Story SouthAfrica's International Diary(ICC CT 2009) - Boucher tries to Steady the Ship

[Pakistani Army]

Bad start for the South Africans. They are under the nail here. However, I feel that Captain Smith and Amla will lengthen their stay at the crease whilst scoring runs.

Very Very good work with the graphics and presentation Shantanu! Absoloutly fantastic!

 

[Kiko_97]

Goddamnit! Bloody Aussies ruin everything :
come on you Proteas!!!!
Great prsentation dude KUTGW.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Aussies strike again but Smith and Kallis steady the ship​

After losing the first wicket within the first five overs the pressure was on the Proteas to get the ship steady. But the Aussies were bowling a tight line and length and hardly gave any width for the two batsman to score. Amla was finding it very difficult to score. While on the other hand Smith was doing the scoring in one and twos. Both Lee and Johnson had really isolated Smith on the non striking end by just bowling at Amla and not giving him to rotate the strike. It took 15 balls for Amla to score his first runs and there was a huge cheer for that by the South African fans in the stadium. But soon it was Johnson who got the breakthrough. Johnson bowled a brilliant ball which came in to the right handers and Amla was beaten by the pace of the ball. Which resulted the ball hitting the pads and then the bat. There was a huge appeal by the Aussies and the umpire had no doubt in his mind as he was quick to raise his finger. Amla was disappointed as he went back with just 3 runs in front of his name after facing 22 balls. The hawkeye clearing showed that the ball would have it the middle and off stump.

New man in was one of the best allrounders in world cricket Jacques Kallis. Kallis has scored over 9000 runs and also taken over 200 wickets in test matches and the Proteas needed his experience at the momment as they were in deep trouble at 20/2.

Kallis got of the mark straight away with a flick towards fine leg and again lots of cheers by the Aussie supporters as Johnson finished a successful over. Both Lee and Johnson were in top form and were getting the ball to swing both ways which troubled the batsman. The two batsman kept on rotating the strike by taking the ones and twos on the onside which kept the scoreboard ticking. But the odd boundaries also came. First Smith hitting Brett Lee down the ground for four. Then it was Kallis who cut Johnson through the point region for his first four of the innings and in the same over Smith cut Johnson through same area for another four. But boundaries were followed by some sensible cricket by rotating strike and didnt let the two bowlers settle to any particular batsman. These two had quickly put on 20 runs in the last 4 overs.

After going for 24 in his 6 overs Ponting decided to give Mitchell Johnson a break as he was impressive to the right handers but didn't get his line and length right to Smith. Instead Peter Siddle who made his debut against India in Mohali was given the ball.

Siddle started of with an impressive over giving just a single run of it and was getting ball to swing both ways. While from the other end Lee continued to trouble the batsman with his pace and bounce but was angry with his keeper, when Haddin failed to save a wide bouncer down the leg side which went all the way for four byes. Siddle was excellent in his next two overs. Not only he bowled two maidens but also troubled Kallis with his outswingers and almost got him out. After 17 overs South Africa were 55/2. Kallis and Smith had both steadied the ship and put on a partnership of 35 runs.

South Africa: 55/2( 17 Overs, 1st Innings)
G.Smith: 27(43)
J.Kallis: 9(22)
Extras: 8

Last Wicket
H Amla lbw Johnson 3(22)
N.McKenzie c Hussey b Lee 8(15)

 

[Highlander999]

Massive wicket getting Amla there, and it was actually a good delivery by Johnson which makes it even more suprising that he got a wicket with it

Smith and Kallis though are very capable batsmen and should hopefully be able to rally for South Africa. Very good presentation, shantanu, keep this up

 

[gutterman]

Great bowling by johnson to remove amla. Smith is a very capable batsman and with the likes of kallis with him both could go onto to score big hundreds. Smith is batting very nicely at the moment. great pres kutgw mate

 

[Jaztheman]

South Africa are batting a little slow but I fear that if they up the run rate then they'll lose wickets, despite both being more than capable of hitting the shots. Amla going could be a blessing in disguise as it seems to of brought in a good steady partnership which South Africa needed badly.

Great presentation and the mix of graphics and writing is fantastic.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Nice breakthrough there from Johny boy :happy the run rate should slow down more from here, but with Smith still there, i really doubt so. Cmon Asssie :happy Great presention Shan

 

[Pakistani Army]

Smith should definatly rally along here as the South Africans have a bit of batting to come. Great delivery by Johnson.

And I must say. Fantastic graphics and animations. Keep it up!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Massive wicket getting Amla there, and it was actually a good delivery by Johnson which makes it even more suprising that he got a wicket with it

Smith and Kallis though are very capable batsmen and should hopefully be able to rally for South Africa. Very good presentation, shantanu, keep this up

Great bowling by johnson to remove amla. Smith is a very capable batsman and with the likes of kallis with him both could go onto to score big hundreds. Smith is batting very nicely at the moment. great pres kutgw mate

South Africa are batting a little slow but I fear that if they up the run rate then they'll lose wickets, despite both being more than capable of hitting the shots. Amla going could be a blessing in disguise as it seems to of brought in a good steady partnership which South Africa needed badly.

Great presentation and the mix of graphics and writing is fantastic.

Nice breakthrough there from Johny boy :happy the run rate should slow down more from here, but with Smith still there, i really doubt so. Cmon Asssie :happy Great presention Shan

Smith should definatly rally along here as the South Africans have a bit of batting to come. Great delivery by Johnson.

And I must say. Fantastic graphics and animations. Keep it up!

Thanks a lot for such wonderful comments guys. :happy Updates will be coming tonite...Africans playing well...

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Smith and Kallis partnership frustrating the Aussies​

After the dismissal of Amla, skipper Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis both had stabilize the situation with some runs. The pair kept taking the ones and twos which kept the scoreboard ticking as the boundaries were hard to come by. Siddle had bowled brilliant conceding just one run in his first three overs. He was on song today as he was getting the ball to move both way and troubled the batsman. But he bowled an odd loose delivery out side off stump which was cut away hard by Graeme Smith for four who looked in great form. Johnson was given a over but again was expensive and went for six runs. Ponting finally decided to give his spinner Jason Krejza the ball. Krejza had taken 12 wickets on his debut against the Indians.

Krejza started off impressively bowling a maiden over but more importantly didn't give any room to inform Graeme Smith to free his arms. Both Siddle and Krejza were bowling a very tight line and length and didn't give both the batsman any room to hit the boundaries. The run rate was decreasing as Krejza bowled three consecutive maiden overs. The Africans had to play some risky shots if they wanted the boundaries. They didnt do so and were happy with the ones and twos. The partnership was building slowly but steadily and soon reached 50 runs with a leg glance towards fine leg. There was a huge cheer by the South Africans fans, but the Australian skipper looked a bit worried and needed a wicket at this moment to break this crucial partnership which could change the whole game. But it didn't happen. Krejza and Siddle kept it tight but weren't able to stop the ones and twos. Rotation of the strike made it difficult for the bowlers to get their line and length right.

Finally the first boundary after almost 50 balls came when Kallis played an risky late cut which passed Hayden at slip and ran all the way for four. Soon later the four was followed by a huge six over fine leg. Siddle bowled a bouncer and Smith was ready as he pulled him away for a huge six over Johnson's head standing at Fine Leg. Suddenly the two put on 23 quick runs in 3 overs before lunch.

Kallis defended the last bowl before lunch and umpires removed the bails as the played went inside for lunch. There were many frustrating Aussie faces as they went in. South Africans were 93/2 after being 20/2 at one stage and two had put on a partnership of 73 runs. Both Siddle and Krejza were very impressive with their line and length but didn't get the rewards. Now lets see if Aussies strike again after lunch or will Proteas dominate?

Lunch Break​

South Africa: 93/2( 17 Overs, 1st Innings)
G.Smith: 47(82)
J.Kallis: 23(61)
Extras: 12

B.Lee: 8-1-22-1
M.Johnson: 7-0-30-1
P.Siddle 9-2-27-0
J.Krejza 6-3-14-0

 

[gutterman]

good comeback by south africa. smith and kallis batting very well
great pres kutgw

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

This Smith is annoying me : we need to have him qucik after lunck still Proteas have a long lineups. Siddle and Krejza bolwing quite good comparing to Johnson.I think Lee needs to be introduced after lunch. Great presentation Shan

 

[Akash00]

Very nice presentation mate, keep it up.

 

[navin-boss]

Smith is really playing well.Aussies will now have fightback after the lunch i hope.Smith is near his Half Century and Kallis supporting him well.

Good update and Great Graphics asusual mate.

 

[Highlander999]

I told you that Smith and Kallis would rally for South Africa. Now the match is pretty even. The next session will tell us who will be in charge of this match.

Great work shantanu, reminds me a bit of gamerkid's presentation :cool: