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*Official* Sri Lanka in South Africa 2011/12

Briony

Briony

International Debutant
Scaly piscine said:
This is typical South Africa. Great front-runners but not so good the rest of the time. I guess it's games like this that make them 'look better on paper' because it boosts the averages.

Should have kept batting for a while longer at that rate, another 20 overs (8.7 per over off the last 10) would be very handy, but realistically 700+ and get Sri Lanka following-on.

Horrible decision by Smith.
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Could say the same about Clarke and co. in this Sydney match.

The declaration may well be too soon but against England a few years ago the SA team got criticised for declaring too late when they had them nine down, even though they left themselves four sessions and a bit to bowl them out. Time and runs come into it.
 
MrPrez

MrPrez

International Debutant
I would have scored 700+ tbh. Then you basically go flat out attack, trying to get 20 wickets in 3 days.
 
Jarquis

Jarquis

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Tbf once Clarke got to about 20 it might as well have been cashing in considering the quality of bowling being dished up at him.

Anyway, Kallis :wub:
Bizarre decision by Smith imo.
And SL fans who don't think Kulasekara would improve this side are kidding themselves.
 
Briony

Briony

International Debutant
Prince EWS said:
Yeah coming in at 37/3 on the first evening and scoring 251* (and counting) as captain in an important Test match is textbook cashing in while the going is easy...
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Well he was scratchy at first and then he cashed in. It was not as if there was scoreboard pressure either. Would like to see him making runs when chasing tough fourth innings totals like in Joburg and Hobart. The bowling today was filth and the pitch flat. As a seasoned batsman at the peak of his career he is in the luxury position of batting down the order and comes in usually when the shine is off the ball.

Ditto the Lankan bowling here. These innings are great for the statistically minded but wouldn't be rated among the toughest runs ever made.

Enjoyed watching AB de V. improvise though; it showed what a talent he is and he's very team-oriented.
 
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Scaly piscine

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Briony said:
Could say the same about Clarke and co. in this Sydney match.

The declaration may well be too soon but against England a few years ago the SA team got criticised for declaring too late when they had them nine down, even though they left themselves four sessions and a bit to bowl them out. Time and runs come into it.
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Nah South Africa pile up these sorts of scores pretty often, particularly against minnows obviously. For Australia it's pretty rare over recent times to get these sorts of dominating totals.

Sometimes you make the right decision but it doesn't work out and you get criticised for it, there wasn't much wrong with SA's declaration against England - it wasn't much more than 3 an over required. South Africa just didn't bowl well enough. This declaration was horrid, whether it works out or not. It makes it that much harder when you're having to gauge how to bat, when to declare when the other team has the option of chasing it down - as in that Test you mentioned. A follow-on here would make the game far simpler.
 
Briony

Briony

International Debutant
Scaly piscine said:
Nah South Africa pile up these sorts of scores pretty often, particularly against minnows obviously. For Australia it's pretty rare over recent times to get these sorts of dominating totals.

Sometimes you make the right decision but it doesn't work out and you get criticised for it, there wasn't much wrong with SA's declaration against England - it wasn't much more than 3 an over required. South Africa just didn't bowl well enough. This declaration was horrid, whether it works out or not. It makes it that much harder when you're having to gauge how to bat, when to declare when the other team has the option of chasing it down - as in that Test you mentioned. A follow-on here would make the game far simpler.
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It would though it may not be that easy to take twenty wickets in a row on such a flat pitch unless Tahir gets his act together.
 
Himannv

Himannv

Hall of Fame Member
Looks like tomorrow will be a key day. If we bat well we can try and save this match and tie the series.
 
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