South Africa v New Zealand |1st Test | Johannesburg | 8/11/07

[Amjid Javed]

South Africa are full of confidence after winning 1-0 in Pakistan and are a pretty tough nut to crack in home conditions, New zealand have always traditionally struggled against South Africa also in test cricket. A pretty lively green strip has been prepared for the game and it should be intresting for both sets of batsmen when likes of Shane bond, chris martin, Andrew nel and Ntini are let loose on it. South Africa will start game as favourites thou.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

South Africa are full of confidence after winning 1-0 in Pakistan and are a pretty tough nut to crack in home conditions, New zealand have always traditionally struggled against South Africa also in test cricket. A pretty lively green strip has been prepared for the game and it should be intresting for both sets of batsmen when likes of Shane bond, chris martin, Andrew nel and Ntini are let loose on it. South Africa will start game as favourites thou.

New Zealand Are the best team in the World you kidding me? They can beat ayone in the World they can even beat Austrailia. My number one pick is New Zealand.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

The NZ batting will once again be a problem. They just don't have the batsman of the quality of Kallis who can survive in tough batting conditions.

 

[Pak_cricketer]

The NZ batting will once again be a problem. They just don't have the batsman of the quality of Kallis who can survive in tough batting conditions.

They have those bits and pieces which is a pretty successful plan for them.

The whole team bats and the whole team bowls.

 

[12thMan]

The game starts 30 mins before the Pak-Ind match I think. 1-2 days before I read there were doubts about Fleming with a injured or broken???? thumb. Hopefully he is okay so full squads are playing

 

[PlanetPakistan]

They have those bits and pieces which is a pretty successful plan for them.

The whole team bats and the whole team bowls.

In ODIs may be but in tests they just don't win matches.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Fleming and lou vincent are pretty decent batsmen and Ross taylor is making his debut rest of order looks suspect and flimsy.

The lower order of oram, mcullum and vettori will more than likely be the area looking to bale the kiwis out of sinking water all series!

 

[PlanetPakistan]

yaar Amjad Vincient is on par with our openers...hardly a decent batsman.

 

[BD-fan]

Trouncing awaits for NZ. I side with PP. The question is would this linger to a fifth day?

 

[Amjid Javed]

yaar Amjad Vincient is on par with our openers...hardly a decent batsman.

Hes pretty hand, i remember seeing his debut ton at perth in early 2000 he looks a good player, just needs abit more consistancy!

 

[Amjid Javed]

S.A 47/2 batting 1st

Smith and amla gone cheaply. Bond and martin have a wicket apiece.

Chris martin seems to enjoy playing against S.A

 

[12thMan]

Kallis out ct behind off O'Brien - Inside edge first ball after lunch
SA 73-3

 

[12thMan]

Bond strikes - Prince ct at first slip by leming
SA 92-4

 

[Amjid Javed]

S.A 104/4

another 2 quick wickets and kiwis are into S.A very long tail!

 

[12thMan]

Gibbs out on 63 - ct at first slip by Fleming off Martin
SA 141-5

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pitch looks to be offering pace and bounce as expected. 250 maybe a good score here for S.A!

 

[Amjid Javed]

S.A 168/6 now and in trouble...

 

[12thMan]

Nel ct behind off Bond
SA 182-7

 

[12thMan]

Fleming drops Harris at first slip off Vettori
Vettori gets Harris LBW
SA 195-8

 

[12thMan]

Boucher out ct at Point off Vettori
SA 219-9
batsman Ntini in

 

[12thMan]

Steyn out ct behind off Martin
SA 226 all out

 

[Amjid Javed]

I think kiwis will be happy with bowling out S.A out for 226, it just depends if there batsmen are up to task on this green looking bouncy strip!

 

[12thMan]

Cummings and Papps opening for NZ. Not Fleming.
Steyn bowling at low 140s
Ntini bowling at mid 130s with 3 slips and 2 gullys. Ball is moving in off the pitch and not hits the batsman in stomach

 

[12thMan]

Cummings LBW Steyn
NZ 40-2

 

[12thMan]

NZ bowled out for 118 in 42nd over. Steyn taking a 5fer and Fleming top scoring with 40.

SA 63-2 after 20 overs with both openers out
Game resuming after tea now

 

[Daoud]

Typical NZL. Soiling their pants whenever they're up against 90 mph+ bowlers.

 

[BD-fan]

fifth day huh!! May be over within 3 days or before lunch of 4th day. Pathetic NZ.

 

[12thMan]

Drinks break - Amla 46 and Kallis 42
SA 105-2 - Lead by 213 runs

 

[12thMan]

Amla 74 - Kallis 58
SA 150-2 - lead of 258

 

[Rob H]

South Africa 179/2 at Close. Kallis and Amla really turning the screw on this match.

 

[infamous9383]

NZ just aren't good enough. Too many bits and pieces players. SA should cruise to victory.

 

[DHONI183]

Two excellent Innings´ by Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis on such a tricky pitch. Kallis simply is a genius!!!!!!

Well done Kallis !!!!

 

[12thMan]

Amla 176* and Kallis 186 (double century escaps again)
SA 422-3 declared - a lead of 531

NZ 10-0 - Fleming opening instead of Papps.

 

[12thMan]

Cumming is going - out ct first slip by Smith off Styen
NZ 12-1 after 5 overs
Scott Styris in
Papps has an upset stomach

 

[Hash]

NZ getting absolutely trashed after SA succeeded in helping most people fall asleep in their second innings.

 

[DHONI183]

Two great knocks by Kallis and Amla .

I didn´t understand what the hell Ashwell Prince was doing at the end ......

 

[12thMan]

Fleming out ct at 1st slip by G Smith off Nel. good catch low to the left
NZ 34-2
Ross Taylor in

 

[12thMan]

Taylor out ct at 2nd slip by Kallis off Nel. 2 wickets in the over
NZ 39-3

 

[12thMan]

other than a LBW decision not given against McCullum off Nel not much happened in last 15-20 min
NZ 57-3 after 17 overs - need 474 runs to win
End of day 3

 

[JustAnotherFan]

I haven't even bothered to watch it on TV today. NZ just isn't worth watching. Hopefully the ODI games will be better.

Am happy for Kallis and Amla. Still wish that Kallis gets a 200 oneday just to prove a point.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

Excellent performance from Kallis and Amla!

NZ's batting is sadly very predictable

 

[PlanetPakistan]

This game has kind of made me sad!

Why?
because PAK is ranked even lower than THIS NZ team.

 

[JustAnotherFan]

This game has kind of made me sad!

Why?
because PAK is ranked even lower than THIS NZ team.

I agree! But in reality the rankings are going to change after a few games.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

I agree! But in reality the rankings are going to change after a few games.

Only if NZ lose 2 nil.

 

[Hash]

Only if NZ lose 2 nil.

which they will

 

[JustAnotherFan]

Only if NZ lose 2 nil.

Don't worry Protea fans have faith in their team.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

Don't worry Protea fans have faith in their team.

shabash shabash...make it 2 nil ASAP.

which they will

Hash, you back?

We missed you during the 2nd ODI

 

[Hash]

shabash shabash...make it 2 nil ASAP.


Hash, you back?

We missed you during the 2nd ODI

yeah I saw it in the hotel room in Mansehra with 8 other people making noise, chanting, clapping and swearing.

we went out and stuffed ourselves in a nice restaurant and sheesha'd it up to celebrate!


One of the people with us knows Sohail Tanvir (lives on the same street as him) so it kind of made it extra special for Tukri (as they call him) to be there at the end!

 

[12thMan]

Bond out of rest of tour -

...Bond broke down with an abdominal muscle tear after bowling four overs and will be out of action for four to six weeks.

Bond broke down with an abdominal muscle tear after bowling four overs and will be out of action for four to six weeks.

Oram also limped out of the attack after removing Kallis for 186 while Stephen Fleming was another player in the wars, suffering a bruised forearm, but was forced to open the batting given that a sick Papps was absent....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/7088715.stm

 

[Rob H]

New Zealand 154/7 and facing a huge defeat. Oram just gone trying to smash Harris out of the ground, beaten in the flight and only finding Nel at long on.

 

[JustAnotherFan]

NZ 2nd innings 172/9 due to Bond's injury. South Africa win by 358 runs.

Congrats to Steyn for his man-of-the-match and career-best 10 for 93. Also congrats to Amla and Kallis for their batting.

 

[Perth93]

This marks the arrival of Steyn. And no greentop gun this kid, he was quite special even on Pakistani pitches - i see a glimpse of a young donald in Steyn.

Kudos to Saffers too - the only last remaining nation that still prepares sporting wickets and the odd greentop.


Is he the world's best young quick? (Asif, Malinga, Gul and Clark are already veteran, so Steyn's rivals would be the likes of Tait, Johnson, Sree***t, Jerome Taylor, Morkel and Tremlett).

 

[Milo]

I think that Steyn and Morkel are the two most promising. Asif isn't really a veteran yet, ditto Gul. Good to see some new, young talent on the blocks.