2nd ODI: New Zealand v South Africa at Napier Feb 29, 2012

[TheParraboy]

Im sure the kiwis will play better here and force a 1-1 series result by games end

Cheers

 

[ozbash]

hope you're right mate. Thought we did ok at Welly but let them in.

Napier is a great spot for a game of cricket.

 

[TheParraboy]

Other than a hiccup here and there, Im rarely wrong mate

Kiwis will win this one

 

[Hallatia]

:lol: at Parraboy

New Zealand started really well in Wellington, but at some point lost all control. Up to then, it was very competitive, but I think de Villiers played a very intelligent and from a Kiwi point of view frustrating knock. The Kiwis also didn't quite seem to know what to do to du Plessis, I guess they wouldn't have seen much of him before Saturday. I think New Zealand can take some positives away from Saturday and I think the remaining two ODIs will be competitive. But I think South Africa will win the series. It's hard to go past de Villiers' captaincy which has been inspired and wonderful ever since he got the gig, I think that will prove to be the difference

The worrying thing for New Zealand, is that South Africa get better, the longer the format, where as New Zealand are better at the shorter formats. If New Zealand were able to be a little more dominant in the T20s, to give them momentum heading into the ODIs and then the tests, you'd be able to say that the structure of this tour would be really working in their favour, but it doesn't quite seem to be at present

 

[Hutty1986]

Other than a hiccup here and there, Im rarely wrong mate

Kiwis will win this one

So you're right, except the times you're wrong?

 

[Hallatia]

Mills slams small New Zealand grounds
ESPNcricinfo staff
February 27, 2012

Some of New Zealand's grounds have boundaries that are too small and pitches that are too flat, especially with the increasing power of bats, fast bowler Kyle Mills has said. Mills' comments came ahead of the second ODI between New Zealand and South Africa at McLean Park in Napier, where the square boundaries are a little over 50 metres long.

"I'm a bowler so I'm going to be a little bit biased. I think the wickets are too flat and the boundaries need to go out further," Mills told Fairfax NZ News. "The bats are all pretty good these days and a mis-hit can go for six.

"I think Hamilton is ridiculous. The ropes are 4m in from the [advertising] boards; that's absurd. Richard Levi probably would have got out three or four times if the rope was back on the boards."

Levi hit a record 13 sixes during his 117 off 51 balls, the fastest Twenty20 century, at Seddon Park. His first six was a top-edged sweep over the fine-leg boundary against the spinner Nathan McCullum.

Mills also called the length of the straight boundaries at Eden Park in Auckland "absurd".

"A good-sized cricket ground makes for exceptionally good batsmanship; we saw that at the Cake Tin [in Wellington], where there are reasonably sized boundaries," Mills said. "We saw plenty of ones, plenty of twos, and the odd three. It was great for people to watch a batter like [AB de Villiers] on a good-sized ground."

The ICC's playing conditions stipulate that the boundary rope must be at least three metres away from the fence/advertisement hoardings for safety reasons. It also says the shorter of the square boundaries should be a minimum of 59.43 metres and both the straight boundaries should be at least 64 metres. According to the playing conditions: "In all cases the aim shall be to provide the largest playing area, subject to no boundary exceeding 90 yards (82.29 meters) from the centre of the pitch to be used".

There is, however, a provision for cricket grounds that have smaller dimensions. "Any ground which has been approved to host international cricket prior to October 1, 2007, or which is currently under construction as of this date which is unable to conform to these new minimum dimensions, shall be exempt."

Sauce

There's a wee bit of sooking in there, but I think everything he says is completely valid, there has to be some minimum standards with regard to boundary lengths.

 

[Hallatia]

not really about this match at all, but in related news, Ross Taylor has been impressing the medical staff with his recovery and word is that he will be back for the first test of this tour

 

[IanG]

Well considering that quite a few of their grounds are Rugby Stadiums masquerading as cricket grounds.

 

[Rod]

I agree with Mills TBH. Everything is catered to the batsmen these days. The pitches are usually doozies and as soon as there is a bit of life in the pitch people start complaining.

This combined with our insane boundaries over here, I can definitely understand how frustrating it would be to continually bowl at batsmen who are knicking and mis-hitting you for six.

I am a big fan of watching cricket on your guys grounds over there. Proper cricket grounds with decent boundaries. And anyway in some ways their larger size can help the batsmen if they are prepared to play proper strokes as their are bigger gaps in the outfield. And if you can hit a six on a ground like the MCG you definitely deserve six.

 

[Hallatia]

lovely conditions in Napier today. South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first

 

[Hallatia]

Graeme Smith is out for South Africa, being replaced by Justin Ontong.

for New Zealand Andy McKay and Tarun Nethula come in for Doug Bracewell and Nathan McCullum

Teams are as follows

New Zealand:
Rob Nicol, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum(captain and keeper), Kane Williamson, Jesse Ryder, James Franklin, Andrew Ellis, Kyle Mills, Tarun Nethula, Tim Southee, Andy McKay

South Africa:
Justin Ontong, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (captain and keeper), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Albie Morkel, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

 

[Hallatia]

lol at Kiwi commies "we've talked about the fact that Smith is not there, but that just gives more overs for Kallis to bat"

 

[Hallatia]

I think the match has been pretty even so far, Kiwis have not been batting overly well, but they have had luck and they have managed to keep the run rate at just under 5. The opening partnership was going okay, but after Lopsy took Nicol's wicket, McCullum came out and has seemed a bit wayward. After 13, New Zealand are 63/1

 

[Rod]

Drinks

NZ 83/1 after 17.

 

[Hallatia]

the great man gets an important breakthrough as New Zealand were starting to do some damage, Guptill goes for 58, caught behind. New Zealand 138/2 after 25 overs

 

[Rod]

Amazing how often the powerplay works against the batting side.

NZ 175/4 after 34. McCullum just gone for 85.

 

[Patorick]

Bonus point coming up for SA...

 

[Hallatia]

brilliant catch Guptill

 

[Hallatia]

Super happy with the bowling performance from the Proteas in the end. Especially happy with my man M Morkel

 

[aussies1st]

SA doing some experimenting I see.