Nothing is predictable in cricket, let alone a dream match between the reigning powers of the game, India and South Africa. The Group B of the running World Cup has already turned to a pool of surprise. Wonderfully, most of them were hatched by the mother of all cricketing, England
After a thrilling tie with India the English team gave in to Irish revolutionaries. They wondered the cricket world beating South Africa but Bangla tigers thrashed their hope in a dazzling fashion. And now the cricket fans expect more thrill from pool B when India clash with South Africa.
Today’s match between two pre-tournament favorites has already electrified the spirit among the fans on both sides. India is to face a real World Cup match after a winning streak against minnows like Bangladesh and Ireland. For South Africa it’s a mettle test after their shocking defeat to England.
However, captains of both team seem to be fresh likely to ease the pressure on the team preparing for knock out battles. The match will offer a great opportunity for both Dhoni and Smith to fix the bugs and fit the boys for a long ride.
Graeme Smith is not ready to take this game as more important than the others. "It is not the be-all-and-end-all of the World Cup," said Smith. "The knockout stage is. The group phase is all about qualifying for the knock-out stage.” However he feels it’s an important game to both the teams in the terms of confidence.
For Dhoni on the other hand it’s a fire-test of the team’s so-called batting order and a hell for the bowlers at large.
India:
Virender Sehwag b du Plessis 73
Sachin Tendulkar c Duminy b Morkel 111
Gautam Gambhir c Kallis b Steyn 69
Yusuf Pathan c Smith b Steyn 0
Yuvraj Singh c Botha b Kallis 12
MS Dhoni not out 12
Virat Kohli c & b Peterson 1
Harbhajan Singh b Steyn 3
Zaheer Khan c Morkel b Peterson 0
Ashish Nehra c Smith b Steyn 0
Munaf Patel b Steyn 0
Extras: (lb 2, w 12, nb 1) 15
Total: (all out; 48.4 overs) 296
Fall of wickets: 1-142 (Sehwag, 17.4 overs), 2-267 (Tendulkar, 39.4), 3-268 (Gambhir, 40.1), 4-268 (Pathan, 40.3), 5-283 (Yuvraj Singh, 42.6), 6-286 (Kohli, 43.6), 7-293 (Harbhajan Singh, 46.5), 8-294 (Khan, 47.4), 9-296 (Nehra, 48.3), 10-296 (Patel, 48.4)
Bowling:
Dale Steyn 9.4-0-50-5
Morne Morkel 7-0-59-1
Jacques Kallis 8-0-43-1
Robin Peterson 9-0-52-2
JP Duminy 3-0-29-0
Johan Botha 9-0-39-0
Faf du Plessis 3-0-22-1
Toss: India, who chose to bat
Umpires: Ian Gould (England) and Simon Taufel (Australia)
TV umpire: Billy Doctrove (West Indies)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
After a thrilling tie with India the English team gave in to Irish revolutionaries. They wondered the cricket world beating South Africa but Bangla tigers thrashed their hope in a dazzling fashion. And now the cricket fans expect more thrill from pool B when India clash with South Africa.
Today’s match between two pre-tournament favorites has already electrified the spirit among the fans on both sides. India is to face a real World Cup match after a winning streak against minnows like Bangladesh and Ireland. For South Africa it’s a mettle test after their shocking defeat to England.
However, captains of both team seem to be fresh likely to ease the pressure on the team preparing for knock out battles. The match will offer a great opportunity for both Dhoni and Smith to fix the bugs and fit the boys for a long ride.
Graeme Smith is not ready to take this game as more important than the others. "It is not the be-all-and-end-all of the World Cup," said Smith. "The knockout stage is. The group phase is all about qualifying for the knock-out stage.” However he feels it’s an important game to both the teams in the terms of confidence.
For Dhoni on the other hand it’s a fire-test of the team’s so-called batting order and a hell for the bowlers at large.
India:
Virender Sehwag b du Plessis 73
Sachin Tendulkar c Duminy b Morkel 111
Gautam Gambhir c Kallis b Steyn 69
Yusuf Pathan c Smith b Steyn 0
Yuvraj Singh c Botha b Kallis 12
MS Dhoni not out 12
Virat Kohli c & b Peterson 1
Harbhajan Singh b Steyn 3
Zaheer Khan c Morkel b Peterson 0
Ashish Nehra c Smith b Steyn 0
Munaf Patel b Steyn 0
Extras: (lb 2, w 12, nb 1) 15
Total: (all out; 48.4 overs) 296
Fall of wickets: 1-142 (Sehwag, 17.4 overs), 2-267 (Tendulkar, 39.4), 3-268 (Gambhir, 40.1), 4-268 (Pathan, 40.3), 5-283 (Yuvraj Singh, 42.6), 6-286 (Kohli, 43.6), 7-293 (Harbhajan Singh, 46.5), 8-294 (Khan, 47.4), 9-296 (Nehra, 48.3), 10-296 (Patel, 48.4)
Bowling:
Dale Steyn 9.4-0-50-5
Morne Morkel 7-0-59-1
Jacques Kallis 8-0-43-1
Robin Peterson 9-0-52-2
JP Duminy 3-0-29-0
Johan Botha 9-0-39-0
Faf du Plessis 3-0-22-1
Toss: India, who chose to bat
Umpires: Ian Gould (England) and Simon Taufel (Australia)
TV umpire: Billy Doctrove (West Indies)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
