South Africa v India | 3rd Test | Cape Town | Jan 2-6 2011

[cricket_fan_1]

man iqbilla's prayers really do work for us

 

[SG]

Ishant has really got to do it big in this innings. He has been really ordinary for too long now.

 

[SG]

Ishant is such a senseless bowler. That would now enable Peterson to play out the last over of the day.

 

[SG]

But Peterson is even more senseless.

Bhajji gets Harris as well.

 

[cricket_fan_1]

 

[SG]

Thats stumps.

Not bad from Indian point of view.

 

[cricket_fan_1]

superb decision

 

[SG]

Or is it not?

Do they've to bowl one more ball?

 

[SG]

Now Amla comes.

 

[jusarrived]

But Peterson is even more senseless.

Bhajji gets Harris as well.

its night watchmans job to play out the last over , not his mistake

 

[kashmiri_lad]

End of the Day, Still Even Stevans...
India need couple of quick wickets..
And SA will be looking for big partnerships..

 

[SG]

Thats stumps now.

 

[ace58]

I reckon anything over 200 would be defendable on day 5 pitch match is wide open.

 

[Iqbilla]

Tendu to live upto his career speciality and CHOKE when his team needs him most in the 4th innings

 

[cricket_fan_1]

thanks to iqbilla's prayers...we end the day on a high

 

[SG]

its night watchmans job to play out the last over , not his mistake

Agreed. But when you see that Harris is such a hopeless bat against spinners it might have been some sense not to take a single at that time.

Anyway who am I to complain?

 

[SG]

I think its SA's day. It'd have been India's day had we taken some sort of meaningful lead which we didn't.

SA still ahead IMO, just considering that India will have to bat last on this surface with series on the stake here. Remember India has never ever won a series in SA so that would be a new territory for India, that is if they're good enough to reach there. Anyone could choke with something as big as that in sight.

 

[srt]

its night watchmans job to play out the last over , not his mistake

i agree ... morkel wud hv. been a better choice.... knowing that india has players like sehwag i dont south africa will declare without giving india a lead of atleast 400

 

[ace58]

I think its SA's day. It'd have been India's day had we taken some sort of meaningful lead which we didn't.

SA still ahead IMO, just considering that India will have to bat last on this surface with series on the stake here. Remember India has never ever won a series in SA so that would be a new territory for India, that is if they're good enough to reach there. Anyone could choke with something as big as that in sight.

We did choke last time in the same damn venue and with the series on the line. But everyteam chokes your right. Hopefully we can bundle out South africa cheaply so we don't have a chance of chocking.

 

[ethan hunt]

sidhu was right tendu's technique is indeed tighter than a ducks butt .... grt player but he will fail in the second innings

 

[SG]

They're showing the replay of that Smith dismissal. Tauffel again got that right. Tremendous umpiring in this test..

 

[SG]

What a series this is turning out to be!! Thats how it should be between top-2 test teams in world.

 

[srt]

this match deserves to be a draw .. no team deserves to loose this series ... i think draw is a fair result

 

[SG]

Only shame is that its not a 5-test series. They could've easily cancelled that useless ODI series and instead played 2 more tests or at least 1 test more.

 

[ethan hunt]

They're showing the replay of that Smith dismissal. Tauffel again got that right. Tremendous umpiring in this test..

shud have been given not out the benefit of doubt shud go to the batsman always

 

[Amjid Javed]

I think India will win this test and series. I got a feeling S.A batting will buckle tomorrow and India will end up chasing 200 odd to win.

 

[QazzarFan]

Only shame is that its not a 5-test series. They could've easily cancelled that useless ODI series and instead played 2 more tests or at least 1 test more.

ODIs & T20s bring in more money.... They probably need to assess things before WC hence the ODI series but ya more test matches would've been riveting

 

[ace58]

I think India will win this test and series. I got a feeling S.A batting will buckle tomorrow and India will end up chasing 200 odd to win.

Thats a defendable total IMO. If steyn bowls the way he did today and the pitch continues to deteriate I would favour South africa to defend that total convincingly.

 

[Krishnan]

Will virender sewag turn it on when it matters.

 

[srt]

only way india can win this one is they break stynes face with a beamer when he comes to bat.... that ass hole will not let us win otherwise

 

[srt]

the 2 run out really hurt ... dravid and lax ..key players

 

[skittles]

Will virender sewag turn it on when it matters.

I've learned not to bet against viru. He's definitely due for it....I think he will, a quickfire 50 odd in a chase of 200 is invaluable..

 

[OMB]

only way india can win this one is they break stynes face with a beamer when he comes to bat.... that ass hole will not let us win otherwise

tch tch

 

[srt]

tch tch

if i were dhoni i wud hv given the ball to mad hatter sreesanth n asked him to do it .. go wipe the stain off

 

[in_cutter]

Inzi was a match winner!!!!!

This is meaningless runs scored in a meaningless match whcich will be meaningless draw !!!!! If Tindu had to push for q win he would have been out for a golden duck He Will always be King of The cHOKERS

Haha some posters here are plain stupid! Meaningless match!?

 

[OMB]

if i were dhoni i wud hv given the ball to mad hatter sreesanth n asked him to do it .. go wipe the stain off

Now why would you think about that? Steyn is the new Allan Donald. the best right now. Maybe Asif is the only one who can challenge him right now. But where is Asif?

 

[silent_shadow]

That was a great day's play. Best thing was Sreesanth stopping play after some stick from the crowd.

lol at some people pretending bottles were thrown at him, Sreesanth just couldn't handle the verbals.

 

[Kriketer]

Evenly poised.

I gotta admit, I was expecting India to be rolled over by SA in this tour, but so far in this and last Test they have done very well. Props to them.

 

[speed_thrills]

It's South Africa's match to lose from here on.

 

[SG]

Got some Tendulkar stats from some other forum,

goes past 8,000 away test runs @ 56.86. 1400 clear of second-placed dravid and 2400 clear of third-placed lara

second non-south african after hammond to make over 1,000 test runs in south africa

most hundreds by a non-south african in south africa (5). thats the same number as the rest of the india since south africa's re-admission

4th consecutive year where his 1st test innings is a hundred

7th time he reaches a hundred with a six.

 

[Bullet Drive]

goood tho

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

I would be very clever if I was India. Just for this innings, I would open the innings with Dravid and have them play out the SA bowlers...and if they needed a partnership in the middle order, Sehwag could go after SA against tiring bowlers and an older ball.

Anyhow, I feel that Amla and Prince hold the key. A chase of anything over 270 will be an uphill struggle.

India must ensure the target remains below 270 because under pressure I feel the likes of Pujara, Dhoni, Singh etc will be blown away thus it is up to the top order to score big

 

[jeetu]

Match situation is still dead even. With Kallis injured SA chances rests on Amla. Anything over 250 will be a very tough chase. But I wouldn't count out another Laxman special.

 

[Amir]

It's South Africa's match to lose from here on.

Not really. More like India's. SA already 2 wickets down and Kallis only going to bat if needed, which he will be but even then, how effective will he be? He will very much be more of a support batsmen than someone who can take charge.

This match is India's to lose after Tendulkar's knock. SA should have done better and cleaned em up when they got Dhoni out.

 

[James]

Dravid should not open ever again.

 

[Random Aussie]

Got some Tendulkar stats from some other forum,

goes past 8,000 away test runs @ 56.86. 1400 clear of second-placed dravid and 2400 clear of third-placed lara

second non-south african after hammond to make over 1,000 test runs in south africa

most hundreds by a non-south african in south africa (5). thats the same number as the rest of the india since south africa's re-admission

4th consecutive year where his 1st test innings is a hundred

7th time he reaches a hundred with a six.

In the immortal words of Faith No More...."we care a lot!"

 

[Random Aussie]

Another good Test btw, the winner of this series will be rightfully celebrating.

 

[Sir john]

india need to bowl well today
need to restrict saf below 250 mark

 

[JibranAnsari]

india will win by 5 wickets.

 

[cricket_fan_1]

target should be within 200 runs...anything more than that will be an uphill task...

 

[rajachoudhary50]

Somethnig tells me..its not Amla who will score big..it will be prince and peterson who will give a surprise...........

 

[Romali_rotti]

South Africa will get a 500 plus lead and put India into bat and bowl them out cheaply.. South Africa should win this series with they eyes closed.

 

[JibranAnsari]

South Africa will get a 500 plus lead and put India into bat and bowl them out cheaply.. South Africa should win this series with they eyes closed.

will have to play very well to get close to 250.

 

[SG]

Got some Tendulkar stats from some other forum,

goes past 8,000 away test runs @ 56.86. 1400 clear of second-placed dravid and 2400 clear of third-placed lara

second non-south african after hammond to make over 1,000 test runs in south africa

most hundreds by a non-south african in south africa (5). thats the same number as the rest of the india since south africa's re-admission

4th consecutive year where his 1st test innings is a hundred

7th time he reaches a hundred with a six.

More stats,

1) Highest no. of overseas test tons: 29,

2) Most no. of tons after 35: 12 (tied with Gooch)

 

[Cricketismylife]

pitch is getting tougher to bat on as the game progresses. under 250 or its a loss for India

 

[SG]

Steyn has this to say about Tendulkar's innings:

"Sachin is a really good player. I have heard one or two guys remark about the speed and everything I have been bowling at, but he is such a good player, there is no point wasting your energy bowling at him. You tend to save your energy and tend to bowl at other guys. If you bowl a good bowl to him, or a No. 11 batter, it's going to remain a good ball. So it was a good contest going on."

 

[SG]

Needless to say that we gotta get Amla and Kallis asap. If these 2 get away we may even be staring at what Romali said above.

 

[Wised up]

Match is evenly poised. Will Amla, Kallis and Devilliers to bat, I don't think India has any edge. !st morning would be crucial for both teams.

 

[SG]

Dravid should not open ever again.

Indeed.

IMO we can open with Pujara and hope that he somehow manages to survive the new ball spell. Sehwag could be the key in the middle order.

Or alternatively, IF Sehwag can get us off to a flier like he did in that Chennai test against Eng, nothing better than that for our middle order.

 

[Sahil.]

Sehwag on African pitches is a joke .

 

[SG]

As an opener surely.

IMO he simply doesn't have the temperament to survive on SA pitches as an opener. Precisely of that reason I think he'll come cropper in our tour to Eng later this year.

But remember his only ton in SA came when he batted in the middle order. So we may yet adopt that policy of horses for courses in the 2nd innings. Though I know its not gonna happen.

 

[Indieview]

OUT PETERSON Gone ............... 53/3

 

[Gabru]

Alviro gone. Bhajji must be loving that pitch.. "Puff of dust" as boycott wud put it!

 

[cricketindiafan]

Great start for us. 3 quick wickets now. Hope that sets some panic in SA ranks.

Need to break this current partnership as early as we can.

 

[Sameer K]

One more wicket and we will be on top!!

 

[Gabru]

AMLA gone! Bhajj on fire!

 

[cricketindiafan]

Amla gone. Bhajji in the midst of a dream spell here.

 

[Sameer K]

Hahahaha, Awesome!!

Wish I was at home , reading it all on cricinfo.

 

[ganeshran]

 

[Sameer K]

Can bhajji get a 10 wicket haul?

 

[Gabru]

beautiful bowling by Sree too.. piling on the pressure!

 

[cricketindiafan]

Can bhajji get a 10 wicket haul?

Will be more than happy with him picking 6-7 wickets.

 

[cricket_fan_1]

get kallis and AB before the lead crosses 100...we have one hand on the trophy

 

[asifp]

The reason Australia was number 1 for so long was whenever they were in trouble someone stepped up.

India doing the same thing here. Whenever a performance is needed someone steps up. Forget all the stats, someone always delivers for them. (Though Laxman does it too much)

 

[cricketindiafan]

get kallis and AB before the lead crosses 100...we have one hand on the trophy

A little early for the talk about trophy. We need to restrit SA to around 175. Anything above that will be tough on this track.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Kallis playing reverse sweep against Bhajji. Could easily lead to his downfall.

 

[Indieview]

Well Kallis is taking on to Bhajji, he is not playing safe cricket, He started Sweeps, Reverse sweeps, paddle sweeo.. Great Game of Cricket folks.. loving it

 

[cricketindiafan]

Other bowlers need to support Bhajji here. Keep their end tight as well.

 

[Sir john]

73/4

bhaaji on fire here

 

[asifp]

Fast Bowlers are easy to play, Bhaji causing troubles. Anything under 225 India should win easy