CWC 2011: South Africa and India drama
CWC 2011: South Africa and India drama
The 5th One Day International cricket match, or the 438 match, between South Africa and Australia, played on March 12, 2006 at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, has been voted as the greatest One Day International match ever played in the official poll conducted by ICC. The match broke many cricket records, including both the first and the second team innings score of over 400 runs. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 434 for 4 off their 50 overs, smashing the previous record of 398-5 by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 1996. In reply, South Africa scored 438-9, winning by one wicket with one ball to spare.
Five years later, to the day, South Africa has pulled off what is sure to a great world cup match to be talked about for years to come.
Central to South Africa's success was Dale Steyn. After seven overs, Dale Steyn had conceded 46 without taking a single wicket. But he finished his 10 overs with 5 wickets for 50 runs. His wicket-taking spell was almost unimaginable at - 16 balls, four runs, five wickets, which contributed to India's dramatic collapse. After the second wicket fell with the score on 267, India lost their last eight wickets for 29 runs collapsing to 296 all out.
Before Steyn's fireworks, it was all India. Until then, a score in excess of 350 was on the cards. Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag produced a stunning passage of play full of adrenalin and oozed. They could do no wrong, not a single shot looked risky, and it appeared that South Africa's fate had been sealed. But, it was not to be.
South Africa was almost pedestrian for the first 30 overs or so, until AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis added some urgency to the proceedings. In the end Peterson held his nerve when it mattered most to blast 18 runs of 4 deliveries when the Proteas needed 13 from the final six balls from Ashish Nehra,
So, have South Africans put the chokers' tag to bedprobably not as the next time they lose a tense final it will resurface. But, for the time being they will have quieted the naysayers just as they did 5 years ago.
South Africa and India are also on Group B of the CWC, which is by far the livelier of the 2 groups. With Bangladesh's stunning win over England on Friday they who moved to four points after four matches. If they defeat the Netherlands on Monday and the West Indies beat England on Thursday then Bangladesh can book a place in the quarter-finals.
So with the fate of Group A pretty much decided, my top picks of up-coming matches:
Match32, Group B - Bangladesh v Netherlands; this is now an important match as it could help decide if England make it to the quarter-finals.
Match 36, Group B England v West Indies; with Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad being ruled out of the remainder of the world cup in the last 2 days don't expect England to walk away with a winthey will have to earn it.
Match 39, Group B - Bangladesh v South Africa; Should England win in match 36 then Bangladesh would need to win this one and have won match 32 (both by heft margins) to qualify for the quarter-finals.
So there you have it, a round-up of the Cricket World Cup 2011 after 31 of 49 matches! North & South India Tours Travel India to Visit Famous Ranthambhore National Park Important Cultural Events and Festivals of Bhutan Keeping the American Dream Alive Renting Holiday Cottages in Alnwick, Northumberland New Orleans-Why It Is Best Destination For Spring Season Travel Fun Costa Rica in Luxury Nainital Ranikhet Tour Packages – A Convenient Way of Enjoying Some of the Best Hills Stations in India Christmas jewelry for enigmatic charm Holiday Villas – What are you Looking For Cheap Flights to Exotic Travel Locations Villas on Rent – How you can Get it Costa Rica Luxury Travel