Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez take Pakistan to a five-wicket win in first ODI against South Africa

[MenInG]

Fakhar spanking Rabada

south Africa are holding back I tell ya...

 

[Greenstorm]

Imagine Sharjeel opening here with Fakhar.

 

[letme alone]

learn to SA opener how to batt

 

[Greenstorm]

south Africa are holding back I tell ya...

Yes I have read that nonsense

 

[RyanRyan10]

He has a strike rotation issue but other than that I dont know why people are so against him. He is 23, with solid temperament and technique. Was our highest scorer in Asia cup as well, where nobody did anything.

Most fans are against him just because he is related to Inzy

 

[imshally81]

Imagine Sharjeel opening here with Fakhar.

OMG

 

[Fineline]

Agreed, but other the QDK they are not resting any available regular ODI player.

Hopefully they pay the price for underestimating us!

 

[Titan24]

I guess one of the problems for SA in World Cups have been that most of their bowlers who are greats of test cricket were generally never as good in ODIs in terms of impact in crucial matches.

Be it Donald, Pollock or Steyn

 

[Greenstorm]

Imam plays too many dots. Adds unnecessary pressure onto himself.

 

[DRsohail]

Imam even at his ebst ahs 72 SR.Not saying he is not playing well but he is not fit for LOI.

 

[Boi]

Imam is basically a left handed Shehzad.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I guess one of the problems for SA in World Cups have been that most of their bowlers who are greats of test cricket were generally never as good in ODIs in terms of impact in crucial matches.

Be it Donald, Pollock or Steyn

Lack of variations.

 

[Pete Rose]

Tighter line and length for the 15 deliveries

 

[imshally81]

 

[Titan24]

Most fans are against him just because he is related to Inzy

Yes. Which in my opinion is wring, they should judge him for what he is, not for his relations.

To me he has a lot to improve but at the same time he has already got more centuries as opener for Pak in less than 20 matches than all other openers except, Saeed, Aamir, Butt, Mohsin and Shehzad.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Top edge for :

Good start by Fakhar

 

[Titan24]

Lack of variations.

Yes well put.

 

[letme alone]

learn to SA opener how to batt

 

[jnaveen1980]

very unintelligent bowling. Bowling everything at 140 kph on this pitch. SA will get canned in the world cup.

 

[Titan24]

Fakhar needs to sort his problems on leg and short bowling soon. He is a key player for us, cant afford loosing his wickets to these kind of shots.

 

[Greenstorm]

He has a strike rotation issue but other than that I dont know why people are so against him. He is 23, with solid temperament and technique. Was our highest scorer in Asia cup as well, where nobody did anything.

He is mentally strong with decent compact technique. Otherwise he is a limited player who cannot change gears if needed.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Good start but one of these two if not both need to score big here.

 

[Usman Chadda]

South African bowlers are embarrassing us by not even trying to get these two out.

 

[pratiktc]

It doesn't matter if they slow down somewhat now. Pak can easily target 120-130 off 20 overs from Pretorius and Andile

 

[Pete Rose]

very unintelligent bowling. Bowling everything at 140 kph on this pitch. SA will get canned in the world cup.

They are playing the opposition, not the tournament

 

[sindhiboy]

olivier outbowling rabada

 

[jnaveen1980]

They are playing the opposition, not the tournament

Yes. this is how they will bowl to everyone.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Yes. Which in my opinion is wring, they should judge him for what he is, not for his relations.

To me he has a lot to improve but at the same time he has already got more centuries as opener for Pak in less than 20 matches than all other openers except, Saeed, Aamir, Butt, Mohsin and Shehzad.

Wow really? Your going to compare imam to the rest after 20 games when most of imams runs and 100s have come against minnows?

 

[Titan24]

very unintelligent bowling. Bowling everything at 140 kph on this pitch. SA will get canned in the world cup.

And their head coach is someone who was bowling coach of England and England themselves are still pretty one dimensional attack in ODIs with the exception of Rashid and Plunkett. No slow balls, reverse swing or any other variations.

 

[jnaveen1980]

You cannot possibly lose from here. Just normal strike rotation is all needed. No need of gigantic overs, big overs.

 

[Usman Chadda]

I was criticized for stating Olivier is a very limited bowler, on evidence. His bowling on this pitch is proof of that statement. He has zero skill with the ball. Just relies on banging the ball in short.

 

[Greenstorm]

Where has that poster gone who was making weird predictions ?

 

[Pete Rose]

It’s good that fakhar is rotating the strike

 

[DRsohail]

Wow really? Your going to compare imam to the rest after 20 games when most of imams runs and 100s have come against minnows?

Lolz he scored these against mighty club level attack of Zim.

 

[Titan24]

Wow really? Your going to compare imam to the rest after 20 games when most of imams runs and 100s have come against minnows?

Agreed that its mainly against Zimbabwe and Srl, but, there are many openers who debuted against such sides and we unable to do anything substantial.

I am pretty sure other openers like Hameed, Farhat, Taufeeq etc would have faced poor attacks as well.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I was criticized for stating Olivier is a very limited bowler, on evidence. His bowling on this pitch is proof of that statement. He has zero skill with the ball. Just relies on banging the ball in short.

You can put that down to bowling restriction in the one dayers. In Tests you have more leeway.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Where has that poster gone who was making weird predictions ?

You never know with Pak though could be collapsing anytime soon.

 

[babajee]

Fluke on the cards today?

 

[rhony]

Great start by these two. Stunning strokes from Imam there

 

[Pete Rose]

Waiting for Rameez to come and babble about mighty aggressive opening unit

 

[MMHS]

One of the best starts by PAK openers in recent times, one of these two has to get a big one.

 

[Justcrazy]

You never know with Pak though could be collapsing anytime soon.

That is true. Need to get in partnerships

 

[imshally81]

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Goneeee

 

[shah_1]

Out

 

[jnaveen1980]

I am not sure how SA can get any wickets here. They all bowl gun barrell straight.

 

[Visaal-E-Yaar]

Oli'fear to get 5fer

 

[Titan24]

Where has that poster gone who was making weird predictions ?

He said that he will show up and admit. His 39/4 has gone out of the equation but Tahir's threat is still there.

He said Tahir will make mockery of our batting

 

[Pete Rose]

Hehe

 

[Green Patriot]

What a catch.
Olivier again

 

[babajee]

Threw it away

 

[castortroy]

Oliver still getting wickets with the bounce

 

[Fineline]

Fakhar gives it away!Not the first time he has done this!

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Rabada has been taken off , good stuff from openers.

As i type that .... bouncer and Fakhar is :

 

[Visaal-E-Yaar]

Good catch under lights

 

[Titan24]

Zaman gifts his wicket a lot of times. Cant afford that with our batting

 

[jnaveen1980]

Fakar lucked with 2 or 3 fours against short balls. But this guy managed to get out to short ball in ao ne dayer. All you have to do is duck just one ball. He can't bowl another bouncer.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

25 will be his career average by the time he’s done

 

[Pete Rose]

Soft dismissal

 

[Sir Alex]

Short but good innings by Fakhar. Intent was there.

 

[rhony]

I was criticized for stating Olivier is a very limited bowler, on evidence. His bowling on this pitch is proof of that statement. He has zero skill with the ball. Just relies on banging the ball in short.

And he gets Fak out with the same ball. It's a weakness they will exploit

 

[DRsohail]

Gifted.

 

[TheNeutralist]

So who will choke first?

 

[Green Patriot]

Come on Babar please win us this.
InshaAllah.

 

[Greenstorm]

Fakhar plays way too many pulls. Need to duck under some.

 

[Boi]

Babar and Imam to choke the innings now

 

[iRfaN_LA]

Catches win matches.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Needless shot by fakhar and never in control of it.

 

[sindhiboy]

unlucky fakhar. olivier will really miss pakistan

 

[PakPremi]

south Africa are holding back I tell ya...

That was Mamoon's early excuse in case the minnows manage to beat the team that played well judged game against lowly opponents.

 

[shah_1]

Zaman’s struggle against short ball continues

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Once again that man Olivier

Still a good start from Pak, just need to see this new ball off without losing another wicket. Pak's experienced middle order should guide this chase now.

 

[Ab Fan]

Olivier bhai begins from where he left. :

 

[Titan24]

Fakar lucked with 2 or 3 fours against short balls. But this guy managed to get out to short ball in ao ne dayer. All you have to do is duck just one ball. He can't bowl another bouncer.

Exactly and considering Pak batting he cant keep on gifting his wickets by playing such shots

 

[castortroy]

Babar is our only real hope

If he goes early it's game over

 

[Usman Chadda]

And he gets Fak out with the same ball. It's a weakness they will exploit

On another day, Fakhar would have hooked that for six.

 

[haris93]

Fakhar needs to sort his problems on leg and short bowling soon. He is a key player for us, cant afford loosing his wickets to these kind of shots.

He has unable to resolve these problem for almost 2 years! I don't think he will improve much

 

[jnaveen1980]

wow ball was not even close to the middle. Late against the short ball..

 

[Justcrazy]

SA need wickets to be back in the game.

 

[castortroy]

Exactly and considering Pak batting he cant keep on gifting his wickets by playing such shots

He hardly ever connects clearly with hook or pull shots. Always top edges it or gets it high on the bat