After Razzaq’s bombshell of an innings stole victory for Pakistan in the second ODI and tied the series 1-1 on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, the third match in the series between Pakistan and South Africa was held in the Dubai International Stadium, which did make
it worthwhile to watch.
For South Africa, Jacques Kallis was back in the team, while Captain Graeme Smith had to sit on the sidelines with his finger injury. Rusty Theron was also picked as a specialist death bowler in place of Charl Langeveldt.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, the newly announced test captain was dropped on the basis of poor form and opener Imran Farhat was picked in his place. If a player is being dropped on form in
his 4th match since he made his comeback, what does that say about his appointment as the country’s Test captain is a question only the selection committee can answer.
However, Shahid Afridi again won the toss and decided to bowl first on a new pitch at the Dubai International Stadium. On a slow pitch, Shoaib Akhtar showed some of his bite and venom of old, getting Kallis out early with a beautifully disguised slow ball.
Not long after Colin Ingram too fell to Shoaib, popping another slower delivery back to the bowler, with South Africa sliding to 15 for 2 in the 5th over. The partnership between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887, and now-scoring-runs-for-fun Hashim Amla gave the
South Africans a semblance of stability for a bit before de Villiers was snapped up http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JP-Duminy-c1742 with Amla started to consolidate and did so well for a good part of almost 11 overs before he two threw away a start getting out to Hafeez for 26 with the score at 116 for 4.
Worryingly for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, while Amla stood like a rock at one end, wickets continued to tumble at the other, some good disciplined bowling by Hafeez, Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Akhtar saw them lose 5 wickets for only 126 runs at one point. Albie Morkel, Captain
Johan Botha, and the tail enders however hung around long enough to let Amla get to his century, he eventually scored a brilliant 119 off a 126 balls and remained not out, with South Africa managing 228 for 9 in 50 overs.
Shoaib Akhtar was brilliant for Pakistan, picking up 3 wickets and showing everybody that he still has it in him to perform at this level, while Hafeez and Wahab Riaz provided him fine support.
Pakistan set about to chase the seemingly easy target in a watchful manner, but the opening partnership again proved to be about as stable as a candle in the wind, Hafeez falling after making just 4 when the score was 12 in the 6th over. Younis
Khan’s early dismissal in the over after that left the middle order rattling. Youngster Asad Shafiq and Imran Farhat then came together for a good partnership of 85 runs that slowly but surely dragged Pakistan back into the match. Both batsmen were slow and
cautious to start with, although it had much to do with the situation and the slowness of the pitch.
As the partnership progressed and Pakistan looked set to take the upper hand in the game, within the space of 5 and a half overs Pakistan lost three wickets, the two set batsmen falling to needless run outs while the Pakistani captain Afridi playing a typical
whirlwind innings of 7 from 5 balls that did predictably include a vicious six.
The responsibility then again fell on the lower middle order, but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421 was not able to repeat his heroics of the last game making only 18 and Zulqarnain could also manage only 11.
However there was still a twit in the tale, with Wahab Riaz dispatching the South African bowling to all parts of the ground in an 11-ball innings of 21, and Fawad Alam also hit a few boundaries.
Riaz’s dismissal with the score at 209 brought Saeed Ajmal to the crease, who got bogged down scoring only 2 off 8 deliveries before getting out, and putting too much pressure on Fawad.
In the end Pakistan needed four of the last ball with Shoaib Akhtar on strike but could get only one as they fell short by a mere 2 runs. Fawad Alam remained not out with a solid 59 of 67 balls.
Pakistan team’s performance despite the loss should give the management some heart.
The young players are finally starting to play well and if they keep working on the same lines, they will soon be transformed into a winning unit.
Tags: