Official Thread: Africa vs Asia - 3rd ODI @ Durban [21/8/05]

[Shayan]

Africa XI team:
*GC Smith, HH Dippenaar, JH Kallis, JA Rudolph, AG Prince,
JM Kemp, +T Taibu, SM Pollock, HH Streak, DW Steyn, M Zondeki.

Asian XI team:
Shahid Afridi, V Sehwag, +KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene,
Yousuf Youhana, *Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq,
Mohammad Ashraful, Z Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, M Muralitharan.


Africa XI won the toss and elected to bat first

Delay - Start delay due to rain :6:

[Shayan]

A slight drizzle delayed start of play in the final match of the Afro-Asia Cup at Durban. Graeme Smith, back after serving a two-match ban for slow over-rates in the West Indies, won the toss and chose to bat. But before play could get underway, the weather intervened.

With the three-match series level at 1-1, both teams made a few changes to the sides which played on Saturday. The African team was further strengthened by the return of Jacques Kallis, while Tatenda Taibu took over wicketkeeping duties from Mark Boucher. Asia XI brought Mohammad Ashraful, their super sub yesterday, into their first XI, with Ashish Nehra dropping down to super sub. That's a decision that could hurt Asia XI, given that they have to bowl first.

The pitch is expected to assist the seamers early on - the overnight rain had helped the grass on the track remain fresh - but it should settle down later into a good batting strip. Smith's decision was obviously influenced by the results of the two earlier games in the tournament, both of which were won by the team batting first.

[Shayan]

Nehra being supersub may not be a problem. Asia have still got Shoaib, Zaheer, Razzaq, Murali, Afridi and Sehwag if required. Doubt Nehra will get a game today.

[deviously~fading~away]

latest new- still raining and covers are on

[deviously~fading~away]

Current condition mostly cloudy according to cnn

Latest news from Cricinfo: play to begin in 30 min. Out field dry. 30 min for players to exercise and get ready. Field is very dry at the moment:19:

[Razar]

my source in South Africa tells me it has stopped raining.

[Hash]

my source tells me the covers are coming off

[Shayan]

my source... cricinfo.... tells me the covers are coming off.

[Shayan]

my source tells me the sky is clear.

[Shayan]

my source tells me that play should start shortly.

[deviously~fading~away]

play to start in 30 min for the players to warm up and exercise
Field is dry and sky is clear!

[Hash]

was that from your source shez?

[Shayan]

its due to start at 13:45 local time, whats that in the UK? 12:45?

[Toony™®]

i think they r showing cricket on zee music..think that is free to air on sky digital.

[Razar]

yup 12.45 (or so my source tells me)

[Shayan]

cheers.

[Shayan]

its gonna be a 48 over game

[KB]

Superb swing bowling from Shoaib that takes out Smith.

[Saj]

yes Smith beaten for pace as the ball swung into him - lovely delivery from Akhtar. Nearly had Kallis first ball also.

[Farhad]

Shoaib has bowled tremendously in the last matches, although has not had the returns to show. But anyone who watched his beautiful ryhthm and tempo in the last match would know what I'm talking about. Bowling today has also been of the highest order. Would make Inzi and Woolmer think a bit about the forthcoming England tour and the need to have our only genuinely fast world-class bowler back in the ranks.

[KB]

Also encouraging to see Inzamam go on the attack by getting 3 slips in for both bowlers.

[KB]

But anyone who watched his beautiful ryhthm and tempo in the last match would know what I'm talking about.

Yeh, it is his rhythm that is standing out. Smooth run up and follow through.

[Saj]

A corker of a delivery from Shoaib to Dippenaar who looks worried against Shoaib. Commentators stating that Shoaib is hitting the bat hard and one can see that quite clearly.

[alybaba]

He's got good pace and length variation today too. Good stuff from Shoaib.

[KB]

And Inzamam's attacking captaincy works as a catch goes to 3rd slip.

[shabbu1]

Shoaib is bowling absolutely brilliantly today, the best i've seen from him in a while

[ImranR]

Zee music cut it off:12: but a great spell from akhtar

[iZeeshan]

true great bowling from shoaib! absolutely economical and great from zaheer khan also. africa looks in tatters

[shabbu1]

Rudolph run out, 26/3

[alybaba]

Kallis out - though I don't think it was the right decision. pitched outside leg.

[in_cutter]

true great bowling from shoaib! absolutely economical and great from zaheer khan also. africa looks in tatters

the shoaib haters must be worried :11:

[Shoaib A]

hehe LoL.......asia look very much on top here...shoaib has gr8 bowling figures..

[shabbu1]

and Akhtar takes another wicket

[Shoaib A]

shoaib strikes again!!

[alybaba]

Shoaib gets Prince! Caught by Murli at point

[Shayan_Sohail]

Gone Shoaib strikes in his SEVENTH over.

[adi 101]

shoaib strikes again hahaha this is great bowling 7 overs on the trot for shoaib aswell

[Shoaib A]

no real top class batsmen left now...hehe

[adi 101]

end of the wicket maiden for akhtar

[Shoaib A]

none have got into double figures....how gr8 bowling can it be...

[Shoaib A]

damn think the pacers will take those wickets...bowling spared includes murali and afridi....don't think they will have a bowl today..hehe

[adi 101]

current run rate is 1.9

[Shoaib A]

its the Khan Akhtar show here!!

[adi 101]

nehra on to bowl now..........

[Shoaib A]

alot of maiden overs bowled...

[Toony™®]

hope africa get at least 150..otherwise its a walkover...

[alybaba]

Someone hand me what Doctrove is smoking - that has to be some powerful sh!t.

[adi 101]

zaheer strikes again lbw. africa are 35/6

[Nauman]

This match is turning out to be very boring Africa XI 35/6 (17.2/48 ov)

[Shayan_Sohail]

Doctrove has given two poor LBW decisions now.

[Romali_rotti]

Man AFrica will be lucky to make 70, they are now 36/6.. Seems like the rain has made the wicket a batsmens nightmare and a bowler's paradise... Man I am starting to like this Khan/Aktar tandem working real well, both hitting the deck real hard..

[Shoaib A]

yep as said seems to be a Khan Akhtar show here...

[Shoaib A]

and again 6 wickets down...none had gone into double figures!!

[Shayan_Sohail]

it has been a Khan Akhtar show in all three games now

[adi 101]

zaheer has bowled ten overs on the trot it has really been a good effort from him

[alybaba]

Taibu is impressing me with his sheer confidence. It takes guts to come down the track and hit over the top when your team is 38/6.

[adi 101]

taibu becomes first person to reach double figures :14: :14: :14: up comes the africa 50 :14: :14: :14: :14:
(:))) :))) :))) )

[adi 101]

razzaq strikes, taibu goes out edged to slips!!!!!!!!

[adi 101]

streak starts with a boundary........

[iZeeshan]

looks like this is a pure boring match...i'd say if shoaib was brought in right now...asia would skittle for 90-100 maybe 110 if they get lucky

[Shoaib A]

razzaq getting trashed here

[Shoaib A]

I guess the real batsmen are out in the middel now...these two pollock and streak never gives up that quickly...

[DM]

Brilliant by Shoaib Akhtar in this match and in the previous ones. His bowling really highlights just how much we missed his potency.

[Shoaib A]

nehra gets some boundaries of him..

[alybaba]

Pollock is on a rampage, 15 runs on Nehra's last over.

[Shoaib A]

they should bring back akhtar...

[DM]

Razzaq and Nehra getting pasted at the moment by Pollock

[iZeeshan]

yea akhtar wil get a hat-trick to finish them off INSHALLAH

[DM]

Pollock 34 off 19 deliveries - this should be working the inferiority complex of Mr Afridi nicely.... :D

[shabbu1]

Akhtar back on :D

[Shoaib A]

akhtar back...seems to be the case

[iZeeshan]

akhtar is back...and....bowls a 5 run over :(

[Shoaib A]

pollock seems to be the best batsman out there...playing well

[Shoaib A]

well well...afridi on now

[Rob H]

pollock playing a superb innings. Without him africa would be deep in the *****

[Amir]

Now he is gone after a quicker one from Afridi!

[DM]

Afridi Bowls The Faster One And Out!! :d :d

[ImranR]

30.4 Shahid Afridi to Streak, OUT: appeal for lbw and given out
:)

[shabbu1]

Afridi strikes

[DM]

And Murali gets Steyn!

Africa XI 106/9

[Shoaib A]

LOL pollock stands alone out there...then asia just need to take the nr.11 wicket

[Amir]

Foolish stuff by Grame Smith, he needs more runs to play with. And looks like he has given up by sending in Mondeki Zondeki. You should send in Thomas Odoyo who has shown more promise with the bat, that and he can ball(best figures yesterday with 3-41). Some very poor stuff by Smith and a very poor attitude. Hopefully this promotes Inzi's stature even more for the one day captaincy for the Super Series(or as Llyod would say "Sooper Series").

[iZeeshan]

Afridi bhai gets a wicket! Can someone who is watching explain..if it was a good delievery or batsman's mistake?

[shabbu1]

and Zondeki run out by youhana, Africa innings total is 106

[Shoaib A]

run out....gr8 stuff by asia...looking forward for afridi and sehwag combi

[Amir]

Afridi bhai gets a wicket! Can someone who is watching explain..if it was a good delievery or batsman's mistake?

A bit of both, he pitched it straight but Streak also played across the line.

[Amir]

and Zondeki run out by youhana, Africa innings total is 106

I know it is exhibition but our fielding looks really improved. Razzaq got a run out yesterday and another brilliant one today. And now Youhana has got a run out, and in the 6th ODI in India Youhana got 2 run outs. And then in the Windies(ODIs) Younis had some superb run outs.

I am not sure if our boys are just getting lucky or if this is just another case of hardwork by Bobby Woo.

[Shoaib Akhtar's Fan]

Shoaib has performed admirably in all the 3 games so far. He has bowled with sheer pace and more importantly in the right places and had Kallis in all sorts of trouble.

[DM]

AFRIDI OpENING!!!
AFRIDI OpENING!!! :D

[DM]

They're underway

0.2 Pollock to Sehwag, FOUR, smashed through the covers , great foot
work

[Shoaib A]

firework has started...sehwag with his first 4! FOUR, smashed through the covers , great foot work

[DM]

AFridi plays out 3 dot balls!! :O

[Amir]

And why is afridi trying to defend? That is not like Afridi! Who taught him this defense? Who is Asia's coach! I demand to know!

[DM]

Steyn on - this man can be a handful - high 80s mph pace

[DM]

"We want slogs! We want slogs!"

:D

[DM]

Steyn CLEANS Sehwag:

1.1 Steyn to Sehwag, OUT: Steyn off PAIN strikes beats Sehwag clean and
bowled him, great delivery and full reward

[shabbu1]

1.1 Steyn to Sehwag, OUT: Steyn off PAIN strikes beats Sehwag clean and
bowled him, great delivery and full reward

"Steyn off PAIN" ? :20:

[ImranR]

1.1 Steyn to Sehwag, OUT: Steyn off PAIN strikes beats Sehwag clean and
bowled him, great delivery and full reward

Asia XI 7/1, Partnership of 7
V Sehwag b Steyn 5 (5b 1x4 0x6)
Shahid Afridi 0* (3b) DW Steyn 0.1-0-2-1 (1w 1nb)

:)

[Amir]

Oh man I am having my doubts again, Asia always find a way to screw this up and may lose.

[Shoaib A]

sehwag gone...damn

[DM]

1.1 Steyn to Sehwag, OUT: Steyn off PAIN strikes beats Sehwag clean and
bowled him, great delivery and full reward

"Steyn off PAIN" ? :20:
hehe, i know, what is that?!

[Shoaib A]

crap crap...now afridi

[shabbu1]

must be an Afrikaan commentator :D

[shabbu1]

THWADI! now afridi is gone....

[Shoaib A]

asia makes it very difficuelt for themselves..

[Amir]

I agree, it is like Asia vs Asia! :P

[DM]

I agree, it is like Asia vs Asia! :P:))

[Amir]

now rain...and asia may be screwed of a series victory

[deviously~fading~away]

All this tournament is doing for me to afridi is destroying his chances of being in the world xi vs aus which were fairly high before this series. The world xi team gets selected on the 25 of this month and i was really waiting for afridi to be selected and his chances of being selected were very high before this series( which just proved that afridi is now out of form with the scores of 13,6 &0 ) PEROID!:(

[deviously~fading~away]

Latest news- covers removed & umpires on the ground checking.

PS- do u guys actually want rain to finish b/c by the way of things we can end up lossing this match(40% chance) or we may win(60% chance). 99 to win with sanga and jawan batting and inzi + yoyo +razzaq and akhtar & zaheer(hitting) to come

[deviously~fading~away]

Covers back on due to more rain

[Fawad]

It's good to see Afridi back to his normal self!:D

[deviously~fading~away]

The rain as stopped once again and news from the umpires is that
play will start 18:30 pm local time and overs have been reduced to
38 overs

[deviously~fading~away]

play to begin in 15 min

[DM]

Game seems to have been called off

[Shayan]

nope.. its been called off.

[Shayan]

disappointing... but a fair result in my opinion. I thought Asia wo0uld cruise to victory in this tournament, but Africa played really well, so 1-1 seems fair.

[Amir]

Not really fair, when Asia outplayed them throughout the whole series. That 2 run loss really hurt us.

[Shayan_Sohail]

Shoaib Akhtar is man of the match

[Shayan_Sohail]

zaheer khan man of the series

[Shoaib A]

deserved for shoaib akhtar today....and zaheer khan I was quite surprised with this man...doing very well

[Solid Snake]

Zaheer khan picked up so many wickets BECAUSE of shoaib, together they formed a formidable partnership.

[Fawad]

Surely Shoaib now must be in the Pak squad for the Pak-Eng series. He's proved his doubters wrong. People said that he had lost his swing but his performances proved that in helpful conditions he's as lethal as anyone.

[Shayan_Sohail]

Surely Shoaib now must be in the Pak squad for the Pak-Eng series. He's proved his doubters wrong. People said that he had lost his swing but his performances proved that in helpful conditions he's as lethal as anyone.

I think more than his performance, he has proved that he has improved his fitness bowled a six over first spell yesterday and a seven over first spell today and with full run up on back to back days that is certainly not an easy job for a "unfit" man is it?

Even Waqar (who raised the issue of Shoaib Akhtar's fitness) said that shoaib looks fit and should play in England series.

Woolmer is the only man who can stop Shoaib from playing(judging by the replies on his website).

[Hash]

I think more than his performance, he has proved that he has improved his fitness bowled a six over first spell yesterday and a seven over first spell today and with full run up on back to back days that is certainly not an easy job for a "unfit" man is it?

Even Waqar (who raised the issue of Shoaib Akhtar's fitness) said that shoaib looks fit and should play in England series.

Woolmer is the only man who can stop Shoaib from playing(judging by the replies on his website).

Bari can as well.


Have to say I was very impressed by Shoaib from the little I saw of him before the freeview ended. Just what our bowling has been missing for the last 8 months. He has to play in the England series and he has the rest of August, all of September and all of October to get himself 795% fit. With a fully fit Shoaib Akhtar, we will have an excellent chance in the England tests.

[WasimG]

I hate rain. I freakin hate it. I stayed up all night to watch it, I paid money. Wasted both time and money. There's no way they'll refund paying viewer's money. Organizers, Players and Broadcasters got paid in full for a half-as$ed match while us paying customers and sponsors just handed our hard earned to them.
Organizers are the ones responsible. They should build indoor stadiums. Or atleast refrain from organising games in cities/coutries with rainy seasons.

[sam]

It's good to see Afridi back to his normal self!:D

It is just a gimmick so that England don't refuse to tour Pak this November. :D