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

[Roofrom50]

The SCG should be packed for England vs South Africa, not only with both teams respective fans, but i urge all Australian supporters to go down and have a look at the match, as it'll be entertaining and a close finish. I'll predict South Africa to win the match

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Quadrangular Series 2009, Australia
South Africa v England
2nd Match, Sydney

A very good afternoon to all. Hello and welcome to the SCG for the second match of Commonwealth Bank Quadrangular Series 2009 between South Africa and England. After an exciting first match of the series everyone in Europe and Africa will be looking forward for this match between two giants.

Its a surprise that the stadium is almost full here in Sydney which is rare when Australians are not playing. Probably, the fans want to see some good and exciting as well as entertaining cricket between these two sides. Now lets go down to Geoffrey Boycott who is waiting for us with the pitch report.

Pitch Report​

Welcome again, the weather here is brilliant for a game of cricket. Brights sunshine and nice breeze flowing across the ground. As you can see the stadium is almost full pack and we expect a full house for the match and also some entertaining cricket.

Now looking at the pitch it is very dry with very less cracks on it. Its the same pitch used during the third test match which the Aussies won. So its a batsman's paradise and lots of runs are in stored for them today. but as we saw in the last match the spinners will be coming into to play during the night and will get a lot of spin and bounce from the pitch. The ball will move in the first ten overs but later it will come nicely onto the bat making the stroke playing much easier. So again win the toss and bat first. Set a huge score and then it will be difficult for team batting second chasing the target under the lights.

Toss​

Well, the England skipper Kevin Pietersen won the toss and he decided to bat first. The decision was quite simple as the pitch will be favouring the batsman and the Englishmen will surely try to take the advantage of their huge hitters.

Teams​

England: 1)Ian Bell 2)Matt Prior(WK) 3)Owais Shah 4)Kevin Pietersen(C) 5)Paul Collingwood, 6)Andrew Flintoff 7)Ravi Bopara 8)Graeme Swann 9)Stuart Broad 10)James Anderson 11)Monty Panesar.

England after a long time have gone with two spinners in their side. A good decision keeping in mind the spin the two spinners will get in the second innings. Monty Panesar returns to the one day side after a long time and he will have a lot of thing to prove. England have a lot depth in their batting and will be hoping of posting a total over 300.

South Africa: 1)Graeme Smith(C) 2)Herschelle Gibbs 3)Hashim Amla 4)Jacques Kallis 5)AB de Villiers 6)JP Duminy 7)Mark Boucher(WK) 8)Albie Morkel 9)Johann Botha 10)Dale Steyn 11)Makhaya Ntini.

A very strong looking South African side led by skipper Graeme Smith. Like the Englishmen, South Africans to have a lot of depth in their batting and have some huge hitters like Albie Morkel, Mark Boucher and Herschelle Gibbs who can completely change the course of the game. in the bowling department well Steyn and Ntini will try to get the early wickets and restrict the scoring.

The two batsman, Matt Prior and Ian Bell walk on the ground as they follow the South African team and the two umpires, we will take a break but when we return we will have all the live action from SCG.

 

[Roofrom50]

Fantastic match presentation here mate. I feel that South Africa have the more dominant squad. The trouble for the Poms is their middle order may collapse on them against the likes of Both and Steyn.

Should be a cracker of a match

 

[Jaztheman]

I feel South Africa's team is just too strong for England in quite a few departments. I wouldn't be surprised if we see an easy South Africa victory here thanks to the likes of Steyn and Smith/Amla.

Great presentation, Shantanu.

 

[carn tigez]

South Africa should win pretty comfortably I reckon. Great presentation and good luck with the match.

 

[saladguy]

I want England to win, yet I feel that the Saffers will take this one. However saying that the last time we played an ODI series against South Africa we humiliated them!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Quadrangular Series 2009, Australia
South Africa v England
2nd Match, Sydney
End of 10 overs

KP and Shah Steady the Ship after Early Damage​

Matt Prior took the strike to face the first ball and Ian Bell was on the non strikers end. A new and inexperience opening pair for England and they needed these two to fire and give them a good start against a very strong looking South African side full of confidence after the test series win in Australia and also eager for the 4-0 series defeat to England. Makahya Ntini was given the new ball and straight-away got some bounce and swing from the pitch. It took two balls for Prior and one ball for Bell to get off the mark and showed some early signs that the ball came onto the bat nicely. Ntini conceded three singles of the first over of game. Dale Steyn was given the new ball to share and he continued his brilliant wicket taking form as he got rid of keeper Matt Prior the third ball of his first over. Steyn went for two singles of his first two balls but the third ball Steyn bowled it on the off stump and Prior went for leg glance towards fine leg but just dragged the ball on to his stumps. An unlucky way to get dismissed but England were in trouble at 5 for the loss of one wicket.

The next man in was Owais Shah in the key number three position. Steyn like Ntini was getting swing and bounce from the wicket and pitched in the right lengths to get the batsman in trouble. But Owais Shah wasn't tempted for the drive as Steyn pitched it fuller and so end Steyn's successful first over. Ntini to soon joined the party as he got rid of the Ian Bell in next over. Ntini pitched it short and Ian Bell for the deft cut got and thick edge and gave an easy catch to JP Duminy. England were in deep deep trouble as skipper Kevin Pietersen walked in at the score of 5 for the loss of 2 wickets. There was huge pressure on these two batsman because the openers had given them no start at all. But these two didnt lose their calm and kept rotating the strike with the ones and twos and kept the scoreboard ticking. The South African were on a high and had got of two a flyer as the two opening bowlers had given them a great start. KP and Shah spending some time in the middle and seeing the ball nicely and rotating the strike decided to change the gear a bit and take the advantage of the field restriction. Soon KP smashed Ntini on off side between point and cover for the first four of the match.

In the next over Owais Shah who looked shaky at the start hit Steyn through the covers for four and surely this shot would have given him some confidence. The run-rate of was increasing slowly as these two batsman steadied the ship after the early damage done in teh first three overs of the game. Owais Shah soon punched Ntini behind point for his second boundary of the match. The runs had started to come for England and were scoring around 4-5 runs per over. There was a huge responsibility on these two batsman to set teh foundation of the innings as their openers had failed. The ball was no longer swinging as it was in the first five overs and now the correct line and length was going to come into play if they wanted to trouble the batsman.

After the end of 10 overs, England are in some trouble as they lost their openers cheaply but since KP and Shah have steadied the ship with some boundaries and some good running between the wicket. England are 43 for the loss of 2 wickets after 10 overs. England need these two to stay there in the middle for at least another 10-15 overs if they want to set a good target to chase for the Proteas. While for the Proteas every thing has gone right for them and need to keep doing the same thing again and again.

England: 43/2(10 overs)
Shah: 16(20)
Pietersen: 18(28)
Extras: 4

Last Wicket(s):
Bell c.Duminy b.Ntini 2(5)
Prior b.Steyn 3(7)

M.Ntini 5-0-24-1
D.Steyn 5-0-19-1

 

[Jaztheman]

Bell and Prior were involved in England's worst nightmare, but Shah and Pietersen have attempted to regain some pride. South Africa have had a perfect start to the match and England will need these two to fire, with some middle order cameos.

Brilliant presentation, mate. Keep it up.

 

[timmy94]

since trescothick left,england have never really had a reliable opening pair.
lets hope this partnership can go far!
KIU

 

[saladguy]

If this KP and Shah partnership goes far, I think that we could expect an England victory.

 

[Roofrom50]

KP and Shah have bought the match back a little bit, but the early loss of both their opening batsmen isn't good enough to match it with the great teams in cricket today. South Africa are in the box seat here, and they should be able to have a easy win here.

Great presentation mate, loving the graphics and the writing is superb

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Quadrangular Series 2009, Australia
South Africa v England
2nd Match, Sydney
End of 20 overs

Middle Order Collapse​

England were in trouble after losing their openers for just five runs on the board. But since KP and Owais Shah build on a partnership and added some 38 runs including three boundaries. But England really needed these two out there in the middle for another 10-20 overs to set a good defendable target. Ntini continued and bowled well pitching in the right line and length. But KP smashed him for two consecutive boundaries. First through the covers and then through points. Pietersen was looking in good nick and two boundaries were followed by some sensible cricket by rotating the strike. But rotation of strike didn't pay off and Ntini got the better of Owais Shah. Ntini pitching the ball on off-stump and just got it to come back in. Shah went for the drive but missed the ball and the balls struck his pads.

The umpires had no doubt in the mind and raise his finger. It was a correct decision as the ball was hitting middle and leg-stump. Shah had to depart for 16 as Paul Collingwood walked in. Skipper Pietersen soon joined Shah in the pavilion the next over itself. Pietersen went for the cover drive but missed the ball and was clean bowled by a great delivery of Dale Steyn. England were in deep deep trouble at 52 for the loss of 4 wickets as Freddie Flintoff walked in the middle. Collingwood and Flintoff both got of the mark straight-away and kept the scoreboard ticking with the singles. Freddie entertained the English supporters with two consecutive boundaries first through covers and the next was seep shot of the bowling of Dale Steyn beating the deep mid-wicket fielder for four. Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn were given a break. Albie Morkel and Jacques Kallis were given the ball and they did a brilliant job. Morkel looked completely unplayable and was perfect with his line and length.

As the runs had started to come, South Africans struck again and this time it was Kallis who got the better of Collingwood. Collingwood went for the drive on the off-side but the ball hit his pads and was given leg before. Again the umpire had no doubt in his mind as he raised his finger quickly. Collingwood departed for just 4 runs and was replaced by Ravinder Bopara in the center. South Africans were were on a high and they showed it with their brilliant bowling. Morkel was just brilliant and bowled in the right line and length and troubling both the batsman. Morkel was almost unplayable as he just went for 5 runs in his first 3 overs. Pressure was rising on the two English batsman and soon Flintoff released some pressure with a boundary of the bowling of Kallis.

Bopara and Flintoff kept the scoreboard ticking with the ones and twos towards deep mid-wicket and long off. They were scoring about 4-5 runs per over. And again as the runs were coming Kallis struck again to add more pressure on the next batsman and this time it was the dangerman Freddie Flintoff who departed. Kallis after 4 consecutive full length deliveries, banged in short and surprised Flintoff. Flintoff tried to pull it but got the thick top edge and gave the simplest of the catch to one of best fielders of world cricket Herschelle Gibbs at mid-wicket. Flintoff departed for a quickfire 25 of 26 balls as Stuart Broad came in the middle.

So, after the end of 20 overs England are deep trouble as they have lost their top six batsman for just 89 runs on the board. England now need Bopara and Broad to build a partnership, which looks highly unlikely as The South Africans are full of confidence and are eager to finish of the last 4 wickets. Morkel has been unlucky as he has bowled brilliantly but hasn't got any reward while the other three bowlers namely Kallis, Steyn and Ntini have picked two wickets each.

England: 89/6(20 overs)
Bopara: 7(16)
Broad: 0(2)
Extras: 6

Last Wicket(s):
Flintoff c.Gibbs b.Kallis 25(26)
Collingwood lbw b.Kallis 4(9)
Pietersen b.Steyn 26(34)
Shah lbw b.Ntini 16(21)

M.Ntini 7-0-37-2
D.Steyn 7-0-33-2
A.Morkel 3-1-5-0
J.Kallis 3-0-13-1

 

[Roofrom50]

Well there ya go. Cricket 07 is the same in real life. England will be bowled out here before they reach 100. South Africa will win this match without loosing a wicket IMO.

Wonderful graphics mate, and the writing is superb. Keep it up

 

[Amiya]

Brilliant bowling by Proteas in the middle. The batsman just throw away their wicket. At this situation, if England even reach 150+ , it would be fine. Nice writing and presentation Shan.

 

[timmy94]

Damn...silly batting from England,although if I can remember from sometime in last year in India,Bopara and Broad batted well together:P

good presentation
KUTGW!