Hashim Amla may have walked away with his second man-of-the-match award in as many matches but Darren Sammy’s eleventh hour heroics stole the show in Antigua last night.
South Africa’s 300 looked an imposing total and though the wicket was an excellent one for batting, the West Indies’ reply was repeatedly stilted by the fall of wickets. (Read more)
Once more Chris Gayle won the toss and once more he chose to bowl first. Hashim Amla and AB De Villiers were in prolific form as they both raced to centuries in the first One Day International between South Africa and West Indies in Antigua.
It is promising that while Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis failed Hashim and AB were able to rescue the innings calmly. South Africa were in trouble at 57 for 2 with the good start made my Amla and Smith nullified by the fall of two quick wickets. Amla and de Villiers stayed the course though, seeing off the West Indian fightback and were soon in control of the match. Much of the innings offered no fancy shots or boundary fireworks. Hashim and AB simply went about collecting the singles and twos on offer and making no mistake in sending the bad balls to the boundary. While 300 seemed an almost certain score with Amla and De Villiers at the crease their demise stalled the run flow in the rain-recuded 48 over match. (Read more)
If you’re not keen on joining the adulation of the English cricket team steer clear of British media for the next week. Paul Collingwood’s men have become the darlings of the nation, saviours of English cricket, restorers of national sporting pride, etc, etc.
It is the first time England have won an ICC competition but in South Africa the talk is curiously about whether it’s an English victory at all. ‘They say SA are chokers, we’ve just won the T20 world cup!’ says a friend. (Read more)
Chasing a mammoth 192 in twenty overs on a slow pitch against world-class slower bowlers, few would have backed Australia to beat Pakistan in the second semi-final in St Lucia last night.
Losing their openers cheaply and then continuing to lose batsmen at critical junctures, Australia’s cause seemed doomed to failure.Pakistan looked indomitable for most of the game but it was Australia that went on to score a resounding victory. (Read more)