Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

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Marto Wants In​

Australian second drop batsman Damien Martyn has announced that he hasn?t given up hope of one day donning the baggy green again.

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I defiantly haven?t given up on the test team. I will be making some runs in the ODI series and putting the question back in the selectors minds going into he test series. There is no reason why I shouldn?t be good enough to play test cricket for Australia and a good ODI series will silence my critics.

So Damien Martyn promises success in the series that is about to start in Cape Town. The players are out on the ground having there warm up so lets go down to Tony Greig and the boys for their call of the match.

 

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1st One Day International ? Newlands, Cape Town​

Hello and welcome to the picturesque Newlands in Cape Town for the first ODI between the hosts South Africa and the current world champions Australia. The crowd is pouring in at the moment for an eagerly awaited match so lets go down to Ian Bishop for the pitch report.

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Ian Bishop Pitch Report

The same pitch really here that featured in the Pro20 match just the other day. Look for plenty of runs here as once you beat the infield the ball will race away to the rope. Who would become a bowler these days with what they put up with in one day games.

Umpires

Billy Doctrove and Billy Bowden​

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The Toss

Ricky Ponting calls heads and wins the toss

We?ll have a bat mate. I think it?s the common sense thing to do after what the pitch produced in the Pro20 game. All the boys are looking forward to the challenge a new series brings and hopefully I can score a few and we can start with a win.

We would of liked to bat but it wont matter to much. We have bowlers capable of finding that restricting line and length so we can have a good chase tonight.

Lets have a look at the sides taking the field for this match

Australian Line-up

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The team we expected for Australia here as they bat along way down we could see a massive total posted here. Look out if Gilchrist, Ponting, Symonds or Hussey get going because we could be seeing the leather fly around Cape Town. Should be a tough chase for Graeme Smiths men tonight.

South Africa Line-up

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Very strong teams on paper as they bat down to number 9 with Ntini the only bunny. Also 7 capable bowlers so Australia have there work cut out. If South Africa can restrict Australia to 6 an over they will be the favorites to chase on a belta of a pitch.

 

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1st ODI - 20 Over Update
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

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The Australians that have traveled to Cape Town may feel robbed of there ticket money as Adam Gilchriust was gone early on this flat track. Gilchrist attempted to pull a ball that just wasn?t quite there and skied it straight up and Mark Boucher took care of the rest.

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Gilchrist robbed the crowd of a century​

Enter skipper Ricky Ponting who hit his touch in the Pro20 match but could he repeat it here on the same ground.

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At the 10 over stage Australia was steady at 1/58 but Katich departed soon after another victim of the pull shot this time hitting a flat bat to square leg. Australia now 2/69 in the 12th and Van Der Wath had his first.

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Katich just not kicking on​

Australia never looked back and through skipper Ricky Ponting and an under pressure Damien Martyn who has only 75 runs from 5 innings coming into this match the tourists took there run rate up towards the expected 6 an over purely by playing good cricket strokes and now sit on a comfortable 2/113 at the 20 over stage. If Australia keeps wickets in hand they can send in blokes like Symonds, Clarke and Hussey to boost the run rate in the closing overs and make it very tough for South Africa later on tonight chasing.

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Martyn needs a few or may fins himself on a plane home​

Australia 2/113
Run Rate 5.65
20 overs

Ponting 47(50*
Martyn 24(30)*

Pollock 0/33
Ntini 1/53
Van Der Wath 1/25
Kallis 0/2

 

[Short Leg]

Smith Breathes Life Into Proteas​

1st Standard Bank ODI ? 40 overs update
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

After Ponting reached 50 he steeped it up a gear with a few sixes on the hook shot as his partnership with Damien Martyn moved along at a health 6 an over.

It took until the 34th over when Smith brought himself on for South Africa to break the partnership of over 120. Martyn playing off the back foot edged a short of a length delivery and Boucher took a simple catch. Smith was the unlikely candidate to break the partnership but it?s a funny game at times.

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A good looking innings come to an end​

When all the laughs had died down about Smith picking up the wicket with gentle offies he soon struck again. This time danger man Andrew Symonds unleashed and hit Gibbs on the chest at deep mid off. 4/218 and you could sense a comeback was imminent.

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Big wicket as Symonds can hit a ball​

Soon after being joined by new partner Michael Clarke wh is battling a form slump at the present time Ricky Ponting nudged one backward of square to bring up three figures.

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So impressive today was Ponting and deserves his ton​

Clarke showed that luck just isn?t on his side at the moment after smashing a sweep shot off Smith out to deep square leg and Van Der Wath took a blinder to dismiss the young New South Welshman for a modest 9.

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Its now game on at Cape Town with Australia on track to score over 300 but they have lost quick wickets so anything is possible for South Africa. Smith now has 3 and it is unlikely that he will give up the pill. Ponting can play his strokes now and will look for support from the team closer Mike Hussey. Hussey has only been dismissed once in the championship so far and could spell danger for the Proteas.

Australia 5/240
Run Rate 6.00
40 overs

Ponting 105(99)*
Hussey 0(2)*

Pollock 0/33
Ntini 1/53
Van Der Wath 1/49
Kallis 0/29
Hall 0/46
Smith 3/28

 

[zainawan89]

I am with Murlithran. Australian crowd dont deserve to such a class player on there soil when they dont respect him. And good story mate keep going.

 

[Short Leg]

Cometh The Hour Cometh The Man​

1st Standard Bank ODI ? Change Of Innings
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

The South Africans will tell you that it is easier to get Ponting out after a hundred then get the ball out of Graeme Smiths hand as he picked up crucial wickets in the Autralian innings but couldn?t stop the tourists posting a massive total.

It was number 4 for Smith as he picked up Hussey for 22. This was Husseys 2nd dismissal in ODI?s which proves he is a class player. But even class players make mistakes as Mike proved he was human when he skied a short of a length off spinner.

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Hussey sacrifices his wicket in a bid for quick runs​

After Hogg was out for a duck and Graeme Smith of all people had a bag of five Australia was at 7/302 and Pontings fairy tale innings soon came to an end. In a bid to keep strike for the final over Ponting was run out by a direct hit for 149. Australia managed a big total of 9/326 that will take some chasing.

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All good things come to an end​

There is absolutely nothing in this pitch for the bowlers so if one of the top order Proteas gets going like Ponting did and the rest bat around him they can chase down this total. Australia will need to bowl well here as this game is anything but over.

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Defiant Proteas Show Fight As Australia Have The Edge​

1st Standard Bank ODI ? 20 overs
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

As skipper Smith and Dippennar came to the crease the Newlands crowd sat in anticipation of a good start to a big chase. They weren?t disappointed as the opening pair took the axe to start paceman Brett Lee using his pace to gain maximum benefit. Finally it was Stuart Clark who provided for the tourists. Dippennar playing early on the drive and a soft dismissal was caught by Ponting. It was the 9th over and a welcome breakthrough as Boeta was just getting his eye in.

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Gibbs who has proved to be a real danger man in these situations came to the crease and looked in great touch from ball one which disappeared to the fence. However his quick 17 came to an end when he popped up a catch to point and South Africa were 2/69.

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Meanwhile Graeme Smith had been batting well on the back of his 5 wicket haul and had moved onto 30 until he was out. Nathan Bracken from over the wicket got one to move away after bringing a series of swingers back into the Proteas skipper and he spooned it straight to cover. South Africa now 3/743 but the all important run rate was still up there.

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AB De Villiers also showed that he wasn?t keep to stick around when Stuart Clark picked up his wicket cheaply. This time AB tried to smash the pill over mid on but found Martyn comfortably.

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With Australia on top and Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken bowling a treat the visitors weren?t pleased when umpire Billy Bowden called a handful of unexpected wides. The stump microphone picked up a convosation between the Australian captain and the senior umpire and overheard the skipper asking Bowden if he knew the rules of cricket. This matter may come into the hands of the match referee after the match.

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Kallis and Boucher took South Africa past the 100 at 6 an over and then to the 20 over mark where they now require big partnership to get back into this game. The 1st ODI is still up for grabs in Cape Town with the run rate on par with the Australians. Can Kallis play the big knock required of him or will Australia hold off the home tea?

South Africa 4/122
Require 6.83 runs an over
20 overs

South Africa require 205 runs to win

Kallis 21(20)*
Boucher 17(24)*

Lee 0/22
Bracken 2/43
Clark 2/39
Hogg 0/5
Symonds 0/12

 

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1st Standard Bank ODI ? 40 overs
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

Kallis was the leader in a 40 run partnership before Mark Boucher was out for a watchful 29 when Hogg got through his defenses. Charging down the wicket after being held down by an inspirational spell of bowling by Hogg and the breakthrough was made and it had the Proteas looking very ordinary.

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A long batting line-up meant that South Africa still had a chance even though the run rate was blowing out to 9 to 10 runs an over. The Kallis half century was welcomes by the crowd with a huge cheer as the landmark came up off 46 balls.



With 10 overs to play South Africa need a welcome miracle to get the runs required and they will need them at 12.6 an over. Australia well on top and they need only bowl a few half decent balls an over to win it now.

South Africa 5/201
Require 12.60 runs an over
40 overs

South Africa require 126 runs to win

Kallis 63(65)*
Kemp 20(47)*

Lee 0/42
Bracken 2/43
Clark 2/39
Hogg 1/30
Symonds 0/33
Hussey 0/13

 

[Short Leg]

the final 10 overs will follow shortly. Sorry to the die hard fans of this story (i know your out there) for the lack of updates.

 

[Cricket_60]

Hope the Aussies go on for a win here :upray

 

[Short Leg]

Hit Out Or Get Out​

1st Standard Bank ODI ? Final Score
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

A couple of little cameo knocks from AJ Hall, Shaun Pollock and Justin Kemp sore quick runs in the final overs but it was to little to late in the end as Australia walked out comfortable winners. If South Africa had of restricted the visitors to something more like 300 they would have had a chance.

Solid contributions in a sizable partnership just weren?t enough as Kallis and Kemp eventually found there way back to the shed after trying for to much in the closing overs

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Even Shaun Pollock managed a quick fire 14 off the last few balls of the innings but it was for no benefit and the Australians where soon high fiveing out in the centre in front of the Cape Town crowd.

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Australia take the points in the first Standard Bank ODI with a strong team effort. A lot of factors contributed to the win with some world class batting but a lot of credit goes to Brad Hogg who bowled outside himself on a pitch that offered him nothing.

Points ? Australia 3 points, South Africa 0 points

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[Short Leg]

Match Presentation​

Mike Haysman is out there in the middle with the two teams for the match presentation. Lets see how it turned out.

Lets first talk to the man of the match and Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Ricky scored 149 in the massive total posted by Australia what was it like batting out there?

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Yeah well it was a dream pitch to bat on and once I got in the runs scored themselves really. In the end we just had to many runs for South Africa to chase. Look I couldn?t be prouder of the effort from the boys tonight and im sure we?ll enjoy it tonight.

Now lets hear from the South African captain Graeme Smith who went down tonight but played well a bit disappointed Graeme?

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The pitch was probably to good today and chasing was a very tough prospect. Australia played well today but we will come back in the second match harder and stronger.

There you have it Graeme blames the pitch and Australia walk out winners in Cape Town it wont be long before we are away again in Johannesburg. Were not expecting the flat track we got tonight in the next match so the better side will have a lot more effect on the match rather then just know bats first. See you in Jo?burg.

 

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Kepler Offers His Thoughts​

You would think that a man that has played for both Australia and South Africa would know who the better team is in this series. It seems that Kepler has his money firmly on the Australians.

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There is no doubt in my mind that Australia will win the series. Graeme Smith?s team is running around in circles wondering what to do under his captaincy and there fitness is none to be desired. They are about to find out just how a champion team like the Australians act and react in situations and hopefully they will take positives out of the series.

 

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Hogg Goes Twang​

A sour note to Australia?s 2nd ODI preparation with Brad Hogg suffering what looks to be a hamstring injury. Hogg being the fitness freak he is what participating in a beep test when the hammy gave out on him at level 11. Team physio Errol Alcott is optimistic about Hoggs chances of playing but a fitness test will follow.

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I knew exactly what id done when it happened and we?ll just have to wait and see what happens come game day now I guess. I reckon im 50/50 to play in the 2nd match so im not sure who they will line up as a replacement if I don?t play.

So Hogg is not in the best way and there are major doubts over whether or not he will play so who will the selectors bring into the squad if the worst happens?

 

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Smiths Vows Revenge​

The message from Proteas skipper Graeme Smith to his fast bowlers is ?don?t hold back? as the teams eagerly await the 2nd Standard Bank ODI set to take place in Johannesburg.

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I promise we will be back to our best cricket in the second match. The boys were a little rusty in the first match but we will be back with a bang in the next match. The fast bowlers are under instructions against these Australians and that is don?t hold back at all. We will be letting them have it all day.

It looks like Australia can expect a lot of short stuff throughout as the Proteas fire up with the chat before the next match. Jacques Kallis also had something to say about Kepler Wessels comments on team fitness.

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That?s a load of rubbish and some very disappointing statements from Kepler. We have had contact with him for a while now and for him to be bad mouthing our fitness is is just uncalled for. The boys are in the best shape we have been for a while now and playing some really good cricket. We couldn?t be happier with our chances of beating Australia in both series but it will take some hard work.

It looks like its going to be on for young and old in the next match that will be live from Jo?burg.