Gibbs helps SA to Sri Lanka win
Date released: 3 June 2009
Herschelle Gibbs' 48 runs help South Africa to an ICC World T20 warm-up win over Sri Lanka at Lord's re-live every ball with Lords.org.
Live coverage
Refresh the page (press F5) to get the very latest up-to-date news.
South Africa: 113-4
Sri Lanka: 109-9
Batsmen (runs): JP Duminy (12) & Mark Boucher (8)
Bowlers: Pavilion End: Nuwan Kulasekara
Nursery End: Ajantha Mendis
Following the game with Lords.org? Email us your questions, comments & opinions: Live@Lords.org
4:46pm We hope you enjoyed that! Don't go anywhere - in less than 45 minutes, England will be on the field to take on West Indies. Follow it live with Lords.org:
4:34pm 20th over: Nuwan Kulasekara has the thankless task of bowling this over - it has to be a maiden for Sri Lanka to tie... maiden's are almost unheard of in T20.
And they still will be - first ball and Duminy blasts it for four.
South Africa win by 6 wickets
4:31pm 19th over: Ajantha Mendis on for this penultimate over - South Africa need just 10 more runs from 12 balls.
After two good dot (no scoring) balls, Mark Boucher gets a steaky edge for four. Surely that's as good as the match won for SA now?
Four more from Boucher brings SA level with Sri Lanka's total... one more run to win the match.
4:26pm 18th over: Malinga, blonde-streaks and all is back again - and dishes up four byes as that one beats bat, stumps, wicketkeeper and fielder.
100 up for South Africa as Gibbs drills it (almost literally) through to mid-wicket fielder.
Next ball and Malinga's got him! Beaten all ends up and the stumps in a mess.
South Africa 100-4 - Gibbs b. Malinga - 48
Your emails - We've had a couple of emails now (mostly from India fans!) asking if we'll cover the India v Pakistan match at The Oval. Sorry, no can do - Lords.org is a Lord's service only.
Obviously The Oval's website just isn't as good as Lords.org...
4:17pm 17th over: Another 28 runs needed for SA to win. T.M. Dilshan to bowl this over.
TM Dilshan? Tillakaratne Mudiyanselage. Wow.
Silva has the chance to catch Gibbs on the boundary... he doesn't want to step over the rope with the ball... and he drops it!
4:17pm 16th over: Nuwan Kulasekara returns, bowling from the Pavilion End.
To complete our "complete names" - JP Duminy? Jean-Paul... that was an easy one.
Your emails - is Bazza the only cricket fan out there with access to email? He says Malinga wins the "hair-off" with Sidebottom - and also threatens to score a 20-ball half-century for his club side this weekend as a "T20 tribute" - let us know how you get on Bazza. Hope it's not a 1-ball duck!
4:11pm 15th over: Isuru Udana Thilakaratne's changing ends - he comes on to bowl from the Nursery End this time.
No room for all the icons for that passage of play! De Villiers hits a smooth four - but then, next ball holes out to the long on fielder.
South Africa 77-3 - De Villiers c. Malinga b. Thilakaratne - 32
4:06pm 14th over: The mop-haired Lasith Malinga returns to the bowling attack - from the Pavilion End this time.
Who'd win a "hair-off" between Malinga and England's Ryan Sidebottom I wonder? Four for De Villiers from the last ball of the over.
4:03pm 13th over: Four more from the big-hitting Gibbs who's getting into his stride at last. That's the fifty partnership too.
Your emails - Bazza's unimpressed by your prediction Anne - he says England have three main problems: "1) lack of quality at the highest level in T20 2) lack of 'pressure cooker' experience and 3) expectation - the team simply buckle under the pressure."
They sound like three quite big problems Bazza, are they just the "main ones"?
3:58pm 12th over: A neat little sweep shot from Gibbs goes for four runs.
3:55pm 11th over: We're over halfway into SA's reply and they're nowhere near the halfway point in the run-chase. Their run-rate is below 4-an-over.
Another sharp dropped chance at cover - Dilshan the guilty party this time. What is it they say? "Catches win matches?" Sri Lanka had better hope not.
3:52pm 10th over: Farveez Maharoof joins the attack, from the Pavilion End. And is promptly hit for four by Gibbs.
Powerful hitting from the Proteas batsman.
Send us your emails - Ah and there's our India-supporting friend Bazza on the email too. He says South Africa are his tip for the title - after India, of course!
What do you think? Write to us at Live@Lords.org.
3:48pm 9th over: Veteran all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya on at the Nursery End.
Send us your emails - Anne has. She says both teams have a batting problem and that England will win it. Optimism indeed. As an Englishman myself Anne, I hope you're right!
3:45pm 8th over: More singles this time - better stuff from Thilakaratne.
3:41pm 7th over: Just singles from that over from Mendis. Thilakaratne went for nine from his first over - the South African's like the look of him more, clearly.
3:36pm 6th over: You just don't drop players like Gibbs... this is the man who hit six sixes in an over. Sri Lanka may live to regret that dropped catch.
Isuru Udana Thilakaratne on at the Pavilion End - at just 21-years-old, a relative novice. He may have to get used to that... as De Villiers smacks him for four.
3:33pm 5th over: Ajantha Mendis comes on to bowl from the Nursery End.
That's in the air! Surely it's out! No, it's down! Another drop to Maharoof... that one was very catchable... Gibbs survives again!
3:29pm 4th over: Gibbs strides down the wicket to Kulasekara, swings... and completely misses. Luckily for him, the ball misses his stumps too.
And now he batters that one straight at Maharoof at square leg - who cannot quite hold the catch. It was hit very hard. Gibbs plays and misses from the last ball of the over too - but the status quo remains in place.
3:24pm 3rd over: Loud applause from the many Sri Lanka fans, mostly in the Compton Stand here at Lord's - they didn't have much to cheer when watching their team bat but the bowlers have started very well.
If you're wondering: AB de Villiers? Abraham Benjamin.
Malinga's getting the "high-jumpers clap" - slow at first, building to a crescendo as he bowls. They want to see him crank up the pace.
3:20pm 2nd over: Nuwan Kulasekara will bowl from the Pavilion End - he's ranked as the number one one-day bowler in world cricket at the moment.
And that's why - second ball of the over and he's got Kallis LBW.
South Africa 7-2 - Kallis LBW b. Kulasekara - 2
Perhaps we did underestimate the Sri Lanka attack. Two wickets in the first two overs means they are very much still in this match.
3:11pm 1st over: First over - Malinga to bowl it.
The digital ad boards in front of the Pavilion have gone haywire... streaky blue and green flashes on there now. Odd. At least the colours are consistent with the teams though!
Two extras to the tally already - two no balls from Malinga and in one over he's equalled the entire SA attack's tally.
He's got a wicket though! Smith's gone, caught at third-man.
South Africa 5-1 - Smith c. sub b. Malinga - 1
Another no ball from Malinga and, ad board problems included this has been an eight minute over - an enternity in T20 terms!
3:10pm Sri Lanka's bowling and fielding is going to need to be good. SA need just 110 to win - 5.5 runs an over is very achievable for this talent-packed Proteas team.
Just looking at the official scorecard - the South Africa attack were pretty miserly. Only two extras (1 wide and 1 no ball) in the whole innings. Very good indeed.
3:06pm In the absence of South Africa or Sri Lanka fans - how about you England fans? I know you're out there... looking forward to this afternoon's match?
Chris Gayle absolutely slayed the Ireland attack yesterday - can England continue their Test and One-Day dominance of the Windies?
Send us an email: Live@Lords.org
3:01pm Where are you then Proteas fans? You must be pleased with that? Can your team lift the trophy here at Lord's on the 21st June?
Send us an email: Live@Lords.org
Sri Lanka fans - are your team just keeping their powder dry for the tournament-proper? Or should we expect fireworks from your bowling attack?
Send us an email: Live@Lords.org
Sri Lanka close on 109-9
2:52pm 20th over: Last over of the innings and it's our friend "Johannes" Morkel again, from the Pavilion End.
Oh dear, Mathews got caught by that one - literally. It looped high, high in the air and Morkel takes the catch from his own bowling.
Sri Lanka 97-9 - Mathews c&b A. Morkel - 27
It's all or nothing for the last two Sri Lanka batsmen - Kulasekara goes for "all" and launches Morkel in the Grand Stand for six!
2:49pm 19th over: More nudges and singles from Sri Lanka - almost as if they seem content with around 100 runs, there seems to be no urgency. Perhaps they're supremely confident in the bowling attack - albeit one temporarily bereft of a rested Murali.
2:44pm 18th over: Three overs left... 18 balls - can Sri Lanka make this decent and get up above 100 runs?
That's a good start from Kulasekara - who rocks back to cut that one through the covers for four runs.
Kulasekara's living on a knife edge - he's almost run out twice, but somehow survives.
And Sri Lanka will be glad he did with hitting like that - he leans back and almost effortlessly lifts Parnell into the Mound Stand seats for six.
2:38pm 17th over: Dale Steyn is back at the Nursery End - another wicket-flurry from him could effectively end this match.
Boucher almost has Mathew's run-out, but a diving Mathews just makes his ground.
2:33pm 16th over: Fast-medium bowler Wayne Parnell returns at the Pavilion End and promptly has Maharoof caught out.
Maharoof - who was going for a big six - was caught by Duminy who was standing right on the square-leg boundary.
Sri Lanka 75-8 - Maharoof c. Duminy b. Parnell - 11
2:30pm 15th over: A clipped boundary for four from Maharoof takes him into double-figures and helps the Sri Lanka scoring rate recover - edging up towards 5 an over now.
2:27pm 14th over: Here comes Johannes again... and there's the first four in what seems like an age. Mathews picking Morkel up over mid-wicket.
And straight down the ground for four more - much to Morkel's dismay. Suddenly the Sri Lanka batsmen look awake.
2:23pm 13th over: Roelof van der Merwe on at the Nursery End. It's not too late for you to come up with an inventive (and easier to type!) nickname for the South Africa left-arm slow bowler.
Another interesting aside for you - Albie Morkel is showing on the scoreboards as "J. Morkel" - his full name? Johannes Albertus Morkel. His Dad's name? Albert. Little brother Morne's also in the South Africa squad.
2:18pm 12th over: Albie Morkel returns to the attack from the Pavilion End.
50 up for Sri Lanka from just over 11 overs - the run-rate a smidgen above 4 an over... far from earth-shattering.
2:16pm 11th over: A smattering of singles for Sri Lanka there who'll be thankful for every wicketless over they can manage at the moment.
2:10pm 10th over: Seventh wicket down as De Saram goes for a big hit but just lofts it to Graeme Smith who takes a simple catch at mid-off.
Sri Lanka 44-7 - De Saram c. Smith b. Kallis - 5
This could get embarassing for Sri Lanka. I hope their bowlers are in better shape than their batsmen.
2:06pm 9th over: A livener for the umpire there, as Duminy hits Taufel on the back throwing it in!
The other umpire's finger is soon in the air though - Botha's got Sangakkara LBW.
Sri Lanka 40-6 - Sangakkara LBW. b. Botha - 17
2:05pm As we approach the half-way point in the innings, half the Sri Lanka batsmen are already out - South Africa well on top.
Proteas fans - what do you think? Can you win the whole thing? Sri Lanka fans - what's gone wrong? You were many people's strong outsiders for the title - or should we wait until your bowlers get started?
Send us an email: Live@Lords.org
2:01pm 8th over: Edged... and gone! Boucher dives like a football goalie and takes a great right-handed catch. Silva's gone.
Sri Lanka 36-5 - Silva c. Boucher b. Kallis - 1
1:56pm 7th over: Another bowling change and this time it's Johan Botha who'll bowl from the Nursery End as SA switch to spin for the first time today.
Oh, messy. Jayawardene tries to "switch-hit" Botha and gets himself in a terrible mess - he completely misses it and leg stump is out of the ground.
Sri Lanka 35-4 - Jayawardene b. Botha - 3
1:52pm 6th over: Kallis replaces Parnell at the Pavilion End. The Sri Lanka batsmen take a few balls to adjust to the new bowler...
... then Sangakkara carves him away for four. The last ball of the over is in the air... but well short of the nearest fielder - the batsmen are safe and run two.
Send us your emails - you've got to help me come up with some nicknames... there has to be a quicker way to type Kumar Sangakkara... it'll help you too, it'll speed up the text-commentary!
1:48pm 5th over: Albie Morkel replaces the arch-tormentor, Steyn - almost as if Graeme Smith's taking pity on the Sri Lanka batsmen...
... that or he's saving two more overs from Steyn for the closing overs. A valiant dive from Parnell cannot prevent that four and nicely guided cut from Sangakkara.
1:45pm 4th over: Jayawardene moves off the dreaded duck (zero) with a single.
The Sri Lanka team just don't look settled though - lots of playing and missing, as if they're completely misjudging the pitch, pace or both.
1:39pm 3rd over: Steyn's got another one - a loud appeal for LBW against Jayasuriya and the umpire's finger goes up - he's out.
Sri Lanka 15-2 - Jayasuriya LBW b. Steyn - 1
Captain Kumar Sangakkara in next and he's off the mark with a single.
And now Mubarak's on the way back to the dugout! Run-out, a great bit of sharp, close-in fielding by Herschelle Gibbs.
Sri Lanka 16-3 - Mubarak run out (Gibbs) - 8
1:34pm 2nd over: I do hope you're keeping up - we've already had the first six and wicket of the day!
Wayne Parnell will bowl from the Pavilion End - he's another quick bowler, though not Steyn-fast.
Speaking of Steyn a long chase for him there to a leg-glance by Mubarak - but he cannot prevent the boundary. The first four. I wonder how many times a six has been hit before a four in T20s...?
Four more for Mubarak as he edges that one just over the slip cordon - Both and Kallis, standing alongside wicketkeeper Boucher, in case you were wondering.
1:30pm 1st over: Players and umpires on the field - looks like Steyn will open the bowling. Here we go!
What a start! Dilshan takes a couple to line him up and hits Steyn for six...
Very next ball and he just plonks a catch directly to Gibbs at point!
Sri Lanka 6-1 - Dilshan c. Gibbs b. Steyn - 6
1:25pm Team sheets are in and there goes the five minute bell.
13 players allowed today (as it's just a warm-up) Sri Lanka have: Sangakarra; Jayasuria; Dilshan; Jayawardene; Mubarak; Silva; Mathews; de Seram; Maharoof; Udana; Malinga; Kulaskekera and Mendis - no Murali!
Just 12 on the South Africa team sheet: Smith; Gibbs; Kallis; De Villiers; Duminy; Boucher; Albie Morkel; Van der Merwe; Botha; Parnell; Steyn and Ontong.
1:20pm Ten minutes until the first ball of the day. If you've never followed a match live with Lords.org before, keep an eye out for our easy-reference icons - like this one (left) for a SIX (hopefully see a lot of those today!)
Using them you can see what's happening at a glance, as you hide the live coverage when your boss walks past your desk!
Thanks to our wonderfully creative in-house design team here at Lord's for the icons. If you book an event here at Lord's they can help with everything from personalised invitations to souvenir menus and more - after all, it's not every day you host a party in the Investec Media Centre or dinner in the Long Room at Lord's.
The Investec Media Centre at Lord's 1:10pm Crikey - even the warm-ups to the warm-ups are exciting...
I'm sitting in the Investec Media Centre, reporting to you live from Lord's and I'm watching Dale Steyn rip the ball down at what looks like 100mph from up here - and about 50 yards to his right is Muttiah Muralitharan sending down the ball with more spin on it than a politician's expenses claim denials!
Murali's even giving Saffa spinner Robbie Peterson some tips by the looks of things... hope he doesn't live to regret that later! Either way - watching some of the world's best cricketers, at Lord's - it doesn't get much better than this.
You can be here too - there are tickets available on the gate (from the North Gate at Lord's) starting at £10 for under-16s and £20 for adults - four teams; two matches and 22 of the world's best cricketers... it's a bargain!
1:05pm Chalk another one up for SA - Graeme Smith won the toss and has opted to field. South Africa win the toss and choose to field.
1:04pm Captains in the middle - news of the toss when we have it...
12:52pm Round one to South Africa, who win the "entourage" battle. I count 17 green-shirted South Africa players, coaches and various hangers-on - just 14 for Sri Lanka.
12:40pm One email 'competition' we ran on Monday (in the sense there was no prize other than pride) was to come up with a nickname for a player. Some of the Sri Lanka chaps' names are a typo-trap waiting to happen.
Can you help us come up with a catchy nickname for: Nuwan Kulasekara, Mahela Jayawardene and the rest (squad list to the right).
The South Africa squad list doesn't offer much encouragement either... any ideas for: Roelof van der Merwe?
Send us an email: Live@Lords.org.
12:30pm Good afternoon everyone, as the venerable Mr. Richie Benaud would say. Just under an hour until the start of the first match today - Sri Lanka v South Africa and already the outfield is awash with colour as the Proteas, in green and the Sri Lankans, in blue are warming-up.
Stay with Lords.org for all the latest match action live from The Home of Cricket - as the ICC World T20 warm-up matches continue. To come at 5:30pm: England v West Indies.
Where are you watching the match from? Send us a "hello" email: Live@Lords.org.
11:15am Gates open at Lord's in 15 minutes... and the match starts at 1:30pm.
Our live coverage starts at 12:30pm - join us then for all the action, live from Lord's.
England v West Indies follows, starting at 5:30pm again, live over-by-over direct to you from The Home of Cricket.
Chewing your nails to see how your team perform? Or just sizing up the players for your Fantasy Cricket team - either way, drop us an email to Live@Lords.org - we'd love to hear from you.
