Story The Rebel Tour Thread - links to all reports and videos in OP

[Ajh1977]

Kuipers dismissal was a beauty. Super stuff there. Almost expected to hear Tony Lewis and Richie Benaud on commentary with the filters and kits.

 

[blockerdave]

Kuipers dismissal was a beauty. Super stuff there. Almost expected to hear Tony Lewis and Richie Benaud on commentary with the filters and kits.

Yep that and the Jennings edge to wide slip just before were two absolute beauties.

 

[Gamer Pradosh]

Yep that and the Jennings edge to wide slip just before were two absolute beauties.

Yeah some beautiful looking edges in the video there..

 

[Plotinus]

Really good write-up and video. Great bowling from Underwood. Looking forward to seeing the next innings.

 

[blockerdave]

Continuing:

Match 6 - 2nd (4 day) Test at Newlands

Afternoon and Evening Sessions - Gooch, Woolmer & Willey help rebels into the lead, but Hobson takes 5 to dismiss them after tea. Big stand from Cook & Kirsten puts the Springboks in charge at stumps

As expected, spin was very hard to play, and the English XI lose Boycott, Larkins and Amiss cheaply all to Hobson. Gooch and Woolmer rebuild, and after they're both out Willey takes on the mantle. But when Willey falls 2 balls before tea the lead is only 9... Old strikes 18 off Hobson's first over after the interval to treble England's lead in the space of 6 balls, and further slogging from him, Lever and last man Taylor take the English XI up to 187, a lead of 60 that looks decisive in a low scoring match.

It looks even more so when Richards falls cheaply for the second time in the day going for 5 with the Springboks 12/1, still 48 behind. But a vital partnership from Kirsten and Cook takes South Africa into the lead. At 75/1 England butcher the chance of a vital breakthrough when Knott drops Cook off the bowling of Taylor, and the Boks reach 96/1, a lead of 36, at stumps.

Thanks to @Dutch for the music and @BigAntStudios for the game.

 

[blockerdave]

I'm still going...

Match 6 - 2nd (4 day) Test at Newlands

Day 2 - Cook and Kirsten help set up big lead for Springboks but careless shots keep target in range. Rebels lose Gooch before early finish sees them 204 to get on day 3.

Kirsten and Cook restart in the 40s, and both pass their 50s early and keep going. There's definite movement for spinners and cutters, and Taylor gets reverse swing, but no real threat or chances.

Cook plays a loose shot on 80 and falls thanks to an athletic low catch from Amiss. This sets the tone as Springbok batsmen keep getting themselves out... Kirsten perhaps the most culpable as he throws away a century dollying up a return catch to Underwood on 90. Pollock falls shortly after thanks to a fine running catch from Larkins.

As the middle and lower order give their wickets away the South Africans need a steady 9th wicket partnership between Jefferies and Van der Bijl to set a target of 240. Underwood takes some punishment and ends up with unwanted 3 figures in his runs against, but 7 in his wickets column is plenty of consolation as he heads back in to the dressing room with match figures of 12/167.

In reply England lose Gooch just before tea. Larkins and Boycott have been struggling - Larkins unbeaten century to win the first ODI was a long time ago- so the Springboks maybe sense an opening. However, the session after tea is curtailed by bad light, England Rebels going overnight needing 204 to win with 9 wickets in hand.

 

[Plotinus]

Exciting stuff. Looks finely poised. It's great that you can get these matches that really seem to change from session to session and innings to innings in terms of who has the upper hand. Didn't give SA much of a chance after the first innings collapse...but they look like marginal favourites now. How's the pitch holding up?

 

[blockerdave]

Exciting stuff. Looks finely poised. It's great that you can get these matches that really seem to change from session to session and innings to innings in terms of who has the upper hand. Didn't give SA much of a chance after the first innings collapse...but they look like marginal favourites now. How's the pitch holding up?

Strange... huge turn, but little threat. Much easier batting on day 2. Hobson the concern for my chase he has 2 5-fers against me in 3 innings. Gonna be a tough ask.

Has been hugely enjoyable playing this tour. The game has so many plus points it's really a shame the negatives dominated the launch.

 

[karolkarol]

Loved how the openers carted your seamers around until Underwood got into his work, good luck against the leggy!

Still too many chips to the infield and the lack of an AI mid on infuriates me somewhat but really enjoying this series Dave, the nuance in shots, deliveries, dismissals etc is excellent.

 

[blockerdave]

Match 6 - 2nd (4 day) Test at Newlands

Day 3 - England need 194, South Africa need 9 wickets.

At the start of day 3, England were 46/1, 194 short. Boycott and Larkins were at the wicket, neither of whom had yet scored a first class 50 on the tour so perhaps South Africa still had a good chance - especially recalling England's nervy pursuit of a smaller total in the first Test. Larkins and Boycott start well, and are careful against Hobson: noting he is bowling a lot of googlies, they stay inside the line of the ball and work him with the spin into the leg side picking up plenty of ones and twos. Their partnership passes 50 and looks likely to put England in a strong position. However, Larkins gets a rush of blood and tries to hit Hobson over the top and falls for 37, the score 88/2.

Sensing the need to ensure there's no flurry of wickets, Boycott bats in a typical manner, taking no risks but moving past his first half century of the series. Amiss, hero of the first test chase, strikes a good balance between Attack and defence, and dominates a partnership that takes the England Rebels to within striking distance of victory. Amiss is finally out caught behind for 40, but the partnership was 71 and England are now 156/3, less than 100 from victory.

Woolmer has been England's most consistent batsman, and so he again proves as he also takes a dominant role in what becomes England's 3rd consecutive 50 partnership, as he and Boycott take England into lunch on 209/3, on the verge of a stunning victory. The Kent man is 36*, Boycott 78*.

After lunch, sensing the chance for a match-winning hundred, Boycott starts to unfurl some shots and increase his scoring rate. Boycott has scored 15 of the 17 runs scored after lunch to reach 93 when he edges one onto the stumps to give Van der Bijl his third (expensive) wicket. It was a fine innings from Boycott, who is unlucky not to make a century or see it through to the end, but with just 14 needed he has taken England to the brink of victory.

It looks like Willey has hit the winning boundary, but the Springboks remain commited and cut it off so England only take 3 to bring the scores level. Van der Bijl oversteps the next ball, but Woolmer also smashes it for 4... England reach 244/4 and win by 6 wickets. A textbook chase for England making a potentially difficult ask look simple.

Underwood's 12 wickets in the match sees him get the MOTM.

England take a 2-0 lead to confirm a series victory.

 

[Gamer Pradosh]

That inside edge on to pad and WK for a catch was amazing...Nice win there..

 

[GorgeousGeorge59]

What would be cool is if for the Provincial games the correct logos were there for the teams. I'd quite like to rename the SA domestic sides to their older names (I know they merged, but we can take a good guess), with their correct logos.

Might try and do the same for the Australian ones also.

 

[blockerdave]

Apologies for the delay, this has been sat waiting for me to have time to put the footage together...

Match 7 - 3rd ODI at New Wanderers
South Africa XI win the toss and bat first

Jimmy Cooks dominates an opening stand of 41 with Barry Richards, then shares 2 further large stands with first Peter Kirsten, then Graeme Pollock. Cook scores a brilliant hundred, and Pollock makes 67 as the Springboks set an imposing total of 284. Le Roux then blows away the English top order, as Boycott Larkins and Amiss all fall to see England slump to 10/3. It's then a regular procession, as only a 9th wicket stand between Knott and Hendrick, and then desperate slogging from Hendrick (54*) and last man Taylor (26) brings England up to 198 all out, scored from just 21.2 overs.

South Africa restore some pride after the Test series defeat, taking the ODI series 2-1.

 

[blockerdave]

Match 8 - 3rd Test at Durban
Day 1: Le Roux and Richards put Springboks firmly in control.

Having been bundled out so cheaply in the final ODI, the last thing England wanted was to lose the toss in bolder friendly conditions and be put in. However, they start well despite this, but when Gooch goes it precipitates a collapse as they slump to 146 all out shortly after lunch. In reply the Springboks lose Cook with the score on 34, but the Richards and Kirsten bat comfortably, reaching 102/1 at tea. Kirsten just misses out on a half-century, falling for 49 and when Richards departure for 70 is followed by Rice going for a duck, England have a chance to maybe not be too behind. However Pollock and Kuiper then take the Springboks to the close just 4 down and nearly 100 ahead.

 

[blockerdave]

Match 8 - 3rd Test at Durban
Day 2: 2nd farcical collapse of the match from England hands South Africa an innings victory inside 2 days
England take regular wickets in the morning, but South Africa score quickly too. The Springboks are dismissed for 341, a lead of 195, shortly before lunch. The English openers see that small mini session through unscathed and come out after lunch looking to build a good reply. Vince van der Bijl has other ideas, as his opening burst after the break rips out the rebel top and middle order, only Larkins showing any resistance as 5 wickets end up falling in the afternoon session. The evening session sees Larkins reach 50, but the procession of wickets continues as England fail to see out the day, or even make the hosts bat again, as Watson takes 6 on his Springbok debut, and the South Africans take an innings victory as a consolation in a 2-1 series defeat for the home side.

So - England take the honours in the 'Tests', a shock 2-1 victory. The Springboks are forced to settle with victory also by a 2-1 margin in the 'ODI' series.