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Key events
10th over: South Africa 87-1 (De Kock 64, Klaasen 1) Ali bags the breakthrough and Hendricks is back in the shed. Both teams will be happy with that outcome. (BTW, I’m a fan of Hendricks, just that this was a tough watch). The new man is Klaasen, which is an interesting choice and one made to target the spinners. No one is better at whacking slower bowlers into orbit than the ginger Saffa. He’s off the mark with a single to the sweeper on the off-side. Will that prompt a bowling change and see Wood join the party?
WICKET! Hendricks c Brook b Ali 19 (South Africa 86-1)
Hendricks’ miserable stay comes to an end. He had to try his hand and charged down the track, getting nowhere near the ball as Ali pushed it wide. A wild swipe and a toe of the bat had the ball fly high to Brook at long-on who made it look easy. South Africa won’t mind that too much.
9th over: South Africa 80-0 (Hendricks 18, De Kock 59) Despite the annoyance of having a wicket struck off his tally, that’s another brilliant over from Rashid. Hendricks can barely get it off the square and has now faced 23 balls. He has to get going.
Just for those who missed the Wood ‘drop’. De Kock spanked a sweep straight to him at fine leg, but the fast bowler didn’t get his fingers underneath the ball. So, on review, de Kock was called back.
Good thing they can bat.
Only Oman, Canada and the USA have a worse bowling average this comp than England’s 30.04.
Only Oman, Papua New Guinea, Canada and the USA have a worse bowling strike rate than England’s 21.9.
Hmm.
— Xavier Voigt-Hill (@voigthill) June 21, 2024
NOT OUT! It was a straight forward catch. Wood was so casual and he had to reach for it in front of him. The ball clearly touched the ground despite Buttler’s protestations. Let off for de Kock.
Tell you what, I think Wood has grassed this…
De Kock has spanked a leg side ball to Wood down at fine leg. But has he held on cleanly? They’re reviewing…
8th over: South Africa 75-0 (Hendricks 14, De Kock 58) Ali back into the attack and it’s a good set. Six off the over. Spin leading the way for England. I complimented Hendricks earlier but he has to kick on. He’s faced 19 balls. He either has to get smacking [the ball] or get packing [his bags].
“With this start, and this pitch, and their potential… I reckon SA should be going for somewhere around 215-220, what do you think?”
I reckon that’ll be the aim, John Ryan. They’ll know that England have the firepower to reach any total. Hendricks perhaps has to get a move on to make sure the big hitters have enough time to get going.
7th over: South Africa 69-0 (Hendricks 13, De Kock 53) Time now for the best T20 bowler in the world. Adil Rashid is the man South Africans will fear the most and they show him respect by only taking six off the over. De Kock brings up the joint-fastest fifty of the tournament – off 22 deliveries – with a single down the ground. Hendricks playing a brilliant support role.
6th over: South Africa 63-0 (Hendricks 11, De Kock 49) De Kock is putting on a show. Curran, with a fresh MBE and a bustling run-up, is bowling back of the hand slower balls and off-cutters but one drag down is clobbered by the left hander into the stands. De Kock almost gets another four from a cut but Livingstone though he has to pirouette on the boundary to keep the ball in play and the runs down to three. 12 off the over and that’s South Africa’s best powerplay of the World Cup.
Bowling change. After coughing up 21 runs in his one over, Archer has been yanked out of the attack for Curran.
5th over: South Africa 51-0 (Hendricks 11, De Kock 39) Topley concedes his first boundary to another de Kock classic – a late cut that splits a gap with a lovely touch. Excluding a leg-side wide to Hendricks, Topley is tidy elsewhere, banging the deck and unfurling a cutter as well. The South Africans are happy to collect five singles around the ground.
4th over: South Africa 41-0 (Hendricks 9, de Kock 32) Facing Jofra Archer sounds like a nightmare but it’s a dream match-up for Quinton de Kock. After being beaten for face off a good length, he goes 6-6-4 with some delicious batting. His first maximum was a trademark – a swivel of the hips and a pick up over fine leg. Then he comes down the crease and pops another six over midwicket. Archer adjusts his length, digs it in and de Kock lifts a four over short third. After a single to a cutter, Hendricks gets in on the act and crunches a pull in front of square for four. 21 off that over. South Africa are on the rampage.
Time for Jof v de Kock. This should be good.
Thomas Walker has chipped in on our debate around too much cricket from the Big Apple:
Dan – writing in from my desk in midtown Manhattan, appreciate the OBO coverage! My two cents – I completely understand the debate around over-saturation of T20 cricket but I think this particular World Cup has been a real winner for the ICC. There’s been serious interest in New York around the tournament – sports bars are actually showing the games (never thought I’d see the day when I’d see cricket on telly in this city) and Americans seem to enjoy the big hitting and faster nature of the format. Compared to baseball (and it’s basically only baseball on right now), cricket is a fantastic contrast – batters actually hit the ball and the games are fast and furious.
We definitely don’t need a T20 World Cup every year but bringing the tournament to the US and Caribbean has been awesome. As an Aussie I’ve been thrilled to show the game to my local friends and attend some matches in Barbados (which is an incredible place to watch the sport – the passion is unbelievable). I understand the point of view of someone sitting in the UK or Australia that this is ‘meaningless’ and ‘too much cricket’, but for passionate fans like me and my mates it’s been an awesome experience to have the cup in this part of the world.
3rd over: South Africa 19-0 (Hendricks 14, De Kock 6) Another good set from Topley who is proving difficult to get away. Neat fielding down on the deep third boundary prevents de Kock collecting a boundary. Otherwise tight lines restricted the Saffas to singles.
2nd over: South Africa: 14-0 (Hendricks 3, De Kock 11) It’s Ali to De Kock and this round goes to the South African. He ends the over with a mowed four past mid-on and then closes it out with a thumping six over long-off. Swift use of the feet on both occasions. A couple of singles means that over is worth 12. South Africa are up and running.
In case anyone was wondering why Archer didn’t start:
Quinton de Kock versus Jofra Archer in T20 Cricket:
Average 41
SR 182
2 Dismissals— Sam 🏏⚽️🏈 (@sammy5456) June 21, 2024
1st over: South Africa 2-0 (Hendricks 2, De Kock 0) Topley lands his first ball on a good length straight at the stumps and he holds that line. When there is width Hendricks’ wafty cover drive hits the fielder. He’s off the mark with a steer worth two that finds a gap past point. Good start from Topley.
The anthems are done. The Proteas openers are making their way to the middle. England’s players are zipping about after a team huddle. Who is going to get the new ball? Moeen Ali has a good record against Quinton de Kock.
Nope, it’s Reece Topley to Reeza Hendricks, who could do with a big score today.
“Just wanted to wish all in OBO Land a Happy Solstice. Let’s hope it’s favourable for England.”
Thats from John Starbuck.
Salutations to all those who observe.
I’m being firmly put in my place regarding my gripe about too much cricket. Which is great! It’d be a shame if the passion dimmed.
Here’s Brendan Large weighing in:
I would like to add my name to the list of people that were chuffed that you got that mail from Alistair Connor!
As a resident of Norway I am used to struggling to find ways to watch cricket live on TV, and I was completely unaware of the ICC having the games live online. This is fabulous news!
To your other point regarding ‘too much cricket’. I have been impressed by the competitive nature of the competition so far (less so in the super eights til now). There have been many matches that were a lot closer and more interesting than I would’ve expected. I think there is a lot to be said for those low scoring pitches.
Lads, you’re making me change my mind. Thanks for that!
Tristan Stubbs is chatting with Shaun Pollock and they’ve mentioned the stiff breeze.
That won’t be the first time I mention it. Hitting with the wind will aide sixes. Hitting into it will see the ball hold up and batters hole out.
Just another juicy variable that could turn the contest.
Genuinely chuffed to receive this mail from Alistair Connor.
He’s loving the glut of cricket. I hope there are more Alistairs out there:
Cricket overload ? No way.
I’ve watched more live cricket (on TV !) in the last couple of weeks than in the rest of my life, due to the fact that the ICC is putting it all live on the web. Never been able to face the cost AND technical difficulty of watching before (not living in a cricketing country)
Wife and I turned down an invitation to go to Trinidad to watch NZ/WI (with the friends with whom we watched the same match at Old Trafford in 2019) because in all conscience the air miles seemed rather excessive…
But even with my team eliminated (by Afghanistan ! No shame, but careless !) I’m still following keenly.
Cheers
So South Africa have jettisoned their attacking spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi, in favour of their accurate seamer Ottniel Baartman.
The Proteas went with two spinners against the USA – Keshav Maharaj retains his place – and though the left-arm wrist spinner Shamsi bagged wickets, he did get a clobbering.
It looks like a great deck. It’s a fresh pitch and Mike Atherton has just said that this ground yield a full run per over more than any other in the tournament.
Not sure what would be a par score. 200 feels like the target but maybe 180 would be enough.
Good toss to win. Chasing makes the most sense.
Jos wins the toss and bowls first
Jos Butler fancies a chase. He reckons the ball will swing early on and backs the formula, and the same team, that got the job done against the West Indies.
England: Salt, Buttler (c,wk), Bairstow, Brook, Ali, Livingstone, Curran, Archer, Rashid, Wood, Topley.
Aiden Markram would have bowled first as well. Just one change for them. Wrist spinner Shamsi is out, seamer Baartman is in.
South Africa: De Kock (wk), Hendricks, Markrakm (c), Klaasen, Miller, Stubbs, Jansen, Maharaj, Rabada, Nortje, Baartman.
What Ramps said:
Is there such a thing as too much T20 cricket?
Yes. A thousand times yes. I know it. You know it. But for some reason, the people running the sport know it too.
To say all of that during a T20 WC match between two top sides might seem overly negative, but if they build a tournament and no one comes, then we need to ask difficult questions at difficult moments.
How are you feeling about this World Cup? Has it captured your imagination? Are you fizzing with T20 fever?
Expecting a lower turnout at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground today for St Lucia’s first 10.30am start of the T20 World Cup after four games in the last six nights
Not many fans in for the DJ’s first spin of Fred Again at 9.20am local time
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) June 21, 2024
Ali Martin has highlighted two key players for England with against South Africa
One is Jofra Archer, who has not quite reached his apex just yet, but has looked devastating in spells.
The other is Phil Salt who is England’s top run scoerer after his unbeaten 87 against the West Indies underlined his potential.
Apart from their importance, Salt and Archer have something else in common. Want to know what it is? Get stuck into this:
Back to cricket matters, the other top dogs in the competition are looking pretty slick.
Australia hammered Bangladesh and India gave Afghanistan the business.
No question that England have to navigate the harder of the two Super 8 groups, but having walloped the Windies, a win here would all but put them into the last four.
Before we get into the frivolity, it’s important we highlight some awful news.
David Lawrence, the first British-born black player to feature for England, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Nothing else to say except it’s a horrible situation and everyone in the cricket world wishes David and his family strength and positivity through it all.
Premable
Daniel Gallan
Funny ol’ game this, eh? Six days ago, England were a few more rain drops from an early exit. But after beating Namibia in a truncated game, and thanks to Australia’s squeaky win over Scotland, Jos Buttler’s team reached the Super 8 where they kicked off in style, hammering the West Indies by eight wickets on Wednesday. Now, in a flash, the reigning champions will be confident of defending their crown.
A victory over South Africa will effectively guarantee their passage to the semi-finals. Sure, they’d need to beat the USA, who proved they’re no mugs in their narrow loss to the Proteas, as well as but you’d expect a side with in-form opening batters and a blistering pace attack would be too much for the lowest ranked team left in the tournament.
South Africa have been the toughest bunch to analyse. They swatted aside Sri Lanka in their opening game but were lucky in their wins over Bangladesh and Nepal. In truth, they should have lost both and were made to sweat by an expat in American clothing – Andries Gous from Welkom – who clobbered an unbeaten 80 off 47 balls.
Aiden Markram’s team is fallible but is littered with superstars. It’s just a case of enough of them firing at once.
This should be a cracking game. Both sets of players appear to be peaking at the right time. A win here could propel them to greater heights.
If you want to get in touch (and promise not to stick the knife in if things go sideways for South Africa) please drop me a mail.
Toss and teams to come. First ball at 3:30p,BST/10:30am in St Lucia.
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