Friday, February 04, 2005

Chokers Unlimited

South Africa have choked not for the first time to squander a winning position in the second ODI vs England at Bloomfontein. The memories just come flooding back - the 1999 WC semifinal at Birmingham against Australia with Allan Donald stranded, the Titan Cup Final 1996 when it seemed victory was inevitable, the tearful exit at the 2003 World Cup as well as the surrender to Brian Lara in 1996 - amazingly 2 of the above mentioned matches have also been ties !!

Coming to the game, I think almost all of the blame can be laid to the inane cricket played in the last over - Ashwell Prince !!! - what the hell is he doing in this team ?? Sending Gibbs down the order was a good idea altho Id prefer if Smith came down and Gibbs continued to open. It would be real unfair to blame Kallis again. All in all, South Africa just weren't good enough and failed to draw level. They have not beaten any side other than Bangladesh in the last 14 matches !!!

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