1st Test: England v South Africa at The Oval Jul 19-23, 2012

[Hallatia]

I was going to make a comment the Steyn is bowling marvellously, then he goes and removes Cook's off stump

England 271/4

 

[Hallatia]

Steyn just got Bopara two balls in a row but first wasn't reviewed and would have been umpire's call. He is well and truly on fire this session, great to watch

 

[Hallatia]

massive chance for a run out, either should have went, completely botched. England 279/5, but they are in all sorts this session. Steyn in fine touch

 

[Hallatia]

Kallis gets his second of the match. Bell gone for 13. England 284/6

 

[Hallatia]

Morne's on!

 

[TheParraboy]

the great man ripping through the middle order

 

[Hallatia]

great first hour for South Africa. England 286/6

 

[TheParraboy]

why is bopara in the poms side??

 

[TheParraboy]

poms made 365, good score

SA 1/1

 

[Hallatia]

Quite pleased with Day two. A couple more wickets for my man Morne , he finished with figures of 24.5 2 72 4 2.89 (5nb, 2w) (Philander got 7 no balls, so :|), I can't really complain about Morne's concession of extras because the reasons his ability to do so is accounted for by the reasons I love him so much. He reminds me of so many of the things I love about cricket and how it is the utilisation and mastery of so many different factors and elements which have to come together to achieve desired outcomes. Anywho, SAfrican bowlers and fielders did almost exactly what I asked of them. Alviro Petersen did fail me in more ways than one and the rain was a bit annoying, but I can't really complain about anything else. The 43 extras seem like a complaining point, but 24 were leg byes ...

South Africa finished the day on 86/1, trailing by 299, Alma closing in on his half century and batting quite well. Smith was solid and did his job with the bat for the evening.

 

[Twizzle]

I was going to make a comment the Steyn is bowling marvellously, then he goes and removes Cook's off stump

England 271/4

nice ball but seriously, that was a terrible shot, no footwork and I could have driven my 4WD between his bat and pad

 

[Hallatia]

that wicket was coming with every ball Steyn bowled before it. He was going to get Cook out and he did

It's a big deal because of all of the nonsense said about Steyn and left handers. He does not become the number one bowler in the world by only being good against right handers. He bowls in partnership with Morne who takes a lot of left hander wickets ... lalala

 

[Twizzle]

with some of these terrible techniques around today and lack of footwork, blokes like Steyne should clean up against left handers

Wade for example would really struggle against Steyne

 

[Hallatia]

Day three should be about 15 minutes away \\\\/

 

[Horrie Is God]

Big night of sport..

We've got St Merge v $ouFF$ & Parra v Storm in the footy,plus this test,plus the golf,& the big Group 1 race at Ascot..

The missus & kids are out,and i've got a fridge full of beer..

Happy days..

 

[Hallatia]

it didn't start when I wanted it to *sigh*

 

[Hallatia]

Smith and Amla need to pick up the pace. Nelson and whatever is going on is getting a bit tiresome.

 

[Hallatia]

ton to Graeme Smith, took him an age to get to 50, but from there cruised along to the hundred, which is pretty much how that session went for the Proteas, started very slowly but finished with South Africa in complete command. South Africa 187/1, trail by 198. Smith 103* Amla 80*

 

[TheParraboy]

I dont think Jacques will get a triple ton this dig here

Im hopefully triple figures for him though

SA 1/187

 

[Red Bear]

Bloody hell, flat pitch?

Hopefully a bit of movement in Leeds