South Africa tour of New Zealand, Feb-March 2011/12

[Iridium]

Fantasy cricket game has been created for the T20I series between New Zealand and South Africa.

Register here: PlanetCricket Forums - Fantasy Cricket: New Zealand v South Africa T20I Series 2012

Match thread can be found here: http://www.planetcricket.org/forums/fantasy-cricket/new-zealand-v-south-africa-t20i-series-2012-a-78125.html#post2272327

Good luck.

 

[AnshtheDj]

It's nice to see Saffers taking on NZ on Kiwiland. Correct me if I'm wrong, i think this is first full-fledged NZ tour of SA after the one in early 2003 before 2003 ICC CWC in South Africa. That series produced pulsating ODI cricket featuring premier all-rounders on both sides like Chris Cairns and Lance Klusener.

I remember at least 3 matches going down the wire with NZ sneaking in victory just under SA's nose. That was a big achievement back then for Stephen Fleming's NZ team, beating SA in that particular ODI series.

Does anyone know which sports channel is going to broadcast the series in Indian sub-continent ? I missed ZIM's just-concluded tour of NZ here in India, could only follow it on internet. Last when India toured NZ in 2008, SET MAX had the telecast rights for Indian sub-continent, don't know abt current scene.

 

[CG123]

That match last night was quite a joke; five Cantab's debuting against the top South African XI (minus Kallis and Steyn who are being rested for the T20Is). If Nicol and Ellis had been released to play Canterbury might've even got over the line.

 

[angryangy]

Surely foreign teams are mentally disintegrated by Christchurch.

 

[Chewie]

I'm going to Christchurch tomorrow /today now

 

[stefan]

I don't see any reason to take Faf du Plessis in the squad. He is average with the bat, hardly bowls, yes he is a brilliant fielder and may be scoring runs in domestic but certainly not doing it at international level. Isn't there any other option beside him?

He is one of the top run scorer consistently in the domestic competiton and he did make runs when he got a chance at number 4 in the sri lanka odi's. He struggled lower down since that's not his game.

He deserves his spot imho.

Btw. Just dreadfull that thami solekile has been selected as boucher succesor. All politicals, not even talking about the qoutas here. Thami's uncle and dad have business connections with gerald majola.

 

[aayush93]

brilliant runout by Guptill, reminds me of Rhodes in 1992 world cup..

 

[Dare]

Btw. Just dreadfull that thami solekile has been selected as boucher succesor. All politicals, not even talking about the qoutas here. Thami's uncle and dad have business connections with gerald majola.

Also he is 31. I thought he was younger but when he got named as the successor I looked at his profile and thought to my self why choose someone that's 31 years old as the successor.
Surely there is a wicketkeeper in South Africa that is in his mid 20s that can be groomed as Bouchers successor.

 

[-D-S-B-]

This is going to be an entertaining series. What a start.

 

[riz7khan12]

damn the rain fade

 

[Sedition]

Bit of excitement surrounding Ontong. Short run, haven't seen that for awhile in international cricket, possibly out caught brilliantly by B. McCullum next ball, given not out, then hits four 6's in a row.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Umps are hating.

I knew Williamson shouldve been taken off after his first, just had that feeling lol.

 

[stefan]

Also he is 31. I thought he was younger but when he got named as the successor I looked at his profile and thought to my self why choose someone that's 31 years old as the successor.
Surely there is a wicketkeeper in South Africa that is in his mid 20s that can be groomed as Bouchers successor.

They could have chosen any of dane vilas,darryn smit, heino kuhn or if they wanted to go really young quinton de kock. All of them better then thami but without the political advantage.

Anyway back to the cricket. NZ on top so far. Seems fielding has been brilliant.

 

[AnshtheDj]

First blood drawn by the Kiwis, superb effort in bowling and fielding to keep the Saffers down to 147 and clinical batting led by Guptill to chase down the target.

They have shown why they are a few rungs ahead of SA in ICC T20I rankings. Now they need to brace themselves as the Saffers will be itching to give them back in next T20I on Sunday. Saffers have done that against Aussies last year with a come-from-behind victory to draw T20 series one-all.

Saffers definitely need to get past the Kiwi top-order to put them under pressure... Kiwi middle-order isn't that experienced and Saffers need a bit of fire-power in bowling to have them 2-3 down for next to nothing.

As for today, NZ definitely won the battle of spin, Nathan McCullum has continued his exploits opening bowling in limited overs in sub-continent in ICC CWC'11. Ronnie Heera isn't too bad either.

Way to go Kiwis , Let's keep the exciting times rolling!!!

 

[CG123]

That was a pretty clinical victory. If it wasn't four Ontong's four sixes in a row it would've been a demolition.

I've got massive respect for Guptill atm. He turned down an IPL contract last year, and he's done it again this year in order to better himself as a player playing proper cricket in England. I was a bit unsure whether he'd be the real deal against a better bowling attack, but in scoring 78 off 55 he never even looked like getting out (except for one early outside edge). His fielding's on another level as well, imo he's the best fielder on the planet atm.