Pakistan end Day 1 of the 2nd Test on 207/4 with Azhar Ali (81) and Haris Sohail (81*)

[JibranAnsari]

Didn’t they already select the squad for the first two matches?

Yah but thats just a mere formality when you are playing a home series.

 

[warcry]

if losing the test and series means the end of hafeez and imam. then so be it.
if it means the sack of inzimam then so be it (unlikely)

this is what the team and management deserve for not picking fawad alam.
too many players selected just because they have a pretty cover drive

 

[Ahmed216]

Azhar
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Asad
Saad
Sarfraz

but can Sarfraz drop CS's nephew.. or even 'senior' Hafeez

 

[QalandarFan]

Pretty bad first hour, time for Azhar and Haris to stand up now.

 

[aukhan]

Azhar
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Asad
Saad
Sarfraz

but can Sarfraz drop CS's nephew.. or even 'senior' Hafeez

He cant even drop shafiq from psl playing 11. Dropping imam and hafeez is too much to ask from him.

 

[Sarwar89]

Dropping Fakhar Zaman was the biggest mistake by team management.

 

[aukhan]

Poor batting from openers. Very much expected this.

 

[Ahmed216]

Dropping Fakhar Zaman was the biggest mistake by team management.

recovering from a knee problem

 

[QalandarFan]

Dropping Fakhar Zaman was the biggest mistake by team management.

He had a minor injury he was playing on pain killers.

 

[Ahmed216]

Will Haris open his account before lunch

 

[Hasan123]

Haris Sohail doing an Azhar Ali here. Test cricket isn't about blocking every single ball. All that does is allow bowlers to settle into a spell and dictate where they can bowl. Also puts pressure on your team mates by consistently blocking.

Most of the great test batsmen could bat time but put away loose balls and rotate strike to take pressure off themselves.

 

[QalandarFan]

Just noticed Haris hasn’t gotten of the mark yet...

 

[JibranAnsari]

NZ have a strong chance of winning this series 3 nil.

 

[QalandarFan]

Haris Sohail gets a :2: !!!!!!

 

[Sarwar89]

He had a minor injury he was playing on pain killers.

The problem here is if Hafeez and Imam both score big in 2nd Innings, the Fakhar will not get chance for 3rd Test either.

 

[Hasan123]

Just noticed Haris hasn’t gotten of the mark yet...

Scared of getting out that's why.

 

[Hasan123]

Let's see if Azhar can maintain a healthy strike rate.

 

[QalandarFan]

The problem here is if Hafeez and Imam both score big in 2nd Innings, the Fakhar will not get chance for 3rd Test either.

So you want him to continue playing on pain killers and risk aggravating his knee even more?

Fact is Fakhar will be first pick opener for SA, so I’m fine with him taking the rest and getting healthy.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Imam and Hafeez both out after scoring 9 each.

34-2; with Azhar not out on patient 14.

 

[Ahmed216]

The problem here is if Hafeez and Imam both score big in 2nd Innings, the Fakhar will not get chance for 3rd Test either.

no chance for Imam in second innings with spinners coming in to play

 

[QalandarFan]

Scared of getting out that's why.

I mean not really his fault when both “openers” get dismissed within the first hour.

 

[Hasan123]

I mean not really his fault when both “openers” get dismissed within the first hour.

That isn't his fault but having no intent to score isn't going to help him at all.

 

[Sarwar89]

no chance for Imam in second innings with spinners coming in to play

well but he is bhateja of inzi, his failure will not make an impact. Hafeez is someone who might be replaced by inzi.

 

[QalandarFan]

That isn't his fault but having no intent to score isn't going to help him at all.

Agreed but they are probably looking to get through to lunch without any further dismissals, and then look to reassess after lunch.

 

[JaDed]

The match is half gone for kiwis after toss, unless PCT really play pathetic cricket this is defn victory for Pak.

Babar and Azhar to come good.

 

[Sarwar89]

The match is half gone for kiwis after toss, unless PCT really play pathetic cricket this is defn victory for Pak.

Babar and Azhar to come good.

half gone ? lol.

Pakistan will have to bat v v well here to survive 1st session. It is a long way to go.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Lol NZ can't cat 4th on this pitch. CDG was getting variable bounce in first session.

 

[JaDed]

half gone ? lol.

Pakistan will have to bat v v well here to survive 1st session. It is a long way to go.

PCT usually start slow in first innings, their bowlers make up for it, and if opposition is chasing esp against kiwis in 4th innings 9/10 times one would back PCT to win coz bowlers.

Pak is still a bowler oriented team and Abbas is due and Hassan and Yassir in form.

 

[happydavy]

9 runs in 8 overs should ideally man another wicket soon. I would back Wagner taking Harris soon.

 

[Sarwar89]

PCT usually start slow in first innings, their bowlers make up for it, and if opposition is chasing esp against kiwis in 4th innings 9/10 times one would back PCT to win coz bowlers.

Pak is still a bowler oriented team and Abbas is due and Hassan and Yassir in form.

yes that is correct indeed.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Amazing batting , runs are just accidents.

 

[MMHS]

Is the wicket really slow or AzHari in their job?

 

[Stalin]

This partnership is the key here. If a wicket falls now, then don't expect Pak to score even 150 without Shadab and Faheem.

 

[letme alone]

pak top batsman Haris Sohail 3 run (33 ball)

 

[letme alone]

don't need fawad we already have experts in our team

 

[Oligochaetes]

Haris Sohail is studying the pitch minutely, mentally noting the pace, bounce, swing, seam, of each delivery. Once his mind palace has inventoried all data, and all mental calculations are complete he will will start scoring.

Just watch guys, A Sohail 100 is coming.

And just as i type this he takes a single 4(35)

 

[Oligochaetes]

Good opportunity to score run off Patel. Cmon guys!

 

[Ahmed216]

Is the wicket really slow or AzHari in their job?

nature of wicket doesnt count when azhar is batting

It is slow low dry surface

 

[QalandarFan]

Watch out for the full toss Harry!

 

[MMHS]

The way Haris is trapping himself, I feel another full toss might work here.

 

[QalandarFan]

Haris with a it’s been a while.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Two edges for 4s

 

[Oligochaetes]

Haris has begun : :

 

[JibranAnsari]

For gods sake play fakhar , he will either get out or keep the scoreboard ticking. This is such a torture.

 

[DeadBall]

Haris has begun : :

Both were edges.

 

[Aman]

Nothing is really happening, Pakistan have been pathetic and are low on confidence.

To be 55-2 in the first session on this pitch at home/neutral is embarrassing.

This is a performance you'd expect from an away team.

 

[JibranAnsari]

They arent even trying to go on front foot , so.scared.

 

[JibranAnsari]

In a country where fawad alam performing year after year has managed to play only 4 test matches and guys with contacts like imam ul haq have already played more test matches than him , we deserve such results

 

[Sarwar89]

lets hope they do not lose a wicket now just before lunch.

 

[ExpressPacer]

To survive in South Africa, Pakistan need Azhar Ali. He needs to go back to opening however. Hafeez need a to be retire or be shown the door while Sami Aslam and FZ need to be brought in to give Imam competition.

And replace Shafiq with Salahuddin or someone else from the A side. Rizwan needs to be taken to South Africa as a back up WK and his presence will also put pressure on Sarfraz to step up.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Timid session from our batsmen on a flat pitch, but it was expected after the failures in Abu Dhabi. One of these two at the crease needs to score a hundred. NZ will be delighted with their morning.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Same pathetic team selections, same pathetic batting from pakistan. No lessons learnt and same pathetic struggles.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Saad
Shafiq
Sarfraz/rizwan
Yasir
Shaheen
Hasan
Abbas

This should be our 11 for south africa series.

 

[Pakprideuk]

Ajju bhai looked a lot better today. Very assured, similar to his 2016 form.

 

[Ahmed216]

Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Saad
Shafiq
Sarfraz/rizwan
Yasir
Shaheen
Hasan
Abbas

This should be our 11 for south africa series.

cant drop nephew so easily.

 

[Fahdi]

You know you're strugging when Azhar ALi scores at more than twice your SR.

 

[Aman]

They arent even trying to go on front foot , so.scared.

They really are, the ball isn't doing much and they're letting us bowl at them because Pakistan are just looking to survive.

 

[Usman Chadda]

They really are, the ball isn't doing much and they're letting us bowl at them because Pakistan are just looking to survive.

Is this the first time you're watching Pakistan play test cricket?

 

[JibranAnsari]

cant drop nephew so easily.

Drop the mamu as well then

 

[Deewana Mastana]

So Pakistan's infatuation with Bilal Asif continues...

 

[Deewana Mastana]

And why am I not surprised that it's again Colin de Grandhomme who's been doing all this.

 

[Aman]

Is this the first time you're watching Pakistan play test cricket?

Haven't watched you guys play in a while, last time we toured you weren't this defensive.

 

[Ahmed216]

Drop the mamu as well then

Chachu*

well yes Chief selectors and openers dont last long in Pak

 

[Usman Chadda]

Haven't watched you guys play in a while, last time we toured you weren't this defensive.

That was because YK was in great form, and so was Sarfraz.

 

[Amjid Javed]

These two when together for pakistan batting in middle bat like snails.

 

[MMHS]

SRL are batting fantastically 164-1, 45 overs. Here, these two are limiting themselves - unless they can stay till end, this grinding at 2.0 rate hardly works.

 

[Ahmed216]

azhar's batting is a bad advert for test cricket. deserves to be banned

 

[Shafi]

Looks like we haven't learned anything from last match, infact we are playing more negetive in this match. I wonder if we can score even 150 by the end of the day. By tuktuking we will play 120 overs to scor 200 runs. Pathetic approach!!!!

 

[Shafi]

Apart from one or two whole batting needs to changed as its looks like rotten.Haris is the new edition.

 

[Sarwar89]

I am in the stadium right now. Two things i am noticing.

1) after every dot ball, all kiwi players are chirping and showing growing confidence.

2) kiwi players are backing each other loudly.

While pak crowd and dressing room v silent.

 

[angrypathan]

What is Haris looking to achieve here?

 

[JibranAnsari]

I hope pakistans tactics fail , not a good example to set for young ones.

 

[Oligochaetes]

I am in the stadium right now. Two things i am noticing.

1) after every dot ball, all kiwi players are chirping and showing growing confidence.

2) kiwi players are backing each other loudly.

While pak crowd and dressing room v silent.

You cheer loudly for haris and Azhar,cheer loudly for each delivery, they need your support!

 

[MMHS]

Scoring rate is as critical in Test as in ODI .... in fact some times even more. In ODI, one has fixed balls & overs, and equation doesn't change much; in Test one has to make hay when sun is shining.

It's too early to say & PAK has won a critical toss, but the way these 2 are batting, after winning toss; I am afraid Kiwis are in advantage here - PAK will need 350 in first innings here, but that can't be in 150 overs; Kiwis are leading the series, therefore they can always try to save this Test and hope that Ken again wins Toss at Abu Dhabi.

 

[Sarwar89]

You cheer loudly for haris and Azhar,cheer loudly for each delivery, they need your support!

Yes if they score

 

[Ahmed216]

What is Haris looking to achieve here?

A permanent place in playing 11.

A few fifties at 20-25 strike rates will do it for him. clever batsman

 

[letme alone]

never mind we are still above over run rate

 

[letme alone]

4

 

[Oligochaetes]

:

Fielders were asleep,

 

[letme alone]

would have been good catch