Nervy South Africa edge thriller

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
November 23, 2007

The last time South Africa played a Twenty20 they choked in memorable style against India in the ICC World Twenty20 and nearly imploded again this time before coming through by three wickets with a ball to spare against New Zealand at the Wanderers. AB de Villiers, with an unbeaten 52, kept his cool as the home side did their best to hand New Zealand a morale-boosting win, but it was left to Johan Botha to strike the penultimate ball for four.
For three quarters of the match South Africa had everything under control following an impressive performance with the ball. But Jeetan Patel brought New Zealand back into the contest by removing Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock as de Villiers struggled to find anyone to partner him to the end. With three overs to go they needed 14 but just seven came from the next 12 balls and South Africa started having nervous flashbacks.
To add to the tension Vernon Philander was run out on the second ball of the final over and de Villiers, who'd reached his first Twenty20 fifty off 43 balls, couldn't get the strike. In the end it was down to Botha and he flicked Kyle Mills through midwicket to send the crowd into raptures. Disappointingly it wasn't a full house, a stark contrast to the ICC World Twenty20 final staged on this ground two months ago, but those present witnessed another match which showed how much fortunes can change during 40 overs.
South Africa rested Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel, and the strength of their reserves was indicated with Pollock collecting three wickets on his return. The home side caught well, although they couldn't hit a barn door with their attempted run-outs, as New Zealand threatened to fall inside the 20 overs before Mills flayed a defiant 33 at the death.
Chasing 130 shouldn't have proved as testing as it turned out. Jacques Kallis, who was controversially omitted from the ICC World Twenty20, looked intent on showing his aggressive side but picked out fine leg after being rushed by Mark Gillespie's bouncer, and Graeme Smith's poor run was extended when he edged Mills.
JP Duminy kept the innings on track with a punchy innings at No. 3. He showed a panache for the pull shot and was shaping to take South Africa home on his own when he slog-swept Daniel Vettori over deep midwicket. But the New Zealand captain had his revenge three balls later with a clever piece of bowling to draw Duminy out of his crease.
Normally secure in the field, New Zealand's catching then began to let them down. de Villiers launched Vettori high into the night sky and Mills couldn't steady himself under the chance at long-off, but that was nothing compared to Gillespie's howler at midwicket to reprieve Boucher. Patel then made his double incision, trapping Boucher lbw - although there was a doubt - and removing Pollock thanks to a fine catch at deep midwicket by Ross Taylor.
The equation reached a run-a-ball as Patel proved difficult to score off, but a meaty six over midwicket from Albie Morkel appeared to seal the result. Not so. Morkel slapped Scott Styris' second ball to cover before Taylor and Lou Vincent combined to run out Philander in the final-over panic. Although New Zealand ultimately couldn't pull off the heist, their fightback should have at least boosted spirits ahead of the one-day series.
Their earlier efforts had been depressingly familiar as the batting slumped to 98 for 7. Brendon McCullum slapped a wide delivery straight to point and Jamie How picked out cover after a promising start in his first outing of the tour. Pollock was the beneficiary on both occasions, making the most of an outing in international colours after missing the recent Tests. Smith was confident enough in his bowlers - or dismissive enough of New Zealand's chances - to keep a slip, or sometimes two, throughout much of the innings.
Morkel bowled a nippy spell to keep the pressure on as Taylor fell in familiar fashion, pushing away from his body and sending an edge to slip, and collected Gareth Hopkins in his final over when the reserve wicketkeeper limply guided a wide ball to point. Vincent scratched around for 20 balls before trying to reverse sweep a low full toss from Botha, whose impressive economy was helped by batsmen tied to their crease.
Styris played an almost lone hand with his 30, but it wasn't until Mills opened up in the closing overs that New Zealand showed real intent. It is no coincidence that Mills wasn't involved in the Test hammerings. He cleared long-off against Dale Steyn and in the final over creamed Charl Langeveldt straight down the ground with a little help from the altitude. In the final reckoning it hadn't quite given New Zealand enough to play with, but if they show the same spirit the one-day series could be a worthwhile contest.
Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer at Cricinfo

Kamal's hand written poem exclusively for you

Only a few actors are as gifted as Kamal Haasan. This multifaceted personality is known as an actor, a director, a producer, a screenplay writer, a dialogue writer, a singer and a dancer.Recently, at a function hosted to honor poet Puviyarasu, Kamal Haasan showed his literary aptitude as well by reciting one of his poems.

This, naturally, evoked tremendous applause from the audience present at the venue. For all the Kamal Haasan fans out there, here is the poem that turned this acting legend into a poet.

Ajith pronounces Billa’s release date

The stage is all set and the red carpet is rolled out for the release of the most expected remake of the year - Billa. Ajith, in the official press meet convened at the Green Park hotel today announced Billa’s release date. As per his announcement, Billa is slated to hit the theatres on December 14, 2007.

That apart, Ajith also answered a few questions posed by the media present at the event.While answering for one such poser, he declared that Billa is not a remake of the Hindi Sharukh Khan starrer Don that was released earlier this year. He further clarified that Billa is purely based on the yesteryear blockbuster Billa starring the superstar Rajinikanth.An obvious absentee at the event was Shalini, who generally flanks Ajith during such press meets, as she is in the family way.

Shruti Haasan finally accedes!

When acting is in your genes, it is but eventual that it'll show one day or the other. Such is the case with most star kids and why would the kin of Tamil cinema's most celebrated actor ever fall behind. Shruti Haasan is the one, who is the latest from the bastion of star kids, to have acceded to relentless requests from the who's who of the fraternity.

It was only recently that she had turned down a request from Venkat Prabhu, son of musician Gangai Amaran and director of this year’s super hit Chennai 600028, to star in his next project Ezhu.
She had been showing great interest in music and was seriously contemplating releasing a music album on her own. She had even crooned for Mallika Sherawat in her dad's magnum opus Dasavatharam. However, despite all this, the multi faceted youngster has finally acceded to the offer from actor Madhavan to act in his next project to be produced by Gnanam Films, the production house presently working on Karu. Pazhaniappan's Pirivom Santhippom. She will be starring opposite Madhavan in this untitled project to be directed by Nishikanth Kamath, director of Madhavan's soon-to-be released Evano Oruvan. Work on this film will start after the release of Evano Oruvan next month and it is tentatively scheduled to hit the floors in January '08. The makers are busy narrowing on an appropriate title for this movie. That Madhavan's a close friend of her dad Kamal Haasan is noteworthy. Guess no one can escape from being smitten by the acting bug.

Abhinav Mukund scores century on debut

A brilliant century by 19-year-old debutant Abhinav Mukund,who scored 108 runs,and an unbeaten 93 by skipper S Badrinath enabled Tamil Nadu score of 289 for 5 in the first innings on the first day of the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka, at the M A Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on Friday.
Tamil Nadu, who went into the match under pressure -- with just one point from two matches, won the toss and put up a confident show with the bat as Mukund and Badri combined well.
Abhinav, the new talent discovered on the India Under-19 tour to Sri Lanka [Images] recently where he caught the attention of the talent spotters with a double ton and a ton in the same match, compiled his score in 266 minutes off 176 balls with the help of 13 fours before being run out.
With Badrinath, who is batting on 93 off 212 balls hitting seven fours and two sixes, Abhinav added 139 runs for the third wicket in 161 minutes.
Abhinav thus joined six other Tamil Nadu batsmen to score a century on debut in Ranji trophy.

Laxman answers critics with fine 50

He has played one of the best knocks in India's Test history, but every time VVS Laxman steps out to bat in a Test match it looks like he has to prove himself all over again.
- Laxman saves India the blushes
That knock of 281, which helped India register the epic win Australia despite following-on was six years back, but even today Laxman is capable of turning a match on it's head even though not with the same flair.
Before the start of the first Test against Pakistan, there were calls for Yuvraj Singh's [Images] inclusion at the expense of Laxman.
The claims were because of left-hander's form in one-dayers and Twenty20 and in your face all the time through hundreds of ad campaigns.
- Scorecard Images
Captain Anil Kumble knew how much experience counts in Tests and that a player of the status of Laxman cannot be just dumped in favour of someone, who is yet to make a mark in Tests. It was therefore befitting that it was Laxman who led India's rescue efforts with a fighting half-century in India's first innings on Friday.
Despite scoring 205 runs in three Tests in England [Images] at an average of more than 50, many questioned Laxman's inclusion for this Test and even Laxman himself was surprised.
"It is always when your captain has got faith in you. It is really surprising [that my place is being questioned] because I had a really good series in England where I averaged more than 50 and people still doubt my place," Laxman said after the second day's play.
"I really don't think about the things that I cannot control. I would like to play both forms of the game. I was very happy with the way I performed in England and I hope that the team recognises my performance in England.
"Apart from that I really don't take any pressure because some things are not in my control."
With India precariously placed at 93 for 5 after lunch on the second day, Laxman brought all his experience into play and in the company of the swashbuckling Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] rescued India with a 115-run partnership.
"The situation was definitely tense because we lost three quick wickets after lunch. So it was very important that we put up a partnership and I am very happy we did that," the 33-year-old.
Dhoni was out stumped off Danish Kaneria for 57, while Laxman is still holding out bravely on the same score.
The stylish Hyderabadi admitted that he relishes batting in such situations, adding that this would rank one of the important knocks in his career.
"I always feel I would like to play under such situations whenever the team requires. I always love such situations and I am happy that I have done well in this game.
"I was happy that me and Dhoni put up that partnership, it was very important at that stage of the game. It was one of the most important knocks of my career."
Laxman's last century came almost 17 months back in the West Indies [Images] and he would be keen to post another here and take India to a good first innings total.
"It is important to get as much lead as possible in the first innings and I think that will be crucial. As the match goes on the wicket will deteriorate and will definitely become low and slow so it will be very important that we take a good first innings lead," he said.
Laxman said that with the wicket deteriorating rapidly, it was important that India tries to get as much runs as possible in their first essay.
"The wicket is still low and slow so it is very important that we get off to a good start tomorrow morning. The first session will be very crucial and if we can take a good lead then we can put them under pressure. As of now, the match is equally poised and tomorrow's morning session will be very crucial.
"Definitely it will be a tough challenge [to bat in the fourth innings]."
Laxman also reserved special praise for Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar [Images], who claimed two for 36 in a fiery spell of fast bowling.
"I think we lost quick wickets after lunch. It was good swing bowling because Shoaib, Sami and Tanvir really bowled well and I think all of them [wickets] were wicket-taking deliveries. It was unfortunate that Sachin got out in that fashion. Getting used to Tanvir's style was challenging, but I thought Shoaib bowled the best among them."
Laxman admitted that Dhoni's positive approach proved the key, but believes his wicket fell at the wrong time.
"It was good to see the way Dhoni played. He is a positive player and he has done the same even tomorrow and it was good that we put up a partnership. If he had been there at the end of the day then it would have put a lot of pressure on Pakistan tomorrow morning. His wicket fell at the wrong time."
It may not have been a Very Very Special knock from Laxman, but certainly it has proved to be a Very Very priceless knock for India.
And hopefully in the next match he bats with no sword hanging over his head.

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