SA vs Sri Lanka first ODI in Paarl 11/1/2012

Today the first ODI of 5 begins in Paarl. In an interview with AB de Villeirs who will be captaining the Proteas for the first time said that the pitch will be dryer than newlands and it is also significantly hotter in Paarl than in Capetown.

Squads:

South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt/wkt), Hashim Amla (vice-capt), Johan Botha, J.P. Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Dinesh Chandimal (wkt), Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Kosala Kulasekara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Kumar Sangakkara (wkt), Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne.

Rory Kleinveldt and Albie Morkel has been in very good form during the domestic season and this past weekend Morkel drilled 127 not out off just 133 balls in the first innings, then smashed 55 not out off 49 balls in the blitzkrieg second innings. He also took 5 wickets in the match.

I am sure the Proteas will go with their strongest possible selections for the first few ODI's wanting to secure the series before giving everyone else a go, but my money would be on Albie to get selected.

Johan botha is also most likely to get a run on the dry pitch.

South Africa has played 46 ODI's against Sri Lanka, both teams have won 22, with one tied match and 1 no result.

On South African soil the record is SA 12 wins, Sri Lanka 5 wins and one tied match.

South Africa in most recent ODI series has beaten Pakistan 3-2, India 3-2, went out at the quarterfinal stage against New Zealand and lost to Australia 1-2.

Sri Lanka in most recent ODI series has lost to england 2-3, lost 3-2 to Australia and 1-3 to Pakistan.

south africa 52-1 after 11. Smith fell early.

Kallis is playing very well, it seems his form is continueing.

44 off 53 balls

SA 82/1 after 16.3 overs

Could be on for a 300 here, Kallis and Amla playing well.

105/1 19.3 overs

Kallis with his 85th ODI 50

they are bowling with a new ball from both ends, so techincally the ball is only 12 overs old, and its already reverse swinging quite a lot, and the pitch isnt even looking that abrasive!

Amla owes Kallis a few beers after that one, crazy run!

they'll have to be non-alcoholic if Amla's buying

Just going to change my 300 score to 338/5 after the 50 overs. If they can get at Malinga.

SA 213/2 37 overs.

Amla get's to the ton Superb ave in ODI's.

Malinga with 2 in 2 and on a hat-trick


SA 279/5 45.3 overs.

Malinga getting a few wickets at the end (and a five-for) to get rid of the big hitters has kept SL in the game, (just) and limiting the damage that could have happened.

SA 301/8 after 50.

SA stuttered quite badly at the end there, that's at least 20 runs less than they should have got. Still a more than challenging total obviously. Well bowled Malinga.

4/2 after 2, with both openers gone for 2nd-ball ducks. Not looking good for SL.

Ugh 8/3. Sangakkara is going to have to put in one big performance now.

9/5 after 5 now, with Sanga and Matthews gone

From the cricinfo text commentator:

Oh boy. What's the biggest margin of defeat in an ODI? Angelo is gone now. Another duck.

Ah, this is not going so well. What's the lowest score anyone has gotten in an odi, do you know?

Was just about to say in Sanga and Jaya stay together this could still be done, and then Kumar goes and plays that shot. 9/4.

Then was about to say Angelo has played some decent ODI knocks over the years...

47 looking in danger? I remember Australia beating I think Namibia by 256 at the '03 WC I think. Not sure if that's still a record but it was at the time...

Barney92 wrote:Ah, this is not going so well. What's the lowest score anyone has gotten in an odi, do you know?

35 by Zimbabwe vs SL
36 by Canada vs SL
38 by Zimbabwe vs SL
44 by W.Indies vs Pak
45 by Zimabwe vs Bang

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_One_Day_International_cricket_records#Lowest_innings_totals

JDizzle wrote:Was just about to say in Sanga and Jaya stay together this could still be done, and then Kumar goes and plays that shot. 9/4.

Then was about to say Angelo has played some decent ODI knocks over the years...

Wow you're good. Most commentators actually have to say the curse for it to work

I'm a fool for trusting Wikipedia. According to Cricinfo (http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283987.html) the bottom 5 ODI scores are:
Zimbabwe 35 v Sri Lanka Harare 25 Apr 2004
Canada 36 v Sri Lanka Paarl 19 Feb 2003
Zimbabwe 38 v Sri Lanka Colombo (SSC) 8 Dec 2001
Pakistan 43 v West Indies Cape Town 25 Feb 1993
Zimbabwe 44 v Bangladesh Chittagong

Lowest ODI scores by country are:
Zim 35
Pak 43
India 54
WI 54
SL 55
Bang 58
NZ 68
Aus 70
Eng 86

13/6

13/6 now. DPMD Jayawardene c du Plessis b Tsotsobe 2

Beyond useless, aren't they.

Imagine you are 13/6 and you have not yet faced Dale Steyn.

Sri Lanka have a few problems. First of all, their selection is a shambles, I mean who picks two players called Kulesekara?

No, seriously, Matthews is a place too high at 6, and with him and Dilshan in the side (and potentially Mendis who I rate quite highly at 6) you've got enough bowling to play him there.

But the main problem is they've always relied on a few special players (De Silva, Jayasuriya, Murali, Vaas, Ranatunga, Malinga, Jayawardene, Sangakara, Dilshan to an extent) and the rest of the guys chipping in. Now their top players aren't performing and the rest aren't chipping, which makes for not such a good combination.

32/7 after 14 now. K. Kulasekara has reached double figures!

Understatement of the week on the cricinfo commentary:

Malinga is out there now. A touch earlier than he'd have expected.

Peterson comes on, Malinga predictably can't resist having a swipe and is cleaned up. 33/8

SL still well on course for their lowest ever total, and even Zimbabwe's lowest ODI total is still in reach.

Looks like I jinxed Malinga there

14.4 Peterson to Malinga, OUT, gone and pathetic. A wild swipe across the line and Malinga is bowled in very ugly fashion. That was awful. He went down on one knee to try and slog sweep but got absolutely nowhere near a gentle turning leg ball which struck middle and off stumps half way up.
SL Malinga b Peterson 1 (9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 11.11

Kiwireddevil wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Was just about to say in Sanga and Jaya stay together this could still be done, and then Kumar goes and plays that shot. 9/4.

Then was about to say Angelo has played some decent ODI knocks over the years...

Wow you're good. Most commentators actually have to say the curse for it to work

I am quite glad I wasn't on the computer when the SA innings finished because my initial thoughts were that SL had done really well and had a great chance! I thought Dilshan will get 60 off 40, and then either Kumar or Mahela will bat through for a ton and SL will get home...

I do know a bit about cricket, honestly.

SL level with Zimbabwe's 35...

Amongst the carnage being created by a rampant Proteas bowling unit, I feel sorry for Malinga. He bowled brilliantly for his 4 5fer in his last 20 odd games.

All out for 43.

so is this the biggest winning margin (in terms of runs) in ODIs? 258 runs, I think we can call that a thrashing...

that is atrocious, sri lanka be completely embarassed, that is a real horror show, with bat and ball.

Just a stat.

Malinga has played SA only 5 times in ODI's he has taken 15 wickets at an average of 16.2

Mad for Chelsea wrote:so is this the biggest winning margin (in terms of runs) in ODIs? 258 runs, I think we can call that a thrashing...

4th largest I think

3rd largest according to cricinfo

Mad for Chelsea wrote:3rd largest according to cricinfo

Sorry I was going off the top of my head, the old grey matter failed me!

Puts England batting performance today in the warm up match into a bit of perspective....

Great win by the Saffas, I havent seen that big a thrashing in a one dayer in I don't know how long.

Mornie's got his Mojo back now and watching their opening attack in a shoot out at sundown was great to see as Sl failed to deal with the new balls.

I hope on the next England tour to SA we get a ODI at Paarl, the situation is beautiful and the ground looks great.