***Official*** VB Series 2006

[Dixie Flatline]

Steyn has been subbed out for Botha.

 

[social]

Interesting performance by Jayawardene - intentionally obstructing the field followed by a dummy-spit when given out plumb lbw.

 

[alternative]

South Africa played well, i think they can chase down that total.. lets see how they go about with there batting performance..

 

[Lostman]

Sl will need a solid opening spell from vaas for the SL's spinners to even have a chance to defend this mediocre total. all upto murali and bandara i think. I wonder why SL's best fast bowler this tournament, kulaskera, was dropped for Fernando

 

[Dixie Flatline]

But Sri Lanka aren't doing too badly at the moment. South Africa 98/3 after 28 overs with Smith 58* and Prince 5*.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Graeme Smith out now, caught by Murali off Bandara for 67, then Bandara gets Kemp first ball lbw. South Africa 114/5 after 27 overs.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

But Sri Lanka aren't doing too badly at the moment. South Africa 98/3 after 28 overs with Smith 58* and Prince 5*.

I'm sure I read 28 overs on cricinfo. Maybe it was after 22 overs and 28 to go.

 

[nookie_lk]

Sri Lanka

 

[Lostman]

Malinga bandara has the most annoying wicket celebration and im Sri Lankan too

 

[nookie_lk]

what does he do ?

 

[Tim]

It's curtains for South Africa.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Yep, looks like Australia versus Sri Lanka for the finals with South Africa now 147/8 with Pollock and van der Wath going in quick succession.

 

[nookie_lk]

What a win by Sri Lanka !!!

 

[Dixie Flatline]

South Africa all out for 181, chasing 257/9.

 

[JASON]

What a bowling performance by Bandara !!

If anything he is a real find for SL . Its well known for opposition teams to strategise against Murali by not taking risks and playing out his overs while giving the other spinners the stick, But until Bandara's emergence the number 2 spinner was not really capable of utilising this to get wickets. ... Until Bandara's emergence that is ........

I can see Bandara outshining Murali not just in this game .... but in future in Test Cricket... too....


In fact I hope the SL selectors give the other young spinning prospect Weerakoon a go in the near future as well........ and then we may find Murali will have to compete for his position in the Team or even......consider ..... his future......Too early to contemplate this . .......

 

[JASON]

I feel sorry for SA , because they were not in any way outperformed by SL throughout this series to lose out here .

That despite playing without several players and after an arduous and tiring Test series .

If anything they lost out due to bonus points...with injuries to key players and the skipper out of form for most of the series..

Will this mean a change of Guard in SA Cricket ie..Smith being replaced by perhaps Pollock again or Kallis ?

 

[Slats4ever]

if bandara is going to be so stunning for Sri Lanka it could well thwart Murali's final wicket tally.

 

[JASON]

if bandara is going to be so stunning for Sri Lanka it could well thwart Murali's final wicket tally.

As A sri Lankan, I don't think we need any more evidence or performances from Murali to show us he is a legendary Spinner .

I think some may never agree with this , but I think we (Sri Lankans) can live with that and Murali must learn to do so too.

Now its time for the next lot of spinners to come and take over and move SL up !!

Murali's personal mile stones are not the be all and end all of SL cricket !!

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Will this mean a change of Guard in SA Cricket ie..Smith being replaced by perhaps Pollock again or Kallis ?

Surely South Africa wouldn't put that much stock in making the finals of the VB Series?

 

[JASON]

Surely South Africa wouldn't put that much stock in making the finals of the VB Series?

But would you pick him as an opener for the next Test series against the number 1 ranked Team in the World after a lean summer in Tests and ODIs ?