Champions Trophy Game 3 Group B, Afghanistan v South Africa 21/2 1930hrs @ the National Stadium Karachi

[Gough]

Afghanistan from, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran, Farid Ahmad Malik, Nangyal Kharoti. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami
South Africa from, Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen. Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka

 

[NYRB]

Dale Steyn "few cracks but still good to bat on" at the toss. The cracks are evident.

 

[NYRB]

Klaasen can't play today due to an elbow injury. This is his format , big loss for SA today.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

No Klaasen is massive. Absolute star in this format and might be the best player of spin in the white ball game. Almost back to a 50/50 game now

 

[NYRB]

No Klaasen is massive. Absolute star in this format and might be the best player of spin in the white ball game. Almost back to a 50/50 game now

No Tristan Stubbs as well which is interesting. He is one of the better power hitters , he would have been a good replacement player.

 

[cats_09]

Could this keep him out for longer than just this match?

 

[NYRB]

Shaun Pollock "they got this soil from Australia " , similiar to the one they use at the WACA- which is an interesting comment.

 

[NYRB]

Upon review, that LBW appeal at the end of Farooqis first over looked pretty close.

 

[NYRB]

And its a circumspect start from South Africa here, just the 8 runs off the first 17 balls here. Just having a look at this wicket and comms too seem unsure how this is going to play out.

 

[NYRB]

DJ at the ground with a banger.




They tend to play that song at every South Africa national game these days, when a boundary is hit.

 

[NYRB]

With this group being fairly even, Net Run Rate will be a big factor for which teams will qualify from this group.

 

[NYRB]

Bavuma up to his dark arts early, running down the centre of the wicket, which no doubt would have got a warning from the umpire. For someone as experienced as Bavuma, he very well knew what he was doing.

 

[NYRB]

First six of the game, Ryan Rickelton dances down the wicket to Farooqi and no doubt this will be the end of the first spell of Farooqi after this powerplay. Bowled 5 straight up so far.

 

[NYRB]

Circumspect powerplay from South Africa, just the 46 off the first 10.

 

[NYRB]

South Africa scored 64 runs in their last game here in the Powerplay and lost.

I do think the scoring is easier in the powerplay than during the middle overs for me. Im gathering that with not having Klaasen today, they have just looked to wait a bit longer before launching today.

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

Bruh the audio is still dogshit after three games, the mix is ****ed

The stump mic is twice as loud as the commentators so when the keeper yells "catch" your ears are being assaulted

 

[NYRB]

Azmat has bowled some rubbish today.

35 conceded off his 28 balls. He is ripe for the picking for the SA batsman.

 

[010203]

Can't see this pitch being easy to bat on later on.

 

[NYRB]

SA have slowed down in the last 5 overs, a bit of frustration getting to their batting, despite only have lost 1 wicket.

 

[010203]

Waka Waka playing over the speakers. It's not really a South African song but that doesn't stop them playing it.

 

[NYRB]

Rashid Khan looks in a world of hurt here.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Was that a drop by the keeper?

 

[NYRB]

Noor Ahmad wont want to look at Rashid after that fielding effort.

 

[010203]

Noor Ahmad wont want to look at Rashid after that fielding effort.

Nor will anybody else.

 

[NYRB]

Thats a waste of a review from Afghanistan. It was more in hope of getting a wicket. Not a fan of teams using the review for catches unless your 99%+ certain. Afghanistan looked like they were 50:50 on that one, especially with the shrug of the shoulders when appealing.