South Africa edges through

Wow, my fingers are quite a bit shorter today. Tony Greg described it as the best game of the World Cup. It was a thriller of a game, and an unbelievable end.

For the average SA supporter the history of SA being chokers, or struggling to win have been revived, and fears have arisen. But SA will put this behind them, in the same vein that they put the Aus game behind them, and they'll bank the 2 points. From here on it does not look too hard to get into the semi's.

On selections:

I thought that the move to play Peterson instead of Prince was inspired. Peterson didn't bowl excellently, but it gives SA a variety which Prince doesn't really offer. At the moment SA's batting looks capable and in form (barring really fast reverse-swinging bowling, and Murali offbreaks and doosras), and should be able to chase most targets with Smith firing at the front giving an excellent base. Pollock's bowling is a concern, and thought should be given to make him first change. But I would like to see him build some confidence against the "easier" games that are coming along next for SA. Or maybe Smith should just not hesitate to take him off after 2.

When I saw Malinga the first time, I couldn't believe the accuracy he bowled at. It was amazing, and I knew he was a treasure for Sri Lankian cricket. I frowned at the fact that they didn't play Fernando, as he is another wicket taker, and add him to Malinga, Vaas, Murali and you have 40/50 overs of the game coming from bowlers who can take a wicket any time. And you fill the other 10 with Jayasuriya and maybe another 1.

On a personal note I have a dream team. I play Smith, Kallis, Vaas, Malinga and Murali. These 5 were the top performers of the day (excepting Langeveldt), and I am very chuffed at the performance of my team.

Labels: 2007 world cup, hat-trick, malinga, south africa, sri lanka, world cup

Thus spake Reenen @ 12:29 pm | Sledge/Read 1 sledge(s)
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Langeveldt's last-over menace

Charl Langeveldt's performance against Sri Lanka was rather overshadowed by Lasith Malinga, although he did win share the match award. But it's worth noting that Langeveldt is a bit of a last-over (of his spell) specialist in the West Indies. There was the hat-trick, of course.

Yesterday's 3/0 off the last over brought his wickets tally in his last over in ODIs in the West Indies to 9 from 8 matches for 56 runs. That includes being pasted for 15 by Paul Hoffman and 16 by Shane Watson in the two matches prior to this. Note to Graeme Smith: tell him you're bowling the rest of his allocation before he starts each over. That way, he'll bowl as if each over was his last.

He'll also be on for a hat-trick the next time he bowls.

Labels: hat-trick, langeveldt

Thus spake Geoff @ 11:46 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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Malinga joins Gibbs

In defiance of the ICC's stupid action on YouTube videos, here're videos of Herschelle Gibbs hitting six sixes in an over and Lasith Malinga taking four wickets in four balls.Wouldn't it have been amazing if South Africa had featured in yet another tie? It'd have been even more amazing if this game had been tied and the result impacted South Africa progressing further in the World Cup. South Africa's previous two tied games were at Edgbaston v Australia and at Durban v Sri Lanka.

Labels: gibbs, hat-trick, icc, malinga, sixes, south africa, sri lanka, video, youtube

Thus spake Jagadish @ 10:49 am | Sledge/Read 2 sledge(s)
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Double Hat Trick!

Four wickets in four balls. Just as Herschelle Gibbs accomplished a feat that had never been done before in international cricket by hitting 6 sixes in an over, so did Lasith Malinga by taking four wickets in four balls. "Slinga" Malinga (so called because of his slinging bowling action) almost induced one of the greatest chokes of all time from South Africa. After Malinga's damage had been done, South Africa had slumped from 206/5 to 207/9. Faces that were once confident of victory agonised as thoughts of South Africa's previous World Cup gaffes in 1999 and 2003 must have been somewhere in their minds. A mere four runs for victory that turned out to be the hardest four runs to get.

When Robin Peterson's bat sliced a full Malinga delivery down to third man for four, the South Africans celebrated as if they had won the World Cup. The Proteas had overhauled Sri Lanka's total of 209 that had seemed much too small. That is before Malinga wrecked South Africa's lower order. Malinga's feat is called a double hat trick, because there are 2 sets of three consecutive wickets within the 4 consecutive wickets he took. Malinga's double hat trick came over 2 overs: He bowled Pollock and had Andrew Hall caught at cover both off slower balls. In his next over Kallis drove loosely at a full delivery outside off stump, only succeeding in edging the express delivery to the keeper, to give Malinga his hat trick. His next delivery was a well directed yorker that sent Makhaya Ntini's stumps flying.

(Cross Posted from Rain, No Play)

Labels: 2007 world cup, hat-trick, malinga, world cup

Thus spake Sean @ 8:57 am | Sledge/Read 0 sledge(s)
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