Sunday, July 01, 2007

SA and India poised for showdown

Third one-day international, Stormont:
India v South Africa 1045 BST[The Live Scores will be exclusively available here]
South Africa hope to have fast bowler Dale Steyn and all-rounder Justin Kemp fit for their one-day decider with India in Belfast on Sunday.

Steyn is one of several players in both camps who has succumbed to flu while Kemp is struggling with a leg injury.

India hope to have seamer Ajit Agarkar available, but paceman Sri Sreesanth is set to miss the entire series with flu.

India squared the series 1-1 at Stormont on Friday when Sachin Tendulkar passed 15,000 one-day runs.

Proteas skipper Kallis said: "Dale's come a long way, Justin Kemp has been having treatment and hopefully, by Sunday, we'll have a full squad to choose from.

"It all bodes well for Sunday's game. I think it is going to be a terrific game of cricket."

Kallis has been delighted to see fringe players come to the fore this series, which was preceded by a one-day international against Ireland.


One of the gladdening things is to have seen how these young spinners have bowled, especially in these tough conditions

India skipper Rahul Dravid


Morne van Wyk top-scored on Friday with a career-best 82 in South Africa's 226-6 while spinner Thandi Tshabalala and all-rounder Vernon Philander have impressed since making their debuts last weekend.

Tshabalala captured the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for 93 on Friday and, although his eight overs cost 42 runs, Kallis said he had been happy handing over the bulk of the fifth bowler duties to the spinner.

"Morne's done well. Graeme Smith [South Africa's regular captain, who is recovering from knee surgery] has been the one in the spot but there's no spot in any team that should be taken for granted.

"We wanted to have a good look at Thandi. With the next World Cup being in the sub-continent [in 2011], we realise we have to find a spinner and that is what we are trying to do."

India skipper Rahul Dravid has been hugely encouraged by performances in the first two games as he prepares his men for the three-match Test series against England.

"The victory on Friday was a big boost to the side - the boys have fought really hard," he said.

"Our preparation for this tournament wasn't exactly ideal. We've had a tough few days, and the boys have responded really well.

"They have not complained; we have gone on and done what we needed to do and played good cricket - and we fully deserve to be level in the series.

"We knew we could give them a good run for their money - and we believe if we play some good cricket we can end up with the right result."

The unavailability of much of his pace attack has been a blessing in disguise, with Dravid having to rely on the slow bowling of Ramesh Powar and teenager Piyush Chawla.

"One of the really gladdening things for me is to have seen how these young spinners have bowled, especially in these tough conditions," said Dravid.

"They are used to playing in India, where it is warm and sunny and the ball grips and turns. But they have come here and immediately adjusted."


India (from): R Dravid (captain), S Tendulkar, S Ganguly, D Karthik, MS Dhoni (wkt), Y Singh, R Sharma, P Chawla, R Powar, RP Singh, Z Khan, A Agarkar, I Sharma, G Gambhir, R Uthappa.

South Africa (from): J Kallis (captain), M van Wyk, AB de Villiers, H Gibbs, JP Duminy, M Boucher (wkt), A Hall, V Philander, A Nel, C Langeveldt, M Ntini, T Tshabalala, D Steyn.

No comments: