*Official* Match 7 - South Africa v West Indies

[0RI0N]

Apology accepted ICC. Just don't let it happen again ffs

 

[Jono]

It's that kind of performance that makes it very hard to like the WI team at times. They give and take double away.

 

[Jarquis]

Nah, DWTA.

He's only been available for one series before this, and it was in South Africa. Adding to that, this is what they've had to do to squeeze him in:

• Play five frontline bowlers even though there are three batsmen in the team who are more than capable bowlers.
• Play three specialist spinners.
• Open the bowling with Johan Botha.
• Leave out a bowler with 36 ODI wickets at an average of 19 and an economy rate of 4.5.

So in other words, he doesn't suit the team balance, he doesn't suit his nation's home conditions and he's only been available for five seconds.

The wonder is that he's actually managed to get a game at all. He's a good bowler but he's not worth moving heaven and earth to play IMO.

WAG

 

[smash84]

Haha yeah, was three years old IIRC. If he'd waited till he was five or so he might've got a Pakistan cap, tbf.

 

[kingkallis]

Roach to slog 50 off 8 balls then take 11 wickets.

It's all good.

10 South Africans + 1 umpire or what?

 

[Woodster]

Bit of a collapse for the WI, were going well with Darren Bravo and Smith at the crease, but lost wickets at crucial stages throughout. Disappointed Pollard was cleaned up first ball, but SA must be very pleased with that first half.

Expect them to knock it off with fairly minimal fuss. Don't see enough in the WI attack to overly worry SA with the score they have on the board. Roach is the obvious threat, while they may need to be patient against Benn and Gayle. Bravo, Sammy, Pollard, may not be the easiest completely dominate, but chasing 223, they don't have to go crazy.

 

[Nate]

Pretty sure Amla is playing a different game to everyone else.

EDIT: Apart from that shot, haha. His backlift there was bizarre.

 

[TumTum]

Devon Thomas please shut up!

edit: or get a wicket...

 

[BeeGee]

What a catch!!!

 

[Jono]

Devon Thomas please shut up!

edit: or get a wicket...

Devon Thomas you mean? Yeah he's loud behind the stumps lol

 

[BeeGee]

Are SA choking?

 

[Jono]

Haha surely even SA couldn't lose this match.

 

[vcs]

Pretty sure Amla is playing a different game to everyone else.

EDIT: Apart from that shot, haha. His backlift there was bizarre.

The guy is in absolutely amazing ODI form. Never scratches around or anything at the start, just comes out and starts middling everything to the fence.

This game is pretty well poised right now.

 

[kingkallis]

Amla and Kallis both lost their wicket in a controversial fashion.

I think Kallis should have asked for 3rd umpire

 

[shivfan]

Devon Thomas please shut up!

edit: or get a wicket...

he got one with a pretty good catch, didn't he?

I think he's now earned the right to talk as much as he wants....

That was a good catch by Sammy....

The gamble of opening the bowling with Benn is paying off.

 

[shivfan]

Amla and Kallis both lost their wicket in a controversial fashion.

I think Kallis should have asked for 3rd umpire

I think Amla went to a no-ball by Roach, but there was nothing wrong with that catch by Sammy....

If Sammy's catch was dodgy, then fielders may as well give up on trying to take catches low to the ground.

 

[kingkallis]

AB is such an eye candy! Impeccable timer!

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Unlike other teams such as India, England, Australia and Pakistan who have a long batting line up, the South African tail is quite weak. So once the opposition manages to get rid of the top 5 (don't know much about Faf tbh), the rest will just collapse/choke. I see this as SA biggest worry for this tournament.

 

[Howe_zat]

Someone is happy with De Villiers' strokeplay today.

AB you beauty. Back of a length outside off, not the kind of ball normal batsmen will look to score a boundary off. What does AB do? He stays back in the crease. Shapes for a forward defensive. And plays a forward defensive. Only that he middles the defensive push and sends the ball packing across the turf for four.
...
AB has played the shot of the day, and followed it up with one that's even better. Both within his first 4 balls. Fuller from Roach, wide outside off, mere batsmen would have flashed without moving feet. Special batsmen like AB get their front foot into the job and just flow with it, essaying a square drive that just seems to be in perfect synchrony with the order of things in the universe.
...
within the space of one over, AB has left this commentator short of words. Another shot that is just a thing of joy. Roach now almost hits the perfect unhittable length outside off. Maybe a foot short of where it should have been. AB stayed on leg stump, opened the wrists, bent the knees and forced it square. Poetic.

Can confirm, however, that AB's shots today are even creamier than the pants of the commentator.

 

[kingkallis]

And thats why Albie > Robbie P