Story South Africa - Road to World Cup 2009 *Good start for the Proteas*

[Amiya]

Great start Shantanu... Best of luck for ahead...

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Early Breakthrough puts Pressure on the Englishmen​

It was a great start to test series between two great sides . Aliastir Cook to the strike to face Dale Steyn while Andrew Strauss was on the non striker end . It was and aggressive start from the South African pacer Styen as he conceded 3 of his over . Makhaya Ntini shared the new ball with Steyn as he bowled to Strauss . The first ball Strauss faced was a bouncer which hit his helmet . It was a good bouncer by Ntini which didnt bounce as much as expected by Strauss and whie ducking ball hit the helmet . It was a wake up call for the English opener . Ntini conceded just 3 extras in the over and kept Strauss on the strike . Strauss after the blow was looking really uncomfortable at the crease . He wasnt able to judge the swing and pace of the ball . And Dale Steyn took the advantage of it . His god length ball was edged by Strauss and an easy catch to skipper Graeme Smith in the slips . It was 6 for 1 as Andrew Strauss went back in the pavilion for a big 0 .

Michael Vaughan replaced him in the middle and straight away he was of the mark with a delightful cover drive for four . It was very difficult to face the two pace man . Both were bowling in the right areas and about 145-155 kmph . The best way of getting runs was extras and singles here and there . The Englishmen got the both things in form of runs . There were 3 leg byes which went behind the keeper for 4s and 5 overstepping no balls . They also got their runs in singles . The two batsmen looked settle as they were rotating the strike and were getting about 4 run per over . There were some great deliveries which missed the stump by millimeters but the African bowlers were very unlucky . It proved when Cook was dropped on 12 by Kallis in the slips of the bowling of Dale Steyn . Steyn looked just brilliant as his swing and pace troubled the batsmen and he went for 23 in his 7 overs . Morne Morkel was the first change for Makhaya Ntini who struggled with his line as he went for 22 in 4 overs . Morne was not that effective as he lacked some pace and Cook took the advantage of his slow pace by smashing a four of the back foot . England were back in the game after an early set back . England after 13 overs were 53/1 .

England 52/1
A.Cook 20*
A.Strauss c Smith b Steyn 0
M. Vaughan 15*

D.Steyn 7-2-23-1
M.Ntini 4-0-22-0
M.Morkel 2-0-7-0

 

[Pakistani Army]

Nice start by the South Africans. They will be looking for another wicket before Cook and Vaughan get settled.

Great works Shan! Keep up the good works!

 

[gutterman]

nice start by SA england have done well to steady the ship

kutgw