The billing on the invite is simple. South Africa vs Australia, series level at 2-2, venue - Johannesburg, series decider. Hopefully, it's 2006 all over again. Goodbye for now, from me, Ekanth, Alex Malcolm on comms, and Ranjith P and Chandan Duorah on scoring.
Aiden Markram: Quite a few special performances. Can't look past Klaasie's. Great partnership with Davie to put up a huge total. As the series has gone on, we've improved. We've been put under pressure in the powerplay. We came out and rectified that. We're striving towards standards, which we haven't been up to. Getting there. We don't want to take the ball out of someone's hands but don't want them to get lined up in the powerplay. Executed plans which were a lot better today. It's a fresh start on Sunday, respecting that fact is important. It offers an opportunity to string a perfect game. The chat will be around that with Temba coming back to lead.
He gets a cheer as he walks back.
Heinrich Klaasen, POTM: Trying to take everything in. It's a special day but tbh I don't remember a lot of the innings. Will have to go back and watch. (Discussion at drinks) About rebuilding the innings. We wanted to take it to the 35th over and see what happened from there. The bowling was good till then but they couldn't hold on. The wicket also got better. I thought I could target spin and make big damage with Dave (Miller) in the last 10-12 overs. It was a normal partnership. When Rassie and I batted, our aim was 320, then it was 380, when Dave and I batted it was 400. Pretty sweet to do it on my home ground. Crowd are incredible, they looked after me nicely.
Mitchell Marsh: Tough day in the office. Some days guys have a day out. Klaasen was amazing. Look at the history of the ground, teams have been able to make up in the back end. Got outplayed. Sometimes, in international cricket you gotta take your hat off. Hats off to Klaasen. We couldn't get a breakthrough, had five bowlers as opposed to six or seven we usually have. We'd have been happy with them between 300-350. Funnily enough, we thought we were still in the game at the halfway stage. But we lost early wickets and the game was done. Nice to see Carey get a few runs, he works really hard. Shame he didn't get a hundred. He batted really well.
8:11pm: South Africa have pulled it back from 0-2 to 2-2, mainly because of Heinrich Klaasen, who waves at the crowd and gets a warm round of applause. He set up a monumental total, one which put Australia under cosh from the get go. Ngidi was proactive, going around the wicket to get Warner and trapping Mitch Marsh lbw. Travis Head was hit on the hand and had to retire hurt. He's shown on-screen wearing bandage, plaster, and a splint. Looks in good spirits though. Batters were getting starts but couldn't carry on. Except Carey, who showed defiance but couldn't get over the three-figure mark. David was the only batter to go past 30. Ngidi finished with a four-for. Rabada got three. Jansen and Maharaj chipped in with one each. South Africa finished with a 164-run thumping.
Vishwas : ""he should get there easy".. what a jinx!!" Sighs in acceptance
AT Carey c †de Kock b Rabada 99 (125m 77b 9x4 4x6) SR: 128.57
Hazlewood comes in to, hopefully, assist Carey to a century
A Zampa c †de Kock b Rabada 9 (13m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 81.81
END OF OVER:34 | 11 Runs | AUS: 248/7 (169 runs required from 16 overs, RR: 7.29, RRR: 10.56)
- Adam Zampa9 (10b)
- Alex Carey96 (74b)
- Lungi Ngidi8-1-51-4
- Kagiso Rabada7-0-37-1
Ngidi's hobbling a bit, should be okay as it's just cramps. But might not get the five-for
Percy: "All I care bout now is 100 from Carey" He should get there easy. One hit away. Ngidi goes around
END OF OVER:33 | 4 Runs | AUS: 237/7 (180 runs required from 17 overs, RR: 7.18, RRR: 10.58)
- Adam Zampa1 (6b)
- Alex Carey94 (72b)
- Kagiso Rabada7-0-37-1
- Lungi Ngidi7-1-40-4
AG: ""He won't bat again", you mean in this match. right? right ?" That's what's confirmed for now. Will have to wait a day for further updates
Thanks, Alex. Carey on 91*