14th over Commentary SA 63-0
South Africa require 115 to win from 37 overs. Amla gets a feathered inside edge and it runs through Prior's legs and races away for three. Not really a chance. Smith nurdles to mid-wicket for one before Amla swats Yardy into the covers for a single of his own. One more for Smith with a nibble to mid-on, he keeps the strike...
A slip and a forward short-leg in for Swann to Amla, who paddles for one. Two slips and a gully in for Smith - none required as Smith makes room and sprays through wide mid-off for four. Smith dabs into the leg-side for one more before Amla threads a drive through point for a few.
"If Sussex were playing a County Championship game on a pitch like this, Yardy wouldn't bowl - it would be Monty Panesar and AN Other. But here we are, with Yardy partnering Swann. I think Pietersen will have to bowl for England."
Yardy back on and Amla, playing a rather lazy cross-batted shot, is beaten outside off. Two through point for Amla and he adds one more into the covers. Leg-slip in for Smith, who tucks Yardy round the corner for a couple. Nice stop from Bell at point, saving a couple...
Another ripper from Swann, taking off and deflecting off the shoulder of Smith's bat and over the slip cordon's head. Smith climbs into the next delivery and the ball falls just short of Bresnan in the covers. Another very impish over from Swann, but no joy yet.
Iain Fenwick in the TMS inbox: "I can’t help but bathe in the joy of England’s car crash World Cup. After reading you and Vaughan and the rest of your private schoolboy crew make jokes about the opposition and act like the arrogant posh idiots you are, this is poetic justice. I hope you take a good look at yourselves and learn from your actions. Maybe you won’t be so cocky next time! Although people like you go through life like you were still at school so no-one should expect miracles. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"I don't think they've got this team right. If Tredwell's not going to play today, he's never going to play."
Amla looks in good nick, plenty of foot movement and he dances outside off and twirls Bresnan down to third-man for one. That's a good delivery, right in the slot outside off, and Smith is beaten again. Short from Bresnan and Amla piles into it, but that's a fine stop by Bopara in the covers. Amla plays wristily through point for a brace, South Africa coasting on calm seas at the moment.
From bossbeechyscoop: "ICC officials have ordered the removal of an England flag with the words 'Hackney Gas' on due to breach of advertising."
Smith with a single to mid-wicket and one more for Amla. Swanny gives it some revs next up and Smith is nowhere near it, that turned a mile. A slip and a silly-point in for Smith and he's beaten all ends up again - this one turned square, leaving Smith bent over his bat as if it's a walking stick. Good over that...
Amla swats Bresnan down to third-man for one before Smith nudges off his hip for a single of his own. Amla pulls but isn't able to time it, as Simon Hughes explains the origin of the term 'yorker' - in the 19th Century, 'to put Yorkshire on someone' meant to swindle or hoodwink, hence the term. Four for Amla - Pietersen flinging the ball in from mid-wicket, missing everything, and the ball racing away for four.
Swanny is, belatedly, into the attack. Nice ball that to the left-handed Smith, bit of drift in the flight, before England go up for a huge leg before appeal - not out, and they don't review it. Hawkeye said it would have just clipped leg stump, so they were right not to review it. Maiden over, South Africa's flow is stemmed.
"In today's other match in Bangalore, India captain Mahendra Dhoni has won the toss and asked Ireland to bat first. India are unchanged, while Ireland have recalled BBC Sport columnist Andrew White in place of Gary Wilson."
Bresnan into the attack now, can he repeat his performance against India in Bangalore? By God, England need it. Amla looks to swish a straight one to leg but is beaten, by pace if anything. Amla does pick up a single to mid-wicket, England desperately need a breakthrough...
"For pace bowlers, the trick on a pitch like this is to take the pitch out of the equation - bowl full and straight, and try to swing it late. Shaun Tait would probably be quite handy on this. Personally, I would have opened with Swann rather than Yardy."
Yardy loses his line to the left-handed Smith and is turned away for a single. Two for Amla, make that two more, Yardy being milked like a faithful old dairy cow. Two more with a crisp drive into the off-side before Amla nicks the strike... all too easy at the moment - forgive me, but isn't Swann currently the top-ranked spinner in ODIs?
From Kid_Kop: "Why is everyone blaming the scheduling? Have you seen how many matches India played leading to this World Cup?"
Tweet me @bendirs1 or with the hashtag #bbcworldcup to get involved
Smith with a thick outside edge for one before Amla twirls Anderson through point for one more. Hippish from Anderson and Smith helps it on its way for four. Too straight from Anderson, Smith turns him away again for a single.
From Dave, Gloucester: "Re: Steve in Bristol - Australia did indeed play the same number of matches. In THEIR OWN country, not half way around the world. For the most part, this squ ad had been away from home comforts for about four months, with the prospect of a further month ahead of them, with only a week or two off to help balance things. Professional or not, that's a big ask, and a lot of time to spend in each other's pockets."
Amla goes inside out to Yardy and swats him over extra-cover for four. Strauss almost got a hand to that and landed awkwardly, but I think he's alright. Amla chancing his arm, here, this time he flashes and edges for one. Slip and silly mid-off in for the left-handed Smith, who's off the mark with a clip off his pads.
Jimmy Anderson to share the new ball with Yardy. Amla gets a straight one and tries to whip off his pads, but it's fielded by the man at short mid-wicket. Anderson's final ball is down leg-side and Amla tucks him away for a single.
Hashim Amla to face Yardy's first ball and he's defending. Amla takes a risk with the second ball, flashing uppishly through the off-side for four. One more for Amla with a poke into the covers, crowd catch from Smith, it was a bump ball to short mid-wicket. A lot of emails coming in pointing out that Australia have had the same schedule as England - yeh, but in Australia, that's a big difference.
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