GAYLE FORCE WIND SUBDUED

Myslef & Faaiz oz were at Adega in Greenside catching up on our PRE Ramadaan meal. The big screen at the resturant enhanced the thought of the Headline "GALE FORCE WIND". I must admit I thought it was done and dusted. I missed the second innings due to a meeting I had to attend to, knowing in the back of my mind that it was over. I mean 10 an over from the offset and chasing at the Bullring. Next thing Mamoo sms's me saying "THAT OUR BLOOD ID GREEN". Then one of the PIM Babes sms'd me to say "AM I watching?". Yes Mandie. I was shocked. Gibbs and Kemp of whom Im a big critic produced the goods. Was anyone there at teh BULLRING!
I must admit I thought Bodi will get the Nod. Will he get a start in the group phase or will he just play second fiddle to the openers. I was disapointed. The disapintment though was nulled by the awesome display by the Boys. And well at the end of the day, South Africa are off with a Band. I spoke to my cricketing analyst "THE MASAJEE". He is in Umrah,left yesterday. He left me with the following prediction
1.SA, 2.Austrailia 3.Sri Lanka. Bold words from the Masajee. Lets wait and see and take it as THE MASAJEE HAS SPOKEN

Anyways I have a Young lad called Ejaz writing the PRO 20 Update. So with the Masjee gone Thats it from me.Although I will add my 2c when I can

Gayle force winds not enough to stop Gibbs storm

Ejaz Khan

September 12, 2007

The Pro 20 World Cup got off to blistering start ,thanks to exciting cricket played by both teams at a packed, buzzing Wanderers Cricket ground in Johannesburg on Tuesday September 11th. Wanderers, or “The Bull Ring” as it is famously known, saw South Africa emerge the victorious Matador. When Graeme Smith won the toss and put the Windies in to bat, most observers were skeptical. The Wanderers is one of the best batting pitches in the world (remember the 438 game), no doubt even better prepared by groundsman Chris Scott for this the quickest, most exciting version of the game ever played in cricket’s long history. One can almost picture a meeting at Lords, England with the tea–sipping hierarchy whinging on about this “mockery” of the noble game of gentleman. Well,Gentlemen, welcome to the modern day Cricket. Parents can go to work, come home , pack a picnic basket,gather the kids into the car, dash off to a pulsating game of cricket and still be home in time for the 10pm news. Great stuff !

Chris Gayle strode to the crease with an overwhelming sense of belief, ready to take the challenge to the South Africans. And did he ever. Hitting shots with tremendous power, a shocked Proteas Captain asking the Umpire to inspect the ball after a mere 2 overs! Gayle had turned it into a bruised white egg, such was the ferocity with which he so timeously connected the usually circular leather ball.

If hitting a six, was a crime, Chris Gayle would have been put on death Row. He top scored for his team and indeed the entire match with his 117 off just 57 balls, amassing a total of 10 sixes and 7 fours, which should really have been a match winning innings. He did however win the Man of the Match award, and his name etched in the History Books, for his outstanding efforts. The West Indies amassed a huge total of 205 for the loss of 6 wickets, and the Proteas had their work cut out for them(More like whacked out for them)

As the spectators stood wide eyed at the prospect of South Africa chasing down the humungous title, the West Indies decided to bowl err..wide.

Bowling an occasional wide is one thing, bowling 23 of them is a cricketing sin. Someone lied to the Windies and told them that wides are not counted in Pro 20, or maybe they were just poorly off target. Those 23 wides ( 28 extra’s in total) cost them the match. Pure and simple. Plus the fact that after Chris Gayle had gotten out, no one was able to keep the momentum and hit big for the Calypso cricketers, so they didn’t do themselves any favours too.

Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs came out and after being struck early on, Smith seemed to be struggling, just one Run scored off the 1st over. Things begun rather slowly for the Proteas, but after the pain killers started taking effect, Smith started dispensing some pain onto the West Indian bowlers. But it was Herschelle Gibbs who was in top form and the one who steered his team to victory. Smashing 90 runs off just 54 balls, blasting 14 fours and 2 sixes , he was a man on a mission. And it was mission complete, thanks to his slick batting skills. But his hamstring injury no doubt will give South African supporters the shivers. With Loots Bosman out through so called Injury, He has since come out saying SA Coach Mickey Arthur is a liar, so I doubt he will be donning the green and gold anytime soon. It’s a shame for SA Cricket

As Loots Bosman has so much to give to the game, especially to opposition.We hope the board have a change of heart, and hope it has nothing to do with Racism as some quarters have hinted too.

Pakistan play Scotland today, while Australia take on Zimbabwe tonight.

The cricket world will never be the same

We can look forward to the 1st 500 runs scored in a 50 over game in the future

Its not a matter of reality or fiction, but rather, a matter of time…