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

[Mike5181]

McCullum is playing quite well at the moment.

 

[Burgey]

Nicol is hideously compelling to watch. Looks so badly equipped in terms of technique, but is showing some ticker.

Didn't think I'd see a test opener with a worse technique than Hughes, but here he is. With about 25% of the generously nosed New South Welshman's hand/eye to boot.

It's like watching a slow motion train wreck, isnt it?

 

[SteveNZ]

I wish we would get rid of this stupid stat chat. There's some interesting cricket on at the moment.

Is that the segment where Francis 'face for radio, voice for print media and personality for not a lot in particular' Payne babbles on and the rest of them pretend they're interested?

That review was hilarious. Whoever was at gully should be shot - he would've got a very good view that it was no where near.

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's like watching a slow motion train wreck, isnt it?

Yeah, as I said it's quite splendid in a perverse way too. Chap's clearly not got the chops for test opening, but he's gutsing it out.

& smacks a meaty full bunger down deep mid-on's throat as I type to make a liar of me. FFS.

 

[Days of Grace]

South Africa just need to stay on the field and roll their arms over. The New Zealand batsmen will get themselves all out before 5pm tomorrow.

 

[Pothas]

Love the Oh no no no.

 

[straw man]

Nicol vastly exceeds all expectations and then . Bmac surprisingly good so far but will need to fight the temptation to play a stupid shot.

 

[straw man]

Location: optimism

...

There's optimism and then there's thinking we're going to win, which is called delusion

An optimistic prediction would be that one of our batsmen will push on to a century - especially if it's someone a little unproven like McCullum or Williamson.

 

[Briony]

There's optimism and then there's thinking we're going to win, which is called delusion

An optimistic prediction would be that one of our batsmen will push on to a century - especially if it's someone a little unproven like McCullum or Williamson.

At least from NZ's perspective there's very little in the pitch for the bowlers.

These days it's more common to run down big totals.

 

[Athlai]

Need a big century from one of these two, really need one of these guys and Vettori/Williamson to get us within 100.

 

[Kippax]

There's less than 50 overs left in this match I think, not sure if it's better McCullum and Taylor know the likelihood of that or not.

 

[Athlai]

Taylor looking imperious.

 

[Mike5181]

Need 40-50 from the last ten overs without losing a wicket.

 

[NUFAN]

I'm really liking this partnership. If only NZ had Brownlie fit and another batsman in place of Southee - They would be in with a shot of winning this as the pitch isn't the worst to bat on.

 

[Briony]

NZ looking solid now.

Benign pitch. If the weather holds they might surprise.

 

[Briony]

I'm really liking this partnership. If only NZ had Brownlie fit and another batsman in place of Southee - They would be in with a shot of winning this as the pitch isn't the worst to bat on.

Which is why the declaration didn't come earlier. In fact if the weather was to hold, this stands as quite a generous declaration. 400 isn't insurmountable these days and there was enough time left for them to make them. SA hasn't got a formidable spinner either.

 

[kingkallis]

which is why the declaration didn't come earlier. In fact if the weather was to hold, this stands as quite a generous declaration. 400 isn't insurmountable these days and there was enough time left for them to make them. Sa hasn't got a formidable spinner either.

+1

 

[straw man]

Need 40-50 from the last ten overs without losing a wicket.

Nah, I'm perfectly happy with the last 4-5 overs of barely any runs but no wickets.

 

[Mike5181]

Nah, I'm perfectly happy with the last 4-5 overs of barely any runs but no wickets.

These overs could be quite invaluable in the context of this chase. I'm comfortable with this if we have a decent amount of overs tomorrow though.

 

[Kippax]

Southee's a terrible choice for nightwatchman! Get Bracewell padded up if you're going to do it at all, jeez.