England v South Africa | 1st Test | The Oval | Jul 19-23, 2012 | Days 2&3

[Robert]

Played Smith.

I've been saying for years that he, and not Kallis is the real hard man.

 

[Robert]

After Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Gordon Greenidge, Ricky Ponting and Inzamam, Smith joins the elite club of centurions who did it in their 100th match

You forgot Alec Stewart.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Well done Graeme smith brilliant knock and a captains inns! hes batted hard and dug in at start of inns and this morning! Hes put bad ball away but most of all hes been postive by using his bat to play the spinner and also looked to work ball around when he can.

S.A session and they are imposing themselves now in this game.

 

[JibranAnsari]

This session will bring at least 3 wickets.

 

[Inziquicksingle]

I expect the SA approach being more of the same (second half of morning session). Pitch looks comfortable to bat on and they have 2 of the best batsmen in the world still to come. They can probably still gain a lead today as long as they get 60 overs of play.

 

[Bullet Drive]

187-1.

 

[Jo_Don]

It's starting to look a bit ominous now. If AB has a platform to launch one of his assaults, then it may well be game over for England. Strauss will surely be a bit concerned.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Jimmy to start.

 

[JibranAnsari]

This session will balance the game.

 

[Bullet Drive]

 

[Bullet Drive]

Lovely flick.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Swann on.

 

[style_guru]

Gone overcast. Good signs for England bowlers, who can only bowl well when everything is wet around

 

[Bullet Drive]

Hoping for an Amla ton!

 

[Bullet Drive]

Gone overcast. Good signs for England bowlers, who can only bowl well when everything is wet around

Overcast conditions do nothing for the bowler. Old wives tales!

 

[Bullet Drive]

Lovely ball.

 

[MRSN]

that turned miles

 

[Bullet Drive]

Swann bowling beautifully, great over so far.

 

[Bullet Drive]

103* Smith.

 

[Bullet Drive]

11.9 degrees of turn.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Over.

 

[Bullet Drive]

191-1 after 67.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Amla 85*

 

[style_guru]

Can England bowl Swann from both ends

 

[Bullet Drive]

Quick single to Amla.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Too wide from Jimmy.

 

[Bullet Drive]

 

[Bullet Drive]

Lovely strke.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Another ofur

 

[Bullet Drive]

Well paddled.

 

[Bullet Drive]

93* Amla.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Nice sharp spin for Swann now.

 

[Bullet Drive]

200-1

 

[Bullet Drive]

Smith 103*. Amla 93*

 

[Bullet Drive]

Bresnan has bowled 9 out of 69 overs.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Quick single taken by Smith.

 

[style_guru]

A high percentage of swann deliveries have been faced by Smith. I was almost getting a feeling that Amla might be better off facing Swann, with Smith dealing with the other bowlers.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Another run taken. 1 more to Amla.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Amla 94*

 

[Bullet Drive]

202-1.

 

[Bullet Drive]

New ball only 10 overs away.

 

[Bullet Drive]

70 overs gone. RR of 2.89.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Anderson 19
Broad 15
Swann 23
Bresnan 9
Bopara 4

 

[style_guru]

Amla nearing another ton...

 

[Bullet Drive]

Quick single. 1 more to Amla.

 

[Bullet Drive]

95* to Amla.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Maybe give KP the ball?

 

[Bullet Drive]

Very low bounce.

 

[style_guru]

Maybe give KP the ball?

Why not Trott?

 

[Bullet Drive]

Swann bowling way to quick. When he bowls slower gets far more turn.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Why not Trott?

Let him enjoy the 3rd man and fine leg region + the ball is turning quite a bit.

 

[Jo_Don]

Hash on 99

 

[Bullet Drive]

 

[Bullet Drive]

Outside edge. 99*

 

[Bullet Drive]

Amla cuts so hard, no run!

 

[Bullet Drive]

Amla gets his ton. A magnificent knock. I think that's his 4th vs England.

 

[Jo_Don]

Well played Hash! What a way to prove all the doubters wrong!

 

[Bullet Drive]

Amazing knock whilst fasting(I think)

 

[Bullet Drive]

3rd against England..

 

[Bullet Drive]

Horrible delivery by Anderosn.

 

[style_guru]

Congrats great Man.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Amla averages 42 vs England.

 

[style_guru]

SA will look to dominate now. The session between lunch and tea is generally the best for batting.

Lets see what Swann has to offer

 

[Bullet Drive]

213-1

 

[Inziquicksingle]

Which 100 do you guys think was better?

 

[Bullet Drive]

7 before the new ball.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Bresnan on & Amla's was better.

 

[style_guru]

When was the last time a touring team tested England's bowling like this??

 

[Bullet Drive]

101* - 108*

 

[Bullet Drive]

What's this quota system about?

 

[Jo_Don]

Which 100 do you guys think was better?

Amla's was better to watch, but Smith was more effective today.

 

[style_guru]

Amla's was better to watch, but Smith was more effective today.

Exactly.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Inside edge!

 

[Bullet Drive]

No one thought about the inside edge!

 

[Bullet Drive]

214-1

 

[Bullet Drive]

England lose the review. Poor decision to review.

 

[style_guru]

Review wasted

 

[AdidasBeard]

Desperate review. First time Englands bowling has come up this short in test cricket for along time

 

[Bullet Drive]

Sweep for 1.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Strike rotation has been lovely.