Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

[Short Leg]

Selectors Punt On Young Prospect​

The Australian selectors have showed their hand and it just so happens they are holding another ace. With Brad Hogg on the maybe list for the 2nd match in the Standard Bank series Trevor Hohns and the lads have brought young talent Dan Cullen to Proteas shores.

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We have kept an eye on Dan all year in the domestic season and we think he has the goods to play at the highest level if he is required. Im sure he will hold up his end for the team. Whichever way it goes whether we have Brad or Dan out on the field we are confident the team can get the job done in the series

The selectors look like they are backing the young kid for big things here but we wont know until game day whether he wil play or not.

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This is unreal I have been on the couch watching the boys in South Africa and all of a sudden the phone rings and im on my way over there. Defiantly a dream come true and cant wait to be with the team even if I don?t play.

Were all set now for the 2nd Standard Bank ODI live from Johannesburg we?ll see you there will Tony and te boys not long from now.

 

[Short Leg]

2nd Standard Bank ODI ? The Wanderers, Johannesburg​

Welcome to the second match of this one day series this is the match that South Africa need to win to stay alive in the series. A great day for cricket out here today so lets go down to the middle with Ian Bishop and his pitch report.

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Ian Bishop Pitch Report

Thankfully for us bowlers the Cape Town pitch has not followed us to the Wanderers today. This looks a good pitch with even grass coverage and should provide assistance for the seamers in the early stages. It will flatten out over the course of this match and be a good pitch to bat on. A fast outfield will ensure the ball races to the rope and will be tough for fielders. I would win the toss and bat first out here.

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Umpires

Simon Tauffel and Aleem Dar

The Coin Toss
Ricky Ponting calls heads and it is a tail

We will bat first. It looks like a good pitch all we have to do is survive the opening spell from the bowlers and the wicket will flatten out. We are looking forward to returning to our best cricket in this match.

Hopefully our bowlers can make some early inroads as it looks like there will be a bit of assistance early. Brad Hogg failed the fitness test so Dan Cullen is into the side on debut. I would have batted first but if he get a few early wickets and hold our chances we will be well on the road to winning the series today.

With South Africa batting first here at the Wanderers lets have a look at the lineups for both sides going into the most important match of the series so far.

South Africa Line-up

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Nel and Telemachus coming intop the team today in a bid to strengthen up the bowling ranks in the South African team. Van Der Wath will consider himself unlucky to miss out on the back of a good performance in the first match. Nel will bring the agro factor into the team as Smith has promised to throw everything at Australia in this match

Australia Line-up

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The big news is that Brad Hogg is unfit with a pulled hammy and Dan Cullen is on debut for the Australians. A big moment for the South Australian here in an otherwise unchanged team.

This one promises to be a good match as we go down to the centre to see the first ball bowled by Brett Lee.

 

[Short Leg]

Dont Hold Back​

2nd Standard Bank ODI ? 20 over Update
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa Vs Australia

After taking some first over tap Brett Lee went bang at when he castled Dippenaar for just 3. 1/27 after 3 overs was the result as Smith held nothing back as promised. He sent a few ball to the boundary at a squillion miles an hour in the first few overs.

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Just 5 overs later Smith brought up an unbelieveable 50 off just 20 balls. Believe it r not Smith was in superbe touch sending 13 balls to the boundary in a run rate well over 6 an over.

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Gibbs also showed fine touch as the Proteas brought up the 100 in the 17th over. Finally Australia sore the back of Smith after he smashed a ball out to deep cover where Cullen went weak at the knees in his debut game before thankfully he held onto the chance.

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At the 20 over stage South Africa has the upper hand with Brett Lee on career worst figures and going for 10 an over. The only thing keeping Australia in the early stages is the tight bowling of Clark. Australia need a couple of cheap wickets here especially Gibbs whos form is starting to worry the visitors and dazzle the locals.

South Africa 2/121
Run Rate 6.05
20 overs

Gibbs 45(41)*
Kallis 4(5)*

Lee 1/62
Bracken 0/35
Clark 1/22

 

[Cricket_60]

Lee getting slapped

 

[Short Leg]

Cullen Impressive but Kallis Dominates​

2nd Standard Bank ODI ? 40 over Update
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa Vs Australia

When Gibbs brought up a run a ball 50 the ball was in Australia?s court and skipper Ricky Ponting hit back with Dan Cullen?s first spell in international cricket.

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Cullen into the attack with his first spell​

It gamble paid off for Ponting as Cullen picked up his first ODI wicket and the victim was the prize scalp of Herschelle Gibbs. The ball kept low on Gibbs and took a bit of pad on the way to off stump. A big wicket for Australia and they can now work towards keeping the run rate down in these middle overs.

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Cullen picks up his 1st International wicket​

Just when Australia had the initiative and where on a roll it all went wrong. A straight forward chance in the deep was offered to Stuart Clark and he managed to make a meal of it as it went crashing to the surface and Symonds was rope able.

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This drop just might cost Australia a big chase​

De Villiers and Kallis left Australia wondering what could have been as the kept the run rate in check with the required and more importantly they had wickets in hand for the all important slog overs. It took a rush of blood to the head from De Villiers to be out in the deep caught by Martyn.

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De Villiers didnt need to play the shot that brought his downfall and Cullens number 2​

Kallis and new man at the crease Boucher have South Africa in a commanding position with 10 overs to go in there innings. Kallis can really make Australia pay for that dropped catch here as he is seeing it like a beach ball. With hitters to come like Pollock and Hall the Protease can be looking towards 270-280 or more if they really get after Brett Lee.

South Africa 4/217
Run Rate 5.42
40 overs

Kallis 48(57)*
Boucher 1(1)*

Lee 1/62
Bracken 0/35
Clark 1/25
Symonds 0/49
Cullen 2/38

 

[Short Leg]

South Africa Go The Slog​

2nd Standard Bank ODI ? Change Of Innings
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa Vs Australia


Boucher was the first casualty of the slog fest when he departed for 11. Caught on the fence off Michael Clarke who has been brought into the attack as a cover for Lee who is getting smashed around Johannesburg.

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With 6.2 overs remaining the South Africas stepped on the pedal and sacrificed there wickets as Pollock went for 9 off the incredibly hard to hit Clark. At 6/253 the Proteas need a camo innings of 15 or 20 quickly.

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With just three overs remaining Hall made his way with a duck and Roger Telemachus came to the crease. At this stage South Africa look like making no more than 270 with a great closing performance from the bowlers Clark, Clarke and Bracken. Kallis was finally out for a gallant 67 off the bowling of Clark and a blinder of a catch in the deep from Lee. He may not be bowling well but can a catch like that turn his day around?

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Kallis finally out after leading the way with 67​

9In the final 2 over Telemachus pulled off the little cameo knock South Africa was after to be out for 20 off just 7 balls. Australia affected the run out of Nel to have the Proteas all out for a very competitive total of 289. It will take some chasing from Australia on this pitch that may play a few tricks.

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Mike Haysman caught up with Ricky Ponting when the Australians were leaving the field.

A good performance from your team Ricky and what looks like a tough chase.

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Yeah the wicket played better then we expected. We bowled well of course Brett will have a few problems to iron out and we took the majority of our catches. If we get off to a good start it will make a good match for the crowd tonight.

Australia require 290 at 5.80 runs an over

 

[Short Leg]

Australia In Early Trouble​

2nd Standard Bank ODI ? Change Of Innings
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa Vs Australia

The worst possible start for Australia as they lost two early wickets and are in a hole that they need to dig themselves out of. Gilchrist went first attempting to go aerial and got an edge through to Gilchrist.

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Attacking Gilchrist edges out​

Just two balls later Ponting was trapped LBW. Ponting is always seen as an early candidate for LBW and did not disappoint when Aleem Dar raised the fingerat 2/19. Ntini no with 2 wickets after just 4 overs of the visitor?s innings.

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Ponting gone without troubleing the scorers​

Thankfully for Australia it was all smooth sailing to the 20th over with Katich and Martyn steadying the ship. There partnership is just under 100 as they both have an eye in. Katich is playing the anchor role while Martyn is scoring comfortably at a run a ball.

Comparison after 20 overs
South Africa 2/121
Australia 2/112

Australia 2/112
178 to win at 5.93 runs an over
20 overs

Katich 46(59)*
Martyn 45(48)*

Pollock 0/47
Ntini 2/27
Telemachus 0/26
Hall 0/10

 

[Cricket_60]

Great stuff by Kato and Marto

 

[Short Leg]

Martyn And Katich Take Control​

2nd Standard Bank ODI ? 40 overs
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa Vs Australia

It was the Katich and Martyn show at the Wanderers in Johannesburg as they provide quite impossible to get out as they both went past 50.

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The unstoppable partnership​

With some breath taking strokeplay the pair batted for the majority of the innings so far and it wasn't long before Martyn achieved a remarkable century off 103 balls and had the Protease with there head in their hands.

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A well earned ton for Marto​

Not much to write home about for South Africa and not much to say about them either except they need a breakthrough badly or Australia will cruise home to a series win. The partnership stands at an unbeaten 216 which has to be some kind of record.

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Comparison after 40 overs
South Africa 4/217
Australia 2/235

Australia 2/235
55 to win at 5.50 runs an over
40 overs

Katich 91(116)*
Martyn 116(111)*

Pollock 0/53
Ntini 2/50
Telemachus 0/26
Hall 0/28
Kallis 0/12
Nel 0/34
Smith 0/26

 

[Short Leg]

Australia Day In Cape Town​

2nd Standard Bank ODI ? End Of Match
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa Vs Australia

The average fool would of thought that Australia could cruise home batting with a broom handle?The average fool was right on this occasion as Australia brought in the series with a 6 wicket win. Damien Martyn was out attempting to hit one into a distant 3rd world country but succeeded only in finding the man inside the circle.

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Marto out trying to get it over with​

Simon Katich brought up his hundred in the mean time and gave his trademark expletives to the press box who are always on his back about being a passenger in the Australian team.

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Katich reaches 100 and offers advice to the press about where to stick it​

Andrew Symonds fell just a few runs shy of the victory for 14 caught in the deep. However the win was a sure thing as Katich and Hussey shook hands in the middle before walking off the ground all smiles.

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Australia wins the match with a come from behind​

Australians win the match by 6 wickets and the series 2-0. They will be singing ?Beneath The Southern Cross? and ?Khe Sahn? into the long hours of the night however with a dead rubber to play but all the points count in this championship so the Proteas will be keen.

Australia win by 6 wickets

Points - Australia 3 Points, South Africa 1 point

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[Cricket_60]

Well done Kato

Great work for the whole tour as well Short Leg. It's been a good read.

 

[Short Leg]

Well done Kato

Great work for the whole tour as well Short Leg. It's been a good read.

Cheers mate i appreciate the good words.

 

[BigCrickNan]

Great story mate ! Is the sun back in cape town yet?

 

[Short Leg]

2nd Standard Bank ODI ? Match Presentation​

Were down on the ground with the two teams and although the series has been wrapped up the trophy will be put on ice until the conclusion of the final match in the series. The man of the match will take first words to Barry Richards

You made batting look easy out there Simon how did it feel?

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I was surprised how quickly the pitch flattened out after the early we were in trouble early. Its good to get in there a score a few with a guy like Marto in this series and hopefully there?s more to come in the final match. A great win to the boys and we?ll defiantly celebrate this one tonight before the last game.

Now lets hear from the winning captain Ricky Ponting

Ricky a good win to cap off the series

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Yeah it?s a great to have won the series still with a game to play. We always thought that this was one of the 3 toughest series we will play in the championship and to have played this well is a real moral booster. We will be taking it easy up until the last match and then hopefully we can carry our form into the test series.

The Australians are obviously ecstatic about there win that lets face it was unlikely in the early overs of there innings had it not been for Katich and Martyn. Graeme Smith will again explain why his team wasn?t good enough tonight.

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Graeme Just going down again today you must of thought you had the upper hand at the half way point.

We had a lot of confidence at the end of our innings and then after they were 2/20 or whatever it was. Look Australia played well today but they also got lucky. If we keep playing our best cricket the rub of the green will go our way like it went Australia?s way today.

I don?t know about Australia being lucky today but I do know they won comfortably. Just one match remains in this series before the tests start. There is still plenty to play for including a psychological edge going into test series. What a mental blow it would be to South Africa if they didn?t win a match in this series.

 

[Short Leg]

Great story mate ! Is the sun back in cape town yet?

Nah mate it's gonna be a pretty dark test series if i dont figure it out!