http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Craig-Russell-Matthews-c51743 defends Cape Town pitch curator – Cricket News Update
The former South African pacer and national selector, Craig Matthews, has come up to defend the curator of Cape Town pitch, Evan Flint, in the backdrop of startling wickets carnage on Day 2 of the 1st Test match between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746,
as he fears that some analysts and cricket managers will point fingers towards the ground administration for manipulating the surface.
Matthews, who was working as a TV commentator, yesterday told the local media after the thrilling day, that the pitch was quite normal but the talented bowlers of both the sides were in full swing.
The former pace star termed Day 2 as one of the funniest days of cricket as the fans witnessed 23 wickets falling in just 79.3 overs.
Matthews said, “I feel sorry for the groundsman because of course questions will be asked. Yet people are not being peppered (on the body) and the bounce is not a special problem (from a consistency point of view). You have to consider other factors like
the pure ‘perfect storm’ scenario - both sides have very good bowlers, after all.”
He further told, “What you saw also today was the bowlers on both sides really working out what the right length was. Perhaps it was simply one of those funny days in cricket. I think the difference between days one and two was that the pitch has just hardened
up a bit and got a bit quicker.”
Resuming their first innings from 214/8 yesterday, the last two wickets of the Aussies could add only 70 runs in 20 overs. The Proteas started their 1st innings in a pathetic way as the Kangaroo pacers, including http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RJ-Harris-c2330,
played havoc with the ball, washing the entire batting line-up out for merely 96 runs in 24.3 overs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harris-c61739 grabbed 4 scalps.
The Australians turned out to be underdogs in their second innings as none of their batsmen could make double figures except http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nathan-Michael-Lyon-c78822. In a breath-taking spell of 18 overs, the African bowlers restricted the visitors to only 47 runs,
the fourth lowest total in the history of Australian cricket.
The fourth and last innings of the match started in the same way as the first wicket of SA fell on 27 runs.
It is expected that the game will be conclude at Day 3, today.
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