Tahir opens the bowling for S. Africa. It's the standard trick sides use against England, and S. Africa have two spinners today.
Run-out opportunity. Throw to the wrong end. How many mix-ups have there been? And Khawaja, the usual culprit, isn't even in yet.
Warner started, stopped, started again... but the openers survived.
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Next over, Finch hits the ball in the air, but it's okay.
Warner is beaten. And again a couple of balls later.
A shaky start for Oz.
ODI World Cup.
Tahir gets Finch punching the ball in the air to cover. Not a good shot.
Oz 1/5 (2.1). Khawaja in. Will he run someone out today?
Odds: Oz 24%, SA 76%.
Healy: "I'm surprised more teams haven't tried spin at the top in this World Cup."
Well, Ian, they have against England.
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Ian Smith: "Another mix-up." But they survive.
Oz 1/5 (2.1). Khawaja in. Will he run someone out today?
Odds: Oz 24%, SA 76%.
Healy: "I'm surprised more teams haven't tried spin at the top in this World Cup."
Well, Ian, they have against England.
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Ian Smith: "Another mix-up." But they survive.
Pollock: "The running between the wickets was putrid."
I. Smith: "I believe Usman Khawaja is battling here."
Khawaja is retiring hurt.
S. Smith comes out. This is a disaster for Oz. I have no idea when Khawaja might have injured himself. Could Handscomb find himself catapulted into a semi-final against England without a previous WC match??
Healy says it must be a fresh injury, because they strapped his left thigh on the field.
The broadcast predictor says S. Africa 79%, Oz 21%.
I. Smith: "I believe Usman Khawaja is battling here."
Khawaja is retiring hurt.
S. Smith comes out. This is a disaster for Oz. I have no idea when Khawaja might have injured himself. Could Handscomb find himself catapulted into a semi-final against England without a previous WC match??
Healy says it must be a fresh injury, because they strapped his left thigh on the field.
The broadcast predictor says S. Africa 79%, Oz 21%.
Stoinis has defended 9 balls without scoring.
He's getting attention from the physio. Another injury? What a joke. They say he got a piankiller, possibly for a twinged back. He bowled very little in the SA innings.
Oz 2/39 (9). The broadcast predictor says S. Africa 90%, Oz 10%.
Clarke & Nicholas are talking about Matt Wade. Clarke thinks Wade should already have been brought into the squad. The selectors may get one or two more chances to do so now.
Oz 2/44 (10).
Odds: Oz 15%, SA 85%.
He's getting attention from the physio. Another injury? What a joke. They say he got a piankiller, possibly for a twinged back. He bowled very little in the SA innings.
Oz 2/39 (9). The broadcast predictor says S. Africa 90%, Oz 10%.
Clarke & Nicholas are talking about Matt Wade. Clarke thinks Wade should already have been brought into the squad. The selectors may get one or two more chances to do so now.
Oz 2/44 (10).
Odds: Oz 15%, SA 85%.
At 2/63 (14), the broadcast predictor still says S. Africa 88%, Oz 12%.
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Stoinis is still soaking up dot balls, with the occasional single or 4. From 29 balls, he has three singles (I think) and three 4s.
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Warner is going well. He hits another 6.
Commentator: "Whilst he's out there, they have a fighting chance."
Oz 2/81 (16). Drinks.
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Stoinis is still soaking up dot balls, with the occasional single or 4. From 29 balls, he has three singles (I think) and three 4s.
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Warner is going well. He hits another 6.
Commentator: "Whilst he's out there, they have a fighting chance."
Oz 2/81 (16). Drinks.
Maxwell out caught behind to the short ball from Rabada.
Oz 4/119 (24.1).
Clarke says sides are targeting Maxwell with the short ball. He didn't play them well this innings.
Oz are in disarray, hurtling towards a SF showdown on Thursday with a flat-track bully on a flat track, with lots of injured players.
Greg Chappell was spotted talking with Langer. The commentators say that can only be about who the replacement player should be. Pick a player in form, says Clarke, because it's only one or two games. That means Wade, he says, but the selectors will feel they have to play Handscomb ahead of Wade in the SF.
The problem with Wade, personality issues aside, is that he's always playing at the top of the innings. Oz need someone lower down.
Oz 4/119 (24.1).
Clarke says sides are targeting Maxwell with the short ball. He didn't play them well this innings.
Oz are in disarray, hurtling towards a SF showdown on Thursday with a flat-track bully on a flat track, with lots of injured players.
Greg Chappell was spotted talking with Langer. The commentators say that can only be about who the replacement player should be. Pick a player in form, says Clarke, because it's only one or two games. That means Wade, he says, but the selectors will feel they have to play Handscomb ahead of Wade in the SF.
The problem with Wade, personality issues aside, is that he's always playing at the top of the innings. Oz need someone lower down.
At 4/136 in the 28th over, the broadcast predictor says S. Africa 96%, Oz 4%.
Odds: Oz 6%, SA 94%.
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Slater says there's a push within the Oz coaches for Carey to bat at five, and today was just about giving Stoinis and Maxwell a final chance to find some form.
Maxwell disgraced himself. There's a lot been made in the media about how he's been liberated by Langer and Finch to play his way, but he's abused that freedom to be silly with his shot selection. Stoinis did his usual thing of soaking up lots of balls and then getting out, though this time it was to a run out.
Carey's batting has been excellent this WC. When he was batting with Khawaja the other day, it looked like Khawaja was a tail-ender. I think it'll be a good move, though of course if Carey is in early and gets out before the late overs, there'll be no one to accelerate then.
Odds: Oz 6%, SA 94%.
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Slater says there's a push within the Oz coaches for Carey to bat at five, and today was just about giving Stoinis and Maxwell a final chance to find some form.
Maxwell disgraced himself. There's a lot been made in the media about how he's been liberated by Langer and Finch to play his way, but he's abused that freedom to be silly with his shot selection. Stoinis did his usual thing of soaking up lots of balls and then getting out, though this time it was to a run out.
Carey's batting has been excellent this WC. When he was batting with Khawaja the other day, it looked like Khawaja was a tail-ender. I think it'll be a good move, though of course if Carey is in early and gets out before the late overs, there'll be no one to accelerate then.
Slater and Nicholas say if these two, Warner & Carey, can take it to 90 needed from the last ten overs, then it's game on. I agree. While these two stay, they are a chance.
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Warner is in the 90s.
In the 33rd over, Tahir drops a caught and bowled chance. Carey gets a life.
Odds: Oz 12%, SA 88%.
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In the 34th over, Warner hits two 4s in a row to reach 101* (100).
This innings has kept Oz in with a chance.
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In the 35th over, the broadcast predictor says SA 90%, Oz 10%.
After 35 overs, cricinfo forecasts Oz 11%.
Odds after 36 overs: Oz 17%, SA 83%.
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Carey & Warner are now batting beautifully. The problem is there's not much to come. Cummins is padded up. Unfortunately his red-ball form has not translated to this WC.
They take 16 runs from the 37th over, bowled by Shamsi, the second legspinner. The partnership is now 96 from 77 balls.
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cricinfo forecasts Oz 20%.
The broadcast predictor now says SA 69%, Oz 21%.
Clarke: "Warner is fired up here."
The partnership reaches 100 (82).
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Warner is in the 90s.
In the 33rd over, Tahir drops a caught and bowled chance. Carey gets a life.
Odds: Oz 12%, SA 88%.
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In the 34th over, Warner hits two 4s in a row to reach 101* (100).
This innings has kept Oz in with a chance.
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In the 35th over, the broadcast predictor says SA 90%, Oz 10%.
After 35 overs, cricinfo forecasts Oz 11%.
Odds after 36 overs: Oz 17%, SA 83%.
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Carey & Warner are now batting beautifully. The problem is there's not much to come. Cummins is padded up. Unfortunately his red-ball form has not translated to this WC.
They take 16 runs from the 37th over, bowled by Shamsi, the second legspinner. The partnership is now 96 from 77 balls.
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cricinfo forecasts Oz 20%.
The broadcast predictor now says SA 69%, Oz 21%.
Clarke: "Warner is fired up here."
The partnership reaches 100 (82).
Now Carey brings up 50* (47) with a 4 off Rabada, who has come back as S. Africa realize they need to break this partnership.
These two are continuing to bat beautifully.
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But, with under 100 needed from 11 overs, Warner gets out, caught at mid-on.
Oz 5/227 (39.1). Cummins in.
M. Clarke, dropping pretences of impartiality, was willing that shot to clear mid-on.
cricinfo's forecast drops from 22% to 11%.
The broadcast predictor says SA 95%, Oz 5%.
Odds: Oz 11%, SA 89%.
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Clarke: "There's a little bit of Adam Gilchrist in Alex Carey."
Pollock: "I can't see why he's coming in after Maxwell, the way Maxwell has played."
Slater: "He will bat five."
And Carey hits Tahir for 6. Brilliant batting. And then a straight 4.
17 runs from the 43rd over.
And 12 runs from the 44th over.
Odds: Oz 28%, SA 72%.
These two are continuing to bat beautifully.
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But, with under 100 needed from 11 overs, Warner gets out, caught at mid-on.
Oz 5/227 (39.1). Cummins in.
M. Clarke, dropping pretences of impartiality, was willing that shot to clear mid-on.
cricinfo's forecast drops from 22% to 11%.
The broadcast predictor says SA 95%, Oz 5%.
Odds: Oz 11%, SA 89%.
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Clarke: "There's a little bit of Adam Gilchrist in Alex Carey."
Pollock: "I can't see why he's coming in after Maxwell, the way Maxwell has played."
Slater: "He will bat five."
And Carey hits Tahir for 6. Brilliant batting. And then a straight 4.
17 runs from the 43rd over.
And 12 runs from the 44th over.
Odds: Oz 28%, SA 72%.