2014 .. A year to enjoy

Been having a break, after a lot of 'stuff' during December.

Poker in Macau, is my main focus for Jan, thou, some other things have hit my radar.

Was v sorry to see 'Trigger' from Only Fools and Horses has died, from Pancreatic Cancer. It has left me faintly stunned, as, I sat next to him, for a good bit of a Test at the Oval, and he seemed in fine spirits. Shows just what a cruel disease, cancer can be.

Managed to hit a few golf courses, and have a 92 in the books. 90 is within sight, and would be well chuffed to card it somewhere.

The casino scene in Macau, is both amazing and, frankly depressing. Its just about casinos .. being a 1hr Ferry ride from Hong Kong, thou, the delays in hotel shuttles/passprt control, make the travel time, nearer to 2 hrs. The casinos themselves, are replicas of the Las Vegas parents, with the only real difference, being the restaurants themed towards Asians, and the table limits, being 2-3 times higher.

The casinos, assign most floor space to Punto Banco, which seems to be the favoured game of the locals, with no Racing/Sportsbook, and only a token interest in providing Blackjack/Roulette/Other Table games. 2 casinos .. the City of Dreams and Wynn, have Poker Rooms, but, not many, and an average wait of 2 hrs for a game, seems the norm. They just not interested .. and u can see why, when so many 'high rollers', sit with $100k plus in front of them, playing punto banco.

I saw 30+ players, have over $200k in front of them, and this wasnt even in private High Limit areas. It, just stunning .. but, u wonder how long it can last, as, lets face it, the casino is fav.

Day 5 - Test - S.Africa v India - Kingsmead

So, the last day, of what's has been an intriguing, and highly competitive 2 match series.

The politics of why its a 2 match series, are frankly beyond me, but I do wonder, about the hold, India appears to have on World cricket.

The last day appears .. Weather wise .. V good.

Not sure of the exact amount of overs to be bowled - it must be 94 or so, will confirm in the morning.

India, currently -98/2 .. So,batting at 3 an over, probably need to see out, 70 overs or so ..

On a 5th day pitch, with S.Africa cautious about conceding cheap runs, it's an intriguing contest .. Especially as S.Africa are clearly so 'up' for it .. Being Kallis's last test.

There has been a marked move, since COP, for the home team.

The current market :

 

S.Africa 2.90

India 100

Draw 1.55

 

The India tail, has proved v fragile .. It may well come under pressure again.

 

07.00 Local

Glorious blue sky, and sun shining brightly.

Should be a full days play .. Hot, bright, with no cloud or rain.

May the best team win ...

 

S.Africa 2.42

India 150

Draw 1.70

Current deficit 98 .. 98 overs left in day.

Wkt !! 1st ball ..Steyn gets Kholi caught for 11 .. India 68-3 ..

Replays suggest he got a bad decision .. But, etc . India, DRS, etc

Steyn remover strikes again !!

Pujara goes for 32 .. India 71-4, 96 overs left, and in big trouble ..

 

 

 

India 80

S.Africa 1.44

Draw 3.2

Heavily with S.Africa ...

 

Wind prevailing from East .. Which is good for no rain .. Cloud cover thin, we should be ok, till v late.

 

Drinks .. India 91-4 .. Trail by 75, 88 overs left.

S.Africa 1.75

 

Sharma goes for 25 .. India 104-5 .. 84 overs left, trail by 60

S.Africa 1.43

 

Drinks 136-5 behind by 30 .. 76 overs left ..

Trying to think, how many India need, to be safe.

If light holds, which is likely, as wind is from east, they probably can't allow S.Africa to bat more than 20 overs. So, if u give S.Africa 100 in those 20, India need to score 130, in next 56 overs or so.

S.Africa 1.54

Dhoni plays a poor shot, and goes for 15 .. India in a heap of trouble.

India 146-6 .. Trail by 20

S.Africa 1.21

Jadeja comes in, hits a 6, then skies one .. India 154-7 ..

S.Africa 1.06

Lunch .. India lead by 7 .. 66 overs left .. 3 wkts needed ..

Weather won't help India ..

India 189-8 .. Lead by 22, 55 overs left .. Not long now ..

Drinks after lunch .. India 197-8 .. Lead by 31, 52 overs, in glorious sunshine.

S.Africa 1.05

India 204-9, lead by 43 .. 50 overs left.

S.Africa 1.02

 

India 223 all out .. S.Africa need 59 to win, in 48 overs ..

///////////////////////////

Just thinking about man of the match, and man of the series. They are both good contests ..

Not sure who I would give nod to .. Cos players have excelled in one game, nothing in another.

I think u have to give it to a S.African player .. Maybe Steyn, maybe Peterson.

Tricky

 

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Advanced weather forecasting methods

Tried and trusted :

I do wonder, what other people use .. they get some v strange results ..

Day 4 - Test - S.Africa v India - Kingsmead

A lot of the forecasts have rain in Durban, from about 2am, thru to .. Midday, then more later.

If this is remotely accurate, the game looks a stone cold draw.

They can be wrong, but, if the wind blows from the South, a result looks doubtful.

 

07.14 local..

Some rain overnight, but, not as much as feared.

Presently high cloud over ground, and roads around stadium are almost dry ..

Haven't seen ground yet, but see no reason, why they shouldn't start on time, and maybe get 50-60 overs today .. With light coming in later.

There is rain around, and if the wind shifts, it will be a problem .. So, it's maybe a gamble, but think the game might see a result - if sides play aggressively.

I have laid draw.

S.Africa 5.4

India 32

Draw 1.26 ??

 

 

 

 

Just walked past Indian cricket team having breakfast .. V.Kholi had his bat with him !! Gotta love that ..

Rain still moving away .. 1.15 till start, no reason to think they won't start on time.

Draw 1.35

Pitch uncovered .. Looks fine.

 

9.19 local .. 10 mins to start ..

Think 75 overs today, hope S.Africa bat quickly.

S.Africa 3.7

India 24

Draw 1.43

 

High thin cloud, over Kingsmead.

S.Africa can put real pressure on Dhoni, with quick runs ..but,sofar, not that many forthcoming.

Light not a problem .. And clouds high .. Expecting 75 overs + just hope someone uses them.

311-5. 92 overs left in day, trail by 23 ..Kallis on 84, hope he opens up, once he gets his ton.

S.Africa 4.1

India 44

Draw 1.35

 

Scores level .. 88 overs left, Kallis on 98 .. Clouds getting higher .. Radio has rain at mid-day .. Not for me .. But, no one really knows.

S.Africa 34

India 46

Draw 1.44

Kallis gets his 45th century .. S.Africa lead by 8 ..

S.Africa lead by 35 .. 78 overs left in day .. Getting lighter, if anything.

Draw 1.51

S.Africa 3.05

India 65

 

Drinks 11.12 .. Lead 40 .. 5 wkts left, but no real acceleration.

Clouds still high ..

S.Africa 3.85

India 50

Draw 1.38

Think S.A.have a sniff .. But, need runs, to bowl India out in 4 sessions.

Media all says they want it .. But batting doesn't always tie-in.

 

Weather fcast for tomorw, is consistently clear .. We can expect 80 overs+, so u would think, at some point, India will feel a little heat.

Kallis goes on 115 .. Good knock, but, some will say, typically slow ..

S.Africa scored 85 this morning, which is light for me. No excuses.

Lead by 50, 20 mins to lunch, 66 overs left in day.

Steyn goes .. 7 down, lead by 53

Draw 1.41

 

Cover brought out as precaution, during lunch ..

Cover goes on, light shower ..

Restart delayed by 15 mins, due to v light shower ..

Draw 1.35 .. Went to 1.31

S.africa bat aggressively after restart .. Lead by 74 .. 62 overs left, looks fairly bright.

S.Africa 3.55

India 90

Draw 1.41

Peterson with 26 off 25 .. Nice to see, after this mornings drivel.

Lead 91 .. 60 overs left.

S.Africa 3.10

India 140

Draw 1.49

Am with S.Africa, now they have stated some purpose. Weather still looks ok, and tmrrw, still clear.

 

New ball finally taken .. Or maybe, the old one, fell apart. (140 odd overs with it)

S.Africa 450-7 .. Plumb LBW not given .. 55 overs left .. Light ok .. Lead 115

S.Africa 2.82

India 150

Draw 1.56

Still with S.Africa ...

76 scored off 10 overs .. Floodlights come on .. Draw crashes to 1.43 ?

 

Drinks

472-7 .. 52 overs left, lead by 138 .. Getting uncomfortable for India.

S.Africa 3.05

India 300

Draw 1.48

 

Light is good .. I said this morning .. 75 overs + .. I haven't changed my mind.

Peterson out, 61 off 60 .. Excellent .. As light shower again .. Players go off

497-8 .. 49 overs left .. Lead 163 .. Hope delay isn't too long ..

Bugger .. Rain coming down heavier .. More covers coming on ..

Draw 1.33 .. That caught me out ..

 

Full covers coming on .. Might not get much more (any) play today ..

 

Tea has been taken .. 14-10 - 14-30 local time.

 

It's still early, so, wouldn't give up hope for more play today, but light went yesterday at 4.00 or so .. So, not really hopeful .. But, maybe .. V tricky - can't call it ..

14.33 local .. Rain stopped .. Cover wallahs assembling near middle.

Covers coming off ..

Light is v good .. I still expect 70 - 80 overs today .. Pic soon

Play starts at 3.pm

Light better than yesterday .. IMHO.

500-9 .. Not sure why Smith batting on .. Lead 166

S.Africa 3.1

India 200

Draw 1.48

500 all out .. Smithy took 5 overs out the game, for nothing ..

 

S.Africa 2.90

India 200

Draw 1.54

 

Still with S.Africa ..

 

Vern !! U beauty !!

Vijay goes for 6, from 13 .. India 8-1 .. Pressure mounts ..

S.Africa 2.36

India 300

Draw 1.75

Good game now ..

 

Some serous heat from Philander and Steyn .. 9-1 .. 31 overs left in day .. Might get 15 more

Drinks .. India 16-1 .. 26 overs left in day .. 150 behind .. Game nicely poised, but would like to see S.Africa get 1 more tonite.

S.Africa 2.55

India 250

Draw 1.63

Radio2000 comm still sucks ..

 

India 28-, trail by 138, 21 overs left in day .. Light permitting.

Morkel bowling quick, but lacks direction.

Draw 1.56

India 45-1 .. Light going .. Reading 10.2 .. Went off 9.03 .. Not long

 

Wota catch !! Faff !!

India 53-2 .. Game on !! 13 overs left in day, spinners on .. But, light enuf.

S.Africa 2.74 .. Went to 4.0 pre wkt

India 220

Draw 1.58

 

Light holding v well .. For spinners at least .. 8 overs left in day, or 23 mins

India 62-2 - deficit 104

S.Africa 3.0

India 200

Draw 1.5

 

One more, would be nice .. Only 100 behind .. Maybe, they need another 200 to Draw.

 

That's it for the day, as Smith asks to bring quicks back.

India 68-2 .. 4 overs not bowled from alloyed quota.

Draw 1.44

With S.Africa, so, book only just green .. Need some luck tmrrw ..

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Day 3 - Test - S.Africa v India - Kingsmead

Glorious start to the day .. Expecting a lot of play.

S.Africa 2.84

India 10

Draw 1.80

 

Think S.Africa are a definate back, and draw a definate lay.

 

Brisk start by S.Africa .. Mkt moving nicely for us ..some profit booked, but with S.Africa

S.Africa 94-0

S.Africa 2.4

India 17

Draw 1.9 .. Been 2.0

 

Smith goes.. S.Africa 103-1 .. Ball startingt to turn/tail .. Might be a tricky batting day.

S.Africa 3.2

India10

Draw 1.69

Drinks .. S.Africa scoring rate, slowed a bit .. And maybe some shadows on the radar, for rain, much later.

Draw dived, just before he wkt .. Can only be a weather trader .. But, it's open to interpretation.

S.Africa 3.3

India 9.8

Draw 1.65

 

Amla goes.. S.Africa 113-2 , which brings Kallis to the crease .. Big moment for him.

S.Africa 3.85

India 7.4

Draw 1.61

Book going red .. Sigh ..

Petersen goes next ball .. S.Africa 113-3

S.Africa 5.0

India 4.5

Draw 1.67

 

11.00 local .. And clouds already over the ground .. Might be a problem, earlier than I thought.

S.Africa 3.85

India 7.6

Draw 1.64

 

Drinks 11.14 local .. S.Africa 152-3 .. Trail by 182

S.Africa 3.8

India 10

Draw 1.54

Horizon is a mixture of blue and cloud .. Tricky ..

 

Lunch - S.Africa 181-3 .. Trail by 150, 61 overs left today, if weather holds.

Weather is really hard .. As a strong westerly wind, is moving v quickly.

Can't commit to anything.

S.Africa 3.3

India 13

Draw 1.58

Haven't changed book much, still with S.Africa ..

 

Quick start by S.Africa after lunch .. Going at 5 an over ..

211-3 .. 55 overs left, trail by 123

S.Africa 2.92

India 15

Draw 1.65

 

Pressing S.Africa .. Think they should be 2.5 max

 

S.Africa 222-3 .. Trail by 112, 52 overs left.

Wind dying a hit, but, some cloud - a fair bit of blue as well .. Maybe light a problem after tea ..

S.Africa 2.82

India 18

Draw 1.67

 

S.Africa 235-3 .. 47 overs left.

Radar has some rain on the way .. Maybe 2 hrs or so .. Cloud with it, so light may be problem.

 

AB Dev goes .. 240-4 .. Trail by 94, 44 overs left,new all due in 6 overs.

S.Africa 3.45

India 18

Draw 1.50

 

251-4 15 mins to Tea .. Trail by 83, but s.Africa now blocking.

Radar not looking so great for after Tea .. Not sure, anymore.

S.Africa 3.6

India 20

Draw 1.48

 

S.Africa runs dried up .. Getting darker .. As Tea approaches :

Tea : 267-4 .. Trail by 63 .. Floodlights coming on, maybe only an hr of play, left in day ..

S.Africa 3.9

India 20

Draw 1.43

Gone flat, for a small book. Lotta work, last 2 tests, with no reward.

 

Getting gloomy after tea .. No real impetus from either side.

286-4 .. 22 overs left ..

S.Africa 4.0

India 30

Draw 1.38

 

1st reading on light meter appears to be taken .. This won't be long ..

Disappointed with S.African run rate today , 2.9, for a side, apparently going for a win, just ain't good enuf.

JP Duminy out .. In a v odd passage of play .. Dhoni using slow bowlers, S.Africa send in a night watchman .. 15 overs left ..

298-5 ..

S.Africa 4.4

India 27

Draw 1.34

This all makes no sense ..

 

Light drizzle thankfully comes, to end the farce.

S.Africa 299-5 .. 14 overs short on the day .. Early start tomorrow, but, gonna need motivation for either side to win. Dhoni is happy with a draw, and it appears S.Africa are as well .. Despite what they say in media.

 

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Day 2 - Test - S.Africa v India - Kingsmead

Light issues, and some rain this morning.

Maybe delayed start.

S.Africa 13

India 6.4

Draw 1.29

 

Covers coming off .. Some blue sky !!

 

Rain seems to be passing thru, but, is hanging around the coast .. Hope wind doesn't change.

Draw 1.37

Players warming up

 

Sigh .. Rain back, covers being put back on

 

9.53 local .. Covers being removed again.

Pause in covers being removed, dunno why.

Covers go back ..

 

Gloomy .. Doesn't look too good, for now.

10.18 local ..

 

Players warming up, but, covers on, etc.cant see rain, but, light would be doubtful.

Might be a long day ..

Draw 1.20

10.32

Full covers go on,as rain comes down heavier ..

I think today is done ..

Draw 1.16

 

11.00

Still raining .. Getting lighter in distance, but no soppers even bothering .. Dunno how keen everyone is .. Maybe, a few overs, between 3pm and 4pm.

11.14 ..

Early lunch taken, at 11.30 .. Pro-active .. Getting lighter in distance.

More likely some play, in the afternoon.

11.30

Almost stopped .. Lighter in distance

Draw 1.14

11.40

Covers coming off ..

Clean-up continueing .. No sopper, so, maybe outfield not too wet.

Start 12.40

Session times : 1240 - 1510

Tea 1510 - 1530

Last session 1530 - 1800

Yesterday, players went off for light, about 1600 .. Brighter today thou.

Humid.

S.Africa 21

India 8.4

Draw 1.19

 

Steyn on a hat-trick..

India 204-4 ..

S.Africa 7.4

India 8.4

Draw 1.33 .. Went to 1.40

 

Drinks .. 13.30 local .. India 210-4

S.Africa 7.2

India 7.0

Draw 1.38

Steyn doing plenty, and not impossible India could be 300 all out.

Game needs to move on etc ..blue sky for now, but play stopped yesterday in 2 hrs time .. I think we get more play today.

Edges being found today ..new all due in two overs .. Will be key ..

 

India 234-4

S.Africa 8.6

India 7.0

Draw 1.35

 

14.24 local .. More drinks, in an extended session.

India 245-4 .. Steyn bowling great, but India hanging in.

Wind from East, which is cooling things, and pushing rain away.

S.Africa 8.8

India 7.4

Draw 1.30

Small book, which has meandered a bit ..

30 mins to Tea .. Horizon clearing .. Might play for an hr after Tea.

 

Tea - India 271-5 .. Light good.

S.Africa 8.2

India 7.4

Draw 1.34

 

It's hard to gets fix, asto which way game is going. Draw is heavily influenced by light issues/rain fcasts for tmrrw/Sun.

Am trying to lay Draw, at a good average, and buying back on wkts.

 

iPad battery dying ..not sure will post much more today.

 

Dhoni goes .. India 320-6

Lots of overs left tonite, light is exceptional.

If S.Africa can wrap up tail, then, weather for the weekend, is v important.

S.Africa 9.0

India 6.6

Draw 1.34

 

Jadeja goes cheaply .. Kallis gets 200th test catch.

India 321-7 .. S.Adrica might bat tonite ..

S.Africa 6.6

India 6.4

Draw 1.40

 

India 322-8

S.Africa 5.5

India 6.4

Draw 1.46

 

India all out for 334 .. Great bowling from Steyn and co ..

This game is no certainty to be a draw ..

 

S.Africa off to a fast start .. Seems they want to win, give India something to think about, and send Kallis off in style.

S.Africa 20-0 after 3

S.Africa 3.5 .. Been 2.8 !

India 10

Draw 1.60

 

S.Africa 34-0 ..floodlights coming on

 

S.Africa 54-0 .. 18.07 local .. Sunshine

S.Africa 4.1

India 10

Draw 1.50

 

Play extends to 6.30, and S.Africa finish on 82-0, 253 behind.

The weather for the next 3 days, is generally improving.

I am anticipating some positive sessions for S.Africa, hopefully putting them 100 ahead, with 2 days to go.

I think, S.Africa will win, easily, given another 250 overs.

S.Africa 3.20

India 12

Draw 1.63

 

Am, with the home team.

 

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2nd Test - S.Africa v India- Durban

So, after the pulsating draw in Johannesburg, we move to Durban for the decider .. In the 2 test series.

Some rain in the run-up, and been incredibly wet, generally, in the last 2 mths here, but, the forecast for the 5 days, is pretty good.

Pre-toss

S.Africa 1.94

India 5.5

Draw 3.1

 

India win toss - Kallis announces last Test game, Morkel fit, Tahir dropped.

India bat :

S.Africa 2.22

India 4.9

Draw2.88

 

Looks a Good pitch to bat on .. S.Africa will need early wkts.

Heavily against S.Africa, long India runs ...

39-0 after 12 overs

S.Africa 2.96

India 3.75

Draw 2.52

Booked some profits .. Still against S.Africa

 

52-1 after 18 .. Still hot/ humid.

S.Africa 2.58

India 4.0

Draw 2.7

Run line .. About 360

 

Lunch India 78-1 .. Fair start, on a good batting deck. Indeed, u wonder, why it's so good .. Really, it's the sort of pitch India would be used to/want.

S.Africa 2.70

India 4.0

Draw 2.5

Have levelled off a bit ..and the prices look in the ball park. Rain forecast seems to change every few hrs, but, currently, think today and tomorrow will be ok .. Would be tempted to lay the draw, should it go much lower.

 

During lunch, not sure why, but draw crashed to 2.28

S.Africa 3.25

India 3.85

Draw 2.28

Starting to lay draw ..

 

Hmm .. Draw crashing .. Rain appearing on Radar .. Might get here after Tea, maybe a little later.

Reversed Draw lay, for a loss ..

 

Drinks after lunch .. As clouds start to roll in ..but, maybe not rain till after COP.

Bad light, maybe ..

India 136-1 on a road .. Pace bowlers, getting nothing ..

S.Africa 4.6

India 3.95

Draw 1.85

Flatish .. Laying Draw small ..

 

Getting more n more gloomy .. Light coming on

India 155-1 on the road ..

Draw 1.6 .. Might go lower ..

 

Almost Tea .. India 160-1 .. Not so sure, they will come back.

 

And it gets lighter ..

60 overs in, India 181-1 ..

S.Africa 11

India 4.0

Draw 1.49

 

And they discuss again, obviously ask Smith, if he wants to use spinners, he declines, and they go off.

Light was worse at Tea .. Makes no sense .. Just a nonsense.

 

Light enter reading 9.3 , woteverthey that means. I think a 8.2 reading at wanderers, they stayed on. Have no idea, if bigger number is more dark etc ..

 

But, if they gonna use 9.3 for rest of test . It's not that dark .. They will go off, every day ..

S.Africa 12

India 4.1

Draw 1.47

 

Holiday crowd enjoying itself, running on outfield.

Umps on pitch, talking, no darker, but, not really lighter, either.

Clouds getting thicker .. This is done for today ..

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