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

[Jaztheman]

When did Mendis change his nationality to South Africa..

I meant Morkel, you know who I meant!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

I meant Morkel, you know who I meant!

yeah Mendis = Morkel

 

[saladguy]

Amazing bowling performance by the Saffers. Australia will be gutted with that score and they will need to gather some confidence, and fast!

 

[Roofrom50]

Brilliant bowling by South Africa. Different in my story though, as it's the Aussies who are dominating the bowling

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Aussies Strike Twice in 2nd Innings​

South African lead by 167 runs as the two openers Graeme Smith and Niel McKenzie came out to bat for the second time in 2 days. Aussies had a huge task ahead of them of getting the 10 wickets in as less runs as possible. Graeme Smith opened the batting while it was Brett Lee who opened the bowling for the Aussies. Graeme Smith started of the innings with a brilliant shot through the covers for four. But next ball Brett Lee came back well by pitching the ball short and Smith ducking. But it was Lee who had the last laugh, as he pitched the ball short again. Smith went for the hook but got the top edged and gave an easy catch to Ricky Ponting at Gully. Smith departed for 4 of 3 balls as Hashim Amla came in the middle.

Mitchell Johnson shared the new ball with Lee. McKenzie got of the mark with a delightful boundary through the point region and next ball gave Amla the strike. Amla himself got of the mark with a boundary through the covers. South Africans looked aggressive in their scoring and showed clear intend of scoring some quick runs and giving Aussies a huge total to chase. But at the same time they lost wickets and it was Lee again who struck for the Aussies. Lee pitching the ball in the corridor of uncertainty. McKenzie tried to defend but got the outside edge and gave away an easy catch to Ponting at second slip. Aussies celebrated as Proteas lost their second wicket for just 17 on the board.

Jacques Kallis came in the middle with some pressure as the Proteas had lost two early wickets. Kallis dint show that he was under any pressure as he smashed Johnson for a boundary through the vacant onside. Johnson was finding it very hard to get the line and length right and was going for easy runs. Amla in the next over hit Lee for the best shot of the innings through Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke at covers and mid-off respectively. South Africans after the end of 7 overs of their second innings were 26 for the loss of 2 wickets and lead by 193 runs.

South Africa: 26/2 (7 overs, 2nd Innings)
H.Amla: 10(18)
J.Kallis: 4(4)
Extras 1

Last Wickets
N.McKenzie c Ponting b Lee 10(18)
G.Smith c Ponting b Lee 4(3)

South Africa lead by 193 runs

 

[mattfb]

2 huge wickets for Australia. They need to take wickets at all costs here and hopefully have a target of around 300 to chase. That might be a little optimistic, but it's possible.

Awesome update Shan, great writing and fantastic gfx. kiu!

 

[Roofrom50]

This is awsome stuff mate, wonderful graphics and all.
Australia have struck back well here with the 2 early wickets. Except Amla looks to be in some fine hitting form.

 

[Highlander999]

If South Africa can get a lead of 400+ this match is all over. Amla and Kallis are superb batsmen so this is possible.

Great works mate, keep it up

 

[Jaztheman]

South Africa were easily in control after the first innings but have had a poor start to their innings. They need Amla to score big and hopefully Kallis to stay with him. Lee has bowled brilliantly to start off and Ponting managed to catch them both.

Awesome writing and Graphics, Shan, keep it up.

 

[surendar]

This story is going in an amazing way as ever... Excellent writing, presentation.. Like I said in Tom's thread, this is surely one of the stories that will definitely help story forums to get back that active momentum

Keep up the amazing works :hpraise

 

[shantanu_rooney]

South Africans lead by 220 at Tea​

South Africans had a handsome lead of 193 runs and had 8 wickets in hand. The Proteas were in the driving stage at this stage. While for the Aussies they needed some wickets before the end of the second session. Amla and Kallis were putting some runs together with ones and twos and also boundaries. Hashim Amla continued his good touch as he smashed Mitchell Johnson through covers for four. Everything was going horribly wrong for the left-handed Johnson. Kallis to joined Amla to smash Johnson as he hit him through point for another four and followed by a square cut for four. Johnson was having his one of the worst test matches ever. He was struggling to get the line and length right and was not getting any movement in the air.

Brett Lee continued to bowl in the right line and length and trouble the two batsman. And finally Brett Lee got his third wicket of the day. Lee pitched the ball on off and middle stump and Amla went for the cover drive but got inside edge onto the pads and then onto the stumps. One of the unluckiest ways to get out. But Amla had to make the long walk back to the pavilion as he departed for 20 and Proteas were 47 for 3. Ashwell Prince who played a vital role with the bat was in the crease. This time out it was Brett Lee who got the better of Prince. Lee bowled a beauty pitching the ball on the off-stump and just getting it to move away from the left handers. Prince got the edge and was easily caught by Krejza at first slip. Prince departed for a duck of the first ball and Lee celebrated his 4th victim.

AB de Villiers who made a quick and brilliant half-century in the first innings walked in when the Proteas were 4 down for just 46 runs on the board. Johnson was given a break by Ponting after his poor bowling brought off-spinner Jason Krejza just before tea. Lee and Krejza both slowed down the run-rate in the last 6 overs before tea giving just 7 runs which included a great show through midwicket by Jacques Kallis for of the bowling of Jason Krezja. Krejza bowled the last over before tea and ended the session with a maiden. So at tea the South Africans had their tails up with a lead of 220 on the board and still 6 wickets remaining. On the other hand it was all Brett Lee domination in the 2nd Innings picking all 4 wickets. Aussies needed to take some quick wickets in the last session if they have to stay in the match.

South Africa: 53/4 (16 overs, 2nd Innings)
J.Kallis: 18(20)
AB de Villiers: 0(9)
Extras 4

Last Wickets
A.Prince c Krejza b Lee 0(1)
H.Amla b Lee 20(28)

B.Lee: 8-2-20-4
M.Johnson: 5-0-27-0
J.Krejza: 3-2-6-0

South Africa lead by 220 runs at Tea on Day 2

 

[Jaztheman]

Johnson got targeted by the batsmen and got smashed. You said they tried to smash Lee at the same time which was probably their undoing as Amla and Prince gave away their wickets. Lee was brilliant with the bowl and Krejza helped end the session on a high. Australia are clawing their way back into this match.

Brilliant work, Shan, as normal.

 

[Roofrom50]

Great stuff Shan, very well presented. i like the style of this story, so do you mind if i copy it (in a way) in my new story i have going.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Proteas lead by 265 runs​

Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers walked in to face the last session of today play on day 2. Looking above at the sky, the day's play would end much earlier than expected as it was getting darker. But the Aussies were raring to take some wickets in the last session of the day so tomorrow the South Africans may be on back foot. The Proteas lead by 220 runs and surely would be trying to get the lead pass 350. The intentions were shown clearly when Kallis smashed Johnson for four through the offside. Punter had a lot fo trust on Johnson as he was given the ball instead of Siddle or Lee. And this time out Johnson lived upto the expectation by bowling the right line and length from round the wicket and making it difficult for the right angles. Krejza was continued on the other end and this as expected he was getting some turn and bounce. But it looked like there was no way stopping the Kallis as he cut Krejza for another four.

Kallis was scoring in boundaries and rotating the strike. But AB de Villiers was finding very difficult to score runs. The Aussies bowlers were trying to isolate Kallis on one end of the pitch. Johnson and Krejza both troubled De Villiers, and he never looked like the one who scored the half century in the first innings. There could have been more joy for the Aussies when tehy appealed for a catch at silly point but umpire turned it down. Looking at the replays and snickometer it clearly showed the Kallis had got an inside edge onto the pads, which meant it was yet another poor decision by the umpire and surely the Aussies were happy. Kallis next ball took the advantage and played delicate cut shot which went wide of first slip for four. But finally there was joy for the Aussies when the struggling AB de Villiers was cleaned bowled by a quicker one by Jason Krejza claiming his first wicket of the innings. Villiers departed for 3 runs of 33 balls and Proteas were 77 for the loss of 5 as Mark Boucher came in to bat.

Mitchell Johnson was given a break and Punter gave the ball to Peter Siddle and straight away he was smashed over covers for a four by Mark Boucher who had decided to take the attack to bowlers with his approach. As the sky was getting darker over by over, the Aussies struck again and this time it was the main wicket of Jacques Kallis. Kallis went for the huge sweep against Krejza but was caught easily by Michael Hussey at deep midwicket. Kallis departed for 36 of 52 balls and the Proteas were 80 for the loss of 6 wickets as Morne Morkel came in. Morkel and Bocuher added 18 runs in the last 7 overs which Boucher hit two boundaries through the offside. Finally the umpires after checking their light meter decided to call the end of day 2, good half hour before the schedule end of play. So at the end of day two the Proteas were 98 for 6 wickets and lead by 265 runs.

South Africa: 98/6 (32 overs 2nd Innings)
M.Boucher: 15(27)
M.Morkel: 4(13)
Extras: 9

Last Wickets
J.Kallis c Hussey b Krejza 36(52)
AB de.Villiers b Krejza 3(33)

B.Lee: 8-2-20-4
M.Johnson: 9-2-32-0
J.Krejza: 11-3-35-2
P.Siddle 1-0-6-0
A.Symonds 3-0-6-0

South Africa lead by 265 runs at stumps on Day 2

 

[Jaztheman]

Australia are really getting back into this match. Jason Krezja has bowled superbly since coming into the attack and bowled economically and got some wickets. Very good performance from him. Apart from Brett Lee, who didn't bowl in that update, no-one has really impressed, although with Lee and Krezja on form, that might not matter. Boucher will have to bat with the tail, emphatically well.

Awesome works, Shan. Writing and graphics are both very good.