Proteas' Tour of Sri Lanka

[MickeyD]

And still Steyn with the old ball. It's not reversing any more, so I cannot see the reason why they don't take the new cherry... especially with Matthews out.

 

[Devill]

94.6
Imran Tahir to Mathews, OUT, goes for a slog sweep and the ball sneaks under his bat to clatter into his stumps. Tahir is over the moon. Gets a pat on the back from Herath, but walks off shaking his head. Wonderful innings from Mathews
AD Mathews b Imran Tahir 89 (182b 14x4 1x6) SR: 48.90

272/8

The one we wanted.

Seven overs left, but we have only 18 mins left... that is a problem.

 

[MickeyD]

The one we wanted.

Seven overs left, but we have only 18 mins left... that is a problem.

Was a bit of a rain delay earlier...

 

[phoneJunky]

Morkel takes the new ball

 

[MickeyD]

Steyn off after stopping a ball and hurting his hand. Hope it is minor...

 

[phoneJunky]

Zalman: "Don't the reviews reset when the new ball is taken? " No, after the first 80 overs and South Africa have lost both of theirs

Just on that new ball review comment

 

[phoneJunky]

99.6
Morkel to Lakmal, OUT, he swings merrily at a length ball, nicks it through to the keeper and South Africa have a wicket off the final ball of the day! He goes up for a review straight away, but this one seems to be a bad choice. There was a noise and there is not enough evidence to overturn the on-field ump's decision. Not the best ball from Morkel, but South Africa are now one wicket away from batting again. But that will be for tomorrow
RAS Lakmal c †de Kock b Morkel 6 (20b 0x4 0x6) SR: 30.00

We just need to get one tomorrow morning

 

[MickeyD]

Day 3 - Close of Play

SA 455-9 decl.

SL 283-9 (100 overs)

SL still trail by 172 runs on the first innings.

 

[Devill]

Now we can start looking at a lead of +-100-150

Good going boys!

If we can get 100 runs as a lead and we can reach 350-400 again we should be able to win this one.

 

[MickeyD]

Now we can start looking at a lead of +-100-150

Good going boys!

If we can get 100 runs as a lead and we can reach 350-400 again we should be able to win this one.

Lead will be closer to 160.

180 overs left in the game. Less 4 overs to get the last wicket = 176.

Target cannot be less than 350, so we need to score another 190 runs. At 3rpo that's another 64 overs gone, leaving 112 overs (180-4-64).

In terms of time, it means we have to bat until Tea tomorrow.

That leaves SL with a target of 350 in 112 overs, just below 3rpo. Tantalising...

 

[Garson007]

Yup, declare at tea. Unless something weird happens tomorrow.

 

[Devill]

Lead will be closer to 160.

180 overs left in the game. Less 4 overs to get the last wicket = 176.

Target cannot be less than 350, so we need to score another 190 runs. At 3rpo that's another 64 overs gone, leaving 112 overs (180-4-64).

In terms of time, it means we have to bat until Tea tomorrow.

That leaves SL with a target of 350 in 112 overs, just below 3rpo. Tantalising...

Yup, declare at tea. Unless something weird happens tomorrow.

I think we will at least go for a 400 run lead. The fist think most captains do is to make sure they have a 90% chance to win the game.

I do however think if we can get a good couple of partnerships going and at lunch we are looking in control, we should let the guys go guns blazing till tea to try and either get 400 up quicker or to get us to 450-500 so that we can set more attacking fields.

 

[Wall]

A lead of 380 would prevent us from losing IMO. 350 and its game on....

 

[SaiyanZ]

I doubt we will ever declare on 350 and give Sri Lanka a full day to bat. So this game will likely end in a draw unless Sri Lanka bowl us out for 200, giving us a 350ish lead with 4 sessions to left to play.

 

[MickeyD]

I doubt we will ever declare on 350 and give Sri Lanka a full day to bat. So this game will likely end in a draw unless Sri Lanka bowl us out for 200, giving us a 350ish lead with 4 sessions to left to play.

Time will be the factor. We cannot go out with all guns blazing from ball one as it could backfire and we get skittled for 150. So the sessions to lunch will be pretty sedate while we build a foundation that we can launch from in the afternoon session.

Keep in mind that it will be day 4 and scoring will not be as easy. Day 5 will be worse!

 

[Badprop_za]

I think we will bat until 12-15 overs left in the day for us to have a dash before close. This should give us a 350+ lead.

 

[FrankCastle]

What's the highest 4th innings score to win at this ground.?
That will come into play if and when we decide to declare.

 

[MickeyD]

What's the highest 4th innings score to win at this ground.?
That will come into play if and when we decide to declare.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/srila...nnings_totals.html?class=1;id=847;type=ground

300 (2012) Pakistan chasing 509 and they lost.

264 (2012) England chasing 339 and lost.

253 (2011) Sril Lanka chasing 378 and lost.

 

[Creag]

What's the highest 4th innings score to win at this ground.?
That will come into play if and when we decide to declare.

Saffers will declare. Me thinks that the declaration will come on or around tea depending on the lead they have been able to put on. Like MickeyD indicated, this isn't an easy ground to chase in the fourth innings.

The Saffers will need to be positive in setting the target.

In our favour is the variety in our bowling. A little worried about Tahir who has been loose, inconsistent and hasn't looked like taking wickets. Dumping and Elgar have looked better with ball in hand. If Morkel and Philander can apply pressure, we have a reasonable chance of taking this test.

 

[AirWolf]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-south-africa-2014/content/current/story/761767.html

Philander fined for ball-tampering

Vernon Philander has become the second South African in the last nine months to be charged and fined for ball-tampering after an incident during the ongoing Galle Test. Philander was fined 75% of his match fee for breaching clause 42.1 of the ICC's match playing conditions as footage viewed by the umpires after the close of play showed him "scratching the ball with his fingers and thumb". Philander did not contest the charge so no hearing was necessary.