Pakistan vs South Africa...Day 5 from Centurion.

[PlanetPakistan]

THIS IS IT!
SA need 130 runs to win with 8 wickets in hand.

Amla was having some trouble playing Kaneria and with Harris in i reckon there will be a chance for a quick wicket or 2. The question is how will Harris bat? will he try to build an innings and survive as long as he can or will he try to break the back of the run chase? Logic suggests that SA should be able to make these runs with out any real problems but we have seen stranger things happen on the last day of a test match.

 

[acerunner2]

I bet he'll try break the back of the run chase.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

I bet he'll try break the back of the run chase.

well good luck to him....trying to slog Kaneria on a day 5 pitch won't easy but i hope the out field isn't too soggy!

 

[UJ]

Regardless of the result today, Im extremely proud of the way we fought back in this test match. At one stage, it did appear that we might not set them a total which would test them, but our tail wagged and before we knew we were in with a great chance to win the game.

I hope that 'fight and determination' continues throughout this series.

 

[TaZ]

10:14 local, 08:14 GMT We have got confirmation that the start will be delayed but the good news is that, as we speak, the covers are coming off. Some players are out there in the middle, randomly roaming around.
9:55 local, 07:55 GMT Conditions are getting better, the sun has started to peek and the light has improved a bit. Johanes Cloete, the 4th umpire is out there in the middle sporting an umbrella and he is overseeing the water being swept off the covers.
09:42 local, 07:42 GMT Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the fifth and final day's play. I am afraid the news is not that good, the ground was hit by heavy showers in the morning hours and at the moment even though the intensity of the downpour has subsided, it's still drizzling. There is another 45 minutes left for the scheduled start of play, the wind speed is picking up and the locals say that might help lift the rain clouds that are looming large over SuperSport park. The umpires have said that they will wait for the rain to stop completely before they decide on any time frame. So time to get those fingers crossed, watch this space for further updates.

 

[Big Daddy]

OK i just saw the pitch, it has lots of cracks and has a very moist look. Some south african dude was giving his inputs on the pitch and the look on his face said it all. Rana and Asif will be the key here.

 

[Obsessed_in_a_good_way]

Keys to a Pakistani victory ...

The rain news is very disappointing! :-( But it seems that the match start is merely going to be delayed. So, let's wait for 10:45 AM (local time) to see when the action could begin.

I think, for Pakistan to win, the following factors are very crucial:

1) How well the 3rd bowler performs - a la Rana Navid and Shahid Nazir. We expect Asif and Kaneria to spearhead our attack, but if the others are unable to maintain the pressure, the batsmen will be able to take a defence stance against the main ones, and go after the rest of 'em.

2) If we don't leak no-balls and wide ones.

3) If we're perfect in the field, and accept all chances (including half-chances)

4) If Younis Khan can assume the cheerleader role, and make sure that we always "believe" that we can pull through. Despite an occasional bad over, our body language cannot reflect defeat.

Clearly, Pakistan has been in this state several times in the recent months, and know how to prevail.

The best news: either way this match goes, Pakistan is well-poised to win the honors in this series, with a very strengthened team in the 2nd test, plus some additional experience of the local condition for the other players.

Thanks.

 

[sehban]

hey guyz does anyone here live in middleeast ...becuz fox sports is not cmin for me today for some reason so i just wanted to ask that anyone else is experiencing the same problem?

 

[Rudi hater]

I think it is an uphill task to be honest Pakistan can take at the most 4-5 wickets more this means SA will win by 3 or 4 wickets. I hope Pakistan can pull it off but it seems unlikely, unless weather intervene and delay so much so that SA get only 40 overs to scores runs in then it is just over three an over to score which is difficult on the fifth day pitch.

 

[Mercenary]

Overcast conditions, moisture in the pitch! Ideal for Asif and Rana and Nazir should benefit too!!

 

[Asim_rodovre]

salaams..

does pakpassion not show the matches anymore?

 

[Asim2Good]

wat's update ? when match gonna start ?

 

[Asim2Good]

ok got update on cricinfo after 20 mins from now

 

[iZeeshan]

Will start in 17 minutes.

 

[iZeeshan]

Just about to start

 

[Osman]

here we go guys ... play about to start ... inshallah a pakistan victory today.

 

[MIG]

Bismillah parho aur kaam chalao bhaiyo....

 

[shan]

start was delayed? I expected Pakistan to take 3 wicket in that time.

 

[Osman]

kaneria to begin ...

 

[Imran_The Man!]

Morning folks, here we go, is the rain good or bad news ? Moisture will aid seamers but will it hinder the spinners?

 

[shan]

lucky amla.

 

[shan]

we need to take wickets right now.

 

[Amir]

Danish getting mad bounce. Lets just hope for a quick wicket to get our spirits going.

 

[iZeeshan]

Asif to share.

 

[Amir]

Morning folks, here we go, is the rain good or bad news ? Moisture will aid seamers but will it hinder the spinners?

Danish is getting sharp bounce and spin. And Asifs first ball just went straight.

 

[iZeeshan]

Lets at least get Harris...

 

[Hussain]

whats the score guys
I am not able to access cric info from college net



please post score

 

[Osman]

safrica 71 for 2.

 

[shan]

71/2

 

[shan]

we need luck. we want edges.

 

[Osman]

we need luck. we want edges.

and poor umpiring decisions against South Africa

 

[Amir]

Danish has paul harris LBW but not given. (a flipper). And hawkeye agrees with me.

73-2

 

[iZeeshan]

Way too many easy runs coming...

 

[shan]

73/2 no wicket so far.

 

[CrickFan]

We need washout - more than the edges and poor decisions against SA

 

[Amir]

We need washout - more than the edges and poor decisions against SA

I rather go down fighting than cowardly getting away with rain.

 

[Amir]

2 more runs to Harris of a backfoot punch into extra cover.

75

 

[shan]

harris was out. even cricinfo confirm.

 

[Amir]

2 more off a straight drive from Harris 79-2

 

[shan]

runs are coming easyly from pacers. brig hafeez in.

 

[Amir]

dont expect too many deicions in our favour today or any bad decisions against SA. RArely do I see umpires who screw home teams over...its usually the away side that gets the stick.

 

[Amir]

Harris riding his luck by almost inside edging the ball onto his stumps.

 

[Amir]

Anoter no ball by Asif. There doesnt seem much to be for seamers...possibly Hafeez would not be a bad option now.

 

[shan]

Harris riding his luck by almost inside edging the ball onto his stumps.

we need luck to defend small total.

 

[pak4life]

Bucknor should retire

 

[shan]

bring back hafeez.

 

[Amir]

we need luck to defend small total.

Yup bt with Bucknor on their side....its gonna be a even more difficult task.

 

[shan]

another play and misses.

 

[Amir]

with so much turn and bounce....why doesnt inzi have a silly point(only short leg he has)? What happened to men around the bat? Whats the point of slip and gully?

as i speak the ball goes through those two!

 

[shan]

how lucky pathetic batsman like amla get?

 

[MIG]

Hafeez must be brought in.

 

[Amir]

80-2 at the end of Dani's over

 

[James]

It was only Harris.

 

[Amir]

It was only Harris.

Who happens to look like a accomplished batsmen. A wicket is a wicket. When you have such a small total...even the smallest of targets must be dismissed early and cheaply.

 

[Obsessed_in_a_good_way]

We're defending a small total. Quick bowling changes, please. Have to keep the batsmen on their toes. Let's bring on Hafeez ... and Rana, to see how if he can generate a swing.

Come'on guys, get on with it. Make it happen!

 

[Amir]

Asif reallygetting nothing out fo this wicket.

 

[shan]

bring hafeez in.

 

[hasbeen]

harris gone to asif

 

[Imran_The Man!]

Asif gets Harris, out!

 

[KA$H]

hold on we've got to allow the bowler hit some kind of rythm aswell - theres only been 4 overs bowled

 

[shan]

harris gone to asif

finaly some luck.

 

[James]

Who happens to look like a accomplished batsmen. A wicket is a wicket. When you have such a small total...even the smallest of targets must be dismissed early and cheaply.

Getting the nightwatchman or not really doesn't make that much of a difference...you still have to get out 5 very good players after him, there was never going to be a high chance of winning!

 

[the_game]

Harris gone. Asif gets the wicket.

 

[Amir]

bring hafeez in.

Yeah we know...you do not need to write a post every over tell us about it

Asif gets Harris. Harris plays it upishly to cover and its 80-3. We are up and away.

 

[iZeeshan]

Well at least he didn't drop it!

 

[UJ]

7 more to get

 

[hasbeen]

caught by out faisal who seems to be in the team for his specialist fielding. he was known as a spin expert but i think he is the next jonty.

 

[stb]

nothing sort of shot to be out with

 

[CrickFan]

Inzy busy making plans for ODIs now - he had told Rameez that he would like to win the either Test Series or the ODIs - whatever that means ...

 

[shan]

Getting the nightwatchman or not really doesn't make that much of a difference...you still have to get out 5 very good players after him, there was never going to be a high chance of winning!

of course it make difference. When will good batsman come if we never get harris out?

 

[Amir]

Getting the nightwatchman or not really doesn't make that much of a difference...you still have to get out 5 very good players after him, there was never going to be a high chance of winning!

If you never get that night watch man out...you may never face those 5 batsmen! Therefore every wicket is important with a low total including Nitni and Nel who can easily produce a match winning quick fire 20 between them!

 

[Osman]

woohoo come on Pakistan ... now lets get few more quickly !!!!

 

[Amir]

Inzy busy making plans for ODIs now - he had told Rameez that he would like to win the either Test Series or the ODIs - whatever that means ...

When did he say this?

 

[CrickFan]

MIG bhai - Baarish key liyay kaun see duaa achee hai ??

 

[stb]

no real seam movement off asif today

 

[Hussain]

3 gone 7 more to go


come on Pakistan
if thats impossible then

come on rain

 

[James]

What I'm trying to say is that you're going to lose anyway...SA are in their conditions with their crowd and bat too far down to be bowled out by a mediocre attack in a few dozen overs...probably.

 

[UJ]

Need to break this partnership ASAP!!!!

 

[Amir]

BIG shout for LBW vs Kallis however huge stride in.

 

[Hasan]

Pakistan team is crying out for a bowler of Akthar's pace.