SriLanka are 2-60 at stumps.They need another 137 to win the second test.And go 2-0 up in the series.
Haha Sri Lanka has not lost a wicket today.And this partnership only needs 57 to win.With 8 wickets in hand.
This is one of the greatest upsets in many years
Only 23 to win with 8 wickets left.
Its all over Sri Lanka have done it with ease in the end by 8 wickets against the cocky South Africans 2-0…well done Ceylon!
here here ‘bease’, the Ceylonese did it beatifully. I can’t believe that South Africa’s team management were complaining about tiredness according to Haysmen. They cant possibly be as tired as their guests, because as you have pointed out before on this thread with aplomb, the Sri lankans have done a bloody tour of the entire southern hemishere.
So now we can again say 3 things about Ceylon\SriLanka.Best Tea in the world.largest Leopards+they play cricket.
From a South African perspective I felt that they just thought they had to turn up to win and were very sloppy in their batting and bowling over the two tests which allowed Sri Lanka to get out of several tight situations in both tests. There will be some question marks over some of their players with their next test tour being in India. In particular some greats like Amla, Steyn and even Du Plessis may be wondering whether this is the time to bow out as all seem to be past their best and perhaps there is a need for some generational change.
The more I think of it I reckon this is probably the biggest Test series upset I can ever remember.
A decimated Sri Lankan side missing amongst others their best player and (Captain) Matthews & (VC) Chandimal plus a few others, many inexperienced players some in their first Tests, travelling to SA after copping hidings from NZ & AUS away and losing to England at home late last year, SA at pretty much full strength (Philander inj for 2nd Test), given literally no hope and yet have rolled SA 2-0 away to become the first team from Asia to win a Test Series in South Africa.
Bravo SL!
Afganistan broke a T20 world record last night V the Republic of Ireland.Highest T20 total 3-278 with Zazai scoring 163 off 62 balls.They won the match by 80 runs.
Fantastic result for the game as a whole…even better seeing its the Saffies…thought the WI victory was great…this SL victory is ten time better…as BH said…these boys have been on the go for months…beaten comprehensively by Eng, NZ and Aust…tethers e made the hardest task of all the easiest…sport at its best, any coach needing an example of beating the odds, only needs to bring up this SL series win…imagine putting a tenner on the SL to win this series…well done SL
I see Duane Olivier has left for Yorkshire
According to ESPN " Forty-two South African cricketers have now opted for Kolpak deals since left-arm spinner Claude Henderson became the first South African to take that route back in 2004."
Gee Olivier has made a big impression since coming into the Test side with nearly 50 wickets at ave 19 in only 10 Tests.
I really struggle to understand how one can give up a Test cap to go play County cricket but I assume that it may have something to do with the SA selection policy?!?!
Bease: i think he would be motivated by a couple of things
selection policy
the weakness of the rand – cricketers would be paid quite well comparred to other South Africans, but because of the collapse of the currency, you really need to make your money in pounds or dollars to be well off.
i agree, i am sure it was a very hard decision for him.
As the fella said he couldn’t be guaranteed a regular go…not many places where 4 quicks get played…despite his record, the guy is still behind, Rabada, Philander and Steyn in the bowling queue…has he even played in a test outside SA?..Yorkshire’s gain me thinks…
Spot on BH
This is from the ESPN cricinfo website
“South African cricket has a quota system. In September last year, Cricket South Africa announced that a maximum of five white players can be picked in the eleven, on average. This means some white players, such as Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw, may not get as many chances to play for South Africa and are hence choosing to move to England”
Also due to the weakness of the South Africa rand, they are going to make a lot more money playing county cricket in England.
Brexit will also have an impact on the future of these Kolpak contracts as they are an EU thing and will no longer be possible if and when England withdraw.
Freezin: they did take him to England and he played in the tests but strugglled a bit due to an inablity to control the swing.
In regards the selction policy Philander and Steyn are not young bowllers and are no threat to him long term. it is a money question. Two years hence, the African attack could be looking pretty thin centred on just Rabada and theother young black guy, Luguni. It will be the weakest seam attack we have seen since they started playing test cricket again.
One thing is for sure SA will have another handful of quality fast bowlers waiting in the wings to take Olivier’s spot…they have always had a plethora of good quickies in SA!
BH, Can you name your top five seamers from South Africa?
In my time AR in no particular order-
Alan Donald
Shaun Pollock
Dale Steyn
Vern Philander
Kagiso Rabada
Other names worthy of note- Morkel, Ntini, Klusener, Kallis, Schultz, Nel, McMillan, Hayward, Matthews, Hall, Abbott, Snell, Parnell, Fanie De Villiers and back before their reintroduction in 1992- P.Pollock, Barlow, Proctor, Rice, Le Roux et al.