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Two Winters and One Summer of English Cricket and Continued Adventures

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Logie66:
Cameraman and scribe taken down with dodgy stomach, so apologies for the lack of posting ! Will be catching up tonight and getting videos loaded as soon as I can, lots of pleasant ladies wandering around in the sunshine on the third day.

Logie66:
Durban Day 2

After an early curtailment on the first day we awoke to a gloomy setting, overcast sky and a chilly wind.  We set off to the ground for the earlier start at 9:30 to try and recover some of the lost time.

As we exited the hotel and started our stroll to the ground we could see that the floodlights were on, not looking promising.

Play did however start on time at 9:30, although bizarre with the lights on.  I won the side bet for the correct opening bowlers to make more profit following the win in the casino.  England"s opening pair of Anderson and Onions didn"t bowl particularly well as Boucher and De Villiers got South Africa off to a good start.  We had to wait for Swann and the assistance of the referral system to make the breakthrough.

The England bowlers kept the Proteas under pressure and we kept getting wickets, it was looking good to bowl them out for under 300 when Ntini joined Steyn, Steyn had other ideas and decided to use the long handle hitting three sixes in a partnership which lasted over 50 runs and could be key in the context of the game as this took the advantage away from England.

So the England Openers Strauss and Cook strolled to the wicket looking to whittle down the lead of 343 that the Protea batsmen had set.  For the first hour with the exception of Morkel, the South African bowlers decided to serve up some pies and Strauss ate them all, dispatching the bowlers to all parts of the ground as he raced to a quick fifty in test scricket standards.

Having survived one decision with the aid of the referral system, he didn"t last much longer as his stumps were destroyed by Morkel after getting an inside edge on a good delivery.

Trott and Cook steadied the ship and once again the bad light closed in and curtailed play early, has to be the first time ever that a days play has been completed with the floodlights on permanently.

Honours even and the 3rd day could be key as to whether this game heads towards a draw.

Logie66:
Durban Day 3

After experiencing two days of overcast conditions we awoke to bright sunshine and a blustery wind, so day three was looking positive for a full days play, as well as some more scantilly clad South African beauties being present with sunshine out.

I did however also awake not feeling to well, as I spent a lot of the night up with a very bad stomach, that is all I shall describe it as !!  After getting ready in the morning which Greenie described as painful, I passed on breakfast and we headed off to the ground, at this point I was full off imodium tablets to hopefully counter act the stomach !!

We settled down in our seats, the morning bet was for the first four and where it would be hit too on the ground.  Trott departed early to Morkel who has to be the pick of the South African bowlers, this brought KP to the wicket, a couple of overs in and KP struck the first four, through mid-wicket, I win the bet once more must be my lucky tour !!

Cook and KP then started to build a good partnership, no rash shots and picking the bad balls, it was looking positive for England as the wicket had got a bit flat following the large roller.  KP then went for a sweep off of the bowling of Harris, obviously the same opinion as Greenie that he is overrated filth, he chose to sweep a straight one though and missed it ending up plum LBW.  A good reference to KP becoming more of a team player is that he asked Cook whether he was out before asking for a referral, Cook told him he was plum and he trudged back to the pavilion obviously disappointed.

Colly joined Cook and they set about putting England back on course, at times it was slow going but they patiently kept the scoreboard ticking over.  Cook in answer to all of his critics looked in no trouble at all, very disciplined and not being tempted outside of off stump had reached his half century confidently and was now looking to convert this into his 10th test match century.

As the ball got older the wicket seemed to get flatter and flatter, as batting seemed to get easier, perhaps the sunshine was also helping ! Without too much pressure from the bowlers and the overrated filth being delivered from spinner Harris, the partnership past 50 and then 100.

Cook having survived being given out with the aid of a referral then completed his century and acknowledged the dressing room and crowd, it was looking good for England as they were in a position to take control of the game.

Finally Cook nibbled outside off stump and got an edge behind to depart on 118, a tremendous partnership of 142 which had put England in the driving seat.  So the under pressure Bell, considered by many to be still in the side, came to the crease.  He immediately looked uneasy facing Morkel, he had made all of the batsmen struggle early on, but eventually got himself in and looked comfortable on the flatish track.

With the sun still out it was looking like a full days play may be gained, Colly and Bell kept the scoreboard ticking over as for the first time we passed 4 o"clock at the ground.  Colly was closing in on his century when Duminy drew an edge behind and he was gone, nine runs short another 50 partnership the fourth of the innings so far.

Bell and Prior saw England through to the close of play at 5:30 a revelation with the weather we have been experiencing.

It is at this point that I admit to being very ill and falling asleep on the ground, I was particularly lucky as I was shown on the big screen and the highlights here in South Africa, my hat was covering me up, so if anyone saw that it was me !!!  

Logie66:
Videos are much more diffcult to load than the photos I have to admit, had some good views on Monday in the bright Sunshine so some good minutes are coming  ;D

Waz1892:
get better soon.....well well enoiugh to post the pics / videos. ::)

but do get better   :)

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