Group B - Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

[Perm]

I do imagine this is the kind of thing that would really annoy Ponting if his team was unable to progress through to the final. Ponting likes to be a winner and that's understandable, and while some people here may feel that the Champions Trophy is a waste of time it's certainly not in the Australian team's eyes because they have never won before.

Anyway, here's hoping for a very entertaining game tonight between a couple of good sides. It doesn't really both me too much who wins it, but from an NZ point of view we would probably want Pakistan to win so that we could most likely play the West Indies in the semifinal.

 

[thedarkmullet]

Would it work that way? NZ's probably going to qualify top of the group based on our superior net run rate.

 

[Dravid]

Toss has taken place and for a change the team that has won the toss has elected to bat first. No Rana in this game after his crap bowling in the last match. I'm looking foward to see how Razzaq comes back after last matches bowling also.

 

[haroon510]

Toss has taken place and for a change the team that has won the toss has elected to bat first. No Rana in this game after his crap bowling in the last match. I'm looking foward to see how Razzaq comes back after last matches bowling also.

iam glad that he was dropped. sami would have been a much better option for pakistan instead of ran or iftkhar anjum in this tournment.
really surprsing South African decided to bat despite knowing there would be dew later on.

 

[Dravid]

What a start from Pakistan!!! 2 balls and two wickets!! 1-2 south africa

 

[Sw1fty]

Just the start Pakistan were looking for

 

[Dravid]

Just the start Pakistan were looking for

I think that's more than they could've asked for

 

[Perm]

Great start by Umar Gul, unlucky not to have Dippenaar caught at 2nd slip. Farhat was just a little bit slow.

 

[Jono]

Best ODI Pitch Ever

Flat track bullies beware. What a brilliant start to the match. Seeing the ball move and lift like that, and two quality technical batsmen (Kallis and Dipenaar) battle against the tough conditions, that's cricket.

 

[TT Boy]

Unlucky for Gul that Imran Farhat is only five ft. nothing, South Afirca would be three down for two. Boeta ridding his luck big time.

Also just a quick note on Umar Gul, Cricinfo has him down at twenty four years old but the Sky info bar states his 22, anyone hazard a guess at how old Gul is?

 

[Dravid]

Unlucky for Gul that Imran Farhat is only five ft. nothing, South Afirca would be three down for two. Boeta ridding his luck big time.

Also just a quick note on Umar Gul, Cricinfo has him down at twenty four years old but the Sky info bar states his 22, anyone hazard a guess at how old Gul is?

I'm pretty sure I once heard one of the commentators say he was 22

 

[Dravid]

Dipenaar lucky he didn't get out on that run, that was such a stupid call

 

[TT Boy]

Best ODI Pitch Ever

Flat track bullies beware. What a brilliant start to the match. Seeing the ball move and lift like that, and two quality technical batsmen (Kallis and Dipenaar) battle against the tough conditions, that's cricket.

I'm inclined to disagree on the part of Boeta being quality his shown to be just as useless as Gibbs so far. His still there but **** knows how. Also in regard to Gibbs, surely South Africa need to ditch him or play him further down the order, his lost the plot and why is he batting so square on, his not from Guyana is he?

 

[TT Boy]

India have to play on this ground on Sunday, if the pitch is anything like this Dravid will be the only Indian to get into double figures.

 

[Pratters]

India have to play on this ground on Sunday, if the pitch is anything like this Dravid will be the only Indian to get into double figures.

India is playing on the other wicket which is hardly green.

 

[TT Boy]

India is playing on the other wicket which is hardly green.

It's brown.

 

[Jono]

I'm inclined to disagree on the part of Boeta being quality his shown to be just as useless as Gibbs so far. His still there but **** knows how. Also in regard to Gibbs, surely South Africa need to ditch him or play him further down the order, his lost the plot and why is he batting so square on, his not from Guyana is he?

Lol, harsh. Boeta is moving his feet, and handling the ball rising as best as he can. Of course he's played and missed at a few (and that edge was a bad shot), anyone would when the pitch is doing so much early and the bowlers are putting the ball in the right places. He's no Kallis or Rahul, but I can't think of anyone else in the SA team that should be out there with Kallis to handle this onslaught of quality fast bowling.

 

[Dravid]

Out! What a great catch by Akmal, Dipenaar is out 27-3 and the collapse continues

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Wish Australia and India were playing on this pitch. It's something out of McGrath's most beautiful dream.

 

[TT Boy]

Interesting to see how AB will approach this and at least the wicket has pace and bounce which he should enjoy.