Online Cricket Reviews

Jacque Kallis has put in extra-ordinary effort by scoring second century in this test match in a weary pitch. He battled with side strain but his technique and immense will was immense. He has now given a huge advantage for South Africa to win this decider test. Indian bowlers posed him lot of challenges in a bowler friendly wicket, but Kallis taken everything in his stride and played a gem of an innings. Kallis scored 103 runs Mark Boucher, who was in pressure to score runs. He and Dale Steyn has scored 54 runs, put Proteas in a commendable position. Kallis also scored 46 runs with Morne Morkel, which was a real scratch in the wounds of India.

Sachin Tendulkar withstood the fiery fast bowling of Dale Steyn to score his 51st century in Durban to surpass the South African first innings total by mere 2 runs. Dale Steyn’s fast outswinging deliveries get rid of most of the top quality batsmen in No.1 team in the world but definitely not Sachin Tendulkar. He got beaten by Dale Steyn’s speedy deliveries innumerable times more than any match, but stood completely strong. It was a closely fought contest between Sachin Tendulkar and Dale Steyn but in end of the day both were winners. Now, the second innings performances from both the team would decide the decider test.

One of the best all-rounders of Jacques Kallis has produced a gem of an innings to score his thirty ninth century in the deciding test in Cape Town. He defied Indians a chance to get hold of the test by smartly playing the second new ball by his strong technique. He prolonged South Africans innings to get past 300 by scoring 79 runs with the last two batsmen. He stood strong against S Sreesanth who once threatened to run through the South African batsmen.

India have beaten South African by 87 runs to level the series. Thus they proved that they are no more poor travelers. They have done this in Durban, which is one of the fastest tracks in the world. India have beaten teams in other fastest tracks like Johannesburg, Perth, Headingley, Nottingham and Jamaica. Indian victory in Durban can be added to proud list.

Durban test has offered everything that a test match can in a seaming wicket. It was a roller coaster on the third day as fortune shifted between the teams consistently. Both the teams are evenly poised at close of the day due to bad light. VVS Laxman as he usually does played a gem of an innings to give South Africa a lead more 300.

Chris Gayle was in his explosive best against Sri Lanka in Galle where he scored a powerful triple century in the first test match yesterday. The former captain thus becomes the first West Indian to score a triple hundred in a away test. He scored a mammoth career best 333 in 437 balls with 34 fours and 9 sixes. He surpassed his previous best of 317, which he scored against South Africans in home test series in 2005.

India and Australia involved again in one of the most exciting test match in the history of the game. ICC top teams has battled superbly for over four days and finally number one team India won the test match in Mohali because of superb batting by VVS Laxman who scored 73 runs off 79 deliveries.

Indians again proved that they deserve to be in the number one in test rankings. But if we introspect on how it has retained it, the major credit only goes to the batsmen, who always taken the pressure and performed exceedingly well in testing conditions in Sri Lanka.

India has retained its number one ranking in ICC test ratings by beating South Africans by an inning and 58 runs by which they leveled the series 1-1 in the second test at Kolkata. Indians managed to win this test match even though bad light cost them a lot of time and overs.

Runs pouring in Kolkata test might have put India in a comfortable position but rain pouring is working against their proceedings. Rain and bad light already have taken time and will prevent India to take further wickets to put pressure on South Africans. History suggests that luck and fortune always work against South Africans since they came back to international cricket after banning. To break that jinx, this time luck might work on their favor.