Pakistan [274/7] defeat South Africa [273/6] by 3 wickets in 1st ODI last-ball thriller

[Shoaibbtt]

He gets unnecessary hate from everyone here, he's a bit slow but he is by far the best opener in the country & he should definitely play in test & ODI's.

To all the people who are criticising Imam here, who else you want to see Shehzad, Azhar or Abid.

Very true he gets un-needed hate but i think in tests he needs to prove himself, maybe a season or two of QeA will be good for him, he only averages 35 in first class cricket similar to that of Imran Butt.

I think for me in tests at the moment i would want to trial the pair of Imran Butt-Abdullah Shafique.

Still praise aside for Imam he needs to raise his game in the powerplay and that SR needs to be raised a touch in the late 80s, doing nothing in the powerplay and then getting out for a low score doesn't help anyone. You can't always expect to get through a powerplay doing nothing and then going on to score big, that's my only criticism of Imam otherwise a decent player and my first pick in Odis.

 

[Firebat]

181 runs needed from 180 balls with 9 wickets in hand. Can't imagine DLS would not be in our favour

 

[Saj]

6 an over with 9 wickets in hand.

Should be pretty easy.

Good work by the 2 Pakistani batsmen.

 

[Amjid Javed]

6 an over with 9 wickets in hand.

Should be pretty easy.

Good work by the 2 Pakistani batsmen.

Lets hope we can take this home emphatically.

 

[Rayyman]

Babar is class but, only if he can go onto become as good against spin as Yousuf was than it would be amazing.

Babar has gotten better against spin

 

[naseem]

Nice partnership

 

[naseem]

What will happen when Rabada will leave for IPL......KAUN dalega gendh ..?? Junior Dala...??

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

boring

 

[Nasty Naz]

They have played Shamsi surprisingly well. Hope I didn't jinx that.

 

[ChTab]

Babar has gotten better against spin

Not really I'd say that when he plays a spinner confidently on SC's pitches.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Cannot believe the hate Imam gets here. He's the reason why Pakistan isn't 2 or 3 down after 6 overs.

People will continously make excuses for Fakhar who is a certified hack but will hate on the guy who scores runs most of the time.

Sure he's no Roy, Bairstow, Dhawan, Kock, Rohit but he doesn't need to be. He's comfortably the best opening batsman in Pakistan and that's good enough. Until Pakistan can unearth a 40 average batsman with 90 SR, Imam is the best choice. I would certainly take a 60 at 85 SR with Imam than a 15 at 125 SR from Fakhar.

There are fans who want Jazba , swag but not runs.

Imam is the best opener for any team to have. Yes he is slow in the start but that will go fine when he scores 80 or 100 at a SR of 90 which he is consistently been doing.

For a 7th 8th ranked team like Pakistan Imam is a gem of an opener, can’t ask for more.

Even teams like England , need such players why because the reason they lost against India in this recent. Series was due to players can’t last long in the middle, everyone scores at 120+ SR , the team tho having enough overs to chase the score down ended up losing.

 

[shamaan]

Very true he gets un-needed hate but i think in tests he needs to prove himself, maybe a season or two of QeA will be good for him, he only averages 35 in first class cricket similar to that of Imran Butt.

I think for me in tests at the moment i would want to trial the pair of Imran Butt-Abdullah Shafique.

Still praise aside for Imam he needs to raise his game in the powerplay and that SR needs to be raised a touch in the late 80s, doing nothing in the powerplay and then getting out for a low score doesn't help anyone. You can't always expect to get through a powerplay doing nothing and then going on to score big, that's my only criticism of Imam otherwise a decent player and my first pick in Odis.

Normally when hes in he goes big

 

[Hitman]

I can sense a wicket or 2 here.

 

[ChTab]

They have played Shamsi surprisingly well. Hope I didn't jinx that.

Probably because it's a South African pitch where there isn't much for the spinners.

 

[Local.Dada]

Nice old school batting in this day and age

 

[Ahmed216]

Can sense a big shot coming

 

[mumtaz]

Yes, there is nothing for the spinners. I think we should seriously think of dropping Shadab for the rest of the series.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

If Pakistan win today Misbah will field an unchanged 11 for the next game.

Hassan ali would have made a big difference in this game had he played instead of Rauf.

Also Asif’s inability to build or pace an ODI innings will not be exposed

 

[Local.Dada]

Babar Azam has he played any power hitting innings even in PsL? Love watching him bat, elegant touch but not someone you would expect a power knock from

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Beautiful shot by Babar

 

[Tubs]

Have the reactionaries stopped their Babar hate and jumped back on the bandwagon? Love to see it.

 

[AAli98]

SA are a poor team, with the likes of shadab & Haris in the team pak will be chasing 330s regularly & for that stroke less Imam needs to go no space for 40 (60) type of players in this day & age.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Yes, there is nothing for the spinners. I think we should seriously think of dropping Shadab for the rest of the series.

I think Shadab did well , with early wickets lost by SA. Rauf going at 7+ an over when SA were on the back foot with 4 wickets gone is simply unacceptable

It’s a known fact that he is a 20-20 one season wonder , it shouldn’t be the yardstick to get selected for ODIs and even tests lol. Crazy selection

 

[Major]

Have the reactionaries stopped their Babar hate and jumped back on the bandwagon? Love to see it.

tonty tonty fans.

Was so annoyed by some of the posts here. They want pakistan to attack at a rr of 10.

Than Misbah was being bashed

 

[Rayyman]

Not really I'd say that when he plays a spinner confidently on SC's pitches.

He did play left arm spinners Embuldeniya and Tajiul well in Pakistan. Scored 100s easily.

Against Maharaj he struggled in the 1st Test, but came back strongly after that.

Now it looks like his weakness has diminished and turned into a strength.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

It seems some Pyjama League fans have no patience. Had this been any other team most fans would realise that this is Pakistan's first international match on this tour. Target is 274 not 400. Every fan want to see their team play like England these days.

 

[Hasan123]

Great shot from Imam

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Pakistan is going well, our fans are too impatient

 

[Hasan123]

It seems some Pyjama League fans have no patience. Had this been any other team most fans would realise that this is Pakistan's first international match on this tour. Target is 274 not 400. Every fan want to see their team play like England these days.

No one is asking for that. The problem there didn't look like any intention to rotate strike.

 

[ChTab]

Against Maharaj he struggled in the 1st Test, but came back strongly after that.
.

Not really, Maharaj claimed his wicket 3 times out of 4 in the test series.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Imam 53*

 

[Amjid Javed]

Both batsmen should be aiming for 100s here.

 

[Hasan123]

More stomachache for Imam haters.

 

[Titan24]

Babar has gotten better against spin

I agree, he has improved a lot in last 3 years but still the way Yousuf used to play with the spinners is some way off.

 

[msb314]

Both are humming along nicely now

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Someone was saying , imam can't increase his stike rate once set

 

[Local.Dada]

Flat pitch. Pakistan’s match to lose

 

[Amjid Javed]

Looks like imam has woken up.

 

[ChTab]

Babar won't get a better chance of getting a 100 in SA. I hope he completes his century.

 

[Ab Fan]

Another 100 coming from Babar.

Greatest ODI bat of last 15 years:-

1. Virat Kohli
2. AB de Villiers
3. Babar Azam/Rohit Sharma

 

[Adil_94]

Imama accelerating nicely. These 2 need to get us to 200

 

[Rajdeep]

SA cricket is done and dusted. This is what happens when you select players based on the colour of the skin and not on actual merit.

Zimbabwe did the same mistake and now South Africa is heading Zimbabwe way.

 

[taqi]

Nice going Imam is good for targets less than 300.

 

[Titan24]

Both batsmen should be aiming for 100s here.

Yes and hopefully if not both atleast one can get to that.

 

[naseem]

I can sense a wicket or 2 here.

Another nishit another soft dismissal......

 

[Local.Dada]

No one is asking for that. The problem there didn't look like any intention to rotate strike.

Run rate under control but would the approach be any different if target is 350 by these batsmen is what I think a lot of fans are asking and makes sense.

 

[ali_ed2006]

SA cricket is done and dusted. This is what happens when you select players based on the colour of the skin and not on actual merit.

Zimbabwe did the same mistake and now South Africa is heading Zimbabwe way.

They're playing against Pakistan. Every chance they can come back and win this and this done and dusted comment will not look good lol

 

[Greenstorm]

What will happen when Rabada will leave for IPL......KAUN dalega gendh ..?? Junior Dala...??

Gaind krate hein, daalte nahi.

 

[Rayyman]

Not really, Maharaj claimed his wicket 3 times out of 4 in the test series.

True

Big test coming up in a month or so against Sean Williams

 

[Ab Fan]

Who is this Danish Aziz? Attacking bstsman or just another anchor?

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Whats the DL for now?

 

[Yk313]

Don’t get why PAK just plug the gap and have Rizwan or Babar partner Imam for the opening slot?

The 1 wicket handicap is pointless in search of that elusive 350 score once in a blue moon. Would rather keep Hafeez at 4 given he is still fit and able, but doubt sense will prevail.

 

[Local.Dada]

Imam is a good player. Don’t see the hate he gets here. Nepo pick but not the worst ever nepo pick, probably can be part of the greatest Nepotism X1 in cricket.

 

[zn426]

Both batsmen should be aiming for 100s here.

Oh, more than that. they should be aiming to carry us home. body-slamming SA on the road for a 9 wicket victory would be rather gratifying.

273 doesn't look a great total on this pitch.

 

[shamaan]

Who is this Danish Aziz? Attacking bstsman or just another anchor?

Attacking but he normaly likes to take the game to the end and then finish it

 

[rhony]

Good going so far. PAk's game to lose from here

 

[msb314]

Whats the DL for now?

We are well above the par score.

 

[Tubs]

tonty tonty fans.

Was so annoyed by some of the posts here. They want pakistan to attack at a rr of 10.

Than Misbah was being bashed

Not going to lie, I don't mind a bit of Misbah bashing!

 

[Hasan123]

Run rate under control but would the approach be any different if target is 350 by these batsmen is what I think a lot of fans are asking and makes sense.

How they are batting now is fine but at the start there was 0 intention to score.

I'm going to be a 100 percent honest and say if we played like this against India or Australia we would have lost the game today. We are a bit lucky that SA bowlers are completely off it

 

[Rayyman]

Run rate under control but would the approach be any different if target is 350 by these batsmen is what I think a lot of fans are asking and makes sense.

This is actual cricket where there is contest between bat and ball.

It’s not the same fake “explosive” cricket that is played on English and Indian grounds.

 

[shamaan]

Don’t get why PAK just plug the gap and have Rizwan or Babar partner Imam for the opening slot?

The 1 wicket handicap is pointless in search of that elusive 350 score once in a blue moon. Would rather keep Hafeez at 4 given he is still fit and able, but doubt sense will prevail.

Hafeez has reitered in odis

 

[Amjid Javed]

Oh, more than that. they should be aiming to carry us home. body-slamming SA on the road for a 9 wicket victory would be rather gratifying.

273 doesn't look a great total on this pitch.

Lets hope we show a ruthless batting streak here.

 

[shamaan]

How they are batting now is fine but at the start there was 0 intention to score.

I'm going to be a 100 percent honest and say if we played like this against India or Australia we would have lost the game today. We are a bit lucky that SA bowlers are completely off it

Are you saying 274 was a good score and south africa should defend it ?

 

[Titan24]

Nice going Imam is good for targets less than 300.

In Imam’s 5 centuries out of 7 Pak scored 300 or more (2 of them were in in Eng and SA).

 

[Yk313]

Nice going Imam is good for targets less than 300.

300 in modern day cricket is not about clearing the rope as much as it is about rotating strike and hitting the odd boundary. He’s fine for most c. 300 scores. His early strike rate gets looks more acute when wickets tumble on either side. Otherwise, if PAK look to have their Top 4 bat 35 - 40 overs in 8 games out of 10, a c. 300 score should be surmountable.

Not a fan of hacks being selected to sate or negate quips from impatient followers.

 

[Rayyman]

Rain might save SA here

 

[Yk313]

Hafeez has reitered in odis

Asked this a month ago and the answer was that he’s active - at any rate think a little bit of cajoling can get him back given he’s OK to play the role.

 

[rhony]

Who is this Danish Aziz? Attacking bstsman or just another anchor?

Attacking batsman. I watched a domestic T20 game and this kid won the game from.absolute nowhere hitting the last ball for six. Can be a mainstay if groomed well.

 

[msb314]

Rain might save SA here

We are well above par score

 

[Mean&Green]

Gaind krate hein, daalte nahi.

He might be Indian I think they say gaind daal

 

[zn426]

Rain might save SA here

How? 75 of 100 overs have been batted, plus PK is well head of DL run rate here.

 

[Local.Dada]

This is actual cricket where there is contest between bat and ball.

It’s not the same fake “explosive” cricket that is played on English and Indian grounds.

Just because 2 teams are at the same level and are playing competitive cricket doesn’t mean it’s high standards.

This is very old school cricket and no this isn’t a great contest between bat and ball, that would be reserved for something like the Ind vs Aus series we saw, let’s stop using that phrase loosely whenever there is a 250 run chase game between less sides.

 

[Muhammad]

This is pathetic from Imam his strike rate is now better than Babar’s but it’s only because he keeps taking the strike against SA’s lesser bowlers and quickly gets to the other end when their main bowlers are on. Really devious type of batting this.

 

[MenInG]

We love the DL Method!

 

[Hasan123]

Are you saying 274 was a good score and south africa should defend it ?

The way we started , a team with better bowlers would have punished us.

 

[shah_1]

Imam is the best option we have

I would love players like Rohit and Bairstow opening for Pakistan

 

[Local.Dada]

This is pathetic from Imam his strike rate is now better than Babar’s but it’s only because he keeps taking the strike against SA’s lesser bowlers and quickly gets to the other end when their main bowlers are on. Really devious type of batting this.

It’s called % cricket. If he is able to cover and keep Pakistan in the hunt, don’t see an issue

 

[msb314]

This is pathetic from Imam his strike rate is now better than Babar’s but it’s only because he keeps taking the strike against SA’s lesser bowlers and quickly gets to the other end when their main bowlers are on. Really devious type of batting this.

 

[Zeshan547]

I fear a compulsory collapse or atleast mini collapse coming up shortly, because Pak and Easy chase is the exception not the norm. So this is too easy to by Pakistan standards.

 

[ChTab]

Rain might save SA here

Pakistan will win as they are ahead on D/L but it will stop Babar to complete his 100 in SA which he failed to do when Pakistan toured SA last time despite many starts.