i think India should declare tommorow...otherwise it will one more boring test match...
if India can bat till mid afternoon and take a lead of around 150, the match will become exciting. The only problem is that no batsmen is left.
India’s best chance is in getting 150+ before Lunch on 4th day and declare. It will be hard for SA to survive 5 sessions in their 2nd inning.
oh and by the way whats up with Harbajan?? He was “MAD” at south africa because of “slow batting” when SA made 309 in 122 overs. How about Ind?? is he also “MAD” at India because India made 359 in 125 overs? (SA Rate 2.44, Ind rate 2.87). What about Rahul Dravid? Is Harbajan and Sehwag “REALLY MAD” at him when he scored 80 runs in 247 balls (41 overs) with the rate of 1.95 / over. I must say Harbajan has a tendency to open his mouth specially when he is playing at his home ground and in favourable conditions, just like Shoaib Akhter! They both need to keep their mouth shut and let their ball do the talk !
^ I see your point Decent. But the thing is that SA were voluntarily defending while India were made to proceed slowly through some negative field settings.
I agree BUT
you see even if SA can draw the series, its win for them. When it comes to saving the pride, all "positive cricket" goes to back seat and this is not only the case with SA, its true for any other team of the world too.
Jub India per bura waqat aata hai ya ayee ga tu, they play the same way just like SA is playing. Pakistan will do the same, Eng will, NZ will and so on...
When one starts counting "negative" cricket, he has to start from the fact that pitches prepared in INDIA does not offer equal opportunity to both teams to go for win. Pitches are prepared in India to make sure that India has an edge and its their right to do so just like AUS has a right to prepare fist pitches.
Just like any other person following test cricket, I like to watch test matches with results but i also think that players should not criticize other teams for negative tactics (that too while the game is still on). They should leave it to their team management and media.
Khair, lets see k match ka nateeja kia nikalta hai. I hope SA will save the game :)
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Decent 6Chora: *
I agree BUT
you see even if SA can draw the series, its win for them. When it comes to saving the pride, all "positive cricket" goes to back seat and this is not only the case with SA, its true for any other team of the world too.
Jub India per bura waqat aata hai ya ayee ga tu, they play the same way just like SA is playing. Pakistan will do the same, Eng will, NZ will and so on...
When one starts counting "negative" cricket, he has to start from the fact that pitches prepared in INDIA does not offer equal opportunity to both teams to go for win. Pitches are prepared in India to make sure that India has an edge and its their right to do so just like AUS has a right to prepare fist pitches.
Just like any other person following test cricket, I like to watch test matches with results but i also think that players should not criticize other teams for negative tactics (that too while the game is still on). They should leave it to their team management and media.
Khair, lets see k match ka nateeja kia nikalta hai. I hope SA will save the game :)
[/QUOTE]
I dont think that is the case with India only. Australians are playing us in perth first up, they developed their game there and thus providing Australia with an automatic edge.
You are rightabout negative cricket bit when it comes to pride, but I dont think they are playing for pride. They are playing to stop the rot of successive test series defeats. It is a matter of confidence, so Eng and even Pak wont do this.
and yeah i m hoping India would win because I wasted couple of hours watching ugly SA batting yesterday morning. :D
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by saby: *
....and yeah i m hoping India would win because I wasted couple of hours watching ugly SA batting yesterday morning. :D
[/QUOTE]
You cant comment on this then, you are an effected party :)
Bekar hai maat dekhooo match its just another…
Dead DRAW 
India 411 all out
SA 63/0
Looks like a draw unless India can breakthrough quickly.
Harbhajan takes three quick ones to make SA reel at 134 for 3..
lead - 29 runs and one day...makes it interesting tommorow..
SA 147/4.
India on top at the moment.
Fifth gone. 152-5 South Africa with a lead of 46.
At stumps SA 172/5.
An interesting last day with India clearly holding the advantage.
India has the history of struggling with tail enders...hope they mop before lunch...
:) @ (Indian) Media
Everyone is bashing umpire for not giving Kallis out. Check cricinfo, 90% of their summry of the match talks about "how Kallis was givin not out " and he "cheated" and blan blan baln. No one has courage to point out the mistake that went India's way (infact long way) in case of Andrew Hall. He was wrongly given out when ball went up of his arm and just to mention that was first SA wicket to fall after an excellent opening partnership of 77 that actually started the land slide of SA batting lineup.
If SA batsmen can stick to the wicket at least up to lunch (which is going to be quite difficult) then there is a chance that SA can save the game but the way Harbajan Singh is bowling, India has a definate edge !
.
I hope you r mentioning this article out here..
http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/DEC/116772_INDRSA2004-05_01DEC2004.html
talk about how umpiring issues rather than anything else and also written by south african reporter. Anyway’s as far as I know hall was trying to sweep and in the process he gloved…I didn’t see him arm the ball…Also Hall is a good middle order batsmen, not a opening batsmen.
On the other side, Kallis is still there..Can’t say anything..Cricket’s a funny game..Kallis might be able to save this game nobody knows..
SA all out for 222. India needs 117 to win and they are 29 for one right now. India will win this game and the series.
india clearly deserves to win this one ...i dont see why not ....they havent really played "superb" but i think even with their current slump they have done ok (given that SA is inexperienced)....harbajan good job ....guy has proved himself time and time again ....overall good exciting test match cud have be more exciting , couple of wickets lol
South Africa 305 & 222
India 411 & 63/2 (19.0 ov)
68/2 (20.0 ov)
R Dravid 23
SR Tendulkar 6