1st Match: South Africa vs Sri Lanka (Group B)

[StinkyBoHoon]

I'm nervous about mahela, he's routinely been getting out in single figures in ODIs. not that it matters that much to the score with 8 wickets left, but 2 quick wickets will give south...

oh hang that, dislhan gone.

 

[Brook]

Samaraweera's birthday today lol.

 

[King Pietersen]

Dilshan's hundred was superb. Just wish England could have someone like him opening. Just seems to find the boundary with such ease.

South Africa looking very flat today. Not been a great performance with the ball or in the field which is strange for them. Steyn has looked good, but the rest have been quite meh. Van Der Merwe looked decent as well but didn't look particularly threatening. Looks like they'll be chasing 300-320+. Going to miss Gibbs at the top of the order I feel.

 

[SciD]

Parnell looks like cousin bowler of Nehra. If they bowl like this watch Kiwis scrape through along with Lankans.

That is not what is needed. Host eliminated in first round.

 

[angryangy]

Some of the shots have been an absolute treat to watch, Jayawardena's six just then was probably the pick, an off drive as easy as you like.

 

[SciD]

RSA have been missing run outs. Very poor tactics from Lankans though. Powerplay is being wasted. Sides anyhow are scoring 10 RPO in last 5 overs and if you cannot do it then you are poor batting side.

 

[King Pietersen]

Jayawardene's such a class act. Scoring at a very good rate and making it look so easy. Those lofted drives over cover have been glorious. Samaraweera needs to start getting it hit though, not really offering much atm striking at below 100.

Not seen South Africa miss this many run-out oppurtunities for a long time. Normally far better in the field than this.

 

[SciD]

Parnell getting some cheap wickets now.

Why is Botha not bowling. Steyn is hardly death bowler.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

well, a bit stupid to lose the two in a row, samaraweera could have rotated and let mathews sing away. but losing wickets stopped mattering a while ago.

 

[SaiSrini]

Sri Lanka score 300+ and thats a really good one for them. Nice to see SA under the pump. Hope this doesnt really spur SA to go on and win the big one. I am supporting SL here. Class stuff from Dilshan. This guy has transformed amazingly in the last few years.

Doesnt look like this tournament will favor fast bowlers of any side with the great batting wickets. It could finally be a tournament of the spinners.

 

[angryangy]

Kallis is in sublime touch, but Smith looks scratchy enough to have two slips.

angryangy added 2 Minutes and 11 Seconds later...

Or so one would have thought. Smith advances the bowler and finds a couple of very good fours.

 

[Brook]

It'll be quite interesting to see how this goes, we don't really know what sort of form the batting line up is in, because they haven't been playing. These two seem to be going quite nicely so far. In the end it'll probably come down to how the Saffers play Murali and Mendis.

 

[SaiSrini]

The commentary sounds good with Ian Chappell. Is Ravi Shastri and Gavaskar also part of the panel? Who else are there? The crowd looks really good for this game.

Graeme Smith is absolutely hammering Sri Lankan bowlers here. Looks like a terror!

 

[angryangy]

Doesnt look like this tournament will favor fast bowlers of any side with the great batting wickets. It could finally be a tournament of the spinners.

A bit hard to say that after half of one game, though admittedly we're only looking at two grounds, so it seems likely.

angryangy added 8 Minutes and 53 Seconds later...

I wonder how many of us feel validated by the commentators asking for more intelligent use of the batting Powerplay. I should start a poll...

 

[SciD]

Kallis started the charge and Smith has then taken over. No demons in pitch. It will all come down to how well Murli bowls. Mendis is not mystery anymore.

Alma going early was in a sense good for RSA and Murli is getting pounded too. :laugh