The match that was - SA vs Sri Lanka

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2pm:

Toss - Biff wins the toss and opts to bowl. He's getting better at winning the toss, that's two on the bounce now.

Good afternoon and welcome to SuperSport Park, were men are men and women, well, they run the place actually. I haven't seen Northerns CEO Elise Lombard yet, but no doubt she's wandering around nervous as a very nervous thing ahead of today's opening match of the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy between South Africa and Sri Lanka.

A sold-out crowd is expected, oh, wait, there's Elise and she's smiling broadly, and so she should be. The sky is blue, the temperature is just right for selling loads and loads of beer and other girly drinks - although I saw too boys in dresses outside the stadium secreting bottles of hard tack about their persons in an effort to enliven their senses and make 50-over cricket seem exciting.

There has been a lot talk about the future of 50-over cricket, but the crowd is building up nicely, the music is at a respectable level and Derek Alberts of SuperSport an Talk Radio 702 has arrived, flashing the most enduring smile in broadcasting today. Gosh, it's awfully bright, that smile.

The South Africans and the Sri Lankans are out in the middle warming up, with Dale Steyn looking in particularly fine nick. He's hit the single stump he's been bowling at twice on the trot. Jacques Kallis is looking trim and fit, having shed 8kg during the winter, which means he spent a lot of time in the gym and the showers, where he used even more Sanex, thus keeping a sponsor very happy. Graeme Smith is also a lot slimmer, as are Mark Boucher and Mickey Arthur. Pie shops in Cape Town are going out of business as we speak.

2.20pm:

Just 10 minutes away from the first ball, although we may be a little late as some drummers have invaded the field... no, wait, they're official "Reliance Mobile" drummers. There are no less than nine sponsors names painted on the field. Almost as much paint as grass on the park. Thankfully, there will be no opening ceremony as such. There are two rather large bouncers standing either side of the trophy.

2.29pm:

South Africa had huddled, they've cuddled and now they're ready to play. Dale Steyn to take the new cherry against Tillakaratne Dilshan. And off we go. If you want to mail me, feel free on [email protected]. Or on twitter (KevinMcCallum).

WICKET! Jayasuriya lbw Steyn 10. SL: 16/1

Steyn gets one to pitch middle and leg and hit him rather dead in front of the off stump. Sanath was expecting another short ball after Steyn had bounced him. Good stick to get as he had belted Wayne Parnell, on from the Hennops River End, for two consecutive fours. Admittedly, they were pies. An email in from Dan Cockett who asks/demands: "Why dont you just concentrate on the cricket instead of trying to copy the drivel which the BBC website always dishes up when commentating, via the internet, on a cricket game?" Because, Dan, drivel is what makes the world go round.

10th over update. Sri Lanka 70/1. Dilshan 33. Sangakkara 23

Sri Lanka ticking along at a decent rate, although they've been helped by the, ahem, "drivel" from Parnell, who has struggled and has gone for 39 from his five overs. Kallis is on for Steyn from the grandstand end and after taking a little bit of pain in his first over (11 runs) is looking accurate. Question in from Carl Reeders from KZN: "Do you mind if I ask you, why you think they call GS, Biff? Always wondered? If he is Biff then surely Kallis is Stiff?" Hmmm, I can see where you're going with this. If South Africa lose is it because they are iffy? Will Biff be miff? Consensus in the press box is that it's because he looks like a "Biff" and his surname is "Smiff".

15th over update. Sri Lanka 105/1. Dilshan 63. Sangakkara 26

Sri Lanka are looking rather comfortable. Dilshan went to his 50 with a lofted cover drive off the back foot for four from Albie Morkel that was sublime. His 50 took a sensible 38 balls and included 11 boundaries. To annoy Morkel yet further he no-balled and from the subsequent free hit was smashed by Dilshan for the first six of the match to bring up the Lankan 100. They're ticking along at seven to the over. Johan Botha has been brought on for Morkel.

20th over update. Sri Lanka 127/1. Dilshan 73. Sangakkara 38

Spin at both ends for South Africa now, with Roelof van der Merwe and Botha. It's slowed the Lankans down a smidgeon. There were some harsh words spoken at the drinks break, particularly after Botha managed to overstep and give away a free hit. Yup, that's right, he overstepped at walking pace. Dilshan tried to switch hit it, but only got one. My thanks to Fergus Payne, who mails to say: :Some might say that (what you write) is a tad juvenile but I think that is what appeals to me." Cheers Fergus. Juvenile is sooooo much better than drivel.

25th over update. Sri Lanka 150/1. Dilshan 81. Sangakkara 49

The spin twins are working quite sweetly in tandem here. Run rate is still at a dangeous six to the over at the halfway stage. Van der Merwe changing his pace up nicely and has gone for just 16 runs off his five overs. In other news, Jaque Fourie's four-week ban has been reduced by just one week."Justice for Jaque" armbands anyone?

WICKET! Sangakkara c&b Duminy 54. Sri Lanka 174/2.

Sangakkara chips a dolly back to JP Duminy and flings his bat to the ground in a fury. It was a dismissal softer than a down pillow. It was softer than Jaque Fourie's tackle on Nonu... well, maybe not. It came the very next ball after Dilshan got a deserved ton (87 balls, 15x4, 1x6).

WICKET! Dilshan c Morkel b Steyn 106. Sri Lanka 181/3, 29.1 overs. Lanka 174/2.

Biff turns to Steyn and he repays him with the big fish of Dilshan, who tried to play a lofted flick, but only managed to float it to Morkel on the boundary. A great knock by Dilshan, his third ODI ton, coming from 92 balls with 15x4, 1x6. Steyn is on fire and his next delivery is a 144km/h bouncer that frightens Tilan Samaraweera. Gosh, there was a lot cricket and little drivel in that last posting.

30th over update. Sri Lanka 181/3. Thilan Samaraweera 0, Jayawardene 3

South Africa get a foot in the door of a match that was being closed quite firmly on them. Two quick wickets and there are few more smiles in the crowd and even Mickey Arthur looks relaxed. Emil Hugo writes: "I?d just like to say thanks for the updates. No TV or radio at work. Personally I like the comments. It sounds a lot like the k@k my mates and I chirp each other." K@k, Emile? Mate, haven't you been listening? It's drivel, and juvenile drivel at that.

35th over update. Sri Lanka 204/3. Samaraweera 10, Jayawardene 13.

Van der Merwe has just finished his 10 overs, all of which he bowled on the trot. He went for just 42 runs, as economical with runs as Tito was with cutting the repo rate today. Yup, Tito decided not to change it.

40th over update. Sri Lanka 234/3. Samaraweera 18, Jayawardene 35.

Parnell is back on, and now so is Morkel. Wonder if I should go and move my car from the rugby field? Will it be safe? Wait until the Agriforum find out that there are big signs here that read "Centurion, Tshwane ". Will court orders follow?

43.1st over update. Sri Lanka 258/3. Samaraweera 29, Jayawardene 47.

The sightscreen is causing all sorts of mayhem here and keeps flicking to the sponsor's names instead of black. A blanket is being dropped over the top of the screen now. This would never have happened at the Wanderers...

45th over update. Sri Lanka 280/3. Samaraweera 34, Jayawardene 62.

I can see another question for the next edition of the Penguin Book of South African Sports Trivia (by, ahem Kevin McCallum and David O'Sullivan - in all good book stores now) after the 45th over. "Which batsmen was caught twice in two consecutive balls, but was still not out?" "Samaraweera at SuperSport Park on September 22." First Parnell has him caught by the Sanex Kid off a no ball, and then he's caught by Biff off the free hit. Then Parnell doesn't manage to get the run out completed. It's not been a good day for Parnell. The 100 partnership comes up between the Samaraweera and Jayawardene, and Steyn is called back in by Biff. Time to bring the heat. 340 is on here.

WICKET! Jayawardene c Duminy b Parnell 77 (61b 8x4 1x6). Sri Lanka 297/4, 46.3

Jayawardene mistimes a fullish delivery from Steyn and Duminy takes a catch at extra cover. Hope springs eternal.

WICKET! Samaraweera c van der Merwe b Parnell 37 (47b 1x4 0x6). Sri Lanka 297/5, 46.4

You wait all day for a wicket and two come along in no time. Parnell's on a hat-trick now after Samaraweera got a leading edge and Van der Merwe caught him running in from third man. The hat-trick ball is only just negotiated by Mathews, who also got a leading edge. The Lankans go to 300 runs, 340 is still on.

WICKET! Kandamby c Duminy b Parnell 6 (5b 1x4 0x6). Sri Lanka 314/6, 48.6

Parnell gets his third wicket off the last ball of his 10 overs. He went for 79 runs. The final Sri Lankan batting powerplay ends, with them scoring 46 and losing three sticks in the five overs.

WICKET! Kulasekara run out Steyn/Van der Merwe 1 (1b 0x4 0x6) Sri Lanka 317/7, 49.4

Van der Merwe gets to the ball on the bounce and gets in a quick throw to Steyn who thumps the stumps apart.

WICKET! Mathews b Steyn 15 (14b 0x4 0x6) Sri Lanka 319/8, 49.6

Steyn arrows in a yorker that Mathews can't play and his leg stump is knocked back. That's the innings. Steyn reckons Dilshan is a "tough batsman", which is no small exaggeration after his fine ton here. I'll be back after what smells like curry for dinner for the South African innings.

SOUTH AFRICAN INNINGS. Biff and Hashim Amla stride out, with Biff taking first strike off Malinga the Slinger. Biff gets a big thick edge off him for the first boundary. Six off the first over. Thus it begins.

WICKET! Amla b Mathews 2 (9 balls) 2.6. South Africa: 9/1

Amla gets a hint of a ball outside off and has a bit of a slash, and drags it on to his off stump. It's gone all quiet in Centurion, but the volume picks up as Jacques the Lad heads towards the middle.

5th over update. South Africa: 18/1. Smith 14, Kallis 1

Biff timed a sweet four through leg, one of his favourite shot, while Kallis hit a delightful square drive for not a lot. You have to love watching these two bat. At the beginning of the fifth over, Kallis eases Kulasekara for four through the covers.

10th over update. South Africa: 61/1. Smith 40, Kallis 19

Biff and the Sanex Kid are fairly romping along here. Their 50 partnership came up in 44 balls with 9x4 and one flat six from Biff that was effortless. If the slashed, double-step four didn't alert Sri Lanka to Biff's intentions, then nothing will. Kallis has stood and delivered through the covers.

WICKET! Smith b Mendis 58 (44b 9x4 1x6) 14.1. South Africa: 90/2

Mendis trundles in and Biff plays all around his first ball, which smacks into the leg stump with a surprising amount of force. Biff looks bemused, but the legbreak has skidded on, hit his pad and then the stumps. Ovaries all over the place are twittering - AB de Villiers is at the wicket.

20th over update. South Africa: 113/2. Kallis 41, De Villiers 12

It's gone a little quiet out in the middle, a strange buzz hovers over the stadium...

WICKET! Kallis c Mathews b Mendis 41 (48b 4x4 0x6) 20.3 South Africa: 113/3

Oh, that's why. Kallis is caught superbly at mid-off by Mathews off Mendis. He lunged a bit at it, did Kallis.

WICKET! Duminy b Mendis 0 (1b) 20.4 South Africa: 113/4

Duminy is, as was his skipper,m also done by the flipper, hanging his bat out to block and getting an inside edge on to his stumps. Big trouble for South Africa now. Bouch is in and that jaw looks pretty set.

25th over update. South Africa: 136/4. De Villiers 22, Boucher 13

At the halfway point South Africa are definitely behind the eight ball here. Sri Lanka were at 150/1 at the same stage, but, then, South Africa's batting does go down to 10 with Roelof van der Merwe, plus there's that Albie Morkel fella still to come and Johan Botha. Wayne Parnell can swing the bat a little... hope... springs...eternal...

WICKET! De Villiers c Jayawardene b Malinga 24 (38b 0x4 0x6) 26.2 South Africa: 142/5

Er, about that hope that springs eternal. De Villiers is too early on the shot, a swing across the line, gets a top edge and gives up an easy catch. AB, the captain will be wanting a word with you...

30th over update. South Africa: 160/5. Boucher 25, Morkel 10

It's raining heavily in Joburg, apparently, and the weather is on its way to Centurion. Streaks of lightning fork across the sky over SuperSport Park. South Africa are miles behind on the Duckworth and Lewis calculations, though... Oh, a fight breaks out in the crowd on the left grass embankment as I look at it, and the police move in quickly to sort it out. Perhaps if they could take Malinga away as well...

WICKET! Boucher lbw b Mathews 26 (29b 2x4 0x6) 31.2 South Africa: 163/6

Bouch shakes his head after Taufel sticks him leg before to Mathews, but the ball does just hit him in line, no matter that he had shuffled to his right, exposing his stumps and was a fair way down.

35th over update. South Africa: 184/6. Morkel 20, Botha 13

Required run rate has kicked up past 9.1 now and South Africa are stuck on 5.3. Biff and Mickey look glum in the changerooms.

WICKET! Botha c Mathews b Malinga 21 (20b 4x4 0x6) 35.6 South Africa: 198/7

After three boundaries in an over, Botha clips Malinga neatly to mid-off. The wind is gusting across the ground now. Roelof van der Merwe gets a big cheer as he walks in, but it will take some doing for him to win this.

RAIN! South Africa 206/7

After 37.4 overs the rain finally arrives from Joburg and the umpires take both sides off. South Africa need to be on 261/7 to win this and they are some way short of that. This looks like it's all over.

THEY THINK IT'S ALL OVER! AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS

A decision was expected to be taken a little later, but the South African team as already just been inside the Sri Lankan changing room and have shook hands with their opponents. That appears to be that.

SRI LANKA WIN!

A 55-run win to Sri Lanka on the Duckworth and Lewis system. South Africa need to win their two games to make sure of a semifinal. I will be back with you on Thursday, same place, different time, starting at 9.30am. Good night and good luck.