West Indies v South Africa, 2nd Test, Gros Inlet, 18-22 June, 2021

Can the Ganjas take it beyond Day 3??

skully wrote:Can the Ganjas take it beyond Day 3??

They're a shadow of their erstwhile self but should not be losing so badly to a rebuilding SA side.

Red wrote:

skully wrote:Can the Ganjas take it beyond Day 3??

They're a shadow of their erstwhile self but should not be losing so badly to a rebuilding SA side.

Well, that SA attack could roll most teams over cheaply. Their batting is crap, but when you only need 300 to win by an innings, it barely matters…

WI were ahead of SA in the rankings before this series, WTF??

Seriously???

Yes, 6th and 7th respectively.

No idea how WI have earned that ranking, other than by playing a bit more cricket than some of the others in recent years? Aside from beating us at home in 2019, they’ve only won series/one-offs against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan since 2012.

Sweet Jesus, that is such bullcrap. SAf's rankings must've been corrupted by Covid or somesuch.

On current evidence I’d say India and NZ fighting it out for top spot, which the official rankings do agree with, then probably Australia third, Pakistan fourth (though as ever, you can get absolutely anything from them), SA 5th, England 6th and then the second division.

South Africa 3/44 off 25 overs at lunch

SA 5/218 with Elgar being the mainstay with 77.


De Kock remains firm and the key towards a competitive total for the visitors. After his first Test pyrotechnics, the West Indies know what he's about.

His 89-ball 50 was also untroubled and one the West Indies know they need to control before he gets out of hand.

De Kock's had played a crucial role in upping the tempo after Elgar was happy to soak up the pressure.

218 in a day?? Geez, that's snail-paced.

skully wrote:218 in a day?? Geez, that's snail-paced.

Agree, having watched tests in the Caribbean when we toured in 2012, I can attest to the fact that the pitches are very slow in nature. Remember it was a bit of a snorefest when Brathwaite was in.

WI all out 149, and two days gone. It's a slow game.

beamer wrote:

Red wrote:

skully wrote:Can the Ganjas take it beyond Day 3??

They're a shadow of their erstwhile self but should not be losing so badly to a rebuilding SA side.

Well, that SA attack could roll most teams over cheaply. Their batting is crap, but when you only need 300 to win by an innings, it barely matters…

Looks like beams is spot on here. Shame SAf batted first otherwise he'd be right again.

Ganjas abject again.

Can't see the Ganjas threatening the remaining 308 required.

Plenty of time and 10 wickets, but little batting talent or resilience.

Still, at least the knocked the SAffers over for a low 2nd innings score. Would've been much lower only for Rabada's contribution with the bat.

Yeah, a bit of a Yarpitulation second time around. Only an unbeaten 75 from Golden Razzie along with Rabada’s cameo saved them from having serious egg on their faces.

Mayers has already scored a double ton to take WI to an unlikely victory, Hope is there with a similar pedigree, and there are others - Holder, Blackwood, da Silva - with recent winning experience. I may be ‘glass half full’ here but this is exactly the sort of Test the WI can win. Obviously my own hopes may be clouding my judgment here, but it would be great for WI and world cricket if they won this one.

Just quietly, Mayers has also raced to 10 Test wickets quickly, at an average well below 20, including many top order victims. In other words, he’s Much more than a change bowler.

Would be fantastic, but would be an absolute turn up if it transpired.

Didn’t.

Maharaj took a hat trick and his Michelle is spparently* the first by a Saffie spinner v the Windies.

A debacle. Again.

Oh dear. Colour me surprised - not.

Rabada MOTM, QDK MOTS.