Black Caps v South Africa

[Chris B.]

On the plus side, we've got the 5th bowler out the way early today - 20 overs bowled and Neesh/Kane/CdGh have bowled 10 for 46.

We're going to need the specialist spinners to take control - otherwise CdGh is going to have to bowl more.

So far, Ish is not looking unplayable and is getting knocked around pretty easily. 14 off his first two overs.

[Chris B.]

Santner sucks Duminy down the pitch - beats him with bounce, I think - and grabs a stumping!

108/3

[Chris B.]

Kane brings back Boult for an over and de Kock has a brainfade and smacks it down Neesham's throat 124/4. Big wicket!

[ACT Crusader]

Massive wicket. I thought the Saffas were in cruise mode with 2 down and the scoreboard clicking over nicely at above 4.5 an over. But two quick wickets and a couple of fresh batsmen has us back in it. Two dangerous batsmen in here though!

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Love the dartboard design with the mowing.

[MN5]

With all the expertise and knowledge of someone who watched our entire innings on Match tracker I gotta say surely in this day and age 289 with only four down is waaaaayyyyyy too small a total....

But in saying that go hard boys!

[Chris B.]

Probably is when the opposition have ABdV at the wicket. You've got to get him out or you're going to lose. But this isn't a complete road.

Paying the price a bit for Broom's cheap dismissal - held off our charge for a few more overs and then we didn't get any massive overs to get us over 310.

[Cyclops]

Shit captaincy looks easy with a bloke like Boult around. Looks like the saffers are getting on top? Bring Boult back to grab a key wicket

[Virgil]

Yup, and to think it was barely 2 years ago most were doubting his role with the white ball

[Chris B.]

Needed to take that catch though! Turning into a nailbiter that we should win, but mightn't!

[Virgil]

Yeah. Bit shit now

[Virgil]

Fucking blowing it

[Virgil]

Got em piss off!!

[Chris B.]

Great over by Boult

15 needed off the last. Phehlekwayo on strike.

Don't bowl a pile of shit Tim. Leg stump yorkers!

[Chris B.]

And Timmy is good enough!!! Or more to the point - Phehlekwayo isn't. Decides to take it all on his own shoulders and can't get more than a single of any of the first four, so declines them all and "concedes" the match.

We get there, but it should have been more comfortable after AB and Morris went.

[Virgil]

Never in doubt!

[Bovidae]

Southee is so frustrating to watch. He can bowl anything from pies to world class yorkers, usually in the same over.

What a bizarre last over though.

[Hooroo]

So stoked with that win but I had a sour taste in my mouth around Sodhi. He just cannot field.

His bowling was shot for the most and when I was complaining the loudest he took that game turning wicket.

I don't know. Fuck I love when we win but that was full of a lot of stupid

[Chris B.]

@Hooroo Yeah - I thought Santner showed why he's been preferred to Sodhi for the most part. Just able to exert more control at crucial times. You can't really rely on Ish to dry up an end if you need it.

A bit of a lack of composure over those closing overs - a couple of misfields by Kane and Brownlie, CdGh a bit slow with a narrow runout opportunity, some poor bowling by all of Sodhi, Boult and Southee opening the door for Pretorius and Phehlekwayo.

The best thing was it put Kepler Wessels back in his box. He was starting to annoy me with his cocky, "you boys have blown this". What have we got an Australian commentator for this series for anyway?

(Pretty sure it's Kepler isn't it?).

[Bovidae]

It's always harder for a leggie to have control - Tahir went for 61 off his 10 overs.

Speaking of bowling:

Neesham 3-0-20-0
de Grandhomme 4-1-10-1

Hesson will need to decide if Neesham really is an all-rounder or just a batsmen who bowls a few overs.