Official Thread: Africa vs Asia - 3rd ODI @ Durban [21/8/05]

[Shayan]

Africa XI team:
*GC Smith, HH Dippenaar, JH Kallis, JA Rudolph, AG Prince,
JM Kemp, +T Taibu, SM Pollock, HH Streak, DW Steyn, M Zondeki.

Asian XI team:
Shahid Afridi, V Sehwag, +KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene,
Yousuf Youhana, *Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq,
Mohammad Ashraful, Z Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, M Muralitharan.


Africa XI won the toss and elected to bat first

Delay - Start delay due to rain

 

[Shayan]

A slight drizzle delayed start of play in the final match of the Afro-Asia Cup at Durban. Graeme Smith, back after serving a two-match ban for slow over-rates in the West Indies, won the toss and chose to bat. But before play could get underway, the weather intervened.

With the three-match series level at 1-1, both teams made a few changes to the sides which played on Saturday. The African team was further strengthened by the return of Jacques Kallis, while Tatenda Taibu took over wicketkeeping duties from Mark Boucher. Asia XI brought Mohammad Ashraful, their super sub yesterday, into their first XI, with Ashish Nehra dropping down to super sub. That's a decision that could hurt Asia XI, given that they have to bowl first.

The pitch is expected to assist the seamers early on - the overnight rain had helped the grass on the track remain fresh - but it should settle down later into a good batting strip. Smith's decision was obviously influenced by the results of the two earlier games in the tournament, both of which were won by the team batting first.

 

[Shayan]

Nehra being supersub may not be a problem. Asia have still got Shoaib, Zaheer, Razzaq, Murali, Afridi and Sehwag if required. Doubt Nehra will get a game today.

 

[deviously~fading~away]

latest new- still raining and covers are on

 

[deviously~fading~away]

Current condition mostly cloudy according to cnn

Latest news from Cricinfo: play to begin in 30 min. Out field dry. 30 min for players to exercise and get ready. Field is very dry at the moment

 

[Razar]

my source in South Africa tells me it has stopped raining.

 

[Hash]

my source tells me the covers are coming off

 

[Shayan]

my source... cricinfo.... tells me the covers are coming off.

 

[Shayan]

my source tells me the sky is clear.

 

[Shayan]

my source tells me that play should start shortly.

 

[deviously~fading~away]

play to start in 30 min for the players to warm up and exercise
Field is dry and sky is clear!

 

[Hash]

was that from your source shez?

 

[Shayan]

its due to start at 13:45 local time, whats that in the UK? 12:45?

 

[Toony™®]

i think they r showing cricket on zee music..think that is free to air on sky digital.

 

[Razar]

yup 12.45 (or so my source tells me)

 

[Shayan]

cheers.

 

[Shayan]

its gonna be a 48 over game

 

[KB]

Superb swing bowling from Shoaib that takes out Smith.

 

[Saj]

yes Smith beaten for pace as the ball swung into him - lovely delivery from Akhtar. Nearly had Kallis first ball also.

 

[Farhad]

Shoaib has bowled tremendously in the last matches, although has not had the returns to show. But anyone who watched his beautiful ryhthm and tempo in the last match would know what I'm talking about. Bowling today has also been of the highest order. Would make Inzi and Woolmer think a bit about the forthcoming England tour and the need to have our only genuinely fast world-class bowler back in the ranks.

 

[KB]

Also encouraging to see Inzamam go on the attack by getting 3 slips in for both bowlers.

 

[KB]

But anyone who watched his beautiful ryhthm and tempo in the last match would know what I'm talking about.

Yeh, it is his rhythm that is standing out. Smooth run up and follow through.

 

[Saj]

A corker of a delivery from Shoaib to Dippenaar who looks worried against Shoaib. Commentators stating that Shoaib is hitting the bat hard and one can see that quite clearly.

 

[alybaba]

He's got good pace and length variation today too. Good stuff from Shoaib.

 

[KB]

And Inzamam's attacking captaincy works as a catch goes to 3rd slip.

 

[shabbu1]

Shoaib is bowling absolutely brilliantly today, the best i've seen from him in a while

 

[ImranR]

Zee music cut it off but a great spell from akhtar

 

[iZeeshan]

true great bowling from shoaib! absolutely economical and great from zaheer khan also. africa looks in tatters

 

[shabbu1]

Rudolph run out, 26/3

 

[alybaba]

Kallis out - though I don't think it was the right decision. pitched outside leg.

 

[in_cutter]

true great bowling from shoaib! absolutely economical and great from zaheer khan also. africa looks in tatters

the shoaib haters must be worried

 

[Shoaib A]

hehe LoL.......asia look very much on top here...shoaib has gr8 bowling figures..

 

[shabbu1]

and Akhtar takes another wicket

 

[Shoaib A]

shoaib strikes again!!

 

[alybaba]

Shoaib gets Prince! Caught by Murli at point

 

[Shayan_Sohail]

Gone Shoaib strikes in his SEVENTH over.

 

[adi 101]

shoaib strikes again hahaha this is great bowling 7 overs on the trot for shoaib aswell

 

[Shoaib A]

no real top class batsmen left now...hehe

 

[adi 101]

end of the wicket maiden for akhtar

 

[Shoaib A]

none have got into double figures....how gr8 bowling can it be...

 

[Shoaib A]

damn think the pacers will take those wickets...bowling spared includes murali and afridi....don't think they will have a bowl today..hehe

 

[adi 101]

current run rate is 1.9

 

[Shoaib A]

its the Khan Akhtar show here!!

 

[adi 101]

nehra on to bowl now..........

 

[Shoaib A]

alot of maiden overs bowled...

 

[Toony™®]

hope africa get at least 150..otherwise its a walkover...

 

[alybaba]

Someone hand me what Doctrove is smoking - that has to be some powerful sh!t.

 

[adi 101]

zaheer strikes again lbw. africa are 35/6

 

[Nauman]

This match is turning out to be very boring Africa XI 35/6 (17.2/48 ov)

 

[Shayan_Sohail]

Doctrove has given two poor LBW decisions now.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Man AFrica will be lucky to make 70, they are now 36/6.. Seems like the rain has made the wicket a batsmens nightmare and a bowler's paradise... Man I am starting to like this Khan/Aktar tandem working real well, both hitting the deck real hard..

 

[Shoaib A]

yep as said seems to be a Khan Akhtar show here...

 

[Shoaib A]

and again 6 wickets down...none had gone into double figures!!

 

[Shayan_Sohail]

it has been a Khan Akhtar show in all three games now

 

[adi 101]

zaheer has bowled ten overs on the trot it has really been a good effort from him

 

[alybaba]

Taibu is impressing me with his sheer confidence. It takes guts to come down the track and hit over the top when your team is 38/6.

 

[adi 101]

taibu becomes first person to reach double figures up comes the africa 50
))) ) ) )

 

[adi 101]

razzaq strikes, taibu goes out edged to slips!!!!!!!!

 

[adi 101]

streak starts with a boundary........

 

[iZeeshan]

looks like this is a pure boring match...i'd say if shoaib was brought in right now...asia would skittle for 90-100 maybe 110 if they get lucky

 

[Shoaib A]

razzaq getting trashed here

 

[Shoaib A]

I guess the real batsmen are out in the middel now...these two pollock and streak never gives up that quickly...

 

[DM]

Brilliant by Shoaib Akhtar in this match and in the previous ones. His bowling really highlights just how much we missed his potency.

 

[Shoaib A]

nehra gets some boundaries of him..

 

[alybaba]

Pollock is on a rampage, 15 runs on Nehra's last over.

 

[Shoaib A]

they should bring back akhtar...

 

[DM]

Razzaq and Nehra getting pasted at the moment by Pollock

 

[iZeeshan]

yea akhtar wil get a hat-trick to finish them off INSHALLAH

 

[DM]

Pollock 34 off 19 deliveries - this should be working the inferiority complex of Mr Afridi nicely....

 

[shabbu1]

Akhtar back on

 

[Shoaib A]

akhtar back...seems to be the case

 

[iZeeshan]

akhtar is back...and....bowls a 5 run over

 

[Shoaib A]

pollock seems to be the best batsman out there...playing well

 

[Shoaib A]

well well...afridi on now

 

[Rob H]

pollock playing a superb innings. Without him africa would be deep in the $hit

 

[Amir]

Now he is gone after a quicker one from Afridi!

 

[DM]

Afridi Bowls The Faster One And Out!! :d :d

 

[ImranR]

30.4 Shahid Afridi to Streak, OUT: appeal for lbw and given out

 

[shabbu1]

Afridi strikes

 

[DM]

And Murali gets Steyn!

Africa XI 106/9