The VB Series 2006

[aussie1st]

I've gotta say that SL are nothing without Jayasuriya.

Pretty much, without his knock SL would be in major trouble right now.

Aren't SL meant to be good players of spin? How on earth did 3 players lose their wickets to Smith. Mubarak I can understand as he would have been saying "Who is this bowler, oh well he doesn't deserve to be here".
Jayasuriya 86 off 65 balls so he was probably wanting to add to his threee 6s.
But Jayawardene LBW to Smith. This is the WACA which isn't meant to be spin friendly especially to a part timer.

 

[irottev]

Wow, one of the biggest collapses I have ever seen. That is absolutly disgraceful.

I feel Arnold has got to get replaced. Atapattu needs to make more contribution or else I would consider replacing him.

 

[aussie1st]

A bit of a recovery by SL now.

I feel Atapattu is batting far too low. Atapattu should be opening. Arnold is definitely too low and should have been batting 3 but not enough faith was put in him. He shouldn't be in the side as a lower order batter. Dilshan is batting way too low as well. He always seems to be running out of partners and ends up with the tail.

 

[irottev]

Terrible running between the wickets, terrible batting. Argh. They only have small hope now and it lies in Vaas and Murili 100%

 

[barmyarmy]

Wow who knew Graeme Smith was an all rounder? More of an all rounder than Kallis in fact!

 

[irottev]

He should bowl more often. He hardly spins the ball but hes pretty accurate, possibly becaus ehe doesn't try too much to spin the ball. He changes his pace well which can be as effective as getting more spin. A good side could probably take him to the cleaners but he did a good job with the field back against Jaysuria who likes the ball comming on with pace.

 

[kodos]

Smith bowled very intelligently today, he is very much in the same mould as Symonds ang Gayle. Handy in the ODI game even though they aren't big turners of the ball. After such a great start by Sanath who batted brilliantly again, they really should of had a lead at least 275, very dissapointing by the Sri Lankans.

 

[irottev]

Ouch, plumb LBW turned down. SL didn't need that.

South Africa look like they are going to win. Good to see Smith get somes runs. Hope he gets a lot more.

I rekon Atapattu is saving the powerplays for the final 10 overs to make the bonus point harder to get. If SA win with a bonus point, it means SL have to win the game against SA presuming Aus beat South Africa twice (which might not happen) AND get the bonus point. Mabee Atapattu is just saving them until wickets fall. We will see. I wanna see what he does with them, time is running out.

 

[Stephen Bailey]

Wow who knew Graeme Smith was an all rounder? More of an all rounder than Kallis in fact!

Not hard though is it! Noticed you're skint too, who's been spending all their money at once

Smith on course for his first fifty of the tour!

EDIT: Spoke to soon, Smith gone for 41 :

 

[Sureshot]

Wow, one of the biggest collapses I have ever seen. That is absolutly disgraceful.

I feel Arnold has got to get replaced. Atapattu needs to make more contribution or else I would consider replacing him.

Attapatu made his name as an opener it's where he's best and where they need him tbh.

 

[Cricket_60]

Nice comeback starting here by Sri-Lanka

4/175, Gibbs bowled by Murali just now

 

[y2j826]

after loosing this one, s. lanka has only one chance to be in finals and that is if s. africa loose their both matches from australia and then s. lanka wins from s. africa, otherwise its over for s. lanka now.

 

[aussie1st]

Well Aus have already named their squad before this result was even known. It is a full strength side with Ponting back as captain and Hodge gone forever I hope. Bracken also comes back into the side. So SL still have hope in this series.

 

[James219]

For SL to get of too such a good start, the middle order really let down the rest of the team in not following up the solid foundations. Although he bowled well and is quite handy in the one-day game, a bowler like Smith should not be getting out three top-class batsman, it was really a lack of responsibility that didn't allow the bowlers enough of a total to defend. If the middle order followed up the opening efforts who knows what Murali and co. could have done to halt the chase. In the end, well handled by the South Africans. But yes, SL still have a slight hope, but also the draw was tough on them so not much time to really recover.

 

[irottev]

South Africa didn't get the bonus point. They could end up regretting that. if they lose to Australia twice and then to Sri Lanka they won't makle the final.