Proteas vs Pakistan - First T20 at Wanderers - Rain Has Final Say

We will never know who would have won this first T20 at the Wanderers, as rain stopped play with Pakistan at 60 for 2 after only 9.2 overs. The South African cricket team did manage a win through the Duckworth/Lewis system, but Pakistan was placed well at the time the rain spoiled everything. Pakistan was truly unlucky in the end. They were chasing a score of only 154 to win, after the Proteas managed a final total of 153 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. 

Openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock started like a house on fire after Pakistan won the toss and sent the South Africans in to bat on a predictably quick Wanderers pitch and outfield especially. The two openers were cruising at around 12 - 13 runs per over at the end of the 6th over, which was also the end of the fielding restrictions. The pair combined perfectly for an opening stand of 72 runs, scoring at more than 9 per over. 

From this position, it seemed as if the Proteas were going to effortlessly get to around 170 to 190, but they rather lost their way. Wickets kept on falling - something we see often in cricket games - and they had to settle for a somewhat mediocre final score. 

The second T20 will take place at Newlands this coming Friday and the weather predictions look fine, so we should see a full game of T20 cricket. Can Pakistan square the mini-series in South Africa - what do you think?   

Faf's T20 Squad Make SA Proud

The Sports-Man for one, was beginning to lose patience with Faf du Plessis in recent times, but as it often happens in the sports world, we are proven wrong. One thing I have learned over the last 25 years of playing and watching cricket is that more patience is required than in most other sport types.

Unfortunately, we supporters usually lack in the patience-department because results are what we want! Cricket though, presents other 'supporter demands', which many of us do not cope with too well. If you are a typical "social" follower of the game (you follow mainly ODI's & T20's), then you may not fully grasp what I mean. 

Faf's slump over the last 18 limited overs games he played (he failed to score a 50 during this time), as well as the Test innings' he was involved in during the last season have been dismal, to say the least. If you have been following his career closely, you know, as I do, that he possesses enormous amounts of talent as a batsmen and fielder. This is the very reason the selectors and coach have been patient with him - the type of patience that we as supporters should show more often too.

Congratulations to the Proteas T20 squad and coaching staff for beating the Pakistani's in rather emphatic style. The Sports-Man is excited about Faf's 'comeback' (he lead last night's batting attack with an in-control 58* off 48 balls) and hopes that he does the same in the 5-day version of the game, but I am more excited about the Quinton de Kock potential. It was about time that he got a decent run in the ODI and T20 teams. Hopefully now, we will be able to watch his exciting approach to batting upfront more often!

Come On SA Summer - We want Cricket!

Are you planning to watch most of the games this summer, or are you boycotting the cricket because of India's decision to force the sometimes 'very weak' CSA to shorten the India tour?

T20 FINALS - What a GAME on Wednesday - Cobras vs Titans

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The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras advanced to the Standard Bank Pro20 final as a record- run-chase saw them to a five-wicket win over the Nashua Titans in their Standard Bank Pro20 semi-final second leg at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday.

Half-centuries from Richard Levi, Dane Vilas and Owais Shah helped the Cobras to a mammoth 224 for five with two balls of their innings remaining, in reply to the Titans’ 222 for four, the highest successful run chase in Pro20 history and the second highest total overall, just behind the 225 for six, scored by the Diamond Eagles (now Chevrolet Knights) in the 2004/5 season.

Levi scored a dashing 60 off 31 balls while Vilas weighed in with 53 as the duo combined for a second-wicket stand of 92 off just 48 deliveries.
 
The pair set the stage for Shah, who belted his way to 64 off 34 deliveries before falling in the penultimate over of the match.
 
The win secures the Cobras a home final against the Chevrolet Warriors on March 18, after the Western Cape franchise beat the Titans by eight wickets in the first leg of the semi-final series.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Pro20

FINAL to be played at NEWLANDS on Friday, 18 March - 18h00