*Official* South Africa in New Zealand

[Tim]

254/5...unbelievable hitting at the end from Styris & McCullum.

McCullum 40 off 23 balls
Styris 45 off 26 balls

 

[Tim]

69 runs off the last 4 overs...and who said NZ had problems at the death with their bowling?

 

[southern man]

Wasnt it great to watch.

 

[Isolator]

Christ, that was tight...

 

[Kimbo]

Well what a great game that was thanks to some fireworks from Shaun Pollock against Kyle "I can bowl at the death" Mills.

 

[Salamuddin]

Excellent match -- credit to both teams.

I almost thought Pollock would do it -- hit 3 consecutive sixes !!

 

[Kent]

I'm actually proud of Mills. That superb last ball saved us all from a "Dion Nash at Napier" feeling!

That yorker, and putting his hand up in the first place, proves Sideshow Bob has some definite stones. He's not exactly a great talent, but I have a feeling if that was someone with a bit more self-doubt (like Oram, who's constantly cursing himself), that last ball probably would've gone too.

 

[Isolator]

I'm actually proud of Mills. That superb last ball saved us all from a "Dion Nash at Napier" feeling!

That yorker, and putting his hand up in the first place, proves Sideshow Bob has some definite stones. He's not exactly a great talent, but I have a feeling if that was someone with a bit more self-doubt (like Oram, who's constantly cursing himself), that last ball probably would've gone too.

This is true. He tried getting it up in the blockhole, got smacked for two consecutive sixes, but had enough balls to give it another shot. Not that I really like Kyle Mills, but that was pretty decent stuff there.

 

[marc71178]

69 runs off the last 4 overs...and who said NZ had problems at the death with their bowling?

What does them scoring 69 in 4 overs say about their own bowling attack though?

 

[Langeveldt]

how about Morkel's front arm... wierd!?

Ive never seen Albie Morkel, and cant get the NZ telecast here... What were the first impressions?

 

[Tim]

decent all-rounder...it would be unfair to judge him though because he didn't really do much.

Probably bowls around 130/135 km's.

 

[Craig]

He looked ok.

His left wrist would just flick the the way, he must be double jointed!

 

[cbuts]

i thought the field looked absolutley brillaint considering. they play at the staduim due to beigger capcity. also they signed a contract when the stadium opened to play all odi and tests till 2008. they managed to squirm there way out of the tests part luckily. i still dont understand why there was such a delay. the outfield was quick. the bowlers run up were fine. if they were wet they would of got ripped up and required sawdust.

 

[Mingster]

NZ have the death sorted out.

A combination of Cairns (looked bloody good with his bowling), Oram, Mills and Tuffey will do.

Cairns was generating good pace, and was consistently in the 135-140 region.

 

[Prince EWS]

Cairns is fine and Tuffey si getting better (still will never be suited to death bowling), but Oram and Mills should never bowl at tyhe death. I think Matt Walker should be given another go. He bowled very well at the death in Pakistan at times. The only bowler to do so.

 

[Tim]

The good news is that when Bond returns, NZ won't have to rely on Bond to do as much damage as possible in the first 15 overs in fear of the fact that the rest of the bowlers can't do anything later.

Cairns seems to be growing with confidence after every game & Mills & Tuffey have definately matured as international bowlers over the last year since the World Cup.
Concerns about Vettori seem to be put to rest now that he's been in excellent form against South Africa & I think even Styris is bowling much better.

I still think NZ are 1 quality batsman short but as long as Cairns continues to improve then I don't see why they can't play both Cairns & Oram.

 

[marc71178]

NZ have the death sorted out.

Pollock nearly changed that though - conceding that many off the last over is not what I'd call "sorted out"

 

[Tim]

NZ really were fortunate that Mills managed to pull out of the 'ball of god' otherwise Pollock could & probably would have smashed another 6 to win the match.

NZ seem to be highlighted most often as a team who struggles at the death but when I see other scorecards & other matches I don't think many teams are able to do any better either.

 

[marc71178]

NZ seem to be highlighted most often as a team who struggles at the death

That's strange, because I've not really noticed any of that sort of highlighted over here - from which sources do you get it Tim?

 

[Tim]

No it's rarely been suggested here...but for some reason its the NZ commentators, NZ media & a few other websites that have mainly criticised NZ's bowling at death.

And I guess they have every right too...but IMO NZ are not the only team to have death problems right now.