***Official*** India in South Africa

[silentstriker]

All right 402 required for victory!

 

[adharcric]

VRV is insane too. Sreesanth and VRV ... what a legendary pairing we've got there.

A lead of 400, decent effort by the tail.

 

[adharcric]

SS, are you satisifed?

 

[silentstriker]

SS, are you satisifed?

I'm a bit afraid that the pitch will not do anything. With that said, 400 is an excellent lead and if they lose it from here, it will be only their own fault.

 

[adharcric]

That should be lunch right? See you guys in 40 minutes.

 

[Dravid]

I'm a bit afraid that the pitch will not do anything. With that said, 400 is an excellent lead and if they lose it from here, it will be only their own fault.

You can never be positive.

 

[Dravid]

That should be lunch right? See you guys in 40 minutes.

Nope, they are out there right now.

 

[silentstriker]

You can never be positive.

Only when the fat lady sings.

 

[Dravid]

Oh my god, almost out first ball.
Waiting on hawk eye

 

[silentstriker]

Great first ball!

 

[silentstriker]

Gone for a pair!

 

[Dravid]

C Mon!!!!!!!!!!! Zaheeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!!!

 

[silentstriker]

And thats lunch.

 

[adharcric]

Zak you gun. Brilliant!

 

[adharcric]

Haha I loved the way Sachin just stood there clutching that ball with a huge smile on his face. Alright guys, see you in 40 minutes.

 

[dileep.vaka]

great start

 

[dileep.vaka]

Indians should maintain this form

 

[Slow Love™]

Wow! That exchange between Sreesanth and Nel was one of the best I've seen for a while. Nel delivers a lecture about "heart", and then gets hit straight over his head for six - what a reply! Loved the bat-twirling afterwards, too. I know that Nel did some arm/hand twirling afterwards, but in reality, he was trying way too hard to york Sreesanth from that point, and was mostly pushing it down the leg-side as a result. Sreesanth definitely won the battle - and probably the war as well.

I'd be shocked if either player copped disciplinary action - IMO, neither player transgressed into poor behaviour, it was just a great little contest between the players, with neither wanting to give an inch, and was completely in the spirit of the game from where I'm standing.

And personally, I think you can stick a fork in the South Africans, 'cause they're done, and surely India will go 1-0 up here. I can see why there'd be a bit of nervousness for Indian supporters in terms of their bowlers finishing the job, but I simply can't see South Africa getting up, even if the pitch is getting more comfortable to bat on. This should end up being a fantastic upset, and the performances of the two re-introductions to the side (Laxman and Sourav) is of particular note.

 

[TT Boy]

Gibbs is on borrowed time and that innings as Barry Richards said could, should really be the end of him. Fantastic servant to South African cricket but his gone, shocking dismissal in the first innings and now that unnecessary flirt outside off stump. I really don’t understand South Africa’s thinking when Gibbs supposedly hasn’t got the technique/ability to face the white ball in one day cricket anymore yet they believe he can open in the longer form of the game. If Durban is a concrete road then maybe a slot at number four or five could be worth considering but his a walking wicket at the moment and if the openers had did they job affectively and see out the first twenty overs or so then South Africa would have been one step closer to winning this game. Yet they constantly playing back up because they don’t have the correct players opening up, fundamental changes need to be made, all well and good Smith might be the captain but he can’t score runs either and its as simple as that.

 

[adharcric]

Laxman, Ganguly and Zaheer have been very impressive.
Gavaskar made a good point regarding how the guys who took their places for granted, got dropped and came back motivated are producing results.