SA vs Pakistan 2013

First topic message reminder :

The Pakistan tour of south Africa begins in all earnest tomorrow morning in Johannesburg, The Bull ring has had some famous mathc ups in the past, and I for one am very excited about this test series.

South Africa's test series vs Pakistan is a bit of a venture into the unknown as the last time they played in the UAE the tracks were flat enough to plant corn.

Some stats about these two nations:

Paksitan has recorded two wins out of 9 attemps in South Africa with only one match ending in a draw. I expect all three tests to produce results as both teams have rather strong bowling line ups. Although the SA batting line up has been solid over the past few years there are still some issues that needs to be sorted out. JP Peterson has recovered from his injury to the webbing of his hand. AB de Villiers in conjuntion with Gary Kirsten must make a decision regarding whether he will concentrate on his batting or keep wicket as well.

The young Quinton de Kock in my view is still a tad to inexperienced, so either Tsolikile comes in as care taker for a year or two, until de Kock is ready. The other alternative is AB sticks to his guns if CSA feels it is too little too late to consider Tsolekile as a temporary solution.

Although AB has not been great with the bat, he hasn't disappointed either.

Pakistan have a few injuries themselves and the latest to withdraw is Tafeeq Umar with Imran Farhat his replacement. Pakistan has been the model of unpredictability over the past few years, but might just have turned the conrner into more consistent performances over 2012. They seem to be a team that can run very hot when their confidence is up, and it seems that is the exact mental space they find themselves in presently.

Fortunately for the Proteas, CSA has forgone any tests in Durban this year as their very disappointing record of 4 losses in their last five test series ahs cost them a good number of series wins.

The major factor in this test series will be the strong bowling attacks of both teams.

Expect Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal to lead the bowling attack for Pakistan and Dale Steyn, Philander and Morkel to lead the South African attack.

Ajmal in 2012 took an incredible 39 wickets at an average of 20.56 in 6 tests during 2012. His series against england was perhaps the catalyst that ground the english confidence to a halt with 24 wickets in three tests. The most important question here is after not playing a test since June last year, will he hit his straps from the start?

When you look at Gul's career stats he doesn't seem very daunting, but when you consider his performance against england last year, and admittedly he hasn't played a test since Middle last year, but if he repeats those performances Pakistan might well put SA under enough pressure to get a win.

when you look at Dale Steyn's record since 2011 you might be thinking he is losing his edge. Yet still firmly ensconced at the top of the bowling rankings and have taken 52 wicket at 25.17 per wicket. If that is what steyn does when he is off form, then I'll put him in my team anyday.

Philander started his career with a bang, his first seven test got 50 wickets, then in england last year he started coming back to earth with some avergae performances, it was to be expected, yu just don't expect any bowler to continue taking a fifer every match. His figures are still very impressive, but there is a chink in his armour. Fitness, he has not yet convinced me he can stand up to the rigours of international cricket in long spells. Little niggling injuries seem to come along once every series.

when you start talking about Morne Morkel I am hoping he has a blinder this series, slowly improving his bowling, with more accurate placing in length and line, he has now managed to get his career average under 30. Centurion and Wanderers should help his bouncers.

Squads.

Pakistan.
Misbah-ul-Haq (c)
Abdur Rehman
Asad Shafiq
Azhar Ali
Ehsan Adil
Faisal Iqbal
Haris Sohail
Junaid Khan
Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Irfan
Nasir Jamshed
Rahat Ali
Saeed Ajmal
Sarfraz Ahmed (wk)
Tanvir Ahmed
Umar Gul
Younis Khan
Imran Farhat


South Africa
Graeme Smith (c)
Hashim Amla
AB de Villiers (wk)
Faf du Plessis
Dean Elgar
Imran Tahir
Jacques Kallis
Rory Kleinveldt
Morne Morkel
Alviro Petersen
Robin Peterson
Vernon Philander
Jacques Rudolph
Dale Steyn


Fixtures

February 2013
1 South Africa v Pakistan Test Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg 10:30
14 South Africa v Pakistan Test Sahara Park Newlands, Cape Town 10:30
22 South Africa v Pakistan Test SuperSport Park, Centurion 10:30

March 2013
1 South Africa v Pakistan T20I Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban 18:00
3 South Africa v Pakistan T20I SuperSport Park, Centurion 14:30
10 South Africa v Pakistan ODI Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein 10:00
15 South Africa v Pakistan ODI SuperSport Park, Centurion 14:30
17 South Africa v Pakistan ODI Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg 10:00
21 South Africa v Pakistan ODI Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban 10:00
24 South Africa v Pakistan ODI Sahara Willowmoore Park, Benoni 10:00

If Pakistan get a 50 run lead then it could be match-winning. Ajmal v South Africa in the 4th innings is going to be tasty!

SA would not want to chase more than 250.

I agree Ajmal is the key here. Whatever lead Pakistan get in the first. Innings deduct it from 250 because that is what SA must bowl apakistan out for, anything more than that and it is going to be a very tough task indeed for the SA batsmen to chase.

Yes boy! Fantastic 50 by Robbie Peterson!

Swinging the game back towards the Proteas!

Gerry SA wrote:Yes boy! Fantastic 50 by Robbie Peterson!

Swinging the game back towards the Proteas!

Shocking that he needed to do that. This is men v boys after all.

Duty281 wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:Yes boy! Fantastic 50 by Robbie Peterson!

Swinging the game back towards the Proteas!

Shocking that he needed to do that. This is men v boys after all.

We had to make a series of it...

Proteas fans not getting their money's worth with all these easy victories...

Damn you you bar stewards

South Africa once again striking with the new ball. Pakistan really need a lead of at least 300, so dig in!

It was a fabulous effort from Robin Peterson. He failed to do his job with the ball, but more than made up with the bat. He really brought South Africa back into the game, and now its a one innings shootout. Philander and Steyn provided Smith with the usual early wickets, now they should be able to make things happen with the older ball. If they let things drift, a 4th innings comeback will be all the more dificult. At tea Pakistan are 25-2, an effective lead of 37. Azhar Ali is looking good, and Younis found his touch in the first innings.
The match is really shaping up beautifully.

Excellent game of test cricket - any result possible

70/3, it's time to make your runs now as South Africa seem to struggle without the new ball. Time will tell in this innings though.

Well allSA can do now is keep things as tight as
Ossible, with 45 overs to the next new ball Pakistan can score 135 runs at 3 an over which in my view would put them in the pound seats, they will already lead by about 220 then, enough to challenge SA even if they lose all their other wickets for only a few runs.

I think SA is going to chase 313.485692345 runs here.

Pakistan 88-3. Lead reaching 100.

Interesting pattern setting in, Pakistan grind to a halt then Misbah hits a 6 to get them going again. 1 over left.

Stumps. Pakistan are 'net' 112/3. Fascinatingly poised with 2 days to go. All 4 results possible.

Streaky start for Azhar. and Misbah seems to be getting a move on. Come on lads 350-380 and four sessions, You've worked bloody hard to get here, don't let yourselves down.

Great day's play coming up. What sort of a lead would you be looking for, Shah?

250+? Surely that would be difficult for SA. Ajmal must be odds on for a 10fer.

I think against most sides I say 250 and pretty much consider it won. With Sa's batting, and awesome powerhitting when needs I'd like 350-380 if possible. I'd like to see Sa with a faint hope of winning, but with the tempting option of hunkering down for survival, that mindset can lose you a series as the english have proved. I wonder if SA can work as effectively when they arent slapping opponents aside with contempt.

Frak

Misbah out sweeping again. HIT STRAIGHT YOU FLEA RIDDEN GOAT

Ha... go easy on the compliments mate! It can be frustrating I know.

In my non-professional opinion, Pakistan are scoring far too slowly to hurt South Africa. Pick up the rate, stick the Saffers on the back foot.

I think thats the instruction that Misbah has set to the team, he hit a couple of fours this Morning I think you are right and I expect them to pick up the pace. South africa are desperate to get to that new ball.

126 more runs and I make Pakistan marginal favourites.

Too tight for me, would prefer 350ish target but 300 would do.

damn.

double damn

Asad and Ahmed out in quick succession

ShahenshahG wrote:Too tight for me, would prefer 350ish target but 300 would do.

Relax, you've got the best spinner in the World bowling on a 4th innings pitch. Hmmm...6 down now, Ali might have to put his foot down now with the new ball only 15 overs away.

7 down. Love sacks.

3 wickets in 12 balls. Game-changing and probably series-winning.

Well well well!!. Pakistan are doing, well a Pakistan. Collapsing like only they can do!. Last 3 overs, 3 wickets, and now they are 152-7!.

And another one, Philander gets 4, and Pakistan are 152-8.

8

No hat-trick for Philander then, but it was a hat-trick for South Africa. Every run crucial for Pakistan.

157-8 at lunch, overall lead of 169. A calamity of a session for Pakistan. an uncalled for sweep from Misbah, a serious stroke of bad luck combined with some good bowling from Philander accounted for Shafiq. Sarfraz was just terrible with that absolutely atrocious leave. Couple of good catches, one from AB and the other from Petersen accounted for Azhar and Gul of good balls from Philander.
It has been an excellent comeback from South Africa. First they fought from 109-5 and ended up scoring 326 in the first innings, and now the bowling unit really showed their class.
But Ajmal is still there to be dealt with and it won't be easy even scoring 170. Ajmal and Tanvir had played very well in the first innings, if they could somehow manage another 30-40 runs for the last 2 wickets, SA will have a tough job in hand.

Yeah, there will definitely be more twists and turns in this match. As you say - even 180-190 will be hard for SA to chase. It will go down to the wire.

This SA team just don't seem to fold up under pressure (as perhaps some talented but less confident predecessors did on occasion ?) They have a great capacity for fighting back from awkward positions , and I suspect this will help them get over the line here again.
But if Pakistan can get another thirty Ajmal might make the chase rather interesting...

What I wouldnt give to have Abdur rehman in the team right now.

Where is he? Injured or not selected?

Not selected I think because he was banned for smoking weed in the county season

Oh, that's right. Seems a little petty. It's not exactly performance enhancing is it? Imagine getting a ban for having a few drinks?

I know, plus I'd probably be on a cocktail if I was playing for somerset. the scenery is marvellous but the rest is dull.

You know most of the great WI team of the 80's used to get stuck into it? I have a mate whose old man was on the cricket board here and some of the parties they had (at TG's place) were legendary.

Just wada trying to dominate everything. Why do organisations become vengeful? If they asked me for a blood test i'd say urine off, you aint my son and run away.

So 182 runs needed for SA. Looks deceptively like a formality but we all know what Ajmal can do.

1 down 9 to go.

2 down 8 to go Ajmals gets Smith, both openers removed. Sadly only 120 odd runs to play with

Took the family out for the day and it seems I missed the best part of the test match.

Anyway, this could be very close indeed.

Na, looks like its settled in your favour, Ajmal cant do it all on his own.

The South African skipper, among the very best in guiding tricky 4th innings chases is taken out just before tea, and Pakistan have an opening, but Hashim is looking good, and Kallis has joined him. 66-2, needing another 116 to win the match and the series.

Kallis gonelbw to ajmal. Perhaps too little too late, 94 runs to win with 7 in hand. Hope he can atleast get his ten