ODI No.2 World No.1...SA-CESS!

“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, world no.1 for world no.1” … the inherent happiness at the loss of enemies is imbibed in human culture. Until a point of time it was Pakistan’s loss against Bangladesh or Ireland but new found happiness in England’s defeat against South Africa while India conquering Kiwis and Kangaroos, is ecstatic…Emus are totally different story.

England’s loss to SA in the 2nd ODI by 80 runs is a classic example of contest between a confident side and a confused side. England started well in the first 5 overs when they gave away only 11 runs and just when Cricinfo said “The two new balls in ODIs have certainly brought the bowlers back into the game, especially in England”, Smith crashed a wide delivery outside off straight down the ground… a little more straight and it would’ve seen midwicket…what transpired after that was a convincing total by South Africa led by England’s worst nightmare, Phyllanthus emblica or commonly known as Amla.

The chase started brilliantly for South Africa when so-so-be bowled a not so so-so ball to remove cook and drive him back to the kitchens. Bell and trott put up a decent partnership when trott holed one Elgar and trot back to the pavilion. Soon, Peterson struck timber when he rang the Bell…by the way it’s South Africa’s Peterson and not the pie eater’s son, oh well… all of them anyway are. Morgan departed in haste to join trott in paddle-broading…oh sorry, paddle-boarding, broad should be busy tweeting about team mates.

England’s best performer of the day was Kieswetter, more of a bedwetter really having dropped 3 catches and bamboozled by a slow left arm part time debutant. Few more of these, the prior-ity would shift to much better batsman and keeper who led Sussex to victory in a 150 run partnership just a day prior J to the 2^nd ODI. The rest are really not note worthy for their performances and the innings ended with an inspiring partnership from the last wicket pair, a foot apart…in height that is.

South Africa move to No.1 in all three formats of the game, not considering hong kong sixes, bush cricket, field cricket and other 25 forms. Can they last? Everyone knows what happens to SA under pressure, just need to wait and watch till they get into a KP situation, I meant Key Pressure situations!

And just before I post…for the first time that I’ve seen on Cricinfo – “BREAKING NEWS Andrew Strauss announces retirement from professional cricket“ http://www.espncricinfo.com/