The condolences thread.

[Biltong]

So more by luck than design South Africa's male and Female teams have made the Semi Finals of the T20 World Cup and will each be facing a formidable foe today.

The women will face the fully professional English cricket team who has beaten in their last 8 encouters, in fact they haven't beaten England in a match since 2004.

The men has come into this tournament with poor form, an unsettled squad and very little hope of making the finals. Then when you consider in then semi finals they have only progressed once into a final it is safe to say that it doesn't look good.

They will face the Indian team who has cantered through to the semi final, and when you consider India has played four matches on the pitch that will be used today I doubt you can find any longer odds anywhere than a South African win.

So to make me feel better after having to watch 7 hours of pain filled slaughter and disappointment I thought it would be good to get your condolences in early, this way I can refer to this thread every time a South African wicket falls or the opposition hit a boundary.

So fire away, and thanks in advance.

[Galted]

Cheer up, Biltong. There are enough match winners in AB, Duminy, Miller, Steyn and even Tahir to give SA a chance. At least, for once, they're not the super-drilled uber-competent unit that cruises through all the preliminary games and falls apart the first time they're confronted by a bit of genius by an opponent.

[JDizzle]

ABdV - 'I come in lower down because that's where the stats say I average more and have a higher s/r.'

There's such a thing as too much stats. England are as bad as anyone. I was surprised to see Mogs come in when we were 0/2 against SL as he scores more runs after 6 overs. Just have some common sense.

Would be surprised to see SA women beat England women, but I didn't think they'd beat New Zealand either and they did! England are definitely beatable too.

The men have more of a chance for me. The Indian batting has cruised through somewhat so far, so if you can get into them with Steyn and Tahir then you've got a chance. You have the quality players in Amla and ABdV t deal with all their spinners too.

[Biltong]

'I come in lower down because that's where the stats say I average more and have a higher s/r.'

That is exactly why we don't do well in tournaments, no feel for the match situation, too rigid in our beliefs.

We leave the free thinking and flexibility to our opponents, what a handicap to have, eh?

[subhranshu.kumar.5]

SA has travelled more on rough roads this season. First time they were not in the race of beating the game, but eventually they managed to cover up their mistakes to jump into semis. I hope they can beat India to reach the finals and can win their second ICC trophy.

On players potential, most of their boys in XI keeps the capability to explore the game but all depends on the final hour mindset.

Moving to Indian side, winning all the matches in one sided fashion, they are leaping up with cofidence. The weakest section is the strongest this season. Batting unit has exposed its depth after Yuraj's fantastic display against Australia.

It could be a fascinating semi to watch on.

[JDizzle]

England all over SA so far! Anya Shrubsole the destroyer so far. The fielding's been a bit lax from Eng so far though, need to up it.

[kingraf]

Damn, we are getting smashed. Nice ladies, the SA women's team - they're a hoot down at the High Performance Centre, hope they get something going.

[JDizzle]

Gret spell from Anya Shrubsole.   

Mignon du Preez starting to get into her stride now though. They've seen off England's best bowler, they'll look to kick on from here.

[JDizzle]

I always think Gunn's action looks dubious everytime I see her bowl...

*edit* Been reported and cleared apparently. Fair enough.

[JDizzle]

Slightly lazy running from Dane van Niekerk? That's the fourth wicket down. Just as SA were beginning to rebuild.

Dane.   

[kingraf]

what time does the men's match start? Need to hit the lucky cafe again

[JDizzle]

Run out as the batsmen collide. Classic.

Edwards on to bowl, 9 off her first 3 balls! Not sure about this.

[JDizzle]

England women crusing home here. Need 36 off 56 with all 10 wickets left.

[KP_fan]

there are so many "world events" and so much cricket played in general....that the "choking pressure" doesn't really happen these days in the same way as in 1990s and 2000s decade

[Biltong]

Listening to the experts in the Supersport studio, they aren't very confident about this one.

[kingraf]

They shouldn't be - in these conditions, in this format.... We are second banana.

[Biltong]

In one sense it is great going into a game with zero expectation of winning.

[kingraf]

In any case I'm off to the lucky cafe... Win or lose - been quite entertaining

[kingraf]

Backing us to spectacularly collapse

[KP_fan]

Dhoni is not doing the right thing by giving seamers so many overs.
from 3rd over he should have had spin at one end

[KP_fan]

Ashwin doesn't ball doosras or carrom stuff anyone.......but rather genuine legbreaks.

I told ya......Dhoni has given about 20 runs too many already by persistence with seamers for atleast 2 ...possibly 3 overs more than he should have

[KP_fan]

with 3 spinners in side....i donppt see whey he is giving one over to Raina

[KP_fan]

Dhoni going defensive ........not a great move to contnue with raina

[KP_fan]

Dhoni's defensive approach punishes India...

[VTR]

Well despite this doom and gloom thread SA are looking good so far!

[kingraf]

Time for the stats to do their job. 170 looks on.

[VTR]

T20 is such filthy cricket. Rank bad balls take wickets, good bowling gets edged/mishit for 4s and 6s. It is entertaining though!

[Biltong]

Well, it seems we have given ourselves a chance at least.

[KP_fan]

Dhoni paid the price for his defensiveness.....tried to contain from the start instead of using his strike spinners for striking early......he bowled too many "fill-in" seam and Raina overs.

Game is not gone yet for India, they have the batting prowess....but 173 for a place in the final....SA are 60-40 ahead

[Biltong]

Albie has been conceding 10 runs an over this whole tournament, WTF is he doing there?

[kingraf]

Presence Biltong, he adds present presence

[Biltong]

India is cantering to the target.

[kingraf]

Even if we win.... Faf's probably gonna get suspended again

[Biltong]

It's f...n hilarious how poor that over was from Parnell.

[kingraf]

Artichoke

[KP_fan]

Kohli's was an amazing inning.........it might get lost in the myriad T20 league fantastic innings that we see.

Putting it in context......it was like an unbeaten 180* in a 50 over world cup semi final.

This guy knows how to push himself in the zone in BIG games

[chrisss]

Why couldn't AB bat at 5 against England?! But seriously, why isn't AB batting in the top 3 in every game? He's wasted down at 5.

[kingraf]

To be fair - the guy who came in at 3 scored 60, and even in this format, is still a more natural #3 than AB.

[invisiblecoolers]

What is seriously wrong with SA and knockout games? what ever they do the result is same, I guess they posted a very good score but only to be humbled by the Indian much more easier than I thought.

Blaming on Dhoni's captaincy I found ridiculously low standarad by Faf in reserving Steyn for the last 3 and he ends up bowling 5 balls short as India already cantered home by then. In my view its so dumb to waste your world call bowler who could have made some dent on Indian top order certainly on Rohit Sharma.

[invisiblecoolers]

It's f...n hilarious how poor that over was from Parnell.

Why did even Parnell play in this all important match? was Philander selected in the squad? Philander is a better bowl and a better batsman for these conditions.

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