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Ken Borland



SA on track to win when rain returned 0

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Ken

South Africa were on track to defend their mediocre score when rain washed out the second T20 international against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Monday.

 – http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120910/Rain_ruins_SAs_victory_chances

South Africa had their banker, Hashim Amla, to thank as his 47 not out lifted them to 77 for five in their nine overs. England were in the fifth over of their chase, and were already two down with just 29 runs on the board, when the rain intensified to such an extent that the umpires had to abandon play.

The visitors were asked to bat first after losing the toss and Amla, opening the batting, adapted straight away to the shortest format of the game.

Rain as soon as the players were in place caused a two-and-a-half hour delay and reduced the match to nine overs a side, and there was some surprise that Amla still opened the batting. But thank goodness he did as there was a steady procession of batsmen coming in and going straight out at the other end.

Richard Levi (0), AB de Villiers (1) and Albie Morkel (3) all fell to limp attacking strokes as South Africa slipped to 37 for three in the fifth over.

Steven Finn began the rot with the first delivery, getting pace and bounce from a terrific pitch and just brushing Levi’s gloves on the way through to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

De Villiers then popped up an attempted pull off Finn in his next over, Jade Dernbach taking a juggling catch running back from deep mid-on.

Morkel fell to the medium-pace of Luke Wright, but Amla was a revelation, his incredible ability to plunder runs in any format being proven again as he hammered 47 not out off 30 balls, with seven fours.

England failed to police the area behind square on the off side well enough as Amla found the gaps there with precise placement, wonderful timing and occasionally brute force.

JP Duminy (5) and Justin Ontong (1) fell cheaply in the sixth and seventh overs, finally bringing Jacques Kallis to the crease. South Africa’s greatest batsman said what he needed to say about his demotion with the bat, scoring 13 not out off seven balls, with two fours.

Dernbach bowled two top-class overs at the death, taking one for 12, while off-spinner Graeme Swann was a handful with 1-11 in two overs. Wright bowled a valuable single over for four runs and the crucial wicket of Morkel, while Finn was a menace with the new ball, taking 2-17 in his pair of overs.

But Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn are the top new-ball pair in world cricket and they soon had England under pressure in their reply.

Morkel bowled two superb overs up front for just eight runs, while Steyn removed Kieswetter for one as the wicketkeeper/batsman tried a pull/drive on the up and could only send a catch steepling practically as high as the floodlights, Robin Peterson taking a truly fine catch, diving at the last instant, at deep mid-on.

Wright (14) top-edged a hook off Albie Morkel to his brother Morne, who took a good catch running around from fine leg, but that also proved to be the end of the match as the rain, which had been falling for the entire innings, intensified.

South Africa, more than a dozen runs ahead on Duckworth/Lewis at that stage, were just five balls away from a completed match and they deserve full marks for their outstanding bowling and fielding in slippery conditions with a sodden ball.

SA go into final game with 1-0 lead 0

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Ken

South Africa will go into the final T20 international of the series with a 1-0 lead after the second game against England was washed out at Old Trafford in Manchester on Monday.

5th over – WICKET – Albie Morkel strikes with his first ball, Luke Wright (14) top-edging a bouncer and Morne Morkel taking a good catch in the sodden conditions, running around from fine leg. But now the rain, which has been falling throughout the innings, is really coming down and the umpires take everyone off the field. The match is abandoned soon afterwards with No Result.

4th over – Wright comes down the wicket to off-spinner Johan Botha and is met by a high full toss, which he pulls away through square-leg for four.

 

2nd over – WICKET– What a catch to claim South Africa’s first wicket! Craig Kieswetter (1) is trying to pull/drive Dale Steyn on the up, but the ball goes straight up, miles in the air, sending a steepling catch to deep mid-on where Robin Peterson does brilliantly to get more or less under the ball and then dive to take the catch. Alex Hales ends the over with an extraordinary six that just shows the pace in the pitch … trying to hoick Steyn to leg, the ball flies off the outside edge and well over the third man boundary!

South Africa innings

Hashim Amla batted through the innings, launching South Africa to 77 for five in their nine overs in the second T20 international against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Monday.

9th over – Jacques Kallis slams a full ball from Jade Dernbach through extra cover, with enough power to beat the fielder running around the boundary from long-off.

8th over – South Africa get three boundaries from the penultimate over bowled by England captain Stuart Broad. Amla gets the first two with beautifullly precise and wonderfully timed steers behind square on the off side. Kallis then top-edges a hook over where the slips would be for four and has another slice of fortune off the next delivery as a top-edge flies high to third man, but Dernbach can’t reach the catch, blocking the ball on the bounce.

7th over – WICKET – Justin Ontong (1) tries to scoop Dernbach, but it’s the bowler’s notorious back-of-the-hand slower ball, which grips and bounces, and the batsman gets the ball high on the bat, looping a catch towards short fine-leg, wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter running across to claim it.

6th over – Amla, on 31, skips down the wicket to Graeme Swann but is not quite to the pitch and his slog-sweep goes high to wide mid-on where Eoin Morgan drops a sitter! WICKET – But the off-spinner gets his reward off the next delivery as JP Duminy (5) tries to hoist the ball down the ground, but can only sky it straight upwards. Swann runs backwards and takes a fine, one-handed tumbling catch behind his head.

5th over – WICKET – Luke Wright strikes with his second delivery as Albie Morkel (3) slices a big pull shot high to extra cover.

3rd over – WICKET – A controversial dismissal as Steven Finn has knocked over the bowler’s end stumps again but dead ball is not called. AB de Villiers (1) mistimes a pull shot to deep mid-on where Jade Dernbach is running backwards, juggles, but holds on to the catch. Amla drives up and over the covers off the next delivery and Jos Buttler is unable to prevent the boundary as he slips on the wet outfield. Two balls later, Amla steps across outside off stump and pull/flicks a short ball fine for four. Amla collects another boundary off the last ball of the powerplay as he slashes the fast bowler powerfully over backward point.

2nd over – Amla absolutely smashes Broad behind square on the off side for another ferocious boundary.

1st over – After a frustrating delay of two-and-a-quarter hours for rain, play eventually gets underway with a nine-overs-a-side-game. WICKET – And it’s an awful start for South Africa as Richard Levi is out first ball, gloving a short, lifting delivery down the leg side from Finn through to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter. There may be some surprise that Amla is still opening the batting, but he collects a boundary off his first ball as he clatters a cut through point.

SA bowlers the heroes 0

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Ken

South Africa’s bowlers were the heroes as the Proteas cruised to a satisfying seven-wicket victory over England in the first T20 international at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

 – http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120908/SA_bowlers_the_heroes

Dale Steyn, Johan Botha and Robin Peterson were all superb as England were restricted to 118 for seven after being sent in to bat.

South Africa were in early trouble in their reply, sinking to 29 for three before Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy killed England’s hopes with a record, unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 90 off 90 balls.

Kallis played with typical composure, breezing to 48 not out off 44 balls, with seven fours, while Duminy handled the pressure with ease and scored 47 not out off 54 balls, collecting four fours and impressing with some clever improvisations.

Defending such a meagre total, England had to strike with the new ball and they did.

Richard Levi would have sent some chills through the home camp with two flat-batted boundaries in Steven Finn’s first over, but Jade Dernbach removed the powerful opener in his first over, caught at slip as the bowler gave him no width to work with.

The out-of-form Faf du Plessis was caught cold and trapped in front for four by Finn in the third over, but AB de Villiers played a couple of glorious strokes in scoring 10 off six balls.

But he then tried to play an ambitious square-drive off Dernbach, the ball being too full and too straight for the shot, and De Villiers was caught behind.

South Africa were in serious trouble on 29 for three in the fourth over, but they had the ideal batsmen in, with Kallis the ultimate accumulator and Duminy a busy player who can keep the scoreboard ticking over without taking too many risks.

They cashed in when Ravi Bopara was brought on, Kallis collecting successive boundaries in the seventh over, but they were content to see Graeme Swann off, the off-spinner conceding just 16 runs in his four overs.

Duminy collected successive boundaries off left-arm spinner Samit Patel in the 11th over with innovative reverse-paddles and victory was achieved in the 19th over.

Steyn and South Africa’s spin pairing of Botha and Peterson had earlier restricted England to a miserable 118 for seven.

WICKETS AT REGULAR INTERVALS

Only a couple of England batsmen looked threatening as South Africa, having won the toss, produced a superb performance in the field with their impressive bowlers taking wickets at regular intervals.

Openers Alex Hales (11) and Kieswetter (25) gave England a solid enough start of 27 runs in 3.4 overs, but Botha and Peterson ripped through the middle order and Steyn was magnificent, grabbing only one wicket but conceding just 13 runs in his four overs.

The first wicket came via a run out as Hales came charging down the pitch for a quick single, Kieswetter ignored him and Kallis scored a direct hit running in from midwicket.

Botha has not played for South Africa for five months but the off-spinner immediately showed that he will considerably boost their chances of winning the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka later this month as he claimed two for 19 in four overs.

Botha’s first ball spun sharply to trap Kieswetter lbw for 25 and South Africa captain De Villiers went on to the attack to further pressure England and make a mockery of their decision to bat the out-of-form Bopara at three.

Steyn returned to target Bopara, De Villiers put a slip in and the batsman rewarded their bravery outside the powerplay by edging the ball straight to Botha to be caught for just six.

Botha and Peterson troubled England with their changes of pace as much as anything on a sticky pitch. Bopara’s dismissal left the hosts on 50 for three in the eighth over, but their middle-order just faded away.

Their best batsman, Eoin Morgan, bottom-edged a sweep at a quicker delivery from Botha into his stumps to be bowled for 10, and young Jos Buttler (6) was bowled by Peterson as the canny left-arm spinner held the ball back beautifully and the batsman was through with his drive way too early.

Jonny Bairstow (15) impetuously holed out at long-on off Albie Morkel and when Peterson had Patel caught at long-off for four, the veteran Kallis taking a sprightly catch running in from the boundary, South Africa’s old problem of death bowling didn’t really matter with England 85 for seven.

Stuart Broad and Swann both scored 18 not out as they added 33 for the eighth wicket but the home side were never going to be favourites after that batting display.

Kallis & JP nurdle SA to satisfying victory 0

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Ken

Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy nurdled South Africa to a satisfying seven-wicket victory over England in the first T20 international at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

18th over – Ravi Bopara is back but his first ball is a low full toss outside leg stump as a back-of-the-hand slower ball goes horribly wrong, and Kallis flicks it away for four.

17th over – Stuart Broad over-pitches and Kallis lifts him over mid-on for four.

16th over – Kallis gives himself some room and swishes Jade Dernbach through the covers for four.

13th over – Duminy squeezes a full delivery from Steven Finn through point for four. Finn has knocked the bowler’s end stumps with his knee again and Broad, typically, has a moan to the umpire about why it wasn’t a dead ball like in the test series. Funnily enough, Finn does it again in the over and this time umpire Rob Bailey does call dead ball … costing Duminy and South Africa a single.

11th over – Left-arm spinner Samit Patel comes on, but his first delivery is a low full toss which Duminy reverse-sweeps for four. The next delivery is full, but Duminy manufactures a splendid reverse-paddle very fine for another boundary.

7th over – A bit of width from Bopara and Kallis chops the ball behind square on the off-side for four. Bopara seems to be trying to bowl too fast, bizarrely, and his next delivery is down leg and tickled away for four by Kallis.

6th over – Kallis steers Stuart Broad past slip for four runs.

5th over – Steven Finn is targeting Duminy outside off stump, but the left-hander drives beautifully through the covers for four.

4th over – Four runs to Kallis with an edgy uppercut over the slips off Dernbach. Two balls later, AB de Villiers unveils a superb back-foot drive for four through extra cover. On the penultimate ball of the over, Dernbach drags down a slower ball and De Villiers slaps it in front of point for four more. WICKET – But De Villiers (10) targets the same area off the next ball, but the delivery is too full and too straight and he ends up getting an edge and presenting a simple catch to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

3rd over – WICKET – Faf du Plessis comes and goes for four as he tries to drive Finn through midwicket, misses a straight ball and is plumb lbw.

2nd over – WICKET – Richard Levi is out for eight as he tries to chop Dernbach down to third man, but the line is too tight and he ends up edging the ball to slip.

1st over – Levi gets going with a forehand smash straight down the ground for four off Finn, and he then pulls the next delivery through wide mid-on for another cracking boundary.

England innings

England’s ailing batsmen could only muster 118 for seven against South Africa’s incisive attack in the first T20 international at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

20th over – And Graeme Swann starts the final over brilliantly too as he cleverly steps across to off-stump and flicks Dale Steyn over short fine-leg for four.

19th over – Swann starts the penultimate over in fine fashion for England as he smites Jacques Kallis over extra cover for four.

18th over – Swann reaches a long way down the pitch to sweep Robin Peterson in front of midwicket for four. Stuart Broad ends the over by leaning back and whacking the ball straight down the ground for another boundary.

16th over – WICKET – Samit Patel (4) mishits a lofted drive off Peterson and Kallis comes storming in from long-off, dives forward and takes a great catch.

14th over – WICKET – Another big blow for England as Jonny Bairstow (15) just clips a fullish delivery from Albie Morkel straight to long-on.

13th over – WICKET – Peterson strikes now in his first over back. Jos Buttler (6) waltzes down the pitch to drive, but Peterson has held the delivery back beautifully and it turns past the bat to bowl the youngster.

11th over – WICKET – Eoin Morgan is deceived by a wonderful step up in pace by Johan Botha. The left-hander tries to sweep, but is beaten for pace and bottom-edges the ball on to his stumps to be bowled for 10.

9th over – Wonderful power and timing from Bairstow as he just strokes off-spinner Botha through extra cover for four.

8th over – WICKET – Ravi Bopara falls to Steyn once again! The hapless Bopara is out for six as he edges a flatfooted push at a delivery that just shapes away a bit, straight to slip. Great attacking captaincy by AB de Villiers to bring Steyn back and to have a slip.

7th over – WICKET – Botha strikes with his first ball back for South Africa in five months as Craig Kieswetter steps across to try and play the delivery to leg, but is beaten by sharp turn into him and trapped lbw for 25 off 24 balls. Morgan gets his first boundary as he drives beautifully, with superb timing, just to the right of the diving extra cover, for four.

5th over – Another wild heave by Kieswetter off Lonwabo Tsotsobe is edged over the vacant slips for four. More misfortune for Tsotsobe ends the over as Kieswetter, on 22, mistimes a cramped stroke to deep mid-on where a leaping Botha can only get fingertips to the catch at full-stretch.

4th over – WICKET – Kieswetter inside-edges Morkel into the leg-side and Alex Hales comes charging for the quick single. But Kieswetter doesn’t respond, Hales has to try and turn and make his ground, but Kallis beats him with a direct hit. Hales is out for 11 off just six balls.

3rd over – Glorious shot by Kieswetter as he comes down the pitch, giving himself room, and cracking a sweetly-timed shot through the covers for four off Tsotsobe. It prompts captain De Villiers to take slip out and Kieswetter edges a wild heave at the next delivery just past the wicketkeeper’s right hand for four! Kieswetter ends the over by heaving Tsotsobe over cow-corner for six.

1st over – Hales ends the first over with successive boundaries off left-arm spinner Peterson, whishing a sweep through square-leg and then driving beautifully through cover-point.

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    Galatians 5:25 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep walking in step with the Spirit.”

    There is only one Christ and all things that are preached in his name must conform to his character. We can only know Christ’s character through an intimate and personal relationship with him.

    How would Christ respond in situations in which you find yourself? Would he be underhanded? Would he be unforgiving and cause broken relationships?

    “The value of your faith and the depth of your spiritual experience can only be measured by their practical application in your daily life. You can spend hours at mass crusades; have the ability to pray in public; quote endlessly from the Word; but if you have not had a personal encounter with the living Christ your outward acts count for nothing.” – Solly Ozrovech, A Shelter From The Storm

     

     



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