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Did Imam-ul-Haq's slow batting cost Pakistan the third ODI against South Africa?

S

srh

Senior T20I Player
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Runs
18,288
This was a batting paradise. Yet Imam as an opener played very slow.

Look at Imam runs:

Over 1: 2 (6b); 33 SR
Over 2: 2 (7b); 29 SR
Over 3: 2 (9b); 22 SR
Over 4: 2 (11b); 18 SR
Over 5: 2 (11b); 18 SR
Over 6: 9 (16b); 56 SR
Over 7: 9 (22b); 41 SR
Over 8: 9 (22b); 41 SR
Over 9: 10 (23b); 43 SR
Over 10: 14 (25b); 56 SR
Over 11: 15 (28b); 54 SR
Over 12: 16 (31b); 52 SR
Over 13: 18 (35b); 51 SR
Over 14: 20 (37b); 54 SR
Over 15: 22 (39b); 56 SR
Over 16: 22 (41b); 54 SR
Over 17: 24 (44b); 55 SR
Over 18: 25 (49b); 51 SR
Over 19: 33 (53b); 62 SR
Over 20: 34 (54b); 63 SR

The above are horrible numbers and no way match the current ODI environment.

In the 20th over, Babar Azam completed his 50 at 89 SR and he comes in batting at #3 after Imam.

Pakistan has got to play a better opener in ODIs than Imam or else he will continue to cost games to Pakistan. Only play him in Tests.
 
Good thing you opened a thread and brought this to the attention of PPers. It definitely wasn't discussed elsewhere.
 
srh said:
This was a batting paradise. Yet Imam as an opener played very slow.

Look at Imam runs:

Over 1: 2 (6b); 33 SR
Over 2: 2 (7b); 29 SR
Over 3: 2 (9b); 22 SR
Over 4: 2 (11b); 18 SR
Over 5: 2 (11b); 18 SR
Over 6: 9 (16b); 56 SR
Over 7: 9 (22b); 41 SR
Over 8: 9 (22b); 41 SR
Over 9: 10 (23b); 43 SR
Over 10: 14 (25b); 56 SR
Over 11: 15 (28b); 54 SR
Over 12: 16 (31b); 52 SR
Over 13: 18 (35b); 51 SR
Over 14: 20 (37b); 54 SR
Over 15: 22 (39b); 56 SR
Over 16: 22 (41b); 54 SR
Over 17: 24 (44b); 55 SR
Over 18: 25 (49b); 51 SR
Over 19: 33 (53b); 62 SR
Over 20: 34 (54b); 63 SR

The above are horrible numbers and no way match the current ODI environment.

In the 20th over, Babar Azam completed his 50 at 89 SR and he comes in batting at #3 after Imam.

Pakistan has got to play a better opener in ODIs than Imam or else he will continue to cost games to Pakistan. Only play him in Tests.
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POTW

Not to forget his innings was the slowest knock of all players who scored 30+ runs.
 
He played well. You're just ranting. He's a beautiful fit in the opening slot for our collapse-prone team. He allows Babar, Hafeez to play their natural game by holding one end.
 
I mean he did what he is capable off. U cant expectvhim to play a blinder. Fakhar is suppose to be the aggressor but he is been disapointing on this tour... His technique looks the worst i have seen off him since his debut.
 
If it didn't rain at all then we would have won this match comfortably.
 
In hindsight everyone can become expert... He played slow yes but he didn't cost us the game. Bowler+Rain cost us the game. Before the rain pitch was dry and was spinning. After the rain spinners couldn't grip the ball.. and the fast bowlers... less talked about them is better.
 
Forgive him for gods sake!

He played well and is performing, what do we want more?
 
Where were the other guys who didn't or couldn't score, let alone score fast?

But yes, if we laugh at Amla for scoring at a faster strike rate than Imam, we should also laugh at our own batsmen who score but not at 150 strike rate.


The thing is, you're expecting Rohit Sharmas, David Warners, de Kocks to open for Pakistan.

The only real competition we have is Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Farhan.


The only better opener we have is SHARJEEL.

So yes, cry me a river. I know we ideally need a Sharjeel or Warner or Rohit type player. We don't have any. He's the 2nd best we have.
 
The batsman did fine , 285 is a good score and they got to 317.. True if they batted a little mor aggressively they could have made maybe 330ish but ultimately today it was the bowling that let us down.

If someone told you Pakistan would make 317 before the match started 99 percent of people would say we would defend this total
 
I know he bats slow and he needs to improve but Imam has the capability to score big. This ton vs SA was against a top team also. I think Imam deserves a place in the side as he can score big.
 
As I said in another thread, Pakistani fans totally deserve hacks like Fakhar. You scored 300+ because Imam laid the foundation. 50/3 dekhte dekhte 150/1 hazam nahi horaha hai na?
 
Hyperion66 said:
As I said in another thread, Pakistani fans totally deserve hacks like Fakhar. You scored 300+ because Imam laid the foundation. 50/3 dekhte dekhte 150/1 hazam nahi horaha hai na?
Click to expand...

Fakhar is such a hack.

These guys want Shehzad and Masood in the team. :)))

We do ideally want batsmen like Sharjeel as openers but currently don't have a better choice than Imam.
 
It was a great innings for Pakistani standards as it gave others a platform. ..

But considering international standards and these batting tracks just like Amla's innings it cost the team 30/40 runs in the end.


Beggars can't be choosers right? It's Imam till the WC for now.
 
Hawkeye said:
Fakhar is such a hack.

These guys want Shehzad and Masood in the team. :)))

We do ideally want batsmen like Sharjeel as openers but currently don't have a better choice than Imam.
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Instead of appreciating a gutsy knock from a young man in foreign condition against top bowlers they are scavenging for negativity like vultures, jaise ke Lara, Tendu, Kohli sare ke sare bench pe baithe hai uski wajaise, no wonder you don't have a batting culture.
 
Last match we barely crawled to 200 and I was no way expecting us to cross 300 irrespective of how much of a batting paradise the pitch might be. Especially when Fakhar got out early it seemed like business as usual. Babar and Imam together avoided a typical Pakistani scorecard of 23/4.

Call them soft runs but I will gladly take a couple of 300+ runs from our batsman irrespective of the end result. At least that would give them the necessary confidence and self-believe and eventually we'd be winning the matches too.
 
Very well said, they have no idea of batsmanship. They are looking for 11 hacks in the team.
 
No rain cost us the match, but he did play slow, for someone like him who can't make up for the dots later on strike rotation and keeping the SR up to 80-90 is very key.

Not discrediting his innings as others said it is better than 200 all out 180 all out so him and Babar are very important for our team. Just want him to show a little more intent in the beginning like his innings in the first ODI.
 
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SR of Pak batsmen


Babar - 96
Hafeez - 115
Malik - 115
Imad - 187
Sarf - 200




Imam - 87



When the guy playing the most bowls has the lowest SR then we have a serious problem. Not just this game but for future as well.
 
Syed1 said:
SR of Pak batsmen


Babar - 96
Hafeez - 115
Malik - 115
Imad - 187
Sarf - 200




Imam - 87



When the guy playing the most bowls has the lowest SR then we have a serious problem. Not just this game but for future as well.
Click to expand...

No that is fine. The guy who is gonna bat through can have a low strike rate and finish with 90. The rest can play around him. The thing is that that is Babars role.
But we can't complain whilst fakhar is not making runs. Shan will be in on Sunday.
Also. 317 was enough as a score. The rain just didn't help us and made it hard for the biwlers
 
JaDed said:
Against Saffers, who are the biggest victims of.mother nature in Major tournaments, so it's ok to gift em a pointless ODI so you have the luck for major tournament.
Click to expand...

Very well said, I have never seen so much negativity and enemies of their own team and do not know how the cricket is played. They are looking for 11 hackers. Todays match is lost by the bowlers.
 
nextover666666 said:
The batsman did fine , 285 is a good score and they got to 317.. True if they batted a little mor aggressively they could have made maybe 330ish but ultimately today it was the bowling that let us down.

If someone told you Pakistan would make 317 before the match started 99 percent of people would say we would defend this total
Click to expand...

True bowling was also poor although I didn't see it, 180-2 from 33 overs is unacceptable.
 
He played a part. Top openers accelerate as the innings goes on ,Imam doesn't have the ability yet.

Also Malik innings didn't help. Hafeez batted at a better strike rate.
 
Hasan123 said:
He played a part. Top openers accelerate as the innings goes on ,Imam doesn't have the ability yet.

Also Malik innings didn't help. Hafeez batted at a better strike rate.
Click to expand...

He did accelerate. His first 50 came off 68 balls, second 50 came off 46 balls. Problem is that his low rate of boundary-hitting means that he's always playing catch-up, though.
 
yes he did cost us the game. This is 2019 and all openers play at 90+ strike from the get go. Once they are set then they look to increase their SR to 120+
 
babajee said:
If it didn't rain at all then we would have won this match comfortably.
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Won’t - you would have lost it by 4 wickets inside 48 overs. Had Kock not been run out, it would have been 6 wickets & 4 overs at hand.
 
Abdullah719 said:
He did accelerate. His first 50 came off 68 balls, second 50 came off 46 balls. Problem is that his low rate of boundary-hitting means that he's always playing catch-up, though.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. The first part of his innings needs to be improved.
 
If this was an experienced bat, yeah he probably did. Once you play yourself in, your expected to accelerate and 87 is too slow on this pitch. Wickets weren't tumbling either during his innings. It's the set batsman who should accelerate, allowing time for the new batsman in the crease to get himself in before going for it. I think most of even our bats on this pitch if they had got to a 100 would have had an SR of at least 120 by that point on this pitch.

However given he's new to international cricket and it was SA I don't blame him. Plus I guess because it's SA, I think a lot of our bats would have perhaps succumbed to the mental pressure and got shot out under 300 regardless of ease of pitch. It's also great to have an opener who consistently scores big, it gives the lower order for freedom to bat more aggressively. In most cases given our brittle line up, Imam's more likely to be an asset given our troubles against the new ball and forming big early partnerships.
 
south africans dropped 5 catches....i think we need to analyse that every player got dropped imagine what would have happened then
 
He did'nt bat slow this is the best he can bat. And one needs opposition dropping several dollies whenever baby ul haq skies one in the air.

IF someone go in the stats of this match in cricinfo check the partnership tally you'll find that batsman playing with him remained dominant trying to score from their side whereas Imam scored less than his fellow strikers. Babar Azam 69 compared to his 40 something, Hafeez 52 while Imam made 30 odd. They were literally carrying him. Even in the last partnership Shoaib Malik made 16 and Imam made only 13.

He was dropped several times esp. by Shamsi. Shamsi and Hendricks were the only bowlers he played well to. His club standard technique will not improve overnight it'll take years. If Inzamam is removed from selection committee which is the mostappropriate decision for PCB as its domestic batters are being ignored for his family members and Arthur's favorites. Imam won't survive for long.
 
MMHS said:
Won’t - you would have lost it by 4 wickets inside 48 overs. Had Kock not been run out, it would have been 6 wickets & 4 overs at hand.
Click to expand...
U
QdK was run out and SA were struggling ahainst Imad , Shadab would have also been more effective had it not rain. Pak becomes a different team when they have score to defend.
 
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PPers and their criticism of batting even after unit posted 315 runs.

Pakistani bowling unit have picked up grand total of 8 wickets in 3 ODIs so far. If you don't pick up wickets then it's hard to win unless Amla is helping you.
 
No, it did not cost Pakistan the match as Pakistan managed to post a very formidable total in the end.
But that total was only possible because of unusual great number of dropped chances. Otherwise, 101 off 116 deliveries on a good track is not a good effort at all.
 
I think you are correct, but given the state of Pakistan batting, it is hard to blame Imam. If not for his knock, Pak may not have gotten to 220

The sad reality is this batting is 100% dependant on Fakhar - if he had fired today, they could've gotten 340. If he doesn't fire, they get to 317 on 340 pitch
 
Let's not get too greedy. We were ranked bottom not so long ago so I don't see him as a major concern for now. He did help us to win the 1st ODI and helped set a good target here.
 
It was slow at the start but he made up for it.

I think bigger point is Pak were just a bit unlucky today as the rain intervention helped the batting side - greasy surface means balls skids to the batting side better and spinners find it difficult to grip a wet ball.

Otherwise it would have been a very tight competitive game but that’s one day cricket, not much you can do when weather plays a part.

Batting has improved a lot in the last few years overall but the bowling does need to be more consistent. It’s been a bit loose latley.
 
Your post is invalid because it's Pakistani batting line up we are talking about here. Not English or Indian!

Top teams have batting power to maintain tempo even after they lose wickets. We can't do that....
 
Abdullah719 said:
He did accelerate. His first 50 came off 68 balls, second 50 came off 46 balls. Problem is that his low rate of boundary-hitting means that he's always playing catch-up, though.
Click to expand...

I won't criticize him for 87 SR as he played a very good knock and played his part. But for the longer term, one thing could derail him. It's his "go to" shot for scoring boundaries. Many times, he resorts to coming down the wicket to score a boundary. That's too risky if his role is to stay and play anchor. He needs to find ways to score by staying in the crease. That will give him more options to score with relatively less risk.
 
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Hyperion66 said:
As I said in another thread, Pakistani fans totally deserve hacks like Fakhar. You scored 300+ because Imam laid the foundation. 50/3 dekhte dekhte 150/1 hazam nahi horaha hai na?
Click to expand...

honestly, these pakistani fans deserve this team minus imam.


they struggle to score 200, yet complain when finally someone helps them reach 300
 
Hawkeye said:
Where were the other guys who didn't or couldn't score, let alone score fast?

But yes, if we laugh at Amla for scoring at a faster strike rate than Imam, we should also laugh at our own batsmen who score but not at 150 strike rate.


The thing is, you're expecting Rohit Sharmas, David Warners, de Kocks to open for Pakistan.

The only real competition we have is Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Farhan.


The only better opener we have is SHARJEEL.

So yes, cry me a river. I know we ideally need a Sharjeel or Warner or Rohit type player. We don't have any. He's the 2nd best we have.
Click to expand...

Let’s blame our only centurion on the tour. Maybe he could have scored a 20 ball 50 and we could have set South Africa 250.

Joke thread
 
If it was the indian team and same scenario repeated, the century maker would have been guilty.

Dravid was dropped from odi team for this very reason.
 
If u have the opposition at 187/2 in 33 overs while chasing, then you should know that bowlers are to be blamed for losing the game.
 
Pakistan batting team is composed of 1.5 proper batters (imam plus half babar) and all others hack. Let’s throw these two out and get two more hacks. Someone had said that Pakistan plays test like ODIs and ODIs like T20. No wonder Pak is #1 in T20 and bottomfeaders in tests and ODIs. Pak fans only deserve hacks and T20s.
 
Itachi said:
If it was the indian team and same scenario repeated, the century maker would have been guilty.

Dravid was dropped from odi team for this very reason.
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So you think Rayadu will be dropped after his innings today?
 
Just one question if you are given a choice say for Babar to score 100 of 120 balls and 2 of 10 balls what would you chose ?
 
Mohammad "wicket-less" Amir certainly had nothing to do with the loss.
 
As a neutral I've to say, that you guys are quite harsh on Imam. A strike rate of 87 is fine for an opener. Its not due to him you guys lost.
 
Because of Imam Pakistan scored 300+.otherwise the target would have been around 270.
 
Itachi said:
He should. Been telling since long time
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Should is not the same as would.

Every intelligent fan knows he should have never been recalled.

Unfortunately, he will not be dropped. Indian team management is no better than Pak's and can't look beyond averages.
 
yuvi said:
Well I guess nobosy knew beforehand that the match would be decided by DLS. Imam gave Pakistan a winning total.
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It was a 330+ par pitch. With Pakistan's weak bowling, any less was always going to result in a loss, DL or not.
 
Sin Nombre said:
It was a 330+ par pitch. With Pakistan's weak bowling, any less was always going to result in a loss, DL or not.
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Even if the pitch was flat, Pakistan does not have batsmen who can make a hundred against a good bowling attack. Imam is no world beater but he is the best Pakistan got. Let him play until someone better arrives.
 
Abdullah719 said:
He did accelerate. His first 50 came off 68 balls, second 50 came off 46 balls. Problem is that his low rate of boundary-hitting means that he's always playing catch-up, though.
Click to expand...

I agree, rightly pointed out that his rate of boundary-hitting is a concern, but that doesn't mean he doesnt have the ability to hit bundaries... He has the ability to hit boundaries but goes with a safer option to hold one side of the ship...

If we breakdown his innings he has score only 8 boundaries and no sixers which is only 32 runs of his 100 come in boundaries the remaining 70 runs he has scored them running where the dot ball percentage is low compared to the other batsmen (babar and hafeez) who made quick fifties... For me he is doing a fantastic job as an opener for his team in his very first tour to SA, with more games he will develop into a good one which he is already improving everyday... Hopefully doesnt sit down and relax that his job for the series is done, which is normally a habit of pak batsman and legacy passed on by the seniors ofcourse.

If we take his innings compared to what rohit did today was similar but the rate of boundary hitting from sharma stands tall but still rohit's dot ball percentage compared to imam's innings is alarmingly high..

Yes imam's innings had a dot ball percentage of 35% and rohit's was 60%:faf
 
Sin Nombre said:
It was a 330+ par pitch. With Pakistan's weak bowling, any less was always going to result in a loss, DL or not.
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the successful chase on the ground was 319 made by SA during the ENG series in 2016 where ENG made 318/8 in 50 overs with Alex Hales making a century same as Imam's at SR of 87...

Idk from where you get that 330+ from, when i watched the match they showed that the par 1st innings score was 275 and pak got 317 which is a very good fighting total... Before the rain SA was struggling to chase, and after the rain the spinners couldnt grip the ball and the genius kaptaan kept shadab bowling to make sure SA gain momentum and take the game away..

For subcontinental kaptaan, it is obvious to know that it is tough for the legspinner to grip the wet ball than an offie or a pacer... Sarfi as dumb as he was let the game slip away, who i think is only good to enough to shout and make racist remarks behind the stumps..
 
Do not know if Imam cost the match or not, but I support Imam's inning. He is new and it takes time to learn how to accelerate innings. Imam is atleast performing CONSISTENTLY unlike many other players. Lets appreciate
 
Sin Nombre said:
100 off 120 or 40 off 30. Always take the latter if you have wickets in hand.
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lol with wickets in hand yes, if the batsman coming next is hafeez, malik and sarfraz then i would take the former..

Hafeez scored 52/3 coming in for a well set platform and Malik coming in with 12 overs to play for with pakka platform set for the onslaught at 220/3 yet he made 31 (27) on the same flat track and the kaptaan is hiding behind walking in at the final over...
 
SARJ_BD said:
Do not know if Imam cost the match or not, but I support Imam's inning. He is new and it takes time to learn how to accelerate innings. Imam is atleast performing CONSISTENTLY unlike many other players. Lets appreciate
Click to expand...

He is consistent and playing really well. These fans here doesn't know how to appreciate and value a good ODI innings.. They will appreciate 100(37) and fond of players who play like UA or Afridi and win 3/15 games with the runs scored and be happy with it...Dont even think about consistency, hence they are still searching for a opening batsman like ANWAR and SOHAIL.. It is the phobia of Afridi and Imran Nazir i think
 
Itachi said:
This is a 330+ pitch. More fault lies on batsman.
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Yeah sure, if the target would have been 330 then SA score would have been 207/2 after 33 overs. SA batsmen are not batting in a silo, they played as per the match situation. If the bowling is ineffective, then don't blame batsmen for it. SA batsmen were just nudging the ball around since 28th over.
 
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He is decent batsman and is young . He can develop his power game. Good thing is that he is hardworking and js eager to learn. I'm sure within next 2 yrs he will become compete batsman. Imam and Babar are the future of Pakistan. They are going to stay for Atleast 10 yrs if not more. Both have a decent technique and comes from System. Shan Masood is another one who also have good tehnique and fitness freak. These three I believe are good enough for aside like Pakistan.. Whole batting should revolve around these 3 guys.
 
India scored 324/4 in 50 overs and I can guarantee one thing that no soul on this planet will blame Rohit Sharma for batting at a strike rate of 90, if India loses the match. Imam is an easy target for PPers, and that's why his response y'day on scoring the century was apt.
 
We didn't lose the game cause of batting. If anything it was hopeless bowling and surely rain made it easy for batting. The way South Africa were going even 350 would have been chased.
 
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