http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 and Pakistan go head-to-head
Pakistan suffered their third consecutive loss in the desert heat of Abu Dhabi, after losing the T20 series comfortably it was another listless batting display that caused another embarrassing defeat.
Once again it was the abject surrender of the middle-order that caused the slump as from a seemingly powerful position of 140/1 in the 31st over of the innings the Pakistanis collapsed sensationally to 203 runs and lost a great opportunity of
taking an early lead in the five match series.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 won the toss for the third time in successive games and once again opted to bat first in near perfect batting conditions.
After the early demise of Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan and Mohammad Hafeez dug in to give their team a much needed lift. The two added 114 for the second wicket before Hafeez top edged a square cut off, off-spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Johan-Botha-c67173, he scored 68.
Younis Khan then perished to a dicey lbw decision by umpire Asad Rauf. The veteran middle-order batsman was making a comeback in the national team after a fractious year hit 2 boundaries in a workman like innings of 54.
Misbah Ul Haq and Fawad Alam limped along as they attempted to resurrect the innings. However, it was not to be and within minutes the men in green had lost Misbah, captain Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Fawad Alam to leave their team reeling.
Misbah attempted an ungainly hook off Lonwabo Tsetsobe, and holed out at deep square-leg. Afridi once again failed to lead from the front as he attempted a big shot off the second ball that he faced and Tsotsobe was elated with the prized scalp. Boom Boom
ended up scoring 1 run.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421 then was deceived by a ball that seamed in sharply and a faint tickle carried to wicket keeper AB de Villiers, the all-rounder managed 2 runs.
Fawad Alam was cleaned up by Charl Langeveldt on the other end and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 had imploded spectacularly.
It was a matter of time before the tail gave in. Umar Gul 3, Saeed Ajmal 3 and Shoaib Akhtar, who clouted the only six of the innings, perished and Pakistan was bowled out for 203 in the penultimate over of the innings.
Lonwabo Tsetsobe was the destroyer in chief for the Proteas, the left armer claimed 4 wickets.
The South Africans started their chase confidently with openers Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla looking confident despite the searing pace of Shoaib Akhtar.
However, Akhtar, who failed to take a wicket in the match, sent the left hander Smith back by rapping him on the fingers with a sharp lifting delivery in the 5th over of the innings, he was on 18 at the time.
The Proteas were lifted by a spirited innings by Amla, who survived Shoaib Akhtar’s initial attack and stroked some stunning boundaries. He was dismissed by Saeed Ajmal for 35 made off only 29 balls.
Jacques Kallis and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 steadied the South African ship accumulating runs at ease. However, Kallis found the heat of Abu Dhabi too taxing for his liking and like his captain left the field after reaching 66 off 88 balls, his innings included 5
fours and 1 six.
AB de Villiers, who has been in sterling form of late made 51 runs off only 53 balls before offering the impressive Ajmal a return catch.
The young pair of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JP-Duminy-c1742 and Colin Ingram guided their team to the win with more than 10 overs left. For Pakistan Saeed Ajmal claimed 2 wickets for 42 runs, while Afridi returned impressive figures of 0/36 in his 10 overs.
The beleaguered Pakistanis have to re-group quickly as the second match of the series takes place on Sunday at the same venue.
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