NZ a bit hopeless


South Africa 271/8 (50.0 ov) RR 5.42
New Zealand 78/7 (24.0 ov) RR 3.23
Req. RR 7.45

New Zealand require another 194 runs with 3 wickets and 26.0 overs remaining

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

NZ all out - SA did 'em like a dirty sock



South Africa 271/8 (50.0 ov) RR 5.42
New Zealand 112/10 (32.2 ov) RR 3.46

SA won by 159 runs



SA lead 5-game series 2 - 1

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

There's a 4-day Game (began today but no play) at Colin Maiden Park. One of the announcers said Latham needs to be there in the morning, suited up and ready to play. Do they ever send players down? Seems this would be a better deal than benching him, or heaven forbid, letting him to continue and play.

I guess they mean "Plunket Shield" competition?

Auckland Aces v Central Stags
Saturday, 25 February 2017 10:30am–Colin Maiden Park, Auckland
First Class Match – Plunket Shield

Latham DOES need to be dropped from Test team ... go back to 1st Class cricket until he improves.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I bet you're right, thanks for looking up!

4th ODI - New Zealand v South Africa


Wed Mar 1 (50 ovs) 14:00 local (01:00 GMT) (Texas Time 7:00 PM)
McLean Park, Napier Hamilton LIVE D/N

Livescorecard
http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand ... 20037.html

SA won the toss and elected to bat
(There is a possibility of RAIN later)


SA lead 5-game series 2 - 1

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Rumpole, I am so ready for Cricket!

Going to bed early tonight so I can watch entire match.

NZ need to step it up and act like they have been there before.

Good! Guptill is back at the top and Ronchi back in the middle.
Haven't seen the line-up but I doubt Latham is in it with those two back.



ETA
What do you mean Latham is gone? They have him listed in the team squad.

Taylor is fourth. He lives in Hamilton so he's GOT TO play.

Latham is GONE. (Taylor still there?)

Beware.. talk of possibility of RAIN later.

I want to see the WORLD CLASS SA batting line up score really BIG!!

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

ESPN

Try and keep up Molly...

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

NZ trying this trendy.. "open bowling with a spinner" (Jeetan Pate, plus Santner from the other end)

Martin Crowe had some success with this novel idea (Dipak Patel opening the bowling)... back a million years ago in a world cup tournament..... but it's a bit daft.
I HOPE SA batsmen can knock him out of the attack.

ETA
Oh dear Patel takes a wicket... de Kock out for a duck


ETA... for reference.
Dipak Patel: The spinner trusted with new ball in World Cup 1992
http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/ ... 1992-32628

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The good news is..... I have NOT seen any sign of Rigor Richardson commentating

Smithy seems to be absent as well?

ETA
Smithy now present and accounted for.... fingers crossed that Richardson is NOT with him

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Amla hits a six.. his SR was already 100%.. good boy.

du Plessis needs to "piss or get off the pot".. too slow... SR 45.8

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The 3x20 over rule...

End of over 20 South Africa 93/2 (RR: 4.65) ====> 279 Final score prediction


(I want MORE than that.. 300+ at least.)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The 2x30 over rule...

End of over 30, South Africa 135/3 (RR: 4.50) ====> 270 predicted final score


This game does look like being lower scoring than I hoped for

As always... we wont know if the SA score is a good one until we see NZ bat.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Weather...

Hamilton is NOT a million miles from Auckland and so weather here is some indication... (though not necessarily exactly the same.)

Like I see at Hamilton, weather here in Auckland has been sunny, hot and humid, but all of a sudden dark clouds in the sky and even a sprinkle of RAIN

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Shorter form cricket... ODI and T20.... have been developed to favor batsmen. Run scoring is what the crowds like to see

Typically these days sides score 300+ or even 350+

Fast bowlers do still manage to take wickets, but slow bowling and spin is NOT normally a big part of the game. Typically teams might have just one spin bowler... who is a bit of an all-rounder who can bat as well. A very part-time slow bowler may bowl a few overs... share some the slow bowling if they can get away with it. And so the fact that this pitch apparently suited TWO slow bowlers opening the bowling tells me that it is NOT a good ODI pitch at all.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

SA Innings done


South Africa 279/8 (50.0 ov) RR 5.58


Target for NZ 280
Req. RR 5.6

INNINGS BREAK

No more rain here... and I hope no rain in Hamilton.. else the dreaded "Duckworth Lewis" will rear it's ugly head

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Game over

South Africa 279/8 (50.0 ov)
New Zealand 280/3 (45.0 ov)

New Zealand won by 7 wickets (with 30 balls remaining)



What a difference a Guptill makes 180 (138) (SR 130.43)

5-game series tied 2 - 2 (1 game to play)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

5th ODI - New Zealand v South Africa

Sat Mar 4 (50 ovs) 14:00 local (01:00 GMT) (Texas Time 7:00 PM)
Eden Park, Auckland LIVE D/N

Livescorecard
http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand ... 20039.html

SA win the toss and opt to bowl first
(NZ has not won an ODI toss at Eden Park in the past 10 years)

5-game series tied 2 - 2

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light