Cricket Thread

[toofast]

Well australia didn't put up enough runs on the board really. If they had 20-30 more, the game would of been a lot closer. So its not like india are unbeatable. Though i am picking a SL vs India final.

[Dr Woomanchu]

NZ all the way for a win!!!!!


/me eats more mushrooms

[vedds]

Well australia didn't put up enough runs on the board really. If they had 20-30 more, the game would of been a lot closer. So its not like india are unbeatable. Though i am picking a SL vs India final.

 
Sorry to be a prick, but that makes me laugh "if australia scored more runs than india they would have won"

But yes, youre right, to be honest I think there was a little selfish batting from you know who that probably kept them shy of a competative total.

[Zarkov]

Oram leads New Zealand to stunning upset

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera

March 25, 2011
Text size: A | A

New Zealand 221 for 8 (Ryder 83, Taylor 43, Morkel 3-46) beat South Africa 172 (Oram 4-39) by 49 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

   

Oh South Africa, what have you done? Earlier this month Graeme Smith tweeted an article titled 'Time to ban the 'C' word'. Hold on to that thought Smith, for clearly that time hasn't come yet. South Africa were cruising at 108 for 2 in the 25th over when Jacques Kallis fell and they crash-landed spectacularly to be shot out for 172. The self-destructive streak was demonically masochistic in nature and it will perhaps require shrinks to understand this dramatic denouement. Once they realised their opponents were cracking under pressure, New Zealand went in for the kill, with close-in fielders and disciplined bowling, led by Jacob Oram who took four wickets and a great catch.

Even when Kallis fell, to a blinder of a catch from Jacob Oram, rushing to his left at deep midwicket, there wasn't much to suggest that this could turn into another contender for all-time greatest choke in World Cup history. The pitch was slow but there was no sharp turn; the bowlers were disciplined but there was no sensational game-breaking spell; none of the three spinners got much purchase from the wicket; and the total was below par; but for some reason South Africa were feeling extremely claustrophobic.

Their nerves were best represented by the dismissal of JP Duminy, who played an awful shot to open the choke gates. Nathan McCullum slowed up the pace on a delivery that landed on a length, outside off, and Duminy went so hard into an ugly cut that he ended up dragging the ball on to his stumps. With Duminy's fall, South Africa were in a spot of bother at 121 for 4, in the 28th over, and the first signs of something special loomed over Mirpur.

There was more heartbreak for South African fans in the next over. Faf du Plessis hit straight to midwicket and ran like a headless chicken. AB de Villiers should have perhaps refused that call, but he responded, only to find himself well short of the crease. It was at this moment that New Zealand really sensed that this could be their night. And they moved in for the kill.

The moment was so ripe that even Daniel Vettori, not known for sledging, gave some lip to du Plessis. Even Kyle Mills, who had carried drinks on to the field at the fall of de Villiers, got into the act. A visibly agitated du Plessis shoved Mills, the departing de Villiers returned to support his partner, and eventually the umpires had to get involved. New Zealand's players swooped in to the crime scene and it was a classic Youtube moment. You could almost feel the pressure-cooker situation out there.

New Zealand crowded the bat with close-in men, ready to sledge and eager to pile on the pressure, and Johan Botha cracked in the 33rd over. It was a lovely legcutter from Oram and Botha played down the wrong line to lose his off stump. Oram, who was the man who started it all with that Kallis catch, wasn't done yet. In the 35th over, he lured Robin Peterson into edging an attempted cut to the keeper and South Africa were swaying away like drunken men at 132 for 7. South Africa's nerves were frayed further when Dale Steyn square drove Nathan McCullum in the air to backward point, where who else but Oram accepted the offering.

If Oram was the man in the forefront of New Zealand's resurgence, du Plessis was the man seeking redemption for making that wrong call that led to the run out of de Villiers. In his brief international career, he has already shown that he has the tenacity to remain relatively calm under pressure. And he wasn't ready to throw in the towel. He was on 14 when Steyn fell, and he took ownership of the chase. He rushed down the track to slam Tim Southee to the straight boundary in the 40th over, on drove Vettori to collect another four in the 41st, and even lifted Oram for a thrilling six over long-off in the 43rd over.

It was in the same over that the game turned for one last time, and it was also an over that captured the entire madness of the evening. du Plessis had crashed the first delivery of the over back at Oram who couldn't hold on to a very difficult chance, and once the six was hit, one had to ask the question: was the night turning for Oram? Was it swinging towards du Plessis? But du Plessis sliced the fifth ball straight to extra cover and South Africa had well and truly sunk into oblivion.

The end was a far cry from the way South Africa started the day. They attacked with spin and seam, shuffled their bowlers regularly like a pack of cards, and hustled on the field to keep a tight leash on New Zealand. Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor were at the forefront of a revival from the depths of 16 for 2; carefully, almost mindful of a potential lower-order collapse on this pitch, Ryder and Taylor battled through. The odd boundary signalled growing comfort, but they never broke away decisively. A nervy equilibrium had been reached by the end of the 30th over with New Zealand reaching 112 for 2 and the game was waiting to be seized. However, both Ryder and Taylor departed in quick succession but Kane Williamson made a vital 38 to push New Zealand to 221.

It shouldn't have been enough, it didn't feel like enough, but it proved enough. It was a crazy crazy night in Mirpur. Ironically, Allan Donald, the man who was involved in the other famous South African choke, was in the other camp tonight.

[TofuEater]

Oram leads New Zealand to stunning upset

The cricketing gods hate me.

[camy205]

Fuck yeah! Watched the last 20 minutes after work. Good on ya boys.

[.osiRiS]

WTB early morning highlights package >< definitely didn't expect to wake to that.

[kilabee]

All is forgiven boys....once again. Go the poms.We don't stand a chance vs the 15 degree chucker from Sri Lanka.

[Dr Woomanchu]

NZ all the way for a win!!!!!


/me eats more mushrooms

hmmm damn they were some mighty fine mushrooms

[Kaizer]

if the proteas choke, it means the all blacks will too, it all works out in the end

[BeNZene]

I went to sleep with radio sport on, and had the craziest dream that NZ beat SA...

[toofast]

NZ all the way for a win!!!!!


/me eats more mushrooms

What is this witchcraft you have performed.

I am actually in disbelief. I saw NZ creak to 220, and thought SA should chase this no problem. Then saw amla go in odd circumstances, but think SA still have this. Go to bed, and wake up to this insanity.

In a way this is why I have such a lovehate relationship with the blackcaps. When they trick you into believeing in them, they just fail, and in style. But as soon as you write them off, they do something like this, and every thing is forgiven.

Also highlights, look at criconline.tv

[pyro]

Went to bed with SA at around 110/2? Thought the game was well and truly lost. Damn it!

[mattnz]

Never understimate SA's ability to lose in a World Cup

[toofast]

Never understimate SA's ability to lose in a World Cup

This one ranks up there pretty high in chokes. But it sadly cannot beat the classic 2003 game, where they failed at DL. Its close to the 1999 classic, where gibbs drops waugh because he threw the ball away, and then they end up tied, because they go for a sucide run in the last over, with balls still remaining.

[kilabee]

Watch some highlights for warm fuzzy feelings.Action starts at part seven with SA 93/2

http://bestcrickethighlights.com/south-africa-vs-new-zeland-world-cup-highlights-25-march-2011-quarter-final-saf-v-nz-25-3-2011-cricket-highlights-live-score-live-streaming

[BeNZene]

^
Thanks

[kilabee]

No probs. ICC needs to sort out coverage on the net.Took me quite a while to find any highlights.

[SteddieEddie]

Common England!!

[toofast]

No probs. ICC needs to sort out coverage on the net.Took me quite a while to find any highlights.

Criconline.tv

That guy does comprehensive highlights for every major cricket game. Usually has them up 2 or 3 hours after the game.

[kilabee]

Cricket Thread

[kilabee]

I have everything crossed.

[mattnz]

Eeeeeeeeeverything?

[vedds]

Sounds uncomfortable...

[toofast]

You must of uncrossed it at the end. NZ collapsed pretty well. That being said SL easily have the best death bowling line up.

Total similar to SA game, so maybe we can do the same thing. Only difference is SL's batting line up is much better, with 3 of their players in the top 5 run scorers in this tournament, and their openers scoring the most 50+ partnerships (i believe).

Still not matter what happens, we will still be pretty happy with the tournament. Gave pakistan a good hiding, and proceeded to the semis on the back of one of our worst losing streaks.