South Africa vs India: Hosts in Command as Indian Top Order Crumbles

Cape Town: If beating the edge of the bat could get India points, Virat Kohli and boys would have scored 100 out of 100 on the report card at the end of the opening day’s play in the first Test of the series between India and South Africa at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.

But it is picking the wickets that count on the scoreboard and that is where the visitors let the game drift and South Africa strengthened their hold on the game after reeling at 12/3 in the opening hour of the match.

The result at the end of day's play was South Africa sitting pretty on 286 in the first innings and India reeling at 28/3 after 11 overs with Cheteshwar Pujara (5) and Rohit Sharma (0) at the crease. The visitors still trail South Africa by 258 runs with seven wickets in hand and if the groundsmen are to be believed, the pace and carry will only get better on the second day. This clearly means that India have their task cut-out come Saturday.

Murali Vijay's (1) dismissal showed how the senior campaigner committed the cardinal sin of flaying outside the off-stump. With the ball from Vernon Philander pitching just outside off, Vijay went for the flashy drive and the ball went straight to Dean Elgar at gully.

Dale Steyn then got Shikhar Dhawan for just 16 as the latter tried to pull one off the tearaway pacer and only managed to top-edge it for Steyn to wait at the bowling crease and complete the easiest of catches he has ever got in international cricket.

Virat Kohli showed he has still not learnt from his horror run in England as he edged Morne Morkel to Quinton de Kock to go back for 5. That very line outside the off-stump that the Englishmen kept feeding Kohli has done the trick again in Newlands.

The old adage goes that morning shows the day. But unfortunately for the Indians that was definitely not the case. With South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis winning the toss and deciding to bat, it looked like the Indians were in for a toil. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked three wickets in quick succession to have the South Africans reeling at 12/3 after just 4.5 overs with Dean Elgar (0), Aiden Markram (5) and former skipper Hashim Amla (3) falling prey to the seam movement of Bhuvneshwar.

While Elgar and Amla edged to Wriddhiman Saha behind the wicket, Markram failed to get the bat down in time to stop one swinging in after pitching and thudding into is pads. The umpire had no hesitation in lifting the finger and sending the opener back. The packed crowd at Newlands wore a sombre look as Kohli kept pumping his fist.

But what the Indians seemed to have forgotten was the presence of two of the hosts’ best performers with bat in recent years – Faf and AB de Villiers. The two combined beautifully even as the Indian bowlers kept missing the edge of the batsmen. They showed excellent commitment and discipline in their approach in the first hour – a must in the longest format of the game. Even though they hardly middled anything with Bhuvneshwar and Mohammed Shami bowling a tight line, they refused to surrender.

The two stitched a 95-run partnership as the hosts went into lunch with the score on a dicey 107/3. The game could still go anywhere and the Indians had sniffed blood. Even though ABD had scored his 41st Test fifty, he still looked very cautious in his approach with the ball moving around. Faf was unbeaten on 37 at the break.

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Stats preview: India's opportunity to end 25-year drought.

      The year 2018 is all set for a stellar start with the top two-ranked sides in the ICC Test rankings - India and South Africa - going head-to-head in a three-match tussle in South Africa. While India is set to kick-off their tours away from home following an extended period of dominance at home, South Africa is getting ready for a big summer. The three Tests against India will be followed by another four against Australia. Though the visitors have lost five out of the six series in South Africa, they are perfectly capable of turning the tables this time around.

A statistical build up to the mouth-watering series ahead of us:

2-8 Win-loss record for India in South Africa - the best among the four Asian teams in South Africa. The first of their two wins in South Africa came in Johannesburg in 2006 when they beat the hosts by 123 runs. The second one was in the second Test in Durban in 2010 when they overcame the hosts by 87 runs after losing the first by an innings margin.

India's previous tours to South Africa

Season	Tests	Won	Lost	Draw	Bat Avg	Bowl Avg
1992/93	4	0	1	3	23.41	33.44
1996/97	3	0	2	1	22.46	35.67
2001/02	2	0	1	1	28.57	45.42
2006/07	3	1	2	0	23.11	28.48
2010/11	3	1	1	1	27.33	39.21
2013/14	2	0	1	1	29.75	50.91

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Simmons rides his luck to carry West Indies into WT20 final

Late replacement Lendl Simmons led a charmed life to blast 82 not out and carry West Indies to a nail-biting seven-wicket win in the last over against India in the second semi-final of the World Twenty20 on Thursday.

Simmons was caught three times at the Wankhede Stadium but made the most of his fortunate reprieves to help West Indies set up a final against England on Sunday.

On 18 and 50 he escaped after the bowlers had overstepped for no-balls.

The 31-year-old also had luck on his side on 68 when Ravindra Jadeja snapped him up on the boundary but stepped on the rope as he lobbed the ball to Virat Kohli, turning a possible dismissal into a six.

Earlier, Kohli continued his rich vein of form by smashing an undefeated 89 to guide India to 192 for two after they were put in to bat.

West Indies lost the dangerous Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels early in their reply but opener Johnson Charles kept them in the hunt with a 36-ball 52 and a third-wicket stand of 97 with Simmons.

The right-handed Simmons plays for Mumbai in the Indian Premier League and was only called into the squad two days ago as a replacement for the injured Andre Fletcher.

He cracked seven fours and five sixes in 51 balls and added an unbeaten 80 with Andre Russell for the fourth wicket to take West Indies home with two balls to spare.

Russell, known for his powerful hitting, contributed 43 off 20 deliveries.

"We knew it was a 200 wicket and halfway in the dressing room I kept telling the boys that India are 10 runs short," said West Indies skipper Darren Sammy, delighted after his team proved they can win without Gayle firing on all cylinders.

"We said this before the tournament that Chris is under pressure, he is our best Twenty20 player but we have 15 match-winners in this side."

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Poor net run rate threatens India's campaign

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni urged his big-hitters to improve their run rate dramatically against Bangladesh on Wednesday or face the prospect of a humiliating early exit from the World Twenty20 on home soil.


The hosts are precariously placed in fourth spot of Group Two after one defeat and one win. They desperately need a big victory to strengthen their bid for a semi-finals berth.

India's six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday will have boosted their confidence after a shock 47-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening group match.

But Dhoni said India, who were firm favourites at the start of the tournament to lift a second World T20 title, needed to improve to qualify from a tough group that also includes Australia.
"I still feel there is still scope for improvement and in the coming two games that will be our priority," said the captain.

New Zealand top the group on four points after two wins while Pakistan, Australia and India all have two points. However India's run rate, which could determine who qualifies, is considerably worse than their rivals.

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I look forward to challenges like these - Kohli

India were 12 for 3 on a turning pitch in the opening game of the World T20 against New Zealand in Nagpur, and slumped to a 47-run defeat after Virat Kohli was dismissed for 23. Five days later, India were 23 for 3 on another difficult batting surface against Pakistan in Kolkata, chasing 118 in 18 overs. A second defeat would have crippled their campaign, but Kohli orchestrated a successful chase by scoring an unbeaten 55 off 37 balls.

"I was really disappointed after that loss. I went back to the room and thought about what needs to be done," Kohli told the BCCI website. "Tonight, we were in a similar situation in this game. But such games and situations just improve you as a cricketer and I look forward to challenges like these."

The ball turned prodigiously on a pitch that had been under covers for most of the day because of bad weather, and when the fast bowlers bowled cutters it gripped the pitch and did not come on to the bat. Shot-making was difficult and after Pakistan had laboured to 118, India's top order crumbled around Kohli.

"I told myself in the change room that I am going to back myself to play good cricketing shots," Kohli said. "I was confident that I needed to play with a straight bat so that the strike keeps rotating. I remain pretty calm. Luckily my heart rate was low when we lost three wickets, it could have shot up as it was a big game and a full stadium at Eden Gardens. I am just grateful I was able to do it.

"It is very important to assess the field and understand how much the ball is turning and gripping from the surface. Accordingly you pick out bowlers, where they are trying to bowl at you and try to get into the head of the bowler and make him bowl where you want him to bowl. That is the key. That is where intent counts."

On a pitch that had troubled the other batsmen, Kohli was in control of more than 90% of the deliveries he faced, using the depth of the crease and moving laterally to manoeuvre balls into gaps. While he steered, cut, flicked and drove through cover for boundaries, his only six came off a slog-sweep, a shot he doesn't usually play.

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World T20: Demand for India-Pakistan match tickets

A cricket fever is sweeping the metropolis, with the craze for Saturday's India-Pakistan World Twenty 20 match tickets reaching a crescendo.

"Several Eden Gardens can be filled up, such is the demand," said a Cricket Association of Bengal official on Wednesday.

The historic venue which is set to host the high-voltage clash, has a capacity of 65,000 presently which is around 35,000 less than what is used to be six years back. But still the crowd strength is enough to take the roof with their screams.

Outside the nearby Mohammedan tent from where the tickets for international matches are usually sold, a giant yellow banner has been fixed which says: "No tickets will be sold from the counter."
The display also says that only through bookmyshow.com can one book a ticket to the Eden this Saturday. Still there were fans queuing up in front of the counters in search of the prized paper possession.

"Dada, duto ticket hobe? (Brother, can I have two tickets for the game)" is the common question that is doing the rounds in the maidan area. And more often than not the person questioning is leaving with a glum face.

The tickets are priced at Rs.1,500, Rs.1,000 and Rs.500.

Besides the online distribution, tickets were given to each of the 121 CAB affiliate units. There were also an undisclosed number of complementaries.

"The demand for the tickets is huge according to the information I have received. It is going to be filled to the capacity this Saturday. We don't think there's enough place in the stadium to accommodate everyone who wants to book a ticket here. We can fill several Eden Gardens," a senior Cricket Association of Bengal official told IANS.

The online process to register for the lottery system for the contest on March 19, started at 12 noon last Saturday for a 48-hour window.

The fans, in India and abroad, registered by completing an online registration form available on the website. The registered fans were to be automatically enrolled into the random draw and then through an automated process, the winners were chosen.

The winners from the random draw were then given an opportunity to buy tickets for the match.

India's record 163 too much for Bangladesh

India Women had played more T20Is in the last three months than Bangladesh Women had managed to play across formats since their World T20 debut in 2014. The end result was a lopsided contest as Bangladesh's lack of experience on the big stage stood brutally exposed. A target of 164 became a gap too far to bridge as India won by 72 runs to get their campaign off to an emphatic start.

A 'no-holds barred' approach was the hallmark of India's batting effort as they blasted their way to 163 for 5, comfortably surpassing their previous T20I best of 151, also against Bangladesh at the 2014 edition. Mithali Raj and Vellaswamy Vanitha did the early running, Harmanpreet Kaur gave impetus in the middle, while Veda Krishnamurthy sustained the surge at the death. In comparison, only Nigar Sultana stood still amid the rubble for Bangladesh to make 27 not out in an otherwise disappointing batting show.

Where Raj was all grace and timing, her younger colleague Vanitha was pure muscle; her strength coming to the fore on the face of some slow, loopy spin as India raised their 50 in the sixth over. Bangladesh's plans of choking India with their plethora of slow options clearly didn't work. As the innings progressed, the absence of a Plan B allowed India to continue their jolly ride, with wickets hardly coming as a bother.

Vanitha raced away to 38, and a half-century loomed, but she was deceived in flight and bowled by Nahida Akter. Smriti Mandhana erred in judgment to fall soon after as she played all around one that spun back in. India, however, were still handily placed at 63 for 2 in the ninth over.

Bangladesh had some breathing space, but it was all too brief as Harmanpreet seamlessly switched gears. By then, Raj was in cruise-control and seemed intent on making Bangladesh pay for a reprieve on 28, until she lobbed a gentle chip shot to the cover fielder for 42.

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YUVRAJ singh 6 SIXES in 6 BALLS HD T20 World Cup

Yuvraj Singh became the second batsman, after Herschelle Gibbs, to hit six sixes in an over in international cricket. The occasion was the World Twenty20 encounter against England, the venue Kingsmead, Durban.

Keep calm and carry on: Kohli

Star batsman Virat Kohli urged his team-mates to stay calm Monday amid growing fervour about India's prospects in the World Twenty20, ahead of the host's tricky tournament opener against New Zealand.

After winning 10 of their last 11 T20 internationals, India are red-hot favourites for the World T20 and former batsman Virender Sehwag said last week he was "99 percent certain" they would become the first team to win the trophy for a second time.

But Kohli, who is sometimes regarded as something of a firebrand, tried to put a dampener on expectations in a press conference on the eve of the match in Nagpur and said it was important not to get carried away.

"I think the key is to learn from the past where calmness is required in big tournaments like the ICC (International Cricket Council) events because you can get sort of carried away or over anxious or over excited," said Kohli, who is India's Test captain.

"Both those feelings are not great for any side going into a big tournament.
"What we've learned from playing in big tournaments in the past is that we have to stay as calm as possible and focus on the skills that need to be executed on the field."
India have a woeful track record against the Black Caps in World T20 tournaments, losing four out of their five previous encounters while the other match was rained off.

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Afridi clarifies comments about India

Pakistan captain says he wants to spread positive message as Imran Khan leaps to his defence

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi have moved to clarify comments he made upon his side's arrival in neighbouring India, which drew scathing criticism from some of his countrymen, notably former skipper Javed Miandad.

Pakistan touched down in India amid high security on Saturday after getting permission from their government to play in the ICC World T20 in their neighbouring country, with whom they share a tense relationship.

The veteran allrounder caused uproar among his countrymen by suggesting the Pakistan team has been "loved by Indian crowds more than crowds back home in Pakistan".

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India hopeful as WT20 set for kickoff

Twenty20 cricket's showpiece tournament begins in earnest Tuesday as India, once so sniffy about the glitzy World T20, get the group stages under way for the first time on home soil.

The build-up has been marred by rows over security for Pakistan and the late release of tickets, while the holders Sri Lanka are mired in turmoil.

But the controversies have done little to dampen the fervour of Indian fans who believe skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a date with destiny at the April 3 final at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens.

India, hosting the tournament for the first time, begin the group stages with a match in Nagpur against New Zealand on Tuesday night.

Dhoni is expected to retire after the tournament and his team will be desperate to give him a fairytale send-off, five years after he led them to victory on home soil in the 50-over World Cup.

The man known as 'Captain Cool' is trying to keep expectations in check, saying the 2007 champions "are looking to make a slow and steady progress, rather than think(ing) too far ahead".

But retired opener Virender Sehwag, Dhoni's team-mate in the 2011 World Cup triumph, reflected the overwhelming mood of confidence when he said he was "99 percent certain" India would clinch a second World T20 title.

- T20 'circus' -

Dhoni was handed the T20 captaincy for the inaugural tournament in South Africa in 2007 when established stars such as Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid stayed at home.

India's board, worried about the impact of Twenty20 cricket on the 50-over game, only reluctantly agreed to send a team to ensure the right to host the 2011 World Cup.

One senior board official lamented the tournament would be "a circus and our players will be clowns", according to The Times of India.

The 2007 triumph, all the sweeter as it came over arch-rivals Pakistan, transformed the board's perception of the game and spurred it into creating the money-spinning Indian Premier League (IPL).

The fireworks and dancing girls that are integral to an evening's entertainment at the IPL should be even more prominent in the World T20.

T20 matches involving India are guaranteed sell-outs and the format's popularity has put question marks over the future of Test cricket.

After 10 wins in their last 11 games, few teams have begun a tournament as such strong favourites and India don't have many obvious weaknesses.

Powerful openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have hit a purple patch, building platforms that allow star batsman Virat Kohli to let rip.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin should thrive on home wickets and paceman Mohammed Shami's comeback after lengthy injury problems is a major boon.

"This is a pretty formidable side at the moment and I think the all-around ability of this team is what excites me," said Dravid.

But the former skipper said the high number of players with IPL experience meant a lot of teams were in with a shout, and he tipped the new-look England to make an impact with the likes of Joe Root in their ranks.

"England, the way they played in the last year or so, they've played... a more aggressive brand of cricket -- whether it's with the bat and ball -- and the results are already beginning to show," he said.

- Champions struggle -

South Africa may be in decline with premier bowler Dale Steyn struggling for fitness, while the "chokers" tag which stems from a run of world cup heartaches hangs heavy. But in AB de Villiers, they possess arguably the game's most lethal batsman.

His main rival for that title, Chris Gayle, will be the West Indies' chief weapon as they try to prove they are still a force in T20 cricket despite their decline in Tests.

Australia will also look to batter opponents into submission, boosted by David Warner and Glenn Maxwell's recent record stand of 161 against South Africa. But Steve Smith's bowlers lack experience.

New Zealand, beaten by Australia in last year's ODI World Cup final, have been weakened by last month's retirement of talismanic skipper Brendon McCullum.

Sri Lanka, winners last time in 2014, have also struggled since the retirement of star batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. They have changed their captain and coach since the turn of the year.

Pakistan have been widely written off and their preparations were hit by their delayed departure in a row over the venue of Saturday's match against India, which has been shifted from Dharamsala to Kolkata.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who topped their groups in the preliminary stage which ended on Sunday, complete the line-up.