**Official** South Africa in England 2012

[Stumpcam]

Now the nerves for us English supporters really start.

Will they go for the win? Will they get the 346 runs in 100+ overs?

Big question: do the batsmen have the balls?

 

[Jacknife]

Yeah, those two drops (amla and ABdV) cost England 152 runs.

How different the game situation would be if both had been taken.

Been the difference this match, SA have taken there's and we haven't.

When we've dropped them it's gone on to hurt us. Not sure what's happened to the catching, been piss poor this year and I really thought we'd got past this as well.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So basically can be no worse than 1 down tonight and we may have a slim chance.

 

[Teja.]

James Anderson and Graeme Swann end their series' averaging 41 and 77 with the ball, respectively.

Will be lying if I don't admit to being a wee bit smugly happy about that.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

May be a tough target, but if SA had batted another 3 or 4 overs they would have made the required run rate over 3.5 and probably put it out of reach. They weren't able to do it. So they've virtually ruled the draw right out of it.

If I was Eng I would aim to be something like 200/3 at tea tomorrow, by which time about 70 overs will have been bowled. Less than 3 an over by that point. Then they would only need less than 5 an over for the remaining 30.

 

[Stapel]

Good target for the match, but my money i son the Saffers!

 

[Jacknife]

Now the nerves for us English supporters really start.

Will they go for the win? Will they get the 346 runs in 100+ overs?

Big question: do the batsmen have the balls?

Yep gonna have to show some serious testicular fortitude to win this.

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't think England can afford to really waste these overs tonight. Obviously they shouldn't go out swinging but with the target almost 350 they can't shut up shop here either as you'd normally be inclined in such a tricky little session. How long have we got anyway? 12 overs or so? Light will probably intervene before then anyway.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Yep gonna have to show some serious testicular fortitude to win this.

Unlike Morkel who showed all the fortitude of a squished mantis

 

[Valer]

Quality wides.

 

[Jacknife]

No they can't, already a high run rate and would be almost unmanageable if they went at 2 rpo till the end of play, no way they cant shut up shot tonight, got to play their natural game and put the bad balls away but also nothing stupid.

 

[Jacknife]

Come on openers get us off to a good start for a change, bit of a understatement to say we could do with it.

 

[GIMH]

Aw no

 

[Prince EWS]

Plumb; don't bother Ali.

 

[Stumpcam]

Come on openers get us off to a good start for a change, bit of a understatement to say we could do with it.

Well, they are up with the run rate so far.

For ****s sake Cook.

 

[Jacknife]

****ing pathetic, neither forward or back, just caught on the crease.

 

[Heboric]

Yes well done boytie from Ravensmeade

 

[Valer]

****ing pathetic, neither forward or back, just caught on the crease.

For ****s sake Cook.

annnnd the all wickets my team loses are erorrs not good bowling is back.

 

[TT Boy]

Great time for Cricinfo to put this article up today - He found overwhelming success in his first seven Tests but is now struggling in England. It's all to do with the nuts and bolts of how he bowls

 

[ankitj]

Nicely set up this one. England would obviously be going for this total given they are 0-1 down.

Why doesn't Steyn open the bowling any more, btw.