ICC Champions Trophy Group B, Centurion:
LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times BST)
e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Mark Mitchener' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as first word) or use 606 (Not all comments can be used)
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By Mark Mitchener
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SRI LANKA INNINGS
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8th over - SL 51-1
Dilshan continues his early assault, whacking Parnell for another four before unleashing his signature "Dilscoop" at a slower ball, kneeling down to scoop the ball straight back over the keeper's head for four while ducking his helmet out of the way! A single allows Sangakkara to join in the fun, square-driving the increasingly ragged Parnell for four to bring up fifty for his side. The left-armer sends down a ropey legside wide, and that may be the last we see of him for a while.
Dilshan continues his early assault, whacking Parnell for another four before unleashing his signature "Dilscoop" at a slower ball, kneeling down to scoop the ball straight back over the keeper's head for four while ducking his helmet out of the way! A single allows Sangakkara to join in the fun, square-driving the increasingly ragged Parnell for four to bring up fifty for his side. The left-armer sends down a ropey legside wide, and that may be the last we see of him for a while.
From Su-Yang Klotz, TMS inbox: "I put £100 yesterday on England winning the tournament at 16/1, so if they do somehow end up winning it I'll be off to South Africa... for the Football World Cup!"
NB BBC Sport does not endorse gambling, particularly on England (except the women's cricket team, who are a pretty good bet these days).
7th over - SL 37-1
South Africa are still pursuing an off-side line of attack, so anything veering towards the leg side is punished by Dilshan, who flicks consecutive boundaries off his legs and looks in great nick already, tickling a single to third man.
South Africa are still pursuing an off-side line of attack, so anything veering towards the leg side is punished by Dilshan, who flicks consecutive boundaries off his legs and looks in great nick already, tickling a single to third man.
6th over - SL 28-1
Dilshan picks up Parnell's length well, blasting him for four through mid-wicket before knocking a quick single to Johan Botha at mid-on.
Dilshan picks up Parnell's length well, blasting him for four through mid-wicket before knocking a quick single to Johan Botha at mid-on.
From Jason, Cambridge, TMS inbox: "On the 'group of death', maybe Group B should be the 'group of suicide'; after all, England, South Africa and the Kiwis have all been known to self-destruct in tournaments before... (maybe the Kiwis do this more in rugby)"
5th over - SL 23-1
Bizarrely, there are a few fans watching this game from a box suspended from a crane, where they are no doubt consuming plenty of grub supplied by the well-known fast food manufacturer whose name is emblazoned all over the hanging box. I won't tell you which one, but on an unrelated note, Dale Steyn is finger-licking good as he sends down a maiden to Sanga.
Bizarrely, there are a few fans watching this game from a box suspended from a crane, where they are no doubt consuming plenty of grub supplied by the well-known fast food manufacturer whose name is emblazoned all over the hanging box. I won't tell you which one, but on an unrelated note, Dale Steyn is finger-licking good as he sends down a maiden to Sanga.
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4th over - SL 23-1
Sangakkara guides Parnell for a single to third man, Dilshan avoids a wide.
Sangakkara guides Parnell for a single to third man, Dilshan avoids a wide.
From Mark Eamon Stratton, TMS inbox: "Here in South Africa the excitement for this tournament is very high. We fully expect to win this one, to confirm our status as the number one side in the world! And no mentioning of choking please!"
3rd over - SL 21-1
Leftie replaces leftie as captain Kumar Sangakkara strides to the crease. He's off the mark with a single. Dilshan fences and misses like a man trying to swat an errant fly, but connects with another well-placed cover drive which sails through the quick outfield to the boundary.
Leftie replaces leftie as captain Kumar Sangakkara strides to the crease. He's off the mark with a single. Dilshan fences and misses like a man trying to swat an errant fly, but connects with another well-placed cover drive which sails through the quick outfield to the boundary.
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Steyn tests Jayasuriya with a bouncer, then traps him on the front foot trying to force to leg... and he's gone!
2nd over - SL 16-0
Jayasuriya has the physio on to spray his hand between overs - Wayne Parnell to take the second over, and although the TV captions describe him as "right-arm slow medium", I can assure you he's left-arm fast-medium. He burst onto the scene at the World Twenty20 showing an uncanny ability to bowl tightly at the death, and also impressed during a brief spell with Kent this summer. But when he strays with his line, Jayasuriya aims an aggressive square cut which sails for four between cover and mid-off, before a more conventional drive finds the same boundary. Parnell then sends one down which starts wide and swings away, and a single completes an expensive over.
Jayasuriya has the physio on to spray his hand between overs - Wayne Parnell to take the second over, and although the TV captions describe him as "right-arm slow medium", I can assure you he's left-arm fast-medium. He burst onto the scene at the World Twenty20 showing an uncanny ability to bowl tightly at the death, and also impressed during a brief spell with Kent this summer. But when he strays with his line, Jayasuriya aims an aggressive square cut which sails for four between cover and mid-off, before a more conventional drive finds the same boundary. Parnell then sends one down which starts wide and swings away, and a single completes an expensive over.
1st over - SL 6-0
Sri Lanka have played a lot of ODIs recently, including a tri-series with New Zealand and India - and the in-form Dilshan begins proceedings with a firm cover-driven four. A single brings the veteran Jayasuriya on strike - he has a large plaster across the v-neck of his shirt, and prods a single to third man.
Sri Lanka have played a lot of ODIs recently, including a tri-series with New Zealand and India - and the in-form Dilshan begins proceedings with a firm cover-driven four. A single brings the veteran Jayasuriya on strike - he has a large plaster across the v-neck of his shirt, and prods a single to third man.
1328: Dale Steyn to take the new ball for the hosts. Sri Lanka are opening up with Tillakaratne Dilshan, ready to "Dilscoop" the ball over the keeper's head at a moment's notice, and the seemingly ageless Sanath Jayasuriya, who's into his fifth decade. Umpires are Australia's Simon Taufel and England's Ian Gould - let the contest begin.
1326: Teams out on the field at Centurion for national anthems.
1325: Even though this is a mini-tournament with 15 games to dash through in a fortnight, there's another important nettle to grasp. Although there are only two groups, I'm pretty sure we have to designate one as the "Group of Death". So, is it Group A, with three strong teams (Australia, India and Pakistan) and a side I recently saw describes as the "West Indies Volunteers XI", or Group B, with South Africa and Sri Lanka, along with New Zealand and some team who's just been beaten 6-1 in an ODI series?
From Paul in Lancs, TMS inbox: "I'm so relieved that there's some proper cricket coming up, however one-day like. Following the Eng-Aus stuff has been like reading the Barchester Chronicles while waiting for the Thackeray to arrive in the post. And then there's the test series to come - EM Forster at last"
1319: Just a quick advisory - I'm afraid there's no Test Match Special for this tournament. There will be updates every 15 minutes during England's games on BBC Radio 5 live, while we'll be bringing you text commentaries on selected games - this one, all England's games, India v Pakistan, and the semi-finals and final. But it means we need you to get involved more than ever before - e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with "For Mark Mitchener" in the subject line), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word, so it doesn't get mixed up with football, F1 or Radio 1), or use
606.
1315: Here are the full teams:
South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher (wk), Albie Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe, Johan Botha, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn.
Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis.
1308: South Africa are playing two spinners, Roelof van der Merwe and Johan Botha, so that tells us the pitch should take spin. That will suit their opponents, who after all have the genius Muttiah Muralitharan and his protege Ajantha Mendis in their side.
1305: South Africa's Graeme Smith wins the toss and puts Sri Lanka in first. He fancies his chances of chasing down a target.
1300: Afternoon, everyone - and a very warm welcome to the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. With the organisers hoping to sprinkle a little magic from the two successful World Twenty20 tournaments in the last two years - while minimising the slow, drawn-out atmosphere that pervaded the 2007 World Cup.
So, we have 15 games of 50-over one-day international cricket over the next fortnight, contested by what should be the elite eight ODI teams. "Should" being the operative word, as West Indies' continuing player dispute means they've brought another patched-up squad - but we can still expect some keenly-fought encounters. Such as today's opening morsel - hosts South Africa against Sri Lanka.
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