Pakistan save the First Test on the final day
South Africa has everything working for them as Pakistan will have a mountain to climb to save the first Test match on the fifth day.
South Africa’s innings was marked by impressive centuries from Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis. Kallis and Amla made a record stand of 242 runs against Pakistan. Their innings took the game away from Pakistan, who once had an outside chance to win the Test
match.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 early in order to chase a lower score in their second innings. Unfortunately, this was not bound to happen for Pakistan. Pakistan now has to chase a mammoth total of 451 and has already lost
2 vital wickets.
South Africa resumed their innings at 139-2 with Kallis (32*) and Amla*(44*) at the crease. The pitch was looking good to bat on as it did not provide much assistance to the seamers. Even the early movement was of not that level as it was on the second day,
when Umar Gul exploited the conditions.
With both batsmen in top form, there were no surprises when both of them made big totals. South Africa already had managed a lead of 271, and with still 8 wickets in hand one would have expected that they would go for a high target.
Things from the start of the morning were not looking good for the Pakistanis as the Proteas batsmen played their bowlers with ease. Kallis was particularly aggressive with the bowlers as he was in the mood for some quick runs. Kallis resumed his innings
with a six off Saeed Ajmal.
South Africa set the tone for the 4th day with some confident batting and it soon gave the signal to the opposition that it would be difficult to get them out. Amla, who is in the form of his life was also scoring with ease and never looked in
any sort of discomfort.
Umar Gul, who took vital wickets for Pakistan in South Africa’s first innings, was not that effective in the second innings. Both the batsmen started to play Umar Gul with confidence and scored a number of boundaries off him.
Hashim Amla started the day on 44* and struck his second ball of the day for a four, pushing his score closer to fifty. He reached his 50 from 104 balls with 5 fours.
Hashim Amla has been playing brilliantly throughout this year and has scored a number of prolific hundreds.
Pakistan soon realized that they have to be a bit defensive to stop the run flow. But for Pakistan’s sake no bowler was able to restrict the batsmen as both of the batsmen scored freely, increasing the total to a level where it would become unreachable for
Pakistan.
When Amla was on 58 he survived a leg before appeal from Ajmal as replays showed the ball would have hit leg stump. Kallis on the other hand was also busy in compiling runs. He played with a lot of maturity was also busy hitting boundaries in every second
over. Kallis was quite harsh on Ajmal in particular and scored a number of boundaries off his bowling.
Kallis reached his fifty from 96 balls with 3 fours and 1 six. In the 69th over Kallis cut loose when he took Ajmal’s bowling to the cleaners. He scored 16 runs off one over with 1 six and 2 fours.
Both the batsmen were looking settled and were picking easy singles off the bowlers. None of the Pakistani bowlers looked threatening and they bowled with an intention to contain the batsmen.
Amla reached his 11th hundred with 190 balls and hit 10 fours. In the next over Kallis reached his 36th hundred off 185 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes. The major characteristic of Amla’s and Kallis innings was that they made the second
highest partnership for any wicket against Pakistan. They had a stand of 242 runs and it really took the initiative away from Pakistan to be able to chase a reasonable target.
With the score at 318 South Africa declared their innings with both the batsmen still at the crease. They declared 40 minutes before tea, giving Pakistan a difficult target of 451 to chase
Pakistan started their chase in a normal manner. In order to survive the rest of the days play they had to bat with responsibility and had to stay at the wicket.
For Pakistan the start of their innings was marked by some confident shots from Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar. But more than anything else they needed a partnership and a stay at the wicket from their top batsmen.
With the score at 41 they lost Hafeez, who was caught in the slips by Botha off the bowling of Steyn. He made 34 runs off 47 balls. It was another boundary filled innings from the right hander as he managed 5 fours.
Azhar Ali again showed his temperament and technique as he played with cautioun and with intent to stay at the wicket.
In the 32nd over Taufeeq Umar, who was successful in occupying the wicket, drove a ball from Botha that took an edge and was caught brilliantly by Kallis in the slips. He made 22 runs but he was patient and successful in playing a lot of balls.
Botha bowled beautifully as he was able to get some bounce and also managed to trouble the batsmen. At the end of days play Pakistan were 109-2 with Azhar Ali (37*) and Younis Khan (11*) still present at the wicket. Pakistan would have to be patient and
professional in their approach if they are interested in saving the Test match on the final day.
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