SA V VI SHIELD GAME

[Adelaide Hawk]

268 from 61 overs is not an easy target. You need a good start, SA didn't get that. Early wickets makes a "getable target" seem miles away. You also need confidence in your ability to win, the Redbacks don't have that at this stage.

If you do get off to a good start, the fielding captain can slow things down. He is not limited by use of bowlers nor fielding placements.

The Redbacks don't have the batting line up to seriously challenge 268 from 61 overs. The other aspect is it is Round 1 of a 10 round season. By opting for the draw, they keep Victoria within touch. If it were later in the season, and outright points were necessary, then they would have approached the task differently.

Redbacks did the right thing playing for a draw, at least they could take something out of the game. It was important not to lose that game outright.

[mal]

268 OFF 61 IS HARDER THAN A O/D GAME

4th day pitch
no 5th bowler who bowls lollypops
no field restrictions
no inside circle for 15 overs
no batting powerplays
no big hitters selected like in 0/d games
better bowlers can bowl more overs

[toot toot]

not saying it would have been easy but it wasn't out of the question.

just look at India 3/308 off 64, 208 of those in 42 overs and on a 4th day wicket.

[mal]

not saying it would have been easy but it wasn't out of the question.

just look at India 3/308 off 64, 208 of those in 42 overs and on a 4th day wicket.

Lovely return of serve

[RoosterMarty]

I'm no cricket expert but I'd say India have better batsmen though.

It's also a different situation, they were so far ahead they could have forced the follow-on. Confidence was up, the Aussie bowlers are struggling, and they have a bloke named Sehwag who can turn it on very quickly.

We don't have anybody like that, if Cosgrove was playing then we may have had a sniff but it would have been stupid to go the slog and hand the Vics an easy 6 points.