Aus 2003 vs SA 1970

[KGKOOLKAT777]

Ok, change of pace and a different story. I have set up a 5 test match series between the Aussie team of 2003 and the South African team of the 70s. The SA team was hard to fill so a few players from either side of that generation have been included. I am playing as Australia.

1st Test Match – Australia vs South Africa – Australia

The teams are as follows:



Day One:
We won the toss and batted first but Procter got Watson and Martyn early on but Hayden and Ponting consolidated rebuilding slowly before Hayden departed for 11. Gilchrist and Ponting played very carefully to start with Ponting scoring only 10 off his first 60 balls and Gilchrist only 18 but they started to increase the scoring rate later on in the innings and a beautiful outswinger for Goddard was the only thing that could remove Ponting. Gilchrist fell straight after tea but Symonds and Lehmann played out the rest of the session to leave the honours even.

[KGKOOLKAT777]

Day Two:

Symonds and Lehmann began very circumspect but negotiated the first session well. Soon after the lunch break though, they both fell, Symonds agonisingly close to a hundred but the tail stuck around for a while and managed to get a good score. South Africa came out to bat and McGrath ripped through the top order. The team was left fuming though as Brett Lee broke down yet again and had to go off the field and looks unlikely to take any further part in the match. Hogg got Goddard before McGrath returned and picked up another wicket before Warne came on to get rid of key man Richards. On a turning wicket, Australia looks to be way ahead even a bowler down.



Day Three:

It did not take long for us to knock over the tail and we enforced the follow-on despite some tired bowlers. Because of Lee’s injury, Watson had to open the bowling but did a marvellous job snaring all of the top 3 batsmen, all coincidently LBW. Goddard and Cook briefly started a revival before being tied down by the spin duo of Warne and Hogg and Goddard falling. The return of McGrath brought about the wicket of Irvine while the batsman managed to negotiate stumps, they will have a mighty task saving this match.



Day Four:

Not much to say, halfway through the first session it was over. McGrath and Warne bowled very well in tandem providing each other with openings and exploiting them.

[KGKOOLKAT777]

Match Summary:








Batting Award: Andrew Symonds – 1 short of a century

Bowling Award: Glenn McGrath – got the wickets at crucial times

Series State: 1-0 with 4 to play

[KGKOOLKAT777]

Well, this story I think might have to fade into CC history a bit. People who really want the results can know SA bounce back with a similar result in the 2nd test before 2 draws and a final nail-biting match which Australia clinch. Mongrel is doing a fantastic job with his story though so follow that. My Essex story is returning with another one, coming as a surprise.