Well the Super 8’s have begun and the matches did not disappoint!
[u]AUSTRALIA vs WEST INDIES[/u]
The Aussies batted first and lost opener Gilchrist early to Powell, Powell has been extremely impressive for West Indies, picking up early wickets in every single game he has played so far. Hayden started off really slow and played second fiddle to skipper Ponting, who looked as if he was in the form of his life, until he got run out for 35(36) by a magnificent throw from Sarwan.
In came Clarke who has impressed me throughout this tournament with his batting, he scored a quick fire 41(47) until he succumbed to a good delivery from Bravo (lbw). Symonds and Hussey fell cheaply and it seemed as if the Windies had pulled things back… but Hayden had other plans,the big man went absolutely berserk… I have never seen such powerful hitting in my life, he smashed 6’s all round the park with sheer brute force and blasted his way to 158(143) with four 6?s and 14 boundaries!!, until he held out to Samuels on the bowling of Bravo again.
Shane Watson chipped in with a handy cameo 33(26) and the Aussies finished up with 322/6.
A mammoth total yet again, but I just felt the Windies could get this with their strong batting line up.
The match was rained off and continued the next day and the Aussies started off really well, dismissing both the openers cheaply, however I really though Chanderpaul got a bad decision, that ball was clearly missing off stump… unlucky!.
Skipper Lara, looked really good and played a classy knock of 77(83) hitting 8 fours and a six, but he got himself out, playing a stupid shot and although keeper Ramdin gave him good company 52(43)… the tail didn?t wag and the Aussies cleaned the West Indies up for 219 in 45.3 overs. The total was just too big and the Aussies were just too good.
Another professional performance by Australia and they are steadily making their way up the group to yet another final.
[u] SOUTH AFRICA vs SRI LANKA[/u]
This had all the makings of an exciting match, the mighty South Africans against the Lankan lions and both teams made sure it was.
Sri Lanka batted first and had a top order collapse, great bowling by South Africa at the start, although Pollock was a bit expensive. Almost all the Sri Lankan batsmen got starts and then got out to horrible shots, apart from Silva who was brilliant run out by Gibbs (lol what a run out!).
Sri Lanka looked as if they would be bowled out cheaply at 98/5 but then in came Russel Arnold and Tillekaratne Dilshan, the two dependable lower order batsmen played superbly had shared a 97 run partnership which got Sri Lanka out of hot water. I really think Smith should have been a bit more aggressive and changed the bowling, both the batsmen were excellent players of spin and he should have taken Peterson out of the attack sooner.
Dilshan was the first to go 58(76) caught by Kemp of the bowling of Ntini and shortly after Arnold was caught behind for 50(73) of Langeveldt. Charl Langeveldt then had a dream of a bowling spell picking up 4 wickets in his over destroying the Sri Lankan lower order and cleaning them up for 209, a good 15-20 runs short of what they should have achieved.
Sri Lanka was cleaned up for a respectable 209 (considering they were 98/5), this was an awkward total to chase, considering the Proteas had to contend with Vaas and Murli.
The South Africans, started off badly losing de Villiers very early for a duck, but skipper Smith 59(65) was looking good along with Kallis 86(110), until they both got out, Smith to a beauty from Murli and Kallis to Malinga.
Murli then triggered a mini collapse taking Gibbs 31(51) and Boucher 0(2) in rapid succession but the Proteas were still looking fine at 206/5 until Lasith Malinga, the fiery slingly fast bowler came on for his final spell… he took 4 wickets in 4 balls and almost got a fifer in the same over.
This turned the whole match on its head, the mighty South Africans were now suddenly 207/9!!! with 3 runs to win and Sri Lanka on top…
Langeveldt batted superbly, when he blocked out one whole over from Vaas and the Peterson finally edged a ball to third man for 4 of Malinga, leading the South Africans to victory. The last over of that match was nail biting, I was at the edge of my seat!!, Jayawardene should have had a second slip, what a costly mistake and now the Sri Lankans must be ruing the fact that they didn?t get those 10-15 extra runs, it cost them the match.
South Africa now get their 2 points and the Super 8 table is evenly poised with Australia leading and Sri Lanka, now in second place.