The second new ball is hooping around and batting is hard. Pujara got a good delivery that swung in late from outside leg to catch him plumb in front. But his technique -- playing woodenly from the crease -- was more like that of a #9 than a #6. Next over, Dhoni couldn't resist pushing at one that tailed away, after letting a couple of identical deliveries pass through to push a simple edge to gully.
If Gambhir's dismissal unlocked the door, and Laxman's freak run out pushed it half open, Steyn has burst through with some superb hostile bowling. At 247/6 India is looking at a possible 50 run deficit unless Tendulkar can ride out his Steyn-storm with Harbhajan.
In the meantime Tendulkar gets his 51st with a mis-hooked six over the keeper's head. He really needs to farm the strike against Steyn.. He is standing well outside the crease.
Steyn is in the ZONE. If there was any doubt as to who the #1 bowler in the world is, there is none now.
Bharat
Showing posts with label Match Report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Match Report. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
T3D2: India back in the game (somewhat) after slow wicketless final session
362 isn't necessarily a match-winning score, but it is a lot more than either Dhoni or Smith expected when South Africa was inserted. That they got there was due to the brilliance of Kallis, and then when India were stuttering at 28/2 in what would soon become perfect batting conditions, there was quite some alarm in Indian hearts. (For more details pre-tea, please see other reports in my blog).
The post-tea session saw Gambhir & Tendulkar add 93 valuable runs, and most importantly not lose a wicket as we ended the day at 142/2. At 27 overs India were a fairly brisk 98/2. The last 23 overs they crawled, adding just 44 runs -- not a single boundary was struck, as Harris -- who had gone for 18 runs in his first 4 overs -- was allowed to bowl 7 more overs for just 11 runs. This was key as Smith could rotate his fast bowlers from the other end.
I would have liked a bit faster scoring once we got to 98/2 quickly (though the end result was very close to my 143/3 prediction, at the start of tea), but can't argue with the safety first approach. Still, the match is wide open. If South Africa can get any sort of lead (say 50 or more), India will find it hard to chase down 270+ on Day 5. On the other hand, if India can get a lead of about 100, they will be in the driver's seat.
The slow scoring means that India -- assuming they can avoid a collapse and get through lunch only losing one wicket -- well after tea. This means that an Indian win is unlikely and an Indian defeat or a draw looms as the most likely option (barring the unlikely possibility of India batting through D3 and past lunch on D4).
Rough odds:
India: 20%
Draw:40%
South Africa: 40%
Bharat
The post-tea session saw Gambhir & Tendulkar add 93 valuable runs, and most importantly not lose a wicket as we ended the day at 142/2. At 27 overs India were a fairly brisk 98/2. The last 23 overs they crawled, adding just 44 runs -- not a single boundary was struck, as Harris -- who had gone for 18 runs in his first 4 overs -- was allowed to bowl 7 more overs for just 11 runs. This was key as Smith could rotate his fast bowlers from the other end.
I would have liked a bit faster scoring once we got to 98/2 quickly (though the end result was very close to my 143/3 prediction, at the start of tea), but can't argue with the safety first approach. Still, the match is wide open. If South Africa can get any sort of lead (say 50 or more), India will find it hard to chase down 270+ on Day 5. On the other hand, if India can get a lead of about 100, they will be in the driver's seat.
The slow scoring means that India -- assuming they can avoid a collapse and get through lunch only losing one wicket -- well after tea. This means that an Indian win is unlikely and an Indian defeat or a draw looms as the most likely option (barring the unlikely possibility of India batting through D3 and past lunch on D4).
Rough odds:
India: 20%
Draw:40%
South Africa: 40%
Bharat
India frittering away perfect batting conditions
I have been an admirer of Sehwag for long, and heartily endorsed his hell-for-leather approach in the first two Tests. Conditions for batting were very difficult, and only a Sehwag special could have put South Africa on the defensive. But here, as India showed, the new ball is only dangerous for about a dozen overs, and then conditions become so easy that even that giant-of-a-batsman Tsotsobe can survive. So, why oh why, attempt that ambitious away from the body drive in the 3rd over of the match against Steyn? I know "that is the way he plays" but surely he needs to understand that if he waited for about 10 overs in these conditions, he would have a large score there for the taking.
There is very little swing on offer -- only some bounce -- and that should ease out very soon.
Rahul Dravid has been struggling, and if he didn't have bad luck, he would have no luck; except wait, he survived a runout when Duminy missed with all 3 stumps on view (Gambhir made a yes, yes, no, no call). Dravid looked completely out of sorts, stabbing weakly at balls outside off as is his wont of late. Still the conditions were easing and this was his golden opportunity. Only to be cruelly run out by a sharp piece of fielding from AB who swooped down onto a dropped catch from Petersen. This may be the end of a great great career -- at the very least, we should consider Pujara at #3, and Dravid at #6.
India are in danger of frittering away perfect batting conditions. We have the middle order and a very very shaky Gambhir in during the 11th over itself. Another wicket and we are in big trouble -- if Tendulkar and Gambhir can hold it together for a while, batting will become much easier.
All 3 results are still possible, but at this time South Africa must like its chances. If they can get a 100 run lead on India, then India will struggle in the 4th innings. If, India can, on the other hand, get a 100 run lead it will be the South Africans who will be in trouble.
South Africa will look to get to the tail by the end of today -- India will want to lose no more than one more wicket.
Bharat
There is very little swing on offer -- only some bounce -- and that should ease out very soon.
Rahul Dravid has been struggling, and if he didn't have bad luck, he would have no luck; except wait, he survived a runout when Duminy missed with all 3 stumps on view (Gambhir made a yes, yes, no, no call). Dravid looked completely out of sorts, stabbing weakly at balls outside off as is his wont of late. Still the conditions were easing and this was his golden opportunity. Only to be cruelly run out by a sharp piece of fielding from AB who swooped down onto a dropped catch from Petersen. This may be the end of a great great career -- at the very least, we should consider Pujara at #3, and Dravid at #6.
India are in danger of frittering away perfect batting conditions. We have the middle order and a very very shaky Gambhir in during the 11th over itself. Another wicket and we are in big trouble -- if Tendulkar and Gambhir can hold it together for a while, batting will become much easier.
All 3 results are still possible, but at this time South Africa must like its chances. If they can get a 100 run lead on India, then India will struggle in the 4th innings. If, India can, on the other hand, get a 100 run lead it will be the South Africans who will be in trouble.
South Africa will look to get to the tail by the end of today -- India will want to lose no more than one more wicket.
Bharat
Incomparable Kallis takes South Africa to good score despite Sreesanth's heroics
India came in knowing their one chance to get back into the match was with the new ball -- and they used it to perfection. Dhoni gave Ishant one over with the new ball, and the tossed it to Sreesanth to partner Zaheer, and the next 4 overs could not have been better scripted. And in his first over itself, Sreesanth delivered -- two wickets in his first over, getting first Prince and then the luckless Boucher. Prince got one that seamed away and jagged back to take off stump -- a seam bowler's dream bowl. Sree then got Bouncher with a beautiful away swinger that could have got a set batsman, let alone one who just walked in. Zaheer continued his personal duel with Dale Steyn, bouncing him repeatedly, and Steyn fended one off his throat to Pujara, and when Morkel misjudged another Sreesanth special, South Africa had slumped from 252/4 to 283/8 in just over 4 overs. Kallis was on 99, having plundered 30 runs in that 4 over spell, but with the new ball only 8 overs old, Harris & the hapless Tsotsobe to come (he of the highest Test score of 3), Sehwag & Gambhir must been mentally putting on their pads.
As well as India had bowled, better did Kallis bat. He had a 11 over partnership with Harris where they split the strike, but at 310/9 India again was back into the match. Kallis was on 118* and he literally flew to 161, adding 52 runs with Tsotsobe in just 14 overs. More importantly, he hogged almost 70% of the strike in that 10th wicket partnership (India take note) providing a masterclass on how to bat with the tail.
Every time I see Kallis play, I find myself surprised by the sheer beauty and elegance he can bring to the crease. Face it, he is a great big lumbering ox of a man. When he runs in to bowl with his shamboling run up, elegance is the last thing that comes to mind. Yes, he takes those amazing catches, but still you put that down to great reflexes. And when he bats, and stands there like a Goliath wielding a club, as he waves his bat menacingly at the bowler, you expect brute force -- and that you get as he lashes the ball through point off the back foot. But then -- just when you are settling down to expect something like a Shahid Afridi special -- out comes that cover drive. A stroke off such beauty and balance that it takes your breath away, and every time I see it, I must confess to a brief frisson of surprise, followed by a sense of contentment and sheer amazement (tempered somewhat that it is 4 more runs against India) at the sheer skill of this man.
His batting is of the highest class -- of his contemporaries, I would rate only Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting a notch ahead of him -- but when you add in his ability with the ball (he would play for many Test sides -- certainly India -- as a pure bowler) there is no question -- Kallis is the most valuable cricketer in world cricket today, and the only allrounder ahead of him is Gary Sobers.
Bharat
As well as India had bowled, better did Kallis bat. He had a 11 over partnership with Harris where they split the strike, but at 310/9 India again was back into the match. Kallis was on 118* and he literally flew to 161, adding 52 runs with Tsotsobe in just 14 overs. More importantly, he hogged almost 70% of the strike in that 10th wicket partnership (India take note) providing a masterclass on how to bat with the tail.
Every time I see Kallis play, I find myself surprised by the sheer beauty and elegance he can bring to the crease. Face it, he is a great big lumbering ox of a man. When he runs in to bowl with his shamboling run up, elegance is the last thing that comes to mind. Yes, he takes those amazing catches, but still you put that down to great reflexes. And when he bats, and stands there like a Goliath wielding a club, as he waves his bat menacingly at the bowler, you expect brute force -- and that you get as he lashes the ball through point off the back foot. But then -- just when you are settling down to expect something like a Shahid Afridi special -- out comes that cover drive. A stroke off such beauty and balance that it takes your breath away, and every time I see it, I must confess to a brief frisson of surprise, followed by a sense of contentment and sheer amazement (tempered somewhat that it is 4 more runs against India) at the sheer skill of this man.
His batting is of the highest class -- of his contemporaries, I would rate only Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting a notch ahead of him -- but when you add in his ability with the ball (he would play for many Test sides -- certainly India -- as a pure bowler) there is no question -- Kallis is the most valuable cricketer in world cricket today, and the only allrounder ahead of him is Gary Sobers.
Bharat
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Newlands D1: South Africa ahead as India fritter away the advantage of winning the toss
Dhoni won the toss, and in conditions that were perfectly suited for swinging the ball, inserted South Africa -- doubtless Smith would have done the same, despite his statement of not being sure what to do. The ball moved around quite a bit, the pitch was bouncy -- and the forecast for Days 2-5 was bright sunlight. The stage was perfectly set for India to win the series. The script seemed a complete reversal of the one in Centurion; Dhoni would have envisioned bowling out South Africa, either by end of play today or having them 7 or 8 down.
Someone forgot to tell the South African batsmen. Also the Indian pacemen were not clued in on the script -- the attack was lackluster, and pressure was applied only in patches. For starters the ball didn't swing consistently, only once in a while. But there was bounce to be had, and the occasional delivery jagged off the pitch appreciably. Batting was hard -- and the South African batsmen, particularly Kallis went a long way to ensuring that India not only lost the advantage of winning the toss, they are now the underdog instead of the favorite.
Today the rub of the green definitely went against the Indians. When they did get the ball in the right slot, it either beat the bat or flew through a vacant position. But fundamentally, the Indians didn't go at the batsmen except in patches and rarely applied the pressure from both ends.
At first, all seemed going to plan. Order was restored when Zaheer Khan got his bunny Smith early -- again if you look at the ball he got out on, it would look like a straight ball that was angling in. But it was set up by the many away swingers afterwards. Then the rain came, and off they went.
After the first resumption, Ishant Sharma got Petersen off a ball that seamed a touch away outside off that he tried to drive. Ishant's first spell was poor and he got a wicket -- his later spells were much more incisive and he went wicketless. Another rain break and this time they came back for good.
When they came out, Amla was the man in a hurry. Zaheer looked extremely stiff and uninterested when he came back ambling up to the wicket. Trying for swing he overpitched and served up 3 juicy half volleys that Amla dispatched gratefully. Sreesanth also pushed it up as well -- it was almost as though the Indians felt that they had to just put it up and wickets would come. There was none of the "come at the batsmen all the time" attitude that won us the game at Durban.
Anyway, the man who pulled India back was Sreesanth -- figures can lie, he went for 13 in that over, but it was actually a good over. Amla hooked him for six of a very good bouncer that Amla was lucky to keep down. Next ball edged through gully in the air off the leading edge. Then a genuine nick that flew short of the vacant 3rd slip and another bouncer that was well hooked for a single. Zak bowled his one good over where he beat Amla twice, but generally he was extremely poor. And then India got a bit of luck -- Amla pulled a long hop and just hit it poorly and swatted it down Pujara's throat. That was a huge relief for India -- Amla was taking the game away from India, but still hooking with two men on the fence was not a high percentage shot. Amla seems to be a man in a hurry -- what happened to the patient man we saw in India. I think -- as an opposition fan -- I prefer this Amla. This version gives you a lot of chances.
At 124/3 the session was well poised. Harbhajan would be key as this would be a long session -- if he could keep one end bottled up, and put pressure on the bats as he had done in Durban, that would help. Instead Bhajji just fired it down at 86-87 kmph and was worked for easy singles. A couple of times he floated it up at 82-83 kmph and troubled the batsman, but mostly he bowled flat & quick.
Sreesanth bowled well, and got deVilliers eventually when AB's patient grew thin and he drove at a ball that he had been defending to edge to Dhoni. 150/4 and it was anybody's game. Sreesanth then hit Kallis and there was a huge appeal -- the umpire turned it down, as would I. In real time, I had some thought that it might be too high, but Hawkeye showed it smacking into the top of leg stump.
Anyway, what I found really bad was the shameless "homer"ism of Pommie Mbangwa (yes, I know he is not South African, but he lives there). When Sreesanth appealed loudly he said, going down the leg with authority. As I said, it looked very adjacent. On the reply, Pommie said again "no chance, way down the leg side" again, clucking disapprovingly at Sreesanth's huge appeal and saying Dhoni was moving down the leg side. Clueless, when a fast bowler is bowling, when the ball cuts even, even if it would be at or above off stump, the take would be
well down the leg side. Then when the replay showed it slamming into top of leg stump, neither of the comms said a word. In Durban the comms replayed the Zaheer lbw and the AB lbw (which seems very similar to this one) about 20 times it seemed, complaining about the bad umpiring and how South Africa was badly hurt by the lack of UDRS. This time, it wasn't replayed once while I was watching, and there were no comments on how India could have used the UDRS here; such biased commentary takes the fun out of watching.
That was that. Kallis was greatly troubled by Ishant who bowled very well in two spells -- hit him several times and beat the bat many times, but no edge. Kallis batted very well, and was well supported by the underrated Prince. But fundamentally, the Indian bowling failed to ask enough questions of the South African batsmen and a game that could have been won may have been lost. Brilliant sunshine bathed beautiful Newlands for the last hour and a half, and Indian hopes vanished as quickly as the dark clouds that had hung over the pitch all day.
I had opined that if India could dismiss the big 3 (Amla, Kallis and deVilliers) twice each for 300 totals runs (6 dismissals) they would win. Right now the tally is 166 runs for 2 dismissals (Kallis 81*). India are still in with a chance. The new ball is just 6 overs away, and there will be some life early. If we can get Kallis early and get a couple more wickets with the new ball, then we can dismiss South Africa for under 350, which will get us back in the game -- for that Zaheer will need to bowl as he can, not like the shambling stiff slug we saw today. Right now RSA is looking at 400+ and batting India out of the game. Should be an absorbing morning's play!
Bharat
Someone forgot to tell the South African batsmen. Also the Indian pacemen were not clued in on the script -- the attack was lackluster, and pressure was applied only in patches. For starters the ball didn't swing consistently, only once in a while. But there was bounce to be had, and the occasional delivery jagged off the pitch appreciably. Batting was hard -- and the South African batsmen, particularly Kallis went a long way to ensuring that India not only lost the advantage of winning the toss, they are now the underdog instead of the favorite.
Today the rub of the green definitely went against the Indians. When they did get the ball in the right slot, it either beat the bat or flew through a vacant position. But fundamentally, the Indians didn't go at the batsmen except in patches and rarely applied the pressure from both ends.
At first, all seemed going to plan. Order was restored when Zaheer Khan got his bunny Smith early -- again if you look at the ball he got out on, it would look like a straight ball that was angling in. But it was set up by the many away swingers afterwards. Then the rain came, and off they went.
After the first resumption, Ishant Sharma got Petersen off a ball that seamed a touch away outside off that he tried to drive. Ishant's first spell was poor and he got a wicket -- his later spells were much more incisive and he went wicketless. Another rain break and this time they came back for good.
When they came out, Amla was the man in a hurry. Zaheer looked extremely stiff and uninterested when he came back ambling up to the wicket. Trying for swing he overpitched and served up 3 juicy half volleys that Amla dispatched gratefully. Sreesanth also pushed it up as well -- it was almost as though the Indians felt that they had to just put it up and wickets would come. There was none of the "come at the batsmen all the time" attitude that won us the game at Durban.
Anyway, the man who pulled India back was Sreesanth -- figures can lie, he went for 13 in that over, but it was actually a good over. Amla hooked him for six of a very good bouncer that Amla was lucky to keep down. Next ball edged through gully in the air off the leading edge. Then a genuine nick that flew short of the vacant 3rd slip and another bouncer that was well hooked for a single. Zak bowled his one good over where he beat Amla twice, but generally he was extremely poor. And then India got a bit of luck -- Amla pulled a long hop and just hit it poorly and swatted it down Pujara's throat. That was a huge relief for India -- Amla was taking the game away from India, but still hooking with two men on the fence was not a high percentage shot. Amla seems to be a man in a hurry -- what happened to the patient man we saw in India. I think -- as an opposition fan -- I prefer this Amla. This version gives you a lot of chances.
At 124/3 the session was well poised. Harbhajan would be key as this would be a long session -- if he could keep one end bottled up, and put pressure on the bats as he had done in Durban, that would help. Instead Bhajji just fired it down at 86-87 kmph and was worked for easy singles. A couple of times he floated it up at 82-83 kmph and troubled the batsman, but mostly he bowled flat & quick.
Sreesanth bowled well, and got deVilliers eventually when AB's patient grew thin and he drove at a ball that he had been defending to edge to Dhoni. 150/4 and it was anybody's game. Sreesanth then hit Kallis and there was a huge appeal -- the umpire turned it down, as would I. In real time, I had some thought that it might be too high, but Hawkeye showed it smacking into the top of leg stump.
Anyway, what I found really bad was the shameless "homer"ism of Pommie Mbangwa (yes, I know he is not South African, but he lives there). When Sreesanth appealed loudly he said, going down the leg with authority. As I said, it looked very adjacent. On the reply, Pommie said again "no chance, way down the leg side" again, clucking disapprovingly at Sreesanth's huge appeal and saying Dhoni was moving down the leg side. Clueless, when a fast bowler is bowling, when the ball cuts even, even if it would be at or above off stump, the take would be
well down the leg side. Then when the replay showed it slamming into top of leg stump, neither of the comms said a word. In Durban the comms replayed the Zaheer lbw and the AB lbw (which seems very similar to this one) about 20 times it seemed, complaining about the bad umpiring and how South Africa was badly hurt by the lack of UDRS. This time, it wasn't replayed once while I was watching, and there were no comments on how India could have used the UDRS here; such biased commentary takes the fun out of watching.
That was that. Kallis was greatly troubled by Ishant who bowled very well in two spells -- hit him several times and beat the bat many times, but no edge. Kallis batted very well, and was well supported by the underrated Prince. But fundamentally, the Indian bowling failed to ask enough questions of the South African batsmen and a game that could have been won may have been lost. Brilliant sunshine bathed beautiful Newlands for the last hour and a half, and Indian hopes vanished as quickly as the dark clouds that had hung over the pitch all day.
I had opined that if India could dismiss the big 3 (Amla, Kallis and deVilliers) twice each for 300 totals runs (6 dismissals) they would win. Right now the tally is 166 runs for 2 dismissals (Kallis 81*). India are still in with a chance. The new ball is just 6 overs away, and there will be some life early. If we can get Kallis early and get a couple more wickets with the new ball, then we can dismiss South Africa for under 350, which will get us back in the game -- for that Zaheer will need to bowl as he can, not like the shambling stiff slug we saw today. Right now RSA is looking at 400+ and batting India out of the game. Should be an absorbing morning's play!
Bharat
South Africa pull ahead at tea as India waste conditions
The conditions were helpful were pace bowling and Dhoni inserted the opposition. Throughout the day the ball didn't really swing consistently. A few balls did, but not as many as would be expected. Anyway, things started well -- order was restored when Zaheer Khan got his bunny Smith early -- again if you look at the ball he got out on, it would look like a straight ball that was angling in. But it was set up by a few away swingers that beat Smith. But generally, in the first spell the Indians struggled to find the right lengths. Right
when things were settling down, off they went.
After the first resumption, Ishant Sharma got Petersen off a ball that seamed a touch away outside off that he tried to drive. That was one of the few good balls that Ishant bowled that threatened to take a wicket. Generally, Ishant figures are deceiving because he bowled a little too short and outside off. He got a fair amount of steepling bounce, but most of the time the batsmen let the ball pass through. And at the second break for rain, it was 61/2 -- India hadn't bowled anywhere near as well as they could have but it wasn't as good as it could have been.
When they came out, Amla was the man in a hurry. Zaheer looked extremely stiff and uninterested when he came back ambling up to the wicket. Trying for swing he overpitched and served up 3 juicy half volleys that Amla dispatched gratefully. Sreesanth also pushed it up as well -- it was almost as though the Indians felt that they had to just put it up and wickets would come. There was none of the "come at the batsmen all the time" attitude that won us the game at Durban.
Anyway, the man who pulled us back was Sreesanth -- figures can lie, he went for 13 in that over, but it was actually a good over. Amla hooked him for six of a very good bouncer that Amla was lucky to keep down. Next ball edged through gully in the air off the leading edge. Then a genuine nick that flew short of the vacant 3rd slip and another bouncer that was well hooked for a single. Zak bowled his one good over where he beat Amla twice, but generally he was extremely poor. And then India got a bit of luck -- Amla pulled a long hop and just hit poorly and hit it down Pujara's throat. That was a huge relief for India -- Amla was taking the game away from India, but still hooking with two men on the fence was not a high percentage shot. Amla seems to be a man in a hurry -- what happened to the patient man we saw in India. I think -- as an opposition fan -- I prefer this Amla. This man gives you a lot of chances.
The next session will be key. At 124/3 South Africa is definitely ahead. 90/5 would have been the par score had India bowled well. Dhoni will be hugely disappointed in the effort of his quicks -- particularly Zaheer Khan. We also have a long session coming up, and Harbhajan will be key as he will need to bottle up one end.
However, the conditions are still tough for batting and an early wicket could open it up. The pacers need to really go at the opposition the way they did at Durban Unless we run through the opposition here, the strategy surely would be for Harbhajan to keep one end tight -- in Durban he bowled 13 overs for 25 runs which built up the stranglehold on South Africa on the 4th morning. deVilliers -- who has motored to 14 without any real effort -- will be important as he can make Harbhajan go for over 4 an over -- so if Bhajji can keep it under 3 an over, that will be crucial. Need to keep the singles down.
Bharat
when things were settling down, off they went.
After the first resumption, Ishant Sharma got Petersen off a ball that seamed a touch away outside off that he tried to drive. That was one of the few good balls that Ishant bowled that threatened to take a wicket. Generally, Ishant figures are deceiving because he bowled a little too short and outside off. He got a fair amount of steepling bounce, but most of the time the batsmen let the ball pass through. And at the second break for rain, it was 61/2 -- India hadn't bowled anywhere near as well as they could have but it wasn't as good as it could have been.
When they came out, Amla was the man in a hurry. Zaheer looked extremely stiff and uninterested when he came back ambling up to the wicket. Trying for swing he overpitched and served up 3 juicy half volleys that Amla dispatched gratefully. Sreesanth also pushed it up as well -- it was almost as though the Indians felt that they had to just put it up and wickets would come. There was none of the "come at the batsmen all the time" attitude that won us the game at Durban.
Anyway, the man who pulled us back was Sreesanth -- figures can lie, he went for 13 in that over, but it was actually a good over. Amla hooked him for six of a very good bouncer that Amla was lucky to keep down. Next ball edged through gully in the air off the leading edge. Then a genuine nick that flew short of the vacant 3rd slip and another bouncer that was well hooked for a single. Zak bowled his one good over where he beat Amla twice, but generally he was extremely poor. And then India got a bit of luck -- Amla pulled a long hop and just hit poorly and hit it down Pujara's throat. That was a huge relief for India -- Amla was taking the game away from India, but still hooking with two men on the fence was not a high percentage shot. Amla seems to be a man in a hurry -- what happened to the patient man we saw in India. I think -- as an opposition fan -- I prefer this Amla. This man gives you a lot of chances.
The next session will be key. At 124/3 South Africa is definitely ahead. 90/5 would have been the par score had India bowled well. Dhoni will be hugely disappointed in the effort of his quicks -- particularly Zaheer Khan. We also have a long session coming up, and Harbhajan will be key as he will need to bottle up one end.
However, the conditions are still tough for batting and an early wicket could open it up. The pacers need to really go at the opposition the way they did at Durban Unless we run through the opposition here, the strategy surely would be for Harbhajan to keep one end tight -- in Durban he bowled 13 overs for 25 runs which built up the stranglehold on South Africa on the 4th morning. deVilliers -- who has motored to 14 without any real effort -- will be important as he can make Harbhajan go for over 4 an over -- so if Bhajji can keep it under 3 an over, that will be crucial. Need to keep the singles down.
Bharat
Monday, December 27, 2010
India roar back behind Zaheer (I vs SA: T2D2)
Dhoni must have hoped to push the first innings total to 250, but 205 was the best India could manage. As the innings ended the sun came out, and script seemed identical to Centurion. Put in India in bowler-friendly conditions and shoot them out for a paltry score, and then bat on for a couple of days. Steyn would scarcely have imagined that he would have batted on D2, let alone bowled as he walked off with a superb 6/50 haul. Swinging the ball at sustained hostile pace showed why he is the #1 bowler in the world, though a chink may have appeared in that mighty armour as his achy groin may preclude him bowling long spells, and that could yet be crucial in this game.
Identical to Centurion but with one difference. Zaheer Khan was playing, and I had feared it would take him some time to get back his rhythm. But there was no reason to fear, though he clearly wasn't going flat out. India bowled very well indeed, though those seeing the highlights package may think that all the wickets fell to straightforward deliveries. It was the *sequence* that set up many wickets, and in some case there were plans that surely Team India had put in place. The other key was removing the openers early that allowed pressure to be built on the middle order.
First over itself Zaheer had Petersen edging to vacant 4th slip (more on this later), but the working over he gave his personal bunny, Graham Smith, was of the highest class. He beat him at least once in each of the first 3 overs with balls that moved away late (Zak's stock ball typically comes into the left hander) including on the ball right before he fell, where he had Smith reaching uncertainly for one that swung late and seamed away. The delivery that got him was closer to the body so when Smith prodded hesitantly and the ball held its line, a simple edge to Dhoni resulted -- Zaheer using the cross wind to great effect.
At the other end, unfortunately, Sreesanth was complete crap, wasting the new ball and doing his best to release the pressure that was being built up at the other end. Somehow that didn't stop his mouth from moto as Amla & Peterson took a liking to his offerings that alternated between short and wide and pitched up on the leg stump. Tellingly, Sharma came on and bowled a maiden immediately increasing the pressure, and the next over Petersen departed, bowled by Zak.
After Petersen had edged Zaheer through 4th slip in the first over, he made a conscious effort to get across early and get on or even outside off stump. So it was a clever ploy to bowl an overpitched ball on the leg stump and try and bend it back to hit the stumps -- a bit of bad luck for Petersen that even after it hit the pad and then stumps, but I suspect Zaheer bowled that ball precisely because Alviro had moved across prematurely on many previous occasions, and left his leg stump exposed. (In fact, Zak had tried that a couple of times in his second over itself from over the stumps to get an lbw but pitched outside leg.)
Then South Africa's two best batsmen, Amla & Kallis began to bat well, and Indian hopes wilted as the deficit dwindled below 150. In the meantime Sreesanth replaced Zaheer and it seemed like more of the same as he overstepped and bowled a wide, but from this end his line was better -- Kallis had been leaving the ball well, but slashed at one and missed. India needed a big break and got it. I had mentioned in an earlier report that India was a lot luckier on D1 (edges not going to hand, and pop ups landing in gaps) and that continued with Kallis's freak dismissal backing up as a first struck Amla straight drive brushed Sharma's fingers enroute to the stumps.
Amla continued to take apart anything fractionally off in length or line, ending with a glorious ondrive against Sharma. deVilliers was the man in form, but early on even the best are vulnerable, especially when you have just one over to negotiate before lunch. Mainly I was fearing some dross from Sreesanth to help him ease his nerves. First two balls bounced up on off, pushing deVilliers back. Next ball was further up and bounced, similar to the Steyn snorter that got Dravid, although at a lower pace; deVilliers helplessly edging to Dhoni, and that was a tough ball to get early in the innings. 74/4 and India were right back in.
Still, *THE* danger man was there -- Amla was batting on serenely. He had been beaten once early on in his innings once (huge appeal for caught behind, correctly not given my Rauf), but seemed to be batting on a different ground. Also the sun was peeking out and conditions were a lot easier. And if India go on to win this match, and dare I say, this series *THIS* was the turning point. The much-maligned Harbhajan came on soon after lunch, and his second over bowled the toppie which Amla didn't pick -- tried to sweep and was out lbw. Frankly, this is the first time in -- well ever -- that I can recall Harbhajan getting a wicket this way...
Amla played that same sweep many many many times at Centurion for at least a quarter of his runs. I suspect this may have been an actual plan to get Amla -- surely the only chink he had shown. You may recall from the first Test at least half a dozen hapless Harbhajan appeals to balls spinning past leg stump harmlessly. This was the well err... bowled straighter one and he got the line bang on. The ball jumped enough to beat the bat, and that was that. Amla was perhaps guilty of sweeping a delivery whose line was too close to the stumps, but he had done so successfully many times. I will give the Indian brain trust kudos for this.
A word on Prince's dismissal; Zaheer beat his outside edge several times, and his dismissal playing on tentatively with a huge gap between bat and pad, had more to do the the previous 2 overs, than the delivery that finally got him. Stupendous catching by Team India got 3 more wickets, and a Tsotsobe flail later, India had run through the last 6 wickets of the South African linup, for an extraordinary 35 runs.
A 74 run lead was huge in the context of this game, though because the pitch would ease up, this was the time to score. Batting conditions were perfected. Sadly, some undisciplined Indian batting -- both Sehwag & Dravid fell to atrocious shots -- has left the Test well poised. Sehwag can be excused as the ball was there to be hit, but Dravid seems to have forgotten where his offstump is. The first new ball South Africa got didn't swing or bounce much, so when they got a change (in the 10th over), the other cherry was a lot more lively. Vijay fell to an absolute snorter from Morkel, though he should have gone back to the short ball rather than playing it from the crease -- a technical flaw that will need to be corrected. But all that was needed was to play time until the ball lost its bounce and swing, and that makes Dravid's dismissal all the more negligent. Tendulkar gone a fine delivery right in the corridor from Steyn which he edged -- again playing with soft hand would have been better, but the delivery was very good, and at 140kmph you don't have much time against Steyn. Pujara & Laxman hung on until close, Laxman not as fluent in the first innings, but still looking very good. Pujara had admitted in an interview that his atrocious pull was a huge brain cramp, so hopefully he has learned.
At 90/4 India are effectively 166/4, and at this point I would say that South Africa are slight favorites....
Bharat
Identical to Centurion but with one difference. Zaheer Khan was playing, and I had feared it would take him some time to get back his rhythm. But there was no reason to fear, though he clearly wasn't going flat out. India bowled very well indeed, though those seeing the highlights package may think that all the wickets fell to straightforward deliveries. It was the *sequence* that set up many wickets, and in some case there were plans that surely Team India had put in place. The other key was removing the openers early that allowed pressure to be built on the middle order.
First over itself Zaheer had Petersen edging to vacant 4th slip (more on this later), but the working over he gave his personal bunny, Graham Smith, was of the highest class. He beat him at least once in each of the first 3 overs with balls that moved away late (Zak's stock ball typically comes into the left hander) including on the ball right before he fell, where he had Smith reaching uncertainly for one that swung late and seamed away. The delivery that got him was closer to the body so when Smith prodded hesitantly and the ball held its line, a simple edge to Dhoni resulted -- Zaheer using the cross wind to great effect.
At the other end, unfortunately, Sreesanth was complete crap, wasting the new ball and doing his best to release the pressure that was being built up at the other end. Somehow that didn't stop his mouth from moto as Amla & Peterson took a liking to his offerings that alternated between short and wide and pitched up on the leg stump. Tellingly, Sharma came on and bowled a maiden immediately increasing the pressure, and the next over Petersen departed, bowled by Zak.
After Petersen had edged Zaheer through 4th slip in the first over, he made a conscious effort to get across early and get on or even outside off stump. So it was a clever ploy to bowl an overpitched ball on the leg stump and try and bend it back to hit the stumps -- a bit of bad luck for Petersen that even after it hit the pad and then stumps, but I suspect Zaheer bowled that ball precisely because Alviro had moved across prematurely on many previous occasions, and left his leg stump exposed. (In fact, Zak had tried that a couple of times in his second over itself from over the stumps to get an lbw but pitched outside leg.)
Then South Africa's two best batsmen, Amla & Kallis began to bat well, and Indian hopes wilted as the deficit dwindled below 150. In the meantime Sreesanth replaced Zaheer and it seemed like more of the same as he overstepped and bowled a wide, but from this end his line was better -- Kallis had been leaving the ball well, but slashed at one and missed. India needed a big break and got it. I had mentioned in an earlier report that India was a lot luckier on D1 (edges not going to hand, and pop ups landing in gaps) and that continued with Kallis's freak dismissal backing up as a first struck Amla straight drive brushed Sharma's fingers enroute to the stumps.
Amla continued to take apart anything fractionally off in length or line, ending with a glorious ondrive against Sharma. deVilliers was the man in form, but early on even the best are vulnerable, especially when you have just one over to negotiate before lunch. Mainly I was fearing some dross from Sreesanth to help him ease his nerves. First two balls bounced up on off, pushing deVilliers back. Next ball was further up and bounced, similar to the Steyn snorter that got Dravid, although at a lower pace; deVilliers helplessly edging to Dhoni, and that was a tough ball to get early in the innings. 74/4 and India were right back in.
Still, *THE* danger man was there -- Amla was batting on serenely. He had been beaten once early on in his innings once (huge appeal for caught behind, correctly not given my Rauf), but seemed to be batting on a different ground. Also the sun was peeking out and conditions were a lot easier. And if India go on to win this match, and dare I say, this series *THIS* was the turning point. The much-maligned Harbhajan came on soon after lunch, and his second over bowled the toppie which Amla didn't pick -- tried to sweep and was out lbw. Frankly, this is the first time in -- well ever -- that I can recall Harbhajan getting a wicket this way...
Amla played that same sweep many many many times at Centurion for at least a quarter of his runs. I suspect this may have been an actual plan to get Amla -- surely the only chink he had shown. You may recall from the first Test at least half a dozen hapless Harbhajan appeals to balls spinning past leg stump harmlessly. This was the well err... bowled straighter one and he got the line bang on. The ball jumped enough to beat the bat, and that was that. Amla was perhaps guilty of sweeping a delivery whose line was too close to the stumps, but he had done so successfully many times. I will give the Indian brain trust kudos for this.
A word on Prince's dismissal; Zaheer beat his outside edge several times, and his dismissal playing on tentatively with a huge gap between bat and pad, had more to do the the previous 2 overs, than the delivery that finally got him. Stupendous catching by Team India got 3 more wickets, and a Tsotsobe flail later, India had run through the last 6 wickets of the South African linup, for an extraordinary 35 runs.
A 74 run lead was huge in the context of this game, though because the pitch would ease up, this was the time to score. Batting conditions were perfected. Sadly, some undisciplined Indian batting -- both Sehwag & Dravid fell to atrocious shots -- has left the Test well poised. Sehwag can be excused as the ball was there to be hit, but Dravid seems to have forgotten where his offstump is. The first new ball South Africa got didn't swing or bounce much, so when they got a change (in the 10th over), the other cherry was a lot more lively. Vijay fell to an absolute snorter from Morkel, though he should have gone back to the short ball rather than playing it from the crease -- a technical flaw that will need to be corrected. But all that was needed was to play time until the ball lost its bounce and swing, and that makes Dravid's dismissal all the more negligent. Tendulkar gone a fine delivery right in the corridor from Steyn which he edged -- again playing with soft hand would have been better, but the delivery was very good, and at 140kmph you don't have much time against Steyn. Pujara & Laxman hung on until close, Laxman not as fluent in the first innings, but still looking very good. Pujara had admitted in an interview that his atrocious pull was a huge brain cramp, so hopefully he has learned.
At 90/4 India are effectively 166/4, and at this point I would say that South Africa are slight favorites....
Bharat
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