***Official*** South Africa in New Zealand 2012

[SteveNZ]

One day, I'll look at an NZ scorecard which doesn't read 100-150ish for 5.

Someone beat me to the punchline on this one.

Seriously, if we can't get 300 today, on this pitch, we should give up. Kinda like the mercy rule in baseball, just up sticks and start the off-season. It is flat, it is slowish, it isn't particularly turning, nor swinging, nor bouncing, the boundaries aren't big, these guys aren't bowling express pace and so forth.

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[wellAlbidarned]

Someone beat me to the punchline on this one.

Seriously, if we can't get 300 today, on this pitch, we should give up. Kinda like the mercy rule in baseball, just up sticks and start the off-season. It is flat, it is slowish, it isn't particularly turning, nor swinging, nor bouncing, the boundaries aren't big, these guys aren't bowling express pace and so forth.

\

Hah, how many times have we said that? We're a distinctly average team, you should be used to it by now.

 

[_Ed_]

Is Kruger looking reasonably assured? I'd love to see him transfer his epic FC form up to this level.

 

[SteveNZ]

Hah, how many times have we said that? We're a distinctly average team, you should be used to it by now.

I am well used to it, but seriously this is the flattest pitch I've ever seen.

Van Wyk's not looking too bad, but you can be assured he isn't going to throw his wicket away. If he gets out, he'll be gotten out.

 

[Mike5181]

Vettori has been epic for us in the last five years.

2183 runs @ 40.42 + 128 wickets @ 32.50.

 

[Briony]

Vettori has been epic for us in the last five years.

2183 runs @ 40.42 + 128 wickets @ 32.50.

Teams don't seem to know how to deal with his unorthodox technique.

Kiwis on top again.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Rageface.jpg

 

[kingkallis]

Dangerous Dan gone. Good return catch by Kallis!

 

[_Ed_]

Three batsmen out in the 40s. Needed at least one of them to push on to something more substantial.

 

[Briony]

Three batsmen out in the 40s. Needed at least one of them to push on to something more substantial.

Back to even stevens then.

And SA had three batsmen out in the fifties.

Given the flatness of the pitch it's not a ringing endorsement for the calibre of these two somewhat brittle batting lineups.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Back to even stevens then.

And SA had three batsmen out in the fifties.

Given the flatness of the pitch it's not a ringing endorsement for the calibre of these two somewhat brittle batting lineups.

um wat

 

[Prince EWS]

Back to even stevens then.

And SA had three batsmen out in the fifties.

Given the flatness of the pitch it's not a ringing endorsement for the calibre of these two somewhat brittle batting lineups.

Both teams have good pace attacks though tbf.

Yeah I went there. I'm officially declaring this New Zealand attack good. I rate it.

 

[Briony]

Both teams have good pace attacks though tbf.

Yeah I went there. I'm officially declaring this New Zealand attack good. I rate it.

Both have fairly good attacks but with the batting they're problematic and their tails are long.

Van Wyk showing more resilience than Boucher who's been a non-event with the bat for a long time.

 

[SteveNZ]

'It's a pitch you never felt in on'.

Wait for the above to reveal itself in post-match. It's a road.

Slightly ironic that everyone would have been cursing McCullum and Taylor for playing those shots, then Vettori went to pull out of one and got out anyway.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Getting caught in indecision is just as bad obv.

 

[Days of Grace]

Back to even stevens then.

Disagree. New Zealand need a lead of at least 75 before I'm calling it even-stevens. New Zealand have to bat last on this pitch, with all the nerves associated with chasing a target, and all that against arguably the best bowling attack in the world.

 

[Flem274*]

Both teams have good pace attacks though tbf.

Yeah I went there. I'm officially declaring this New Zealand attack good. I rate it.

They're going to shunt it now.

Disagree. New Zealand need a lead of at least 75 before I'm calling it even-stevens. New Zealand have to bat last on this pitch, with all the nerves associated with chasing a target, and all that against arguably the best bowling attack in the world.

Yeah we're not chasing anything over 100 with this lot.

 

[Days of Grace]

I would be surprised if South Africa make anything less than 300 on this pitch in the 3rd innings with their top 6.

 

[Spikey]

kallis what a guy. you don't see sachin coming on and taking out the other team's best batsman...

 

[Flem274*]

South Africa have a good chance at a lead here. We have a bit of a tail.