Pakistan cricket’s store of surprises never seems to diminish. Ahead of the finale of the exciting one day series between Pakistan and South Africa in Dubai, Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider was reported missing from the team’s hotel. It was later
revealed that he had said nothing at all about his sudden departure, reportedly for the United Kingdom, but had only left a cryptic message on Facebook, saying he had received threats after guiding Pakistan to victory in the 4th One Day International.
However, Pakistan then made two changes, apart from Zulqarnain who was replaced by Umar Akmal, bringing in Mohammad Yousuf and Shahzaib Hassan in place of Asad Shafiq and Imran Farhat. South Africa brought in Lonwabo Tsotsobe for Wayne Parnell and Robin
Peterson for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Miller-c53105.
Amid the chaos that reigned in the Pakistani camp, Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat. Hashim Amla continued his absolutely astonishing run of form, scoring three boundaries off Shoaib Akhtar’s first over. Smith did look a little unsettled at the
crease from the start, and his tenure was ended when he chipped a Shoaib Akhtar slower ball to mid-off for only 14. Amla, however, carried on flaying the Pakistani bowlers stylishly, getting to his 50 off just 33 balls. He also passed 1,000 ODI runs for the
calendar year before holing out to Akhtar at long-off for 62 runs.
Kallis took on the mantle of scoring quickly, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 struggled against some good accurate spin bowling, particularly by Abdur Rehman who bowled his quota of 10 overs for only 33 runs. Kallis’ and de Villiers partnership yielded 121 runs in
total, Kallis looking in supreme touch all along, while de Villiers too after some initial jitters came into his own and scored a brisk 61.
Pakistan did take a few quick wickets, those of Kallis, de Villiers and Ingram within the space of two overs that looked to have rocked South Africa back. Duminy and Botha then stepped in to make sure South Africa did get to the big score that was always
on the cards, with a quick partnership of 89 that saw Duminy score 59 off 41 deliveries, while Botha lent him a good supporting hand with his 28 off 26 balls, propelling South Africa to a potentially match-winning total of 317 for 5.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahzaib-Hasan-c2488 did start the innings in a positive frame of mind.
Both played good shots on both sides of the wicket to give Pakistan a flying start of 82 in 12.2 overs before Shahzaib’s dismissal for 39. Pakistan looked to have gained a solid platform through their two openers, but then the team pressed the self-destruct
button which they seem to press quite often these days.
Within the space of almost 5 overs and just 19 runs, Pakistan had slid from a good-looking 82 for 1 to a sorry 101-4, their undoing being some rubbish shots by the experienced duo of Younis and Yousuf and then by Fawad Alam. Meanwhile Hafeez was going along
at a good rate and had gotten to his fifty at almost a run a ball, having played some remarkable shots en route.
Mohammad Hafeez was next to go in the startling nosedive of the Pakistani innings. He holed out to Kallis at long-on off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Johan-Botha-c67173 for a well made 59, denting Pakistan’s slim hopes of chasing down the huge target even further.
Afridi played his usual swashbuckling knock, disregarding the situation and the team’s position completely. He scored 24 off 25 balls which included a six and a four, and was stumped off Peterson’s bowling while going for a huge one, leaving Pakistan in
even more trouble at 166 for 6.
After that it was never practically possible for Pakistan to come near the target, even though Umar Akmal and Razzaq’s partnership of 60 from 59 balls did give Pakistan some hope, but once Umar Akmal was out after scoring a brilliant 60 it was only a matter
of time before the innings folded. The last three wickets fell inside 3 overs for 15 runs and Pakistan’s were all out for 260 in 44.5 overs.
Although Pakistan did show some good fight and the series was not the walk in the park for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
But Pakistan team need to do some serious soul-searching if they are to mount a challenge for the upcoming World Cup. South Africa on the other hand would be very pleased with the effort of their team, which comprises of a good mix of young and experienced
players, but they too need to work on some aspects of their game before the World Cup, especially their death bowling which always seems to fold under pressure.
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