India Vs South Africa live match preview
With the IPL drama now history, India is playing two consecutive matches and then rest for entire week. When you are the world’s richest cricket team and have following of billions of people, every move is watched by millions. With deep pockets and strong following, the organizers and advertisers want prime time for India and that is exactly what India got. First match against Afghanistan on Saturday, second match against South Africa on Sunday meant to start at 7pm India time. They have had an easy start to the T20 world cup with an walk in a park kind of win over Afghanistan. Today’s game against South Africa will determine if IPL was too much play for India but Doni and Co would like to show they deserve the prime-time slots they get.
History on slow pitches is on South Africa’s side when India could not chase 131 at Trent Bridge. South Africa also is a team that shines on the bigger stages until the very end, semi final or final is where they choke. Since this game between India Vs South Africa is not the T20 world cup final, South Africa has the edge to win.
M Vijay, replacement for injured Virender Sehwag, got his Twenty20 international career off to a good start with 48 but that was against Afghanistan. Today against a stronger South African bowling attack M Vijay did not lost long and went out for a Golden Duck. Suresh Rania and Yuvraj Singh are going strong; after the tenth over Suresh Rania has 34 runs with three 4’s and one six and strike rate of 117%. While Yuvraj Singh is taking his time to settle in and 11 runs with a one Six and a strike rate of 91%.
Indi’s is at 67/2 with a run rate after the first 10 overs of 6.70 runs per over. With two set batsmen on the crease and load of fire power to come – India is set to post a respectable total.
Yuvraj Singh is now picking up the pace, he hit JA Morkel for a SIX over backward square-leg boundary. Morkel sent a full and on the legs and Yuvraj played a stylish shot which carried all the way. He followed that up by pulling Kallis for FOUR, which is then followed by taking Steyn to the ropes for FOUR. Yuvraj Singh has now moved to 28 runs with 2 Four’s and 2 Sixes.
Suresh Rania gets his 50 from 42 balls at the end of 14th over. Rania should be proud, South Africa is a strong team, this is his highest score in 20/20 international. Field has not changed much for Yuvraj Singh, Smith needs to put more pressure. South Africa is too relaxed for a game they must win.
Just when Yuvraj was picking up the pace, Rory Kleinveldt sends in ripper, Yuvraj moves outside leg to play the big shot but ends up carving the low full toss straight up and Smith makes no mistake in taking the catch. India is now 120/3 after 15.5/20 overs with a strike rate of 7.87.
Smith is now in trouble, India is looking set to post around 180 and it won't be easy to chase it. India is going to rely heavily on the spinners. Yusuf Pathan is in and he is taking no hostages, he already hit Kleinveldt for a six and Suresh is going nuts also, 25 runs from the 18th over and India is now 155/3 with a Strike rate of 8.94.
Yusuf picks the slow ball but lands it right in the filders hand. Dale Steyn sends in a slower one outside off stump, short in length as well, Yusuf had moved outside leg, had to wait for the ball to arrive and flat batted it to deep cover where Van Der Merwe takes an easy catch.
Doni is now in and is already making life difficult for smith and Co. At the end 175 was too much for South Africa to handle and India is already gone to the next stage. IPL has been good for Indian cricketers afterall.
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