Going to be intriguing viewing tonight, SA will be absolutely desperate for the final 2 wickets as anything above 250 is going to be extremely tough. Despite conditions, they'll be chasing on a day 3/4 pitch so will back themselves.
That said, I can't see them getting up. As they've been doing for some time now, the Aus bowlers will bail their batsmen out and roll through SA again. Cummins in particular is too good for them.
@mariner4life said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
If England actually show up in Australia for once, they could be in for a rude shock.
Eh with a Kookaburra ball on home pitches can't see Aus being troubled by what doesn't exactly seem an especially good England squad right now
@mariner4life said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
For far too long the Aussie test side's MO was 4 of the top 5 failing, one getting runs in conjunction with someone from the lower middle order, and getting all out for about 280. Then their all time attack giving them a 100-run lead.
Exactly right - and it's pretty much happened again in both innings off this game.
They're going to have just enough runs thanks to Smith and Webster/Carey and Starc.
Jaapies need it to dawn bright and sunny and have three or four guys bat out of their skins - after wrapping up the Oz tail in super-short order.
If it's overcast and swinging they'll fall well short.
Batting conditions are going to be good today in North London.
@sparky said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Batting conditions are going to be good today in North London.
Starc and Lyon to score half-centuries then put South Africa in before lunch.
Pick up 3 quick wickets in 6 overs, then have it done by tea.
@NTA said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
@sparky said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Batting conditions are going to be good today in North London.
Starc and Lyon to score half-centuries then put South Africa in before lunch.
Pick up 3 quick wickets in 6 overs, then have it done by tea.
Lyon has never got one, averages 12 which puts him slightly above the bunny category but that's definitely helped by a truckload of not outs.
Rabada to skittle them and get another Michelle but Oz to still win pretty comfortably.
Cummins will get four, Starc three and Lyon two. The other will be run out.
Just on batting bunnies, I see only 33 guys in test history have averaged less than 10 with the bat.
Woulda thought there'd be heaps more than that given how long test cricket has been played.
Chris Martin still a relative Bradman given he averages nearly half of the next worst in the list.
@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Oz to still win pretty comfortably.
You'd think so, but chasing a low total you just need one person to go big and it's done. I like low scoring games - runs are properly valuable and the bowlers are in the game. Better than 19 sixes in an innings ...
@nzzp said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Oz to still win pretty comfortably.
You'd think so, but chasing a low total you just need one person to go big and it's done. I like low scoring games - runs are properly valuable and the bowlers are in the game. Better than 19 sixes in an innings ...
Yep, I love a big hitting innings as much as anyone but a half century is worth over 200 in a game like this.
Very easy to see the Australia bowling line up clean them up.
@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Chris Martin still a relative Bradman given he averages nearly half of the next worst in the list.
And there it is - a thread with zero to do with NZ has been carefully steered onto the rocks of Slack Craps cricket.
Classic!
:winking_face_with_tongue:
@NTA said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Chris Martin still a relative Bradman given he averages nearly half of the next worst in the list.
And there it is - a thread with zero to do with NZ has been carefully steered onto the rocks of Black Craps cricket.
Classic!
:winking_face_with_tongue:
celebrating our worst ever batsman. That's some derailment!
@NTA said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Chris Martin still a relative Bradman given he averages nearly half of the next worst in the list.
And there it is - a thread with zero to do with NZ has been carefully steered onto the rocks of Slack Craps cricket.
Classic!
:winking_face_with_tongue:
That's the fucken inaugural test champions you're talking about. You show some god damn respect.
But yeah, back to this game. The Oz bowlers will clean up. 200 odd may as well be 1000 in a game like this.
Sunniest and warmest day of the year so far in these parts. 22 degrees at 09:30. It should be 28 by mid-afternoon.
Aussie tail frustrating the jaaps.
Starting to get near 250 lead which will be difficult to get.
@MajorRage said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Aussie tail frustrating the jaaps.
Starting to get near 250 lead which will be difficult to get.
It's been difficult to get for a long time. Proteas don't have the batting class against this all time bowling line-up.
The South African fielders need to practice their slide a bit more. That's two very awkward landings in half an hour trying to save boundaries
Yeah, it's through 250 now. The pitch is clearly pretty good for batting but the winning of this game will be all about the head (not Travis).
And when sport gets to that, especially in cricket, the Australians basically become unbackable favourites
@NTA said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
@sparky said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Batting conditions are going to be good today in North London.
Starc and Lyon to score half-centuries then put South Africa in before lunch.
Pick up 3 quick wickets in 6 overs, then have it done by tea.
Good work
This is fucking hilarious btw
I'm sure fans of other countries feel like this when our much-vaunted attack can't get them out
Aus strong favourites but the conditions improving has given SA just a glimmer of hope. SAs first innings will cost them in the end I think, they needed to eek out 200.
The conditions are decent for batting, the last thing SA can afford to do is go into their shell
SA 94-2. Saffa need 188 runs to win.
Big session ahead. If the South Africa can make 80+ run and lose fewer than two wickets, they will be in the driving seat and firm favourites to win this competition.
Australia have slowed South Africa but need wickets.
A wonderful hour for South Africa since tea. SA 154-2. Steve Smith off the field with a compound finger fracture and off to hospital.
All going wrong for the Aussies.
South Africa need 124 to win with 8 wickets remaining. Unless they choke big time, they are heading to victory.
@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
South Africa don't like playing in cricket finals much
They are this afternoon.
Steve Smith did his finger dropping what should have been a routine slip catch. What's got to hurt!
Hundred partnership up. Markram and Bavuma are making this look easy. 173-2. South Africa on top. Australia desperately need a wicket.
Strange field by Australia. Gaps all over the place. South Africa have been able to rotate the strike easily.
What an afternoon for South Africa. 93 more runs needed to win.
@KiwiMurph said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
@MajorRage said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:
Aussie tail frustrating the jaaps.
Starting to get near 250 lead which will be difficult to get.
It's been difficult to get for a long time. Proteas don't have the batting class against this all time bowling line-up.
Well it didn't take very long for this comment to look utterly stupid.
