Amla 
South Africa versus Australia
- Thread starter zing
- Start date
Amla has played some beautiful strokes and de Villiers is now doing the same.
Very good response from the S.Africans after the first test, albeit on a flatter pitch. Reckon they'll look to get to 450 before declaring.
Very good response from the S.Africans after the first test, albeit on a flatter pitch. Reckon they'll look to get to 450 before declaring.
Missed opportunity by SA there. Review would have had Rodgers out.
Are South African cricketers not very smart? There's a waft about 3 feet outside off stump and a noise and a huge appeal. Then they chose to not appeal the not out decision and there was an actual nick. Where else could the noise have coem from?
Second time they're doing it. What is the point of the huge appeals then?
Second time they're doing it. What is the point of the huge appeals then?
Brilliant spell from Steyn, Aussies collapsing here after a great opening partnership.
I was thinking Steyn seems to be in a bit of a slump for a few tests just before he took those wickets.
Been some great deliveries here. Don't think it was a great spell, though.
The two deliveries to Haddin this test have been awesome.
Phenomenal bowling from Steyn here. Need a couple more today as there may be a lot of rain tomorrow.
All over. Great day of cricket, superb afternoon and evening session from SA and a very good response after the 1st test.
3rd test will be great to watch, let's see if the Aussies can respond like SA did...
3rd test will be great to watch, let's see if the Aussies can respond like SA did...
Great comeback by us this match. The final test is going to be absolute class. Can't wait.
Warner clearly went to the Virender Sehwag school of opening the batting.
What? Score a century off less than 100 balls?
Warner has been superb ever since the Joe Root incident.
After the Centurion test SA have prepared absolute jokes of pitches to combat Johnson & Harris, although coming back to sea level also makes a difference. Not that I want to take anything off Steyn's performance in the 2nd test, he bowled magnificently. Good to see the Ozzies winning the toss in the final test, hope they get a big score a throw the pitch back in the Saffers faces.
Thats what the PE pitch is always like.
Newlands too, where Johnson has always historically struggled.
SA down and out here if Steyn can't bowl anymore.
Nahh.. All they have to do is bat to save the follow on and the match is a draw. Clarke should declare early tomorrow.
Agree. Rain has saved them big time. Clarke can't declare now because a follow on margin of 300 does not put enough scoreboard pressure.
This will be a draw.
Credit to the Aussies for their attacking cricket though.
Scored at a good rate Saturday.
Credit to the Aussies for their attacking cricket though.
Scored at a good rate Saturday.
Smith announcing his retirement after this test. Fantastic player, another loss for SA.
Young age to retire but captaining for so long may well have taken a toll, I guess.
Player I was always very pleased to see the back of, when England were in the field against South Africa, as he was stubborn git who rarely gave his wicket away.
A guy captaining his country for that long, with that high an average opening the batting is remarkable, phenomenal player, probably more remarkable because of the dominance of that bottom hand.
Fantastic player, bit of a dickhead.
Absolute legend, Graeme Smith! Bit of a surprise retiring at 33, but it has been a long, hard career.
Cricinfo's tribute at start of day 4 Live game commentary:
"There was once a bright 22-year-old. He had just broken into a side that began to go through leadership crisis. They made him captain. Opposition captains, hardened, wizened, experienced men, tried to intimidate him, browbeat him, sledge him. They broke his hands, they injured his hamstrings, but the guy kept producing great innings without a cover drive in his repertoire; captained for 11 years, the last six of those without a series defeat. Late on March 3, with his team fighting hard, really hard, to try to keep that proud unbeaten series record in tact, he announced this Test is his last. Regardless of what happens over the next two days, it has been a great career for him. He is only 33. There are many 33-year-olds in many domestic circuits still hoping for a debut; here is a 33-year-old who has had a fulfilling, taxing, harrowing, satisfying, wholesome career already. We salute you, Graeme Craig Smith"
"There was once a bright 22-year-old. He had just broken into a side that began to go through leadership crisis. They made him captain. Opposition captains, hardened, wizened, experienced men, tried to intimidate him, browbeat him, sledge him. They broke his hands, they injured his hamstrings, but the guy kept producing great innings without a cover drive in his repertoire; captained for 11 years, the last six of those without a series defeat. Late on March 3, with his team fighting hard, really hard, to try to keep that proud unbeaten series record in tact, he announced this Test is his last. Regardless of what happens over the next two days, it has been a great career for him. He is only 33. There are many 33-year-olds in many domestic circuits still hoping for a debut; here is a 33-year-old who has had a fulfilling, taxing, harrowing, satisfying, wholesome career already. We salute you, Graeme Craig Smith"
Aussies should win from here.
Another quick 150 and then declare with a day and a half to go and SA will struggle to draw or win.
Another quick 150 and then declare with a day and a half to go and SA will struggle to draw or win.
Yeah, it's a mammoth task chasing anything over 300, let alone 400+. Though the "438" match always gives the Saffers hope
....as SAF would say...Cricket....bloody hell!But the Aus are definitely in the driving seat. Best we could hope for is a draw.
Surprised they put Doolan in. Watson then Clark for some quick runs would have been my instinct.
Not sure why Clarke hasn't declared...
135 overs remaining 500 left to get.. I think he will declare once asking rate is above 4.
Ryan Harris so underrated, isn't he?
Think he's the best fast bowler in the world after Steyn and Johnson.
Think he's the best fast bowler in the world after Steyn and Johnson.
Overshadowed by Johnson now.
He was the pick of the Aussie bowlers in England and got the credit he deserved then.
FWIW, I think I'd rather have Philander than him, but its close.
He was the pick of the Aussie bowlers in England and got the credit he deserved then.
FWIW, I think I'd rather have Philander than him, but its close.
I find him boring to watch.
@NinjaFletch, I think Philander takes a lot of wickets because he has Morkel and Steyn bowling in tandem with him.
It certainly helps, but I think there's more too him than that.
Du plessis has balls of steel man. Doing it again for Saffers. Him and AB will ensure that they'll win the next world cup. Both aren't chokers.
This ones over, you feel.
How many overs left, 20?
Pattinson gets no balled, but hasn't overstepped.
Next up bowls a beamer to Philander and injures him.
Next up bowls a beamer to Philander and injures him.
This will end in a draw now.
Good effort from the Aussies though.
Rare to get a result with a full day missed due to rain.
Good effort from the Aussies though.
Rare to get a result with a full day missed due to rain.
Well that is going to be very controversial.
There certainly was a doubt, but was there enough to overturn the original decision? In my opinion there was not conclusive evidence to overturn the original decision of out so it should remain out. Anyway, a bit of a break for South Africa. 15 more overs to survive…
There certainly was a doubt, but was there enough to overturn the original decision? In my opinion there was not conclusive evidence to overturn the original decision of out so it should remain out. Anyway, a bit of a break for South Africa. 15 more overs to survive…