1st Cricket Test: Aust v Sth Africa @ The Gabba

[NM]

That makes him the game high scorer so far.

Note that 2 Aussie bowlers made tons, but so far no SA bowlers have hit that mark. Steyn (95) is closest to crossing the threshold.

 

[NM]

Hussey now the 6th player to make 50 in the match.

 

[QF WP]

Another milstone:

105.6

Smith to Hussey, 1 run, a full toss outside off and Hussey drives to long-off to bring up a quick fifty, he's looked completely at ease

quickly followed by another (a century partnership):

Current partnership 102 runs, 22.2 overs, RR: 4.56 (Hussey 51, Clarke 47)

 

[QF WP]

So can Hussey be the 5th player to make a century and will Clarke be the first to make 200 in the match?

 

[QF WP]

Clarke must have heard me:

108.6	Morkel to Clarke, FOUR, superb once again, Morkel over-pitches and Clarke meets it with a wonderfully straight drive, bisecting the gap between the non-striker and the stumps
108.5	Morkel to Clarke, FOUR, Clarke strides forward and drives a length ball on the up past the man at short cover and to the boundary

Now onto 180 (after another shot for 3 runs). I think he wants to get there before stumps:

Min overs remaining 14.1

 

[NM]

Clarke must have heard me:

108.6	Morkel to Clarke, FOUR, superb once again, Morkel over-pitches and Clarke meets it with a wonderfully straight drive, bisecting the gap between the non-striker and the stumps
108.5	Morkel to Clarke, FOUR, Clarke strides forward and drives a length ball on the up past the man at short cover and to the boundary

Now onto 180 (after another shot for 3 runs). I think he wants to get there before stumps:

Min overs remaining 14.1

well he's 188 with 12 overs left today - providing the light holds out for them.

 

[NM]

make that 192 - doing it in 4's now.

 

[QF WP]

Five 4's in the last 13 balls, they are starting to put down the accelerator. Hussey hit 3 of them.

Clarke is 193, so should make it to the double ton with 10 overs left to bowl - so a 6pm or slightly earlier finish.

 

[QF WP]

well he's 188 with 12 overs left today - providing the light holds out for them.

No problem with the light today - no clouds to stymie the light meter

 

[QF WP]

Hussey is going strong:

14.3	Morkel to Hussey, FOUR, and now Morkel gets the outside edge as Hussey pushes forward but it goes between slip and gully for four more, Australia have taken the lead after being 3 for 40 last evening
114.2	Morkel to Hussey, FOUR, too full outside off, Hussey sends the ball racing to the cover boundary with a cracking front foot drive

Interesting stats:

Madhu, our stats man says, "For the first time there have been four centuries in an Australia-South Africa Test (1st and 2nd innings). There have been nine other occasions when there have been three centuries scored."​

and

Vishnu: "What will hurt SA most is the manner in which these two guys have scored their runs. 154 from 182 [balls]."​

which meand I missed the 150 run partnership:

Current partnership 157 runs, 31.2 overs, RR: 5.01 (Hussey 75, Clarke 78)​

I wonder if they want a couple of overs at the openers tonight, who will be tired from beeing in the field for such a long time...

 

[QF WP]

That's it. He's got his double ton:

116.2

Steyn to Clarke, 2 runs, that's Clarke's third double ton this year! He gets there with a firm push down the ground, right out of the middle of his bat. His dad and grand dad are at the Gabba and they are on their feet clapping, as is everyone else. An immense innings from the captain

 

[Blinky]

I wonder if they want a couple of overs at the openers tonight, who will be tired from beeing in the field for such a long time...

Don't think so. It would be nice to get 150+ ahead and put the Saffers in just before lunch.

 

[NM]

Lets see if they can break the 5th wicket record, its a long standing one:

5th​

187​

Bill Lawry / Doug Walters​

Australia​

England​

Dec 1965​

That record is looking shaky now.

 

[QF WP]

Good point. Grind them down into the dust.

Love this comment from the cricinfo team:

Nicko: "Given Cowan went with a run out, the Saffy bowlers have gone past a very ugly 0 for 400 since the customary Aust top order capitulation (minus the odd leg bye)."

​

 

[QF WP]

That record is looking shaky now.

Indeed, creeping up on it now:

Current partnership 163 runs, 32.5 overs, RR: 4.96 (Hussey 78, Clarke 81)

Also a very nice stat:

Madhu tells me that only the Don and Ponting have scored three double-centuries in a year. One of Clarke's was a triple of course. So did the Don, he had a 334.

​

 

[NM]

Hussey into the 80s now. Will he make the ton tonight?

 

[QF WP]

Damn, need to drive home now - so will miss any further commentary here.

Current score:
Australia 479/4 (119.4 ov)
Clarke 216 no, Hussey 82 no

Will be listening on the radio:
Min overs remaining:4.4

 

[NM]

4 overs remaining for the day and Hussey can't get the strike.

 

[QF WP]

Hussey into the 80s now. Will he make the ton tonight?

He'll need to get on strike and hit like a 1-day or 20/20 match. 4 overs left, 18 runs...

 

[NM]

Reporting this is the final over for the day