NZ v South Africa

[Tim]

NZ just need 110/1 before 25 overs and then if the rain comes they will win, so after they reach that..they can concentrate on winning the game if the rain doesn't come.

 

[Simon]

i would back the kiwis to get a rain reduced total, but not 307. i think its just out of their reach.

 

[Tim]

If NZ can keep Cairns & Adams in the shed for as long as possible & keep the run-rate up anything can happen imo.

 

[Tim]

This is unbelievable from Fleming, I have never seen him bat like this before.

 

[Kimbo]

Controversity everywhere at the moment, rain bucketing down & confusion over an over-throw.

controversity??? hahaha
is that what you call a controversial uni.

 

[Tim]

This is the best innings of the World Cup, Fleming has just been awesome & now Astle is starting to hit around.

 

[Rik]

I heard someone say that Astle does well only against England..
I thought India has the honour of giving him runs and wickets too.. he's a quality bat and the only one apart from Cairns from the NZ team that wins my respect

Apart from what happened in that tour of NZ, Astle hasn't done much else against England. I've followed England since I was 13 and got into cricket and that tour was the only time I can remember Astle doing anything against England.

 

[Gotchya]

This reply has been amazingly pleasant so far, finally some competitiveness from a side batting second and up against good bowling. Fleming has chisen the perfect moment to play a captain's knock

 

[marc71178]

The covers are coming off, but what will the target be?

Cricinfo says that if 5 overs go, the target is about 273
If it's down to 40, then 235 needed
If it goes to 35 then just 7 more needed.

I think it'll be something about 43 overs, so cahsing a further 80 or so in 12.3 overs.

 

[V Reddy]

Apart from what happened in that tour of NZ, Astle hasn't done much else against England. I've followed England since I was 13 and got into cricket and that tour was the only time I can remember Astle doing anything against England.

He made a century against Eng in 96 world cup and couldn't get past 10 against other countries.

 

[Tim]

80 off 12 overs will be interesting.
Luckily NZ have lost only 1 wicket so Adams & Cairns are still available.

 

[krkode]

What an absolute plum of a match for Stephen Fleming to strike gold...I love it and I just hope his efforts don't go in vain...

 

[Tim]

45 runs off 8.3 overs is the official target.

You'd have to back NZ now, but this will be a tense final 45 minutes & a couple of quick wickets would put NZ in strife.

 

[krkode]

Oh no! :o Did it get rained?

Now NZ are in for it. 45 off 8.3 with 9 wickets in hand isn't so much to ask - especially with a centurion still out there..

Aaah, SA seem to have gotten cheated out of this game - a lot could happen in 20 overs if they actually played the whole thing...

 

[Tim]

I know NZ would have loved to have chased down 306 under pressure but its not their fault that the rain has intervened & if they win it this way then they'll take it i think.

 

[Tim]

With the way Astle & Fleming are batting, im pretty sure NZ would have got the 306 anyway.

They are just hitting it so hard & cleanly.

 

[Langeveldt]

Oh no, does this look like the end of SA's chances of progressing to the super six.

The teams I want to do well are as follows.

SA
England
Zim
Namibia

At this rate the world cup for me could be over very quickly...

 

[Tim]

well there it is, Fleming smashes the ball to the point boundary & NZ have probably earned themselves a super six spot.

Well with that huge victory under their belt, NZ's chances of at least making the semi finals have probably risen quite high.

 

[krkode]

What a comeback for a team that forfeited an easy win game. Awesome stuff...

 

[Rik]

What a comeback for a team that forfeited an easy win game. Awesome stuff...

Let me remind you that England forfitted a game too...I just hope they can do as well!