Turncoats torture Proteas
8 May 2010
South African-born batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Craig Kieswetter set up a convincing 40-run win for England on Saturday.
The pair came together in the first over of England’s innings, and proceeded to rack up an important partnership of 94. Pietersen’s 53 was scored off just 33 deliveries while Kieswetter was more circumspect. Although Johan Botha bowled tightly, the English batsmen were ruthless in their approach to quicks like Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
After a slow start, the South African run chase faltered with Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith and Albie Morkel falling in quick succession. JP Duminy weighed in with an important 39, but in the end, the Proteas were forced to take risks. Credit should go to the miserly English spin bowling, as Graeme Swann continues to enjoy success against South Africa.
The lower order failed to provide adequate resistance and ensure the Proteas finished their allotted overs. Given the importance of net run rate in the Super 8s, this failure could affect their play-off prospects.
England 168-7 (20 overs)
Kevin Pietersen 53, Craig Kieswetter 41, Johan Botha 2-15.
South Africa – 129 (19 overs)
JP Duminy 39, Graeme Swann 3-24, Ryan Sidebottom 3-23, Michael Yardy 2-31.
England won by 40 runs
For the full scorecard, click here.
13 Comments
8 May 2010, 20:04 pm
KP getting one helluva strike rate
8 May 2010, 20:05 pm
Come on SA… show some balls.
8 May 2010, 21:48 pm
SA have the worst top order of all the big teams. just ****
8 May 2010, 22:41 pm
provocative title ‘turncoats torture proteas’
8 May 2010, 22:59 pm
I think we have a mediocre 20/20 side. Can`t compare to the big okes like Aussie. Our bowlers are generally kakkish.
9 May 2010, 02:55 am
Its laughable how the proteas seem to be unable to grasp the concept of 20/20,they think they are still playing 50 overs cricket or even test cricket in some cases.
9 May 2010, 10:48 am
Well it’s not as if it we expected much more from the proteas now is it?
9 May 2010, 14:27 pm
choke choke choke…. AGAIN.
10 May 2010, 06:51 am
What a tabloid-esque headline, the sort you expect from one-party dictatorships where the media trumpets ever word the government utters.
On that score, perhaps it’s opportune for those many bigoted South African fans to finally concede that Kevin Pietersen is (a) a great cricketer and (b) would be a certainty in our Test, ODI and T20 teams.
‘Traitor’ number one would waltz in, play a starring role because he is a class act as a cricketer (yes, perhaps a pr*ck as a person, just as Shane Warne is but no-one challenges his greatness as a player).
Pietersen can – and has, on many occasions – read the situation and up/upped the tempo when needed, not like our mob who are one-paced and will be very lucky to advance beyond the Super Eights.
And again, we’ll only have oursleves to blame, for piss-poor run-rates throughout.
10 May 2010, 10:06 am
The Proteas could probably give Homer Simpson tips on the art of creative choking.
10 May 2010, 10:56 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-10:
And once we’re done with him, we’ll ship him across to the Shaky Isles for a session with the All Blacks!
10 May 2010, 11:55 am
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-9:
Joe , I think we all agree that KP is a great player…that’s a given. People generally don’t like him because of his very negative anti-SA sentiments which, regardless of how he was treated by CSA, is just poor form IMO. I do believe though that he has matured a lot since the early years and has ‘grown up’, which is great to see…now if only Graham Smith can do the same…..
If you look at the way other expat SA players are treated back home, they are generally welcomed back with open arms because we all know that they went and furthered their careers overseas mainly as a result of the current political landscape.
And I totally agree with some of the other comments re: our total lack of understanding when it comes to 20/20…and Jim Bobby, you can’t call it choking when no one expects you to win, which is really a sad indictment of this current squad.
I’d be very happy if they make the semis, but sadly the Aussies are in a different class. And they have the simplest, and most effective game plan around…SHOCK and AWE!!!! They have THREE quicks who can bowl over 150kph who they use to simply blow away the opposition top order and they have THREE genuine big hitting players in the top 3 who do the same to the opposition bowlers forcing the opposing team to always be playing catch up cricket.
Very simple and very effective.
10 May 2010, 14:22 pm
Kallis is the biggest culprit. Instead of getting as many as possible runs the first 6 over’s, he scratches around with one’s and two’s, instead of four’s & sixes. This immediately puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the players and they start throwing their wickets away to up the run rate. After 6 over’s the field restrictions are up and then it is game over for SA. Kallis then plays the so-called anchor man and he ends up with a good average run rate. Kallis is not a 20/20 player and he doesn’t look like a team player anymore.
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