19 from 61 deliveries with 3 fours.

Oram still seemed a bit fatigued and this was shown by the first ball being downed at first slip.(How I miss Greame Smith.)
Another was downed at second slip a bit later but it was finally taken by McKenzie at second slip.
A weak innings from him just when we needed it!!!3/79.

Jacob Oram,caught McKenzie bowled Pollock for 13 from 26 deliveries with 2 fours.

McMillian Magic.
I just don't understand were he was in the first test.
Anyway,he and Sinclair saw them through till stumps.
Another day and a very useful start to the bowling,a few early wickets tomorrow and we'll be right on top again.
A magnificent parternership by the debutant,Duminy and Klusener.
Better then the first day.

End of the third day:NZ 3/94.
McMillian 46*
Sinclair 7*
Pollock 2/17
Steyn 1/16

 

[mattfb]

Great batting to get within 37 of their total! Klusener and Duminy were essential after Amla and Kallis got out late yesterday.

Loving the presentation, kiu!

 

[Jaztheman]

You've definitely come back into the match, mate. After some sensational batting from Duminy and Klusenar with the lower order putting on a few runs too. Not only that but you picked up 3 important wickets at the end of the day. McMillan and Sinclair virtually have alot of weight on their shoulders now to do well, as if they fail, New Zealand fail.

Good presentation mate, enjoying this story alot.

 

[bladescape]

Fourth Day:

McMillian and Sinclair now had the job of rebuilding.
McMillian went about the job methodicly and quickly then took the attack to the bowlers.
He accellerated from a slow start for him.
The half century was just the first milestone he was aiming for,and he succeeded in that at least.

Craig McMillian,51* from 105 deliveries.

Down the other end,Sinclair didn't look so confident.
He constantly mistimed the ball and couldn't find the middle of the bat.
It was a contrast to the kind of form McMillian was in.
He couldn't last long prodding like that was my first thought,but he lasted longer then I expected.
His wicket soon fell to an inswinger.4/114.

Matthew Sinclair,lbw.Terbrugge for 20 from 49 deliveries with 3 fours.

Astle came in and was a much better parterner to McMillian.
Astle was sweetly timing his shots from the first ball.
the fify parternership was first and then Astle's fifty.

Nathan Astle,50* from 90 deliveries.

And it wasn't long after that the 100 parternership was brought up.
With the same shot that gave McMillian his hundred!

Craig McMillian,100* from 199 deliveries.

The bowlers were now being switched after three or so overs with no effect until Terbrugge finally decided to bowl AROUND the wicket.
It was an immediatte affect,He went for 15 in that over and snagged an important wicket.
The wicket of McMillian!5/287.

Craig McMillian,bowled Terbrugge for 125 from 262 deliveries with 15 fours.

Astle wanted to hit out!
Unfortunantly for him,Klusener was next and they hadn't hit him out yet.
Admittedly,he tryed,but he also lost with Klusener picking up the important wicket.6/289.

Nathan Astle,caught McKenzie bowled Klusener for 98 from 138 deliveries with 12 fours.

Fulton and McCullum didn't show the authority that Astle and McMillian showed.
They managed to pass the tea break.
But not much futhur.

Peter Fulton,bowled Steyn for 15 from 36 deliveries with 2 fours.

McCullum slogged and got lucky,top edging it over the slips and edging it just wide of fielders.
However as soon as the lead was 400,quick as a flash captain Fleming declared.

Scorecard:

BowlingCard:

Gibbs and McKenzie lasted through the final half hour.
Lets start on this total tomorrow.

End of day four:SA 0/13.
Gibbs 5*
McKenzie 4*
O'Brien 0/4
Gilespie 0/5

 

[mattfb]

That's going to be hard to chase. McMillian and Astle were great, and that little cameo by McCullum was awesome. Your batter are going to have to bat well, Gibbs and McKenzie need to at least make 30 each to get you off to a start. You have good middle/lower order batting like Klusener and Duminy showed in the first innings so your not out of it yet.

Brilliant presentation. KIU!

 

[Jaztheman]

400 is a big total to chase and after having New Zealand at 114/4, things were looking good. McMillian and Astle however had turned the match into the Kiwi's favour but if they can make 363/7, then so can you. Your top, middle and lower order will all need to perform together to get this score.

As Matt said, very good presentation, keep this going. Looking forward to seeing who the victors turn out to be.

 

[bladescape]

Fifth Day:

Gibbs and McKenzie have a task on their hands and the second ball of the day showed that McKenzie was onto it.
The ball flew through the covers for four,however,Gibbs was unable to find the gaps.
It showed just a little way into the day when he found himself dismissed and trudging back to the pavilion.
Not the greatest start!1/34.

Herschelle Gibbs,lbw.Franklin for 15 from 63 deliveries with 2 fours.

Amla first came out in full flow but after he was dropped for 12 he settled back in and they started to build a parternership.
They were easing it into gear when the unexpected happened:McMillian dismissed Amla on his second delivery in this innings!2/77.

Hashim Amla,bowled McMillian for 21 from 62 deliveries with 3 fours.

Down the other end McKenzie was in full throttle and was playing strokes all around the ground to make up for his extremely slow start!
He brung up his 50 with a supurb straight drive which was unluckily stopped by a diving Mid-On.

Neil McKenzie,50* from 112 deliveries.

Kallis started by deciding to occupy the crease for the rest of the innings.
It didn't put anyone under pressure this time because of the beautiful play down the other end.
But again it didn't last,McMillian working the magic which he has used this match and cleaned up McKenzie!3/131.

Neil McKenzie,bowled McMillian for 67 from 134 deliveries with 7 fours.

Duminy was wonderful in strokeplay but he wasn't able to last that long.
Kallis still stood though.4/149.

Jean-Paul Duminy,caught McCullum bowled Franklin for 16 from 20 deliveries with 3 fours.

After that both the flambouyant De Villiers and the stodgy Kallis played their strokes with freedom and they easily reached the tea break with a little less then 200 left to get.
This would be a tough task.
On the last over before tea Kallis finally brought up his 50,another batsman that started slow but sped up when it was needed!

Jaques Kallis,50* from 110 deliveries.

De Villiers yet again couldn't hold on and therefore Kallis was yet again without a parterner.5/211.

A.B.De Villiers,lbw.Gillespie for 31 from 63 deliveries with 5 fours.

Klusener has to work hard now.
The K's managed to easily push on with NZ managing to tye down Kallis,putting quite a bit of pressure on Klusener.
He just couldn't keep going.6/252.
It should be a draw now with just 42 minutes until stumps,that's my target now.

Lance Klusener,lbw.Gillespie for 19 from 34 deliveries with 2 fours.

What!!!
Gillespie pickes up his third victem this innings,LBW!
We're sliding,AGAIN!!!!7/252.

Shaun Pollock,lbw.Gillespe for 0 from 3 deliveries.

Kallis and Steyn are now trying to just haul me through to the end of play.
A few heart in mouth moments,especially when Oram put Kallis down in the outfield off McMillian!
However the draw was achieved with Jaques 'The Slug' Kallis hauling my through!

Scorecard:

Bowling Card:

Summery:

 

[Jaztheman]

Kallis got you there in the end after some dodgy partnerships but a slight collapse, meant you had to play for a draw. You are 1-0 up after two Tests which is brilliant, all you need to do is perform in the last Test(I think there is three?).

Good luck and good presentation mate.

 

[bladescape]

Yes,It is three tests.

 

[bladescape]

3rd test squad:

Herschelle Gibbs
Neil McKenzie
Jaques Kallis
Nicky Boje
Jean-paul Duminy
Lance Klusener
Mark Boucher
Shaun Pollock
Dale Steyn
David Terbrugge
Makhaya Ntini

The top three were in good form so they were auto picks.
Boje got a spot instead of Amla because of the spinning pitch.
Duminy and Klusener just couldn't be dropped after the second test performance by both of them.
Boucher was an auto selection after he came back from injury and he replaced the out of form De Villiers.
The Bowlers were doing well enough to be chosen with only Steyn's average this year straying over 30.

 

[Jaztheman]

Amla was decent in the last pitch but Boje is a good player aswell. Boucher is back in the team which will be good as De Villiers wasn't that impressive. The bowlers might have to be changed soon but if you keep the faith, maybe they will reward you.

Good presentation, mate.