South Africa will have to fend off suggestions again as they lost an game which they were in control of through out. On the other hand England fought brilliantly bouncing back from an shock defeat against Ireland as they won by an incredible match by 6 runs. England won the toss and elected to bat on this turning pitch where the spinners would play an big part in this match.
The opening bowler for South Africa was Peterson the left arm spinner. This turned out to be an brilliant decision by Smith opening with him as England lost 2 wickets in the first over. First Strauss went on the third ball of the (second ball of the match as one was wide) match. He tried to sky Peterson out of the park only managing to find De Villiers in the deep. The over got even worse for England as Kevin Pietersen was also out on the last ball of the over. He edged Peterson and Kallis took an sharp low catch to leave England 3-2 after one over. If Peterson's day could not get any better in his 3rd over of the morning (5th over of the match) Bell chipped a ball straight back to Peterson and Bell he was caught and bowled by Peterson. England were in real trouble at 15-3. This brought out Trott who was already in there and Bopara the new man.
There objective was to try and rebuild an innings and try and get to an respectable score. Bopara had been brought into this match for Collingwood who was injured- loss of form, so Bopara had a point to prove. They started off slowly but assured. They were looking for the gaps and hitting the bad balls when they came. It was crucial to get use to the turning pitch before they started to attack the bowlers. They got through to the end of the first powerplay at 33-3 (first 10 overs). South Africa took there second powerplay straight away and they only conceded 18 runs off the next 5 overs. That included an maiden over by there new wonderkid Tahir. Even though they were not scoring the runs quickly they looked comfortable. England reached there 50 off 13 and a half overs into the match.
Then an lucky moment for Trott as he tried to drive against the spin against Tahir. He missed the ball it went onto hitting the pad and South Africa appealed and it was given out. It looked out from the first view and looked like a hopeful appeal by Trott but he was given not out as the ball was turning and it went on to miss off stump. The technology saved him. After surviving that scare these 2 went on at an safe rate. They were getting use to the pitch and runs were coming easier.
England were going in small targets as these 2 were building an solid partnership. They made the 50 runs partnership off 72 balls. As the runs were ticking over nicely and they got there eye in so well that Bopara ran down the pitch and hit Duminy straight down the ground. The over after Bopara's six England reached there 100 off 156 balls. They were going at an solid pace and were looking at an score of around 220-250. The average score at Chennai is 240 and because of how much turn there was 200-220 would be a very difficult score to chase. Trott looked in determined mood to get there as he scored his 50 off 87 balls which included 3 fours. A lot of hard work was put into that 50. As Trott looked to become comfortable and able to take on the fielders and bowlers Tahir got Trott out. It ended an 99 run partnership. It was diving catch by Tahir as it was low and to the left of him. He had quick hands and took another excellent catch as he went out for 52. It was another showing of there brilliant fielding as South Africa looked efficient. This brought out Prior to the crease.
He was there to get himself in and then push the score along. The game was again in the balance. Bopara and Prior started off really solidly and a bit more positively. Prior looked to be pushing the score along as Bopara was playing anchor getting the single and twos and hitting the bad balls when it came his way. These 2 were starting to get into there rhythm they made a quick 20 partnership until a mixed over came about for England in the 36th over. The good news for England was that Bopara had made his 50 by taking a single. He got his 50 off 87 balls which included 2 fours and a six. The bad news for England was that Prior was out off a super bowl off Morkel. He bowled it straight and accurate that Prior had to play a little seam movement and he edged it behind to Van Wyk for 10. This brought out Yardy into the crease.
Bopara had continued to play his natural game getting the runs as Yardy struggled to get use to the turning pitch. He was playing and missing or hitting it straight to the fielder. But then in the 40th over disaster strike as Bopara got an brilliant straight ball which came back at Bopara and hit him straight in line. He was given out and he appealed but it was in vein as it was going to clip to top of middle stump. England were 148-6.
Apart from Swann the rest of the England tail fell away very quickly all for single figure scores. Bresnan was the next one out for 1 which made it 149-7 Steyn got him trapped in front. Yardy then went for a painful 3 off 17 balls as the score became 161-8 as Tahir got him. That score went for 161-8 to 161-9 as Broad was out LBW to Tahir and Swann was the last man out for 16 hitting 3 fours off 20 balls. Tahir got him as well as Duminy took an good catch. Tahir mopped up the tail getting 4 wickets. Peterson getting the top 3 and Morkel taking a couple of big wickets in the middle of the innings with Steyn just getting the one. England were all out for 171 all out and they only played out 45.4 overs of its 50 over allocated. South Africa needed to get 172 at an rate of 3 and a half and over on an turning pitch.
As South Africa started off with an spinner so did England with Yardy. The only difference and problem was that Yardy was not as proponent of getting wickets normally. Normally an more of an containing bowling than a wicket taken bowler. That showed as South Africa eased him away and were taken around 6 an over off him. At the other end Anderson was bowling really tightly but Amla and Smith were playing watchfully but solidly. It didnt get an wicket which brought on a double change after 6 overs as Bresnan and Swann were brought into the attack. Swann and Bresnan were bowling some wonderful bowls but it just wasnt getting an wicket. They got to the end of the first powerplay at an score of 41-0.
The second powerplay was called straight away as England were desperatly looking to get the 10 wickets they needed. The openers made an 50 run partnership as they did that within 74 balls as they were easing towards there target. They were looking comfortable and safe. The only bowler who was causing South Africa problems was Swann. In the 15th over it was another one of those beauty Swann bowls which seemed to have beaten the bat. Swann didnt appeal but Strauss and Prior appealed and they were sure he got a faint touch. It was given not out. It was referred and the decision was overturned as it flicked the thumb and he was gone. South Africa 63-1. It brought out the dangerous Kallis to the crease.
It was an dramatic last over of the bowling powerplay as Kallis first ball he hit an brilliant straight drive for 4. Then the final ball of the over hits the rough bounces up and the ball balloons to Bell which he caught it. It was given not out England reviewed it but this time it showed the umpire was right.
Kallis had seemed like he was there to take on the bowling and dominate it. He was being very positive against the bowlers. On the other hand Amla was playing an more solid innings as he was happy to wait for the bad balls. This was fine for South Africa as the run rate required wasnt an challenging one the only way England could win was bowling them out. Then Broad then bowled an magic bowl as he bowled Amla. It was an short straight ball which was lower than he expected he edged the ball which went down onto his own stumps and he was out for 42 off 51 balls only hitting 3 fours.
It got even better for Broad as in his next over he got Kallis driving a ball which he got an little edge which Prior took low to his right. For a moment it might have dropped short and Kallis did esquire about that but he said he caught it and Kallis accepted that and he walked off.
This brought in two new batsman De Villiers and De Plessis. These two have to an rebuilding job for South Africa. De Villiers has been the form player of the whole world cup so England knew getting him and they had an chance. England were bowling much more tightly and the runs were not coming as easily. Because of how much turn was in this pitch Pietersen was brought on. He was trying to use his spin to fool the batsman into an false stroke. But these 2 played solidly and well and guided South Africa to 100 off 25 overs. They needed 72 off another 25 overs with 7 wickets in hand. These 2 started to move on nicely as they looked like taken South Africa to there total.
The Partnership had reached 42 when the tide of the match changed. South Africa 124-3 and were looking odds on to winning this match but then Strauss turned back to Anderson to try and get an wicket. He hadnt bowled an good over as he had bowled 2 wides and conceded an leg bye but near the end of the over Anderson bowled a super bowl which he thought just went over the bails. But in fact he had clipped the bails off and it took over 20 seconds for the whole team to recognize (apart from Prior) that he had bowled him. After some conversation with the umpires he was given out bowled. The next over Du Plessis was run out as he charged down the wicket against Swann he flicked it straight to Bell and Bell quickly flicked back to Prior and he was run out. Now South Africa were 124-5 still needing 48 runs England needing 5 wickets.
There was more drama as the next over Anderson bowls and ball down leg side which England feel has been nicked the umpire agrees and gives it out. It was reviewed and the TV shots was clear and the decision was over-turned. But then 2 balls later Anderson bowled an beauty of an in-swinging yorker and it takes out leg stump as he bowled an super delivery to get Duminy for 0. South Africa from 124-3 to 124-6. England were bowling really tightly as Pietersen was getting a lot of spin at one end and Anderson was at the other end. England then took an risk by putting Yardy back into the attack which also worked as Peterson edged a ball straight to Prior who took an sharp catch. South Africa in 5 overs had lost 4-3. Peterson played an horrible innings which looked like he could get out any ball getting just 3 off 16 balls.
Kevin Pietersen was bowling his 6th over as he was turning the ball a lot into this pitch. But Pietersen is an part time spinner and he will give time to time bad ball and he did give Steyn and leg side ball to tickle away for 4 which was 4 valuable runs for South Africa. England knew as a part time bowler he would give away bad balls but he was doing the job creating pressure. South Africa needed 40 runs and had 72 balls (12 overs) to do it in. Strauss would have probably have brought off Yardy if he hadnt taken that wicket and he was given another over to ball. But it looked as if Yardy had bowled one too many overs as he bowled an poor over as was hit for 7 runs included Steyn hitting an boundary on the last ball to an short ball.
Kevin Pieterson bowled another very good over. He only gave away 3 singles but the problem for England was that is all South Africa needed as the equation was 30 runs needed and 60 balls left (10 overs). With that in mind Strauss brought back one of his main bowlers Broad into the attack. Broad bowled an super over which only conceded only 1 run off it. England were trying to put score board pressure as the overs were coming down. Surprisingly Kevin Pieterson was kept on at the other end. The hope of sneaking another wicket before the major bowlers back fired on Strauss as Pieterson's over went for 7 runs. That included boundary hit by Steyn. They also reached there 150 off the last bowl of the 42nd over. 22 needed off 8 overs.
Broad then bowled an tidy and tight over which nearly got an wicket. The first ball Van Wyk tried to go for an ugly slog which he misses all together. A couple of balls later he got an leg bye and Steyn got an leg sided ball which was played easily for an single. Then Anderson was brought back into the attack and he bowled an super over. Apart from the first ball which went for an wide and the third ball which also went leg side for another wide Anderson bowled an over without any runs off the bat. But unfortunately the 2 wides hurt England as they are defending an small score. It promoted Strauss to bring back his best bowler for his last over. But for England South Africa played it very well and even the last ball Van Wyk tickled a shot which gets him 3 runs. Swann ended up figures of 29-1 which was an great effort and the equation 15 runs and 30 balls remaining (5 overs to go).
England were building the pressure superbly as they were getting a lot of dot balls and slowly putting the run rate up. South Africa were forced to take the batting powerplay which was more of an help for England as the players closed in on the batsman. Anderson bowled another super over as he only conceded 2 runs off it. One for each batsman. Van Wyk might have felt a little disappointed as he got an short ball which he could have done better but only got 1 as he hit it straight to the fielder. It was now 13 needed 24 overs remaining (4 overs). England then made an bowling change as they brought on Bresnan to take off a bit of pace. The first ball went for a single but the second ball was an lower ball which Van Wyk tried to drive but only chopped onto there own wickets. This brought out Morkel to the crease. Steyn and Morkel are able to get 3 more runs in that over and the equation was 8 runs needed 3 over remaining.
Then Broad came back into the attack. The first ball was an great yorker which got Steyn right in front of which was given LBW. It was very straight. It was reviewed but it was in vein as it was going to hit middle and leg. They are 164-9. 7 needed win to win 1 wicket for England. The next ball Tahir swipe at the ball and gets an edge and gets a single. 6 runs for victory and then it happened the great comeback was complete. Broad bowled Morkel edged the ball and went straight to Prior and he was gone. England won by 6 runs.
The celebrations was incredible as England got a victory from a losing position. England never give up and every match they play is so entertaining and has a lot of drama. Broad ended up with figures 6.4 overs 15-4, Anderson was back to his best with 6 overs 16-2, Swann bowled superbly for only 1 wicket 29-1, Bresnan 8 overs 27-1 and Yardy 46-1 off his 9. Bopara was given Man Of The Match by hitting 60 runs for his batting.
These two teams are well set to reach the quarter finals. England after losing to Ireland bounced back superbly and now move on to play the co-hosts Bangladesh at Chittagong on Friday while South Africa play the other co-hosts at India at Nagpur on Saturday. England know a victory against Bangladesh and they are sure of an Quarter Final place. South Africa will be wary of the dangers of the teams below them as they have to face Ireland and Bangladesh still but I do expect them to be in the quarters.
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