That was probably the performance of the tournament so far from India. The Sri Lanka game has been expunged from memory, and they will qualify as group winners. It’ll take a very good team to beat them. Thanks for your company, goodnight!
INDIA WIN BY EIGHT WICKETS WITH 72 BALLS TO SPARE!
38 overs: India 193-2 (Kohli 76, Yuvraj 17) Yuvraj finishes it in style, hoicking Duminy for six! India breeze into the semi-finals, where they will play Bangladesh. They played superbly; South Africa could barely have played worse.
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36th over: India 183-2 (Kohli 75, Yuvraj 12) Kohli gets four more with a fast-handed pull through midwicket off Tahir. That was another tremendous shot. India need nine to win from 72 balls. Meanwhile, this is a good point from the Godfather of the OBO.
So we'll have three Asian teams in the semi-finals. Don't imagine anyone predicted that.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) June 11, 2017
36th over: India 176-2 (Kohli 70, Yuvraj 12) This match is taking place at the Oval, and thus we’re contractually obliged to link to the scorecard of a game here in 1993 that shows it’s never over until it’s over. Except it kind of is.
Shem. Things have gone so badly for South Africa that if they were the team chasing this at this point, they'd find a way to cock it up.
— Antoinette Muller 🏏 (@mspr1nt) June 11, 2017
35th over: India 173-2 (Kohli 69, Yuvraj 10) Kohli drives Tahir through wide mid-on for a superb boundary. He hasn’t always looked at his best in this tournament - yet he’s still averaging 150. Yuvraj survives an LBW appeal - and then a review - because of a late inside edge.
34th over: India 166-2 (Kohli 64, Yuvraj 8) Replays show that delivery from Tahir did indeed pitch just outside leg stump. JP Duminy comes on after the drinks break. He took a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in the World Cup quarter-final two years ago; even that wouldn’t be enough here.
33rd over: India 162-2 (Kohli 62, Yuvraj 6) Yuvraj survives a huge LBW appeal when Tahir skids one into the pad. That looked out, yet South Africa haven’t bothered to review. Maybe it pitched outside leg. I can’t see any other reason why it wasn’t out.
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32nd over: India 156-2 (Kohli 61, Yuvraj 1) It won’t be officially confirmed until tomorrow, but India will play Bangladesh in the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday.
“Hi Rob,” says L’ Gopika Murthy. “Do you miss seeing Dravid and Ganguly play, no matter how good the current team is?”
Oh definitely, especially Dravid. There was some other chap in that team who was pretty good to watch as well. I can’t remember his name.
Laxman, that was it.
31st over: India 154-2 (Kohli 59, Yuvraj 1) “Why don’t you Tweet?” says Andrew Benton. “Do you have special dispensation from the Guardian Towers powers to avoid this most addictive and pointless of pastimes?”
May I reverse the question? It’s hard enough fighting the internal narcissist without giving him an endless platform to detail my quirky breakfast habits and to flag up when I’m having an afternoon nap.
WICKET! India 151-2 (Dhawan c du Plessis b Tahir 78)
You know things are bad when Imran Tahir doesn’t celebrate a wicket. Dhawan sliced a googly towards long off, where du Plessis took a very good running catch. Tahir settled for a modest high five rather than the usual lap of honour.
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30th over: India 151-1 (Dhawan 78, Kohli 57) This match will be done in the next half hour or so - India need 41 from 120 overs.
29th over: India 148-1 (Dhawan 77, Kohli 55) Kohli drives Rabada supremely through extra cover for three. This has become a victory parade during the match for India.
“GSCE,” says Steve Ditchburn. “Almost as hilarious as writing ‘India need 74 from 25 balls’.”
Ha, it’s a fair cop. That said, your email looks suspiciously like it was written in the font o’ banter, Comic Sans.
28th over: India 142-1 (Dhawan 75, Kohli 51) Kohli reaches an imperfect but increasingly dominant fifty from 71 balls. Dhawan then belts Morris for two leg-side boundaries; he has the chance of yet another century in an ICC tournament. His record is remarkable, which is why I’ve just remarked upon it.
“How many Yorkshire players do you think Root will select in his first Test team?” says Tom Van der Gucht. “Do you think Ballance, based on his county format, and Rashid may sneak in alongside YJB?”
I don’t think Ballance will play, though I wouldn’t rule it out as I have a horrible feeling they might do something silly at the top of the order (see below). Rashid should be in ahead of Moeen Ali every day of the week but I doubt that will happen. And if they omit Haseeb Hameed because of his poor county form, I’ll do time.
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27th over: India 130-1 (Dhawan 66, Kohli 48) Dhawan gloves a pull for four off Rabada. If South Africa had the option of throwing in a towel they would surely do so; this is all pretty miserable for them.
“Not too sure I agree that Boycott would be in the kitchen at the party,” says Matt Dony. “I get the impression he has some strong opinions on who should be in the kitchen, and it’s not him. He would corner you in the living room, straining to talk at you over the music, regaling you with long stories you never asked to hear.”
Or correcting your attempts to praise him.
I didn't, I got 48 runs. https://t.co/HKmjsy5cEL
— Geoffrey Boycott (@GeoffreyBoycott) June 4, 2017
26th over: India 125-1 (Dhawan 61, Kohli 48) Dhawan hoicks Morris’s slower ball over midwicket for four to bring up an increasingly rampant hundred partnership.
“I am all in for Kohli v Wood battle in the final,” says Kumar Pushparaj. “Wood has been the biggest impact player in this tournament.”
That would be some contest. We might be getting ahead of ourselves, though it really is hard to envisage a different final.
25th over: India 118-1 (Dhawan 55, Kohli 47) Rabada returns, just in case there’s a miracle to be found on a good length. There isn’t. India need 74 from 25 balls. Overs, I meant overs. 25 overs.
“Exam choke,” says Sam in Romania. “GSCE maths, 1993. Lad next to me turns up with a TV remote control instead of his calculator. Claims they were both on the arm of the chair, turned off the TV to come to the exam and picked up the wrong one. Fail.”
Oh that’s hilarious. But could he spell GCSE?
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24th over: India 115-1 (Dhawan 54, Kohli 47) Dhawan dumps Morris over mid-on for four to reach the usual half-century, his third of the tournament and his sixth in eight Champions Trophy innings. He’s now the leading runscorer in this tournament as well. He gets an adoring reception from the India supporters, who could be a significant factor if they play England here in the final next Sunday.
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23rd over: India 110-1 (Dhawan 49, Kohli 47) Kohli flicks Morkel through midwicket for four, a touch of considerable class, and drives another boundary through extra cover. Beautiful.
“I’m here, got nowhere to go when you are down with the flu,” says Pratik Dubey. “Glad it’s a match day. Expected more from today’s match though. Looks like we will have the perfect final. Defending Champions Vs Strongest Contenders. True championship match. Only if we could have some pre-match smack talk!”
22nd over: India 102-1 (Dhawan 49, Kohli 39) “You think there’ll be an India/Pakistan final in this tournament?” says Abhishek Chopra.
No, although it would be the most Pakistan thing ever for them to start the competition with a pitiful defeat to India and end it by beating them in the final. I suspect both semi-finals will be won easily by England and India.
21st over: India 100-1 (Dhawan 47, Kohli 38) Morkel replaces Tahir and is struck for consecutive boundaries by Kohli, a loose drive over point followed by a deliberate steer between slip and gully. This match is all over including the shouting.
“How can you be lonely with all those stats in your head to keep you company?” says Ian Copestake. “It must be like being at a party you can never leave hosted by W.G. Grace. Boycott will be in the kitchen, so there’s no escape there.”
Look mate, the naughtiest thing I’ve ever done is include World Series Cricket statistics in the official averages, and I can tell you the statisticians weren’t too happy about that.
20th over: India 90-1 (Dhawan 47, Kohli 29) “Who will England play?” asks Martin Lloyd. They will play in Cardiff on Wednesday against the winner of tomorrow’s match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, unless something utterly ridiculous happens to the net run-rate.
19th over: India 84-1 (Dhawan 43, Kohli 27) Dhawan pulls and back cuts Tahir for consecutive boundaries. That’s excellent, authoritative batting against the last known threat to India’s victory chances.
“You can say what you like about South Africa’s performance today,” says Sam. “They’re still doing better than I am at revising for my land law exam tomorrow.”
I wonder what’s the worst example of an exam choke; whether anybody has ever been so nervous that they forgot their own name, or even forgot where the exam was taking place.
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18th over: India 76-1 (Dhawan 35, Kohli 27) Phehlukwayo bowls the first over after the break; one from it.
Drinks break Send your emails to rob.smyth@theguardian.com. Please, I’m getting lonely.
17th over: India 75-1 (Dhawan 35, Kohli 25) Imran Tahir comes into the attack. Dhawan sweeps him for four to bring up the fifty partnership and increase the party atmosphere at the Oval. Tahir slips a googly past the outside edge, prompting Aleem Dar to check the stumping with the third umpire. Dhawan’s back foot was in the crease.
16th over: India 70-1 (Dhawan 31, Kohli 25) Kohlis is dropped off Phehlukwayo! He edged a big drive towards slip, where Amla couldn’t hang on to a very difficult low chance to his right. Kohli continues to look a bit vulnerable outside off stump, which will interest England if they play India in the final.
15th over: India 65-1 (Dhawan 30, Kohli 21) Kohli takes Morris from outside off stump, rolling the wrists to ping the ball to the long-on boundary. India are cruising to victory after a sluggish start.li takes Morris from outside off stump, rolling the wrists to ping the ball to the long-on boundary. India are cruising to victory after a sluggish start.
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14th over: India 58-1 (Dhawan 28, Kohli 16) Kohli has had enough of being bowled at by South Africa: he blasts Phehlukwayo for a majestic six down the ground to signal the start of phase two of his innings.
“Hi,” says Damian Clarke. “It’s started drizzling here on the sunny south coast, which has curtailed a very exciting afternoon Hammeriting (other exterior paints are available) my drainpipes. So I’ll start on the snifters and stay with you.”
I’d been holding out for a hero.
13th over: India 50-1 (Dhawan 28, Kohli 9) Chris Morris replaces Rabada (6-2-21-0) and continues the excellent line to Kohli. It’s Kohli who blinks first with a swivel-pull that bounces this far short of Morkel, diving forward at fine leg. This is a superb effort from South Africa’s bowlers; if only they had a score of even 270 to defend.
12th over: India 47-1 (Dhawan 28, Kohli 6) Andile Phehlukwayo replaces Morne Morkel. Dhawan pushes his first ball towards point, where a misfield from Miller turns one run into three. Kohli charges the next delivery, which snakes back through the gate and just past the stumps. That was beautifully bowled. Kohli hasn’t really got going and has six from 19 balls.
11th over: India 41-1 (Dhawan 25, Kohli 3) Rabada continues into a sixth over. There’s no point saving his overs. This is the game and the tournament, right here. He has bowled very well to Kohli in particular, but hasn’t been able to bother his outside edge. India are comfortable; it might be time for Tahir.
10th over: India 37-1 (Dhawan 22, Kohli 2) Dhawan brings the crowd back to life with consecutive boundaries off Morkel, a push through mid-off followed by a drive through the covers. Morkel bowls a front-foot no-ball and Dhawan clouts the free hit over point for a couple. Eleven from the over. I’d probably type ‘Shackles. Broken’ if I had a liking for that mildly irritating device of putting a full stop in the middle of a sentence in an attempt to achieve emphasis.
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9th over: India 26-1 (Dhawan 12, Kohli 2) Anyone out there?
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8th over: India 24-1 (Dhawan 11, Kohli 1) This is excellent, proud bowling in the face of almost certain defeat from Rabada and Morkel, who makes it consecutive maidens and beats Dhawan with the final delivery of the over.
7th over: India 24-1 (Dhawan 11, Kohli 1) Rabada has two slips and a gully for Kohli and hits a decent line just outside off stum. Kohli defends or leaves everything, so it’s a maiden.
6th over: India 24-1 (Dhawan 11, Kohli 1) If South Africa are to have any chance of a miracle, they need to get Kohli early. That was such an extravagant shot from Rohit in the circumstances; Morkel saw him making room and followed him with a very good delivery.
WICKET! India 23-1 (Rohit c de Kock b Morkel 12)
One down, nine to go. Rohit makes room to launch Morkel over the off side and snicks through to the diving de Kock. Good bowling from Morkel, who has had an excellent tournament.
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5th over: India 23-0 (Rohit 12, Dhawan 11) Dhawan paddle-pulls Rabada towards long leg, where Phehlukwayo runs straight past the ball and allows it to go for four. This could turn into total humiliation for South Africa.
4th over: India 18-0 (Rohit 11, Dhawan 7) Dhawan snaps his wrists to flick Morkel for an extraordinary six over square leg. What a shot! This is going to a long afternoon of the soul for South Africa’s cricketers, compounded by the noise of the Indian fans at the Oval. There are some all-time greats in that team, and you have to feel for them in particular.
3rd over: India 12-0 (Rohit 11, Dhawan 1) After a careful start - one from 13 balls - Rohit comes to life with four and six off consecutive deliveries from Rabada. A classy straight drive was followed by a storming pull stroke over the rope.
2nd over: India 2-0 (Rohit 1, Dhawan 1) Morne Morkel is promoted to take the new ball, a reflection of South Africa’s urgent need for wickets. They should have had one, too. Dhawan took a suicidal single into the covers and was miles short of his ground when Miller’s throw missed the stumps. Having been run-out earlier, he’s just put salt in his own wounds.
“An England v Bangladesh final would be best - and hopefully taken right down to the very last ball...” says Andrew Benton.
Preach on, Benton. It won’t happen though. No way India won’t win that semi-final. Underdogs and semi-finals rarely go together in international tournaments, in any sport; it’s the natural endpoint for an intrepid adventure.
1st over: India 0-0 (Rohit 0, Dhawan 0) Kagiso Rabada takes the opening over. South Africa should turn this into a Test match, like Australia did so successfully for a time yesterday. That’s what Rabada does, with two slips and an excellent fifth-stump line. Rohit is beaten by a good delivery and plays out the rest of the over cautiously. A maiden.
“So, let’s get it out of the way,” says John Beaven. “Was that the chokiest choke since the last time serial chokers South Africa choked?”
Nothing will top 1999, which was epic in every way. It was as if Allan Donald’s body completely shut down under the strain. The chokes these days are good, but essentially they are just their own tribute band.
South Africa are in a huddle, but their body language isn’t exactly threatening to break the positivityometer. Seven Nation Army, the Michael van Gerwen anthem, plays on the tannoy. I suspect that, in the post-match interviews, the message coming from AB de Villiers’ eyes will say: leave it alone. He doesn’t deserve this.
Thanks Geoff. South Africa, so much to answer for. They spent the two years between the World Cup and the Champions Trophy ascending to No1 in the world, and the whole goddamn enterprise unravelled in just six deliveries. That’s how long it took for AB de Villiers and David Miller to be run out in a manner that brought all South Africa’s old demons rushing to the surface.
They lost their last eight wickets for 51 – and, just for good measure, finished the innings with a third ridiculous run-out. It was pretty hard to watch, and it was no surprise that #chokers was doing plenty of business on Twitter. Not even Malcolm Tucker could put a positive spin on it, though he could probably come up with an alternative C-word for their performance.
India have a straightforward target of 192. It would take a twist of Lord’s 1983 proportions for them to lose this game. They were brilliant, and the dream final against England looks likely, but this is primarily about South Africa. Nervous, needless run-outs in England; a horrible, shambolic performance at the most important time: South Africa are suffering death by déjà vu. Again!
South Africa are bowled out for 191
I’ve said it 30 times before, and I’ll say it just once more: disaster. Holy hand grenades. South Africa have a great batting line-up on paper, but like most things on paper it appears relatively easy to put holes in it.
Those batsmen have been dismissed in 44.3 overs, the exact same number of overs that Bangladesh were dismissed for on this ground by Australia earlier in the week. India, though, will not be thwarted in their chase by weather.The sky remains relatively clear, the clouds of the friendly persuasion.
India will be chasing 192 to win, and considering they have in their ranks two batsmen who each average over 90 in winning run chases (MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, if you’re really bad at guessing), you suspect they won’t find it too difficult.
Nonetheless, if Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel can jag two or three wickets early, you never know what pressure can do.
South Africa lost 8 for 51 in the back end of that innings, with very little coming after de Kock’s 53, Amla’s 35 and du Plessis’ 36.
Three of India’s five bowlers went at less than 4 runs per over. The highest rate was Pandya’s 5.2, and he got the key wicket of du Plessis. Bumrah got 2-28 from eight overs, Bhuvneshwar 2-23 from 7.3, Ashwin 1-43 and Jadeja 1-39, with the balance of the wickets falling to South Africa’s run-outs, the footage of which will continue to circulate for years to come.
That’s it for me - Geoff Lemon out, and I’ll leave you in the hands of our Dear Leader, Rob Smyth, who will certainly not be facing any challenges for his position before the end of the year. Remember, your vote counts.
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WICKET! Tahir run out 1
It’s all over, and the men in green will not get 200. I’m not talking about leprachauns, either. There’s been little in the way of luck for them today. India have been supreme. Duminy flicks Bhuvi out to midwicket and goes for a run. He desperately wants the second, as it’s only the third ball of the over. But then they realise it’s not on. Or decide it’s not on. Tahir turns back and tries to regain his crease. The dive again, not as grand as AB’s, but pretty good in the circumstances. Again Dhoni’s hands are too fast. None of you will know AFL football, but there’s a player whose name we like to use at times like this: Max Gawn.
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44th over: South Africa 190-9 (Duminy 19, Tahir 1)
The crowd goes up as Tahir lashes Bumrah to cover, and Rohit Sharma pretends to claim a catch off the bump ball. It’s all fun and games now. It’s Connect 4 night in a Laotian backpacker joint. Drink specials till midnight, free DJ till dawn. Tahir survives the over, SA benefit by a wide.
Call back.
We did it better pic.twitter.com/m5hMCWNVW5
— Saad Farrukh (@Imsaadfarrukh) June 11, 2017
43rd over: South Africa 189-9 (Duminy 19, Tahir 1)
If you were every going to bowl for a hat-trick in your career, you’d want to be bowling to Imran Tahir. But the hat-trick is denied in a flurry of limbs and protective equipment, as a ball that could have hit the stumps is deflected away, and the edge goes to ground through the slips for a run. Duminy then positions his own pads correctly and benefits by four leg byes. Can South Africa get 200?
WICKET! Morkel c Kohli b Bhuvneshwar 0
The Golden Globe goes to... Morne Morkel! Best Guest Appearance in a Dramatic Comedy. He gets a fullish ball but it’s not that full. Essays a big drive. Gets a big edge. Kohli has brought himself into slip for just that contingency, and Bhuvi is on a hat-trick.
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WICKET! Rabada c Dhoni b Bhuvneshwar
What a delivery. They are bowling beautifully today. Bhuvi hits the perfect length, the perfect seam position. Rabada doesn’t know whether to come forward. He hangs back a touch, prods. The ball seams across the left-hander, takes his edge, simple for Dhoni.
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42nd over: South Africa 184-7 (Duminy 19, Rabada 5)
Ashwin is bowling nicely, Duminy still struggling. A strike rate of barely 50, as he twice finds point with short balls. Ashwin beats him into the pad another time, but the appeal isn’t successful. Only two singles come from the over with South Africa limping towards 200.
41st over: South Africa 182-7 (Duminy 18, Rabada 4)
Bumrah generating some serious pace now with his bouncers, but Rabada picks on one of them and smashes the pull for four. Great shot. Another left-hander out in the middle, South Africa have a parade of them.
WICKET! Phehlukwayo lbw Bumrah 4
Gone on review. Everything going right for India. Beautiful bowling from Bumrah. Fast, full, swinging away from the left-hander but it starts outside leg stump and hits his pad on the line of leg, around the ankle. I have no earthly idea how that was given not out initially, but India challenge after a chat with Dhoni, and are proven correct. Smashing the stumps.
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40th over: South Africa 178-6 (Duminy 18, Phehlukwayo 4)
Just the three runs from the over as Kumar comes back. Very straight, and he seems to be getting the ball to shift a little bit off the pitch.
“Do you really have access to Faf’s diary?” asks John Starbuck. “It makes you wonder if cricket drives people to existentialist despair, and if so how come people like Ben Stokes do so well?”
I suspect it’s because Ben Stokes doesn’t think a whole lot at all. He seems very clear in his mind. I’m going to go out there and hit this ball. Or this locker. Or Carlos Brathwaite. Most of the time, he does what he’s trying to do. No further thought required.
While we’re on classic literary references, Starbuck is also Dana Scully’s nickname as bestowed by her father in The X-Files. He’s in the navy, and later he’s dead and a ghost. I think the word originally comes from a book or something but who has time for books and stuff, amirite?
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39th over: South Africa 175-6 (Duminy 17, Phehlukwayo 2)
Finally, something goes right for SA. A big cut from Duminy, a big edge, and Ashwin concedes a boundary through fine third man. The first for a long time. There’s just been very little chance for South Africa to get anything away. The revelation for India of late is just how good their bowling can be. We’re used to them having great batsmen, and the occasional great spinner, but historically that class bowler has been somewhat outnumbered by colleagues who aren’t at his level.
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38th over: South Africa 169-6 (Duminy 12, Phehlukwayo 1)
Pandya drying them up. They miss the rains down in Africa. Two runs from the over. Like Bruce Willis across most of his films, this is just getting uglier scene by scene.
37th over: South Africa 167-6 (Duminy 11, Phehlukwayo 0)
Duminy is trying, but he’s not in the groove. Before the Morris dismissal he misses a pie down leg side that could have been a simple glance for four. After Morris goes, Duminy laces a cut shot, but straight to backward point on the bounce for a dot ball. Bumrah is bowling at a good clip.
“Hi Geoff,” writes an excited Pratik Dubey. “We can see it! Everyone can see it! Can we talk about it?! With all due respect and to South African, I will use a different word. They are panicking!”
Look, when I said ‘choking’ earlier I didn’t mean it like that...
WICKET! Morris c Bhuvneshwar b Bumrah
There’s the pressure of that low run rate. The ball isn’t even that short, but Morris tries to go cross-bat across the line. It doesn’t work for him - a high top edge lobs to square leg inside the circle, and Bhuvi Kumar steadies under it to take a simple one.
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36th over: South Africa 165-5 (Duminy 10, Morris 4)
India’s bowlers still choking South Africa up. Pandya on a good line on off stump, or shorter attacking the body. The batsmen can only manage three singles. Where are the runs going to come from, as this match goes on?
35th over: South Africa 162-5 (Duminy 8, Morris 3)
Jadeja finishes his day’s work with 1-39 from 10 overs. Nearly runs out Morris at the non-striker’s end too, after Duminy drives back to him. Just the three singles. India have played the spin aspect of this match to perfection so far.
34th over: South Africa 159-5 (Duminy 6, Morris 2)
Du Plessis leaves the ground, Morris emerges. Look at the shoulders of that trudging figure. Sometime captain, sometime not. Hounded in Australia. Tortured in England. Responsible, perhaps, for the demise of his teammates, then the demise of himself.
But he will come to see the light in resignation. There is nothing you can do in the end except give in to fate. To the fact that everything is nothing, that we are dust and will be dust again. Exclusive entry from Faf’s diary as it will be written tonight:
“It was as if that great rush of anger had washed me clean, emptied me of hope, and, gazing up at the dark sky spangled with its signs and stars, for the first time, the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe. To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realise that I’d been happy, and that I was happy still. For all to be accomplished, for me to feel less lonely, all that remained to hope was that on the day of my execution there should be a huge crowd of spectators and that they should greet me with howls of execration.”
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WICKET! du Plessis b Pandya 36 (50 balls)
And finally the pain is over, with a last searing burst. Du Plessis sees a nice wide ball and decides to smash it through cover. Except it’s an off-cutter, Pandya running his fingers down the seam, and it grips a bit in the pitch. The stroke mistimed. The bottom edge of the angled bat directing it into the stumps. The flashing red bails detonate, and the shimmering blue crowd does the same.
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33rd over: South Africa 156-4 (du Plessis 36, Duminy 5)
Jaedja rattles through another four singles from an over. He has one over left, and has gone for 36 runs.
32nd over: South Africa 152-4 (du Plessis 34, Duminy 3)
Du Plessis is trying to get his run-tapping groove back, but if we could do a pictorial analogy of his state of mind right now, it would be a man on his knees yelling “Mendooozaaaaa” into an unforgiving sky. Pandya bowls a wide bouncer and gives up three singles. The earth spins remorselessly on its way.
31st over: South Africa 148-4 (du Plessis 32, Duminy 2)
Duminy given out! But he reviews. Jadeja the bowler, hit him in line as he swept. But Duminy has got a faint bottom edge on that ball, which the audio technology shows up in graph form. A handful of singles from the Jadeja over. What has happened to this innings? India swarming. The crowd is utterly deafening. I know we carry on about this, but sitting in the middle of it is a truly visceral experience.
Get involved with the OBO if you want: your thoughts on the match or the tournament welcome, you can email me at geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or get me on Twitter at @GeoffLemonSport.
30th over: South Africa 145-4 (du Plessis 30, Duminy 1)
Well, three singles from the over but disaster from the first ball. I do keep using that word, I’m aware, but there isn’t currently a better one. Run-outs always seem so self inflicted. Surely the pros know how long it takes to reach the other end, and when to take that on?
That moment when you look up and see your batting partner next to you at the same end #INDvSA #CT17 pic.twitter.com/a5JNqwsP3e
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) June 11, 2017
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WICKET! Miller run out 1 (Kohli)
To lose one wicket to a run out might be seen as misfortune... What a shambles. What a disaster. The Embarro-meter is off the charts. How to even describe that. Du Plessis squirts it into the leg side, and both batsmen start. It goes straight to the field, again, so du Plessis turns back. Miller keeps going. In the end it’s a race to see who gets safely into the batsman’s ground at the same end. The other ends stands empty, and Kohli trots in to tap off the bails. So the umpires have to check on the replay which batsman is out. Miller loses by a short half head.
That was not pretty.
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29th over: South Africa 142-3 (du Plessis 27, Miller 1)
The run-out early in the over helps Jadeja keep it to three singles thereafter as David Miller tries to settle in at the crease. That will have to rattle du Plessis as well, it was really him calling that summoned AB through, where probably de Villiers should have regarded it as his own call and said no.
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WICKET! de Villiers run out 16 (Pandya)
Disaster for South Africa. Both these two looked in such good touch, but they’ve made a mess of it. Faf du Plessis cut to backward point, and it was fielded inside the circle. There wasn’t a run there but they both took off with the stroke. AB de Villiers was coming to the danger end and knew there was strife. He dived full length, mid air, bat extended. And the athleticism of the dive nearly got him home. But the thow was perfect, right over the stumps, and Dhoni was able to glove the bails off with minimal movement.
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28th over: South Africa 139-2 (du Plessis 27, de Villiers 15)
Bumrah back, and they handle him with ease. Singles, twos, seven from the over.
As Nikhil says, interesting that with spin being successful they’re continuing with pace.
Both wickets to spinners, may not be a bad idea to bring in Yuvraj to bowl a few instead of persist with Pandya. #INDvSA
— Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) June 11, 2017
27th over: South Africa 132-2 (du Plessis 25, de Villiers 10)
Except Jadeja slows them up immediately, pinning down du Plessis after de Villiers escapes strike from the first ball. Faf finds the field a couple of times, then gives a genuine edge, then decides to block.
Very nice comeback from Jadeja.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 11, 2017
26th over: South Africa 131-2 (du Plessis 25, de Villiers 9)
There’s been talk of AB being out of form, but he’s starting well here. Full and wide from Pandya, de Villiers uses lots of bottom hand to slap that cover drive for four. Gets a run to third man, then du Plessis glances another four. He walks at Pandya next ball and cuts uppishly, but it lands safely in the deep in front of the sweeper. AB follows his lead after a wide, also walking at the bowler to put him off, making a shortish ball very short, but managing to lean his body far enough to the leg side of the ball that he finds the room to slap it through point. A lot going on in that stroke for one run. Not all singles are equal. A dozen of the best from the over. South Africa will want a stack more of those if they’re going to restrain India under sunshine this afternoon.
25th over: South Africa 119-2 (du Plessis 20, de Villiers 3)
Surely the biggest cheer of the day for a non-Indian participant, as the otherwise highly partisan crowd at The Oval decide to offer praise to AB de Villiers. They do love him so; some of the noise for him at the World T20 last year even at neutral games was utterly insane. He gets away immediately by driving two through covers, then a single the same way.
WICKET! de Kock b Jadeja 53
Horrible shot really. Quinton went for a reverse sweep the ball before and missed. Went conventional the next ball and missed that too. Unfortunately for him that ball was in line with the stumps and went straight through him.
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Half century! de Kock 50 from 68 balls
24th over: South Africa 116-1 (de Kock 53, du Plessis 20)
Six more from Pandya’s over, as de Kock raises his fifty with a single.
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23rd over: South Africa 110-1 (de Kock 49, du Plessis 18)
This is a different game since du Plessis came to the crease. He’s finding runs where he wants, in multiples. Slashes three through cover, runs hard. Singles too. Another six from the Jadeja over.
22nd over: South Africa 104-1 (de Kock 47, du Plessis 14)
Psychological games? Wanting to deny South Africa the satisfaction of raising their team hundred with a crisp single, Pandya bowls down leg side for a wide. Faf hasn’t faced any seam yet, but he’s comfortably running his second ball down to third man in time-honoured style. Quinton de Kock nearly splits the fieldsmen at deep midwicket and deep backward square with a stylish flick, but it’s saved on therope. Pandya stays a little too straight to the leftie, and another single goes in a similar direction.
21st over: South Africa 99-1 (de Kock 44, du Plessis 13)
The harvest continues. Five singles from the Jadeja over. Suddenly they’re doing it with ease. If all this excitement is too much for you, check out the award-winning Will Macpherson’s work over on the country cricket round-up.
20th over: South Africa 94-1 (de Kock 42, du Plessis 10)
Loving this, there’s a real urgency to du Plessis. He nicks a single to the on side from Ashwin’s first ball, and the right/left changeover does for Ashwin, who slides too far to leg and de Kock picks him off with a lovely drive through midwicket. Then a single, then Faf gauges a second run beautifully after he flicks behind square. Sprints back for the second. Ashwin is rattled, bowls a wide, then there’s another single to Faf to keep the strike, and they’ve turned Ashwin upside down and shaked out his pockets for 10 runs. This is exceptional one-day batting.
19th over: South Africa 84-1 (de Kock 37, du Plessis 6)
Faf in, and immediately things start to get moving. He slashes two runs from Jadeja’s fifth ball, out behind point, and they get a single from every other delivery. Seven from the over with little effort aside from all the running. Which considering I nearly died after four flights of stairs to the Edgbaston press box the other day, shouldn’t be underestimated.
18th over: South Africa 77-1 (de Kock 35, du Plessis 1)
Francois du Plessis is next to the crease. Amla had struck a sweet boundary down the ground a couple of balls before his wicket, but that was that. Ashwin has 1 for 22 from 5 overs. I’m going to call that a good selection.
WICKET! Amla c Dhoni b Ashwin 35
There it is! Ashwin strikes, the pressure tells. A quicker ball speared through outside off, Amla saw the length and tried to cut but it came on faster than he thought. Mistimed shot, takes the edge and Dhoni snares it standing up to the stumps with a very good take. The pressure compounds as a wicket goes down with the run rate struggling.
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17th over: South Africa 71-0 (de Kock 35, Amla 31)
Better get my typing fingers on here. Ravindra Jadeja on from the other end, the left-armer to Ashwin’s right, spin in either direction, the bowling pair that underwrote India’s ascent to Test supremacy and became the top two ranked bowlers in that format in the world. What can they do in partnership here? You do get the feeling that South Africa would rather be facing pace, and that their downfall against Pakistan’s spinners may have informed India’s approach today.
16th over: South Africa 67-0 (de Kock 33, Amla 29)
Ashwin rattles through another over, he’s a Gatling gun. Much better for SA though, they get five singles from it. That’s the mark you want to be setting against the oposition’s premier spinner.
15th over: South Africa 62-0 (de Kock 30, Amla 27)
Has the spell broken? Pandya was on top, Amla was struggling. And then: click. Amla has had enough, breaks the emergency glass, and punches the button. He walks across outside his off stump, gets a full toss as well, and flicks the ball high and long over square leg towards the Gasometer. Six runs. That was huge but graceful, like a whale shark in the London sky. No, I’m fine. Has anyone read China Miéville’s story about the icebergs floating over England? Like that. Then Pandya lands one, but Amla does the same move, coming across and flicking it, this time with more inside edge and it goes through fine leg for four. Could be the turning point.
14th over: South Africa 52-0 (de Kock 30, Amla 17)
Ashwin delivers another very tidy over, just the two singles from it. Accurate, at the stumps, good lengths, hard to get away.
13th over: South Africa 50-0 (de Kock 29, Amla 16)
Oh, another near dismissal. They’ve run more garbage than a New York trash collector, this pair. This time it’s de Kock who sets off with a shot straight to mid-off, and should be out by a yard except that Kohli misses the throw while running in with a dive. That came after Pandya had built the pressure with four tight deliveries, forcing the mistake. And another one is missed next ball, as Amla chips back to the bowler who shells the chance. Did all of the work, Pandya, but two possible wickets go begging.
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12th over: South Africa 48-0 (de Kock 28, Amla 15)
Amla trying to sweep Ashwin, but not timing it well. Aside from that one gorgeous shot he hasn’t looked the goods today. Trying to find the rhythm we know he has, the South African opener. Ashwin bowls another tight one, until the last ball. Then he slips it down leg side, and QDK is easily able to help it along behind square for four.
54.6 - @ashwinravi99 averages 54.6 v @OfficialCSA with the ball, his poorest rate vs any side he has faced more than once. Intro. #CT17 pic.twitter.com/QMAGxuuTAp
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) June 11, 2017
11th over: South Africa 41-0 (de Kock 23, Amla 13)
Another bowling change for India, with the all-round seamer Hardik Pandya from the Pavilion End. They work him around a bit more easily. Six runs from the over seems like a release of pressure given how hard the work has been for South Africa through the first 10 overs. Powerplay run rate of 3.5! Geoff Marsh would have liked it, but sheesh.
India would have preferred a wicket or two but this is a good start. South Africa looking like they are itching to get a move on
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 11, 2017
10th over: South Africa 35-0 (de Kock 20, Amla 11)
Spin City. It’s time for Ashwin, Lord of the Carrom Ball, King of the Finger Flick. He’s on the money immediately, hard to get away. QDK flicks a single, and Ashwin slips in a wide, but that’s it for the over.
Turned alright, Ashwin. And then two balls later it goes the other way. Classy Ashwin.#IndvSA #ct2017
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) June 11, 2017
9th over: South Africa 33-0 (de Kock 19, Amla 11)
Another beauty from Kumar, he’s putting together an artist’s spell here. Amla is such a class batsman, but Bhuvi hits the perfect length to get the batsman stuck, feet not moving, then the ball decks in off the seam and so narrowly misses cleaning up the stumps. Or making a mess of them. How are those two contradictory phrases used to mean the same thing? Someone dial up Linguistics, stat. The batsmen get three singles from the over.
In other important news...
Almost definitely, yes. pic.twitter.com/z0PDEJCcTH
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) June 11, 2017
8th over: South Africa 30-0 (de Kock 17, Amla 10)
The bhangra drums fire up again as Bumrah bowls another good over, with Amla circumspect and de Kock chastened. The South Africans are trying to maintain patience and composure - we’ve seen in this tournament how often it has been difficult early for batsmen, then got far easier into the middle overs.
7th over: South Africa 28-0 (de Kock 17, Amla 9)
Suddenly de Kock has lost it. He gets on strike with four balls left in Kumar’s over, and starts attempting to wallop. Twists the bat in his hand the first ball, then misses completely the next two. Ugly swats. The last ball of the over is a beauty, right in the channel, and Quinton is Calais, stranded on the far side.
How much do I want to bet that this was Daniel Norcross as well? The best radio cricket commentator going around at the moment for mine, he brings a totally different element to broadcasting.
"Not so much supping in the last chance saloon as binge-drinking the final dregs of hope" - the @bbctms view on South Africa #INDvSA
— Zoë Sumra (@ZoeSumra) June 11, 2017
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6th over: South Africa 26-0 (de Kock 16, Amla 8)
Bumrah, wide outside off and de Kock laces the cut, but straight to the field. Gets stuck the next few balls with a tighter line before shovelling a drive on the leg side for one. Then Amla arrives. Gorgeous. Dreamy. What a shot. It’s not a bad ball, just back of a length, just outside off. He doesn’t chop it behind point. Or cut it. Or force it. Or glide it. He stands up on his toes, weight on his back foot, and drives, genuinely drives with a vertical bat, but with the bat-face open and flowing through with elbow, in a square drive through backward point for four. That should be impossible. But I saw it. It was real.
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5th over: South Africa 21-0 (de Kock 15, Amla 4)
Another early boundary to the left-handed de Kock, as Bhuvneshwar strays down leg side and this time the batsman gets a touch on it and sends it to the fine leg fence. Similar line is glanced for a single, then Bhuvi tightens up the line to the right-handed Amla. He’s definitely finding that side of the wicket easier thus far. This niche enthusiasm from the first over will have waned.
(If you can’t see the parent tweet, it says “If you bowl a wide first ball, your economy rate shows as ‘Infinity’ on the BBC website.”)
Get in, Bhuvi. #CT17 pic.twitter.com/zaKM9xXAj3
— Phil (@AlteredCourse) June 11, 2017
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4th over: South Africa 16-0 (de Kock 10, Amla 4)
Four. First ball of the over, Bumrah goes full, and de Kock plays a straight drive past him to the fence. No trouble there. There is trouble when Amla swats across the line, edges into his body, and the ball pops up in the air. He doesn’t know where it is, so he sort of leans over his wicket with his upper body in case the rebounding ball falls nearby.
“He turned his back on his stumps and protected them like a penguin protecting his eggs,” is the charming turn of phrase from Daniel Norcross on Test Match Special.
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3rd over: South Africa 9-0 (de Kock 4, Amla 3)
Nearly a run out! Amla pushes Bhuvneshwar down to mid off and starts running. Why? We’ll never know. He realises within two steps that he’s in trouble, but it would be slower to send de Kock back. So Amla sprints down the middle of the pitch like Forrest Gump down a highway line, and if mid-off’s tumbling throw had hit, it would have been gone. But Rohit is Nohit, and Amla survives.
Oh, come on. Is this any way to treat a visitor?
Nice to see some Aussies still in #CT17
— frintonbojangles (@frintonbojangle) June 11, 2017
2nd over: South Africa 4-0 (de Kock 1, Amla 2)
Jasprit Bumrah from the other end, and it’s a very good start from him. I’m a big fan of this young bowler, he was so impressive in his debut international season in Australia a couple of summers back. Full of energy, full of intent. He’s not at top pace yet, topping out at about 85 miles per hour, but he’s on line from the start and South Africa can only harvest a single to Amla, as de Kock is tangled up a few times.
Ah, here we are. The video highlights of Ben Stokes marmalising Australia’s bowlers. I can’t imagine who would enjoy such a thing.
1st over: South Africa 3-0 (de Kock 1, Amla 1)
Here we go, here we go, here we here we here we go. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will open the bowling from the Pavilion End, searching for swing. There ain’t any, as he lollops a wide down the leg side. De Kock squirts a single next ball, then after some defensive strokes Amla edges one along the ground wide of slip. Groans from the crowd.
Some things in sport are bigger than the particular strand of it that one follows. If you haven’t read Sean Ingle’s take on Usain Bolt’s last race in Jamaica, do yourself a solid.
Ah yes, and the people’s anthem once again. “I’m gonna fight ‘em off. A seven nation army couldn’t hold me back.” Doo do do do do doo doo.
In a marked departure from how things go in my native Australia, literally every person in sight is standing for the national anthems except for me. I’m on one of the outside desks in the grandstand at The Oval, and feeling very surrounded. It’s hard to type and stand up at the same time. Clearly I don’t feel self-conscious about it. Not at all.
There is a particular drama to the ICC entrance music. It’s cinematic. It’s Once Upon a Time in America. It’s a convoy of tall ships pulling into harbour through the mist and rain. It’s Jean Valjean lifting up stones on the chain gang. It’s a Fiddler on the Roof lament, a dark and brooding tune that flowers into brass and drums. Oh, drama. How we respond to thee.
As you’d expect, the atmosphere down at the ground in intense. I’ve been staying across the road from The Oval, and from about 8:45 this morning the calls of “Indiaaaaaa, India!” have been echoing over Kennington’s streets. The ground isn’t totally packed out yet, but it’s well on the way. There are ticket touts swarming out the front, so presumably tickets are at least scarce if not non-existent. This was the scene outside the ground earlier, thanks to our comrade Adam Collins.
Dance off behind the pavilion with the Indian fans. Glorious day at the People's Ground for the #SAvIND quasi-quarter final. #CT17 pic.twitter.com/20JabvqcuJ
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 11, 2017
India win the toss and will bowl
There we are, back to the preferred chasing method for Kohli and co., after being done in by Sri Lanka batting first.
Re the teams, the big news is that Ravichandran Ashwin is back in the side. The premier Test off-spinner hasn’t been first choice in the ODI side, but with The Oval track more conducive for tweak, he’s come in for Umesh Yadav.
India
Sharma
Dhawan
Kohli*
Yuvraj
Dhoni+
Pandya
Jadhav
Jadeja
Kumar
Ashwin
Bumrah
South Africa
de Kock+
Amla
du Plessis
de Villiers*
Miller
Duminy
Morris
Rabada
Phehlukwayo
Morkel
Tahir
If you’d like to enjoy a little more flavour around Australia being knocked out, some of the crowd work from the Hollies Stand at Edgbaston yesterday in partnership with Aaron Finch was outstanding. Priming for the Ashes in 2019.
@AaronFinch5 Did you enjoy your day yesterday? You're a top man, fair play to you for dealing with this all day! pic.twitter.com/1G4GmwIiPE
— Iain Kirsch (@stringfella) June 11, 2017
Good morning all. As your newly elected leader, I pledge to govern this minority OBO in a strong and stable fashion. I’m sorry to those OBO members who’ve lost their keyboards, but our friends and allies in the Democratic Union of Rob Smyth will assist us in OBOing for all readers, and managing a stable and secure OBOrexit at the end of the match.
The sun has finally deigned to shine on this Champions Trophy. It’s a glorious morning here at The Oval, with blue skies and high cloud interspersed in equal measure. Two top teams will go head to head, with only the winner proceeding to a semi-final against surprise entrant Bangladesh, after the Australians were knocked out yesterday by a jubilant England.
Hello. Geoff will be here shortly. Until then, here’s Ali Martin on England’s win over Australia yesterday.
Ben Stokes left Edgbaston with praise from both captains ringing in his ears following the destructive unbeaten 102 that sees England head into their Champions Trophy semi-final on Wednesday glowing with confidence and Australia on the next plane home.
Stokes, in registering his third one-day hundred, continued a rich run of form that has carried through from his time in the Indian Premier League. The Rising Pune Supergiants made him the tournament’s most expensive overseas player with a £1.7m deal but for his national team captain, the all-rounder is priceless.
“His potential is through the roof,” said Eoin Morgan, whose 87 helped pile on 159 with Stokes for the fourth wicket. “His batting was exceptional. He was very calm with the crease, very relaxed and all those games he’s played really came to the fore.”
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