South Africa beat Pakistan by nine wickets in the second Test to take 2-0 unassailable series lead

[MMHS]

By 9 wicket inside 10 overs & 10th session; not bad from SAF in a contest between “two closely matched sides”.

 

[clean n cool]

The stump mic was up a bit today. Good to see the spirits weren't low. Some amusing conversations

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

The stump mic was up a bit today. Good to see the spirits weren't low. Some amusing conversations

Was disappointing to see the way no one seemed to care about being humiliated to this end . No other profession would allow you to be so terrible at your job for so long and make "light hearted jokes about it "

 

[MSaad1237]

Such a brainless Captain we have, should have given a over or 2 to Yasir Shah on this surface..

 

[Abdullah719]

THE Standard Bank Proteas needed just 47 minutes and 59 deliveries to score the 41 runs necessary for victory and wrap up the Castle Lager Test Series against Pakistan at PPC Newlands on Sunday. They now have a 2-0 lead in the series with the chance to make a clean sweep in the final match at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, starting on Friday.

The final margin was 9 wickets after Theunis de Bruyn, opening in place of the injured Aiden Markram, was caught behind off a top edge, attempting to hook a bouncer from Mohammed Abbas.

Hashim Amla retired hurt after taking a nasty blow on the right arm, leaving Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis to finish the job.

Du Plessis was named Castle Lager Man of the Match for his first innings century that underpinned the Proteas decisive first innings lead.

The Sunfoil Education Trust (SET) has benefited to the tune of R422 500 from the number of fours and sixes hit and wickets taken by the two sides in the series to date with the final tally for the current match being R217 500. The players on both sides score income for the fund by hitting boundaries (R1 000) and sixes (R2 000) and taking wickets (R2 500)

 

[rollingstoned]

For all the pitch complaints almost a 1k runs were scored here and anyone who got in made runs and at a pretty good clip. The second session yesterday produced 140 runs in 25 overs. There were areas with inconsistent bounce that preclude any categorisation of 'flatness' but it wasn't close to the other extreme nor as bad as the 1st test against India last year.

 

[MenInG]

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (9CSA) has congratulated the Standard Bank Proteas on their Castle Lager Test Series victory over Pakistan. The Proteas took a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series when they beat Pakistan by 9 wickets in the second match that finished at PPC Newlands on Sunday.

“Congratulations to our Proteas on the excellent start they have made to the new year,” commented CSA Chief Executive Thabang Moroe. “With the new ICC World Test Championship starting later this year it is highly encouraging to see the results that head coach Ottis Gibson, captain Faf du Plessis and all the players and support staff are achieving and they all deserve our congratulations and best wishes for the future.

“What is equally encouraging is that we have a good blend of experienced older hands and exciting young talent and this bodes well for the future. It is also evident that we are building the depth of our squad and nowhere has this been better illustrated than by the manner in which Duanne Olivier grabbed his chance following unfortunate injuries to Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi.

“This result will enable the Proteas to make significant progress up the ICC Test Rankings table as they step up their quest to challenge India as the world’s No. 1 ranked side.

“We can now all look forward to the final Test against Pakistan at the Bidvest Wanderers, starting onFriday as the Proteas aim to complete a clean sweep against tough opponents.

“I would also like to thank Northerns and Western Province, our hosts for the first two Test matches. Taking the Boxing Day Test match to SuperSport Park for the first time was a significant success and Newlands, as always, has attracted bumper crowds for the New Year Test match. The support of our fans has been tremendous,” concluded Mr. Moroe.

CSA Media Release

 

[Zakaz]

In all honesty, we did much better than what everyone was expecting after day 2.

 

[MenInG]

Cape Town - Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis has reassured Keshav Maharaj on his vital place in the side despite the spinner being dropped for the Newlands Test match.

Du Plessis was speaking to reporters after the Proteas cruised to a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second Test on Sunday, giving the home side an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Maharaj was left out as the fit-again Vernon Philander returned to the starting XI with the Proteas opting for an all-pace attack in Cape Town.

This saw the spinner assigned to twelfth-man duties as the ferocious fast bowling attack helped set up a home victory.

His omission was surprising when one considers that spin has historically been a factor late on in Test matches at Newlands and Maharaj, who boasts 90 Test wickets, may have caused some trouble for the Pakistan batsman.

Whether or not the Proteas will continue their winning formula of an all-out pace attack at the Wanderers is still to be seen, however Maharaj is still considered key to South Africa's plans moving forward.

"We have assured him already before the Test match. He is probably South Africa's best spinner that we have ever produced and he will be for a long time, and he knows that," said Du Plessis.

"It's just horses for courses when we're playing a subcontinent team that's very good against spin. As you saw in this Test match, one of the best leg spinners in the world (Yasir Shah) only got one past the bat, so how much of factor is he really?

"Keshav is a great container. He has got dual roles in the team so he could of played here and done well for the team.

"When you play against your Englands and Australias they are not as good against spin as your subcontinent teams are.

"He'll be the first name on the sheet when the pitches allow for spin. I think of PE and Durban. You look at conditions and grounds, you look at what is more uncomfortable for your opponents to face.

"I think in this specific case seam was the right call, when three guys are running in at 145 kph it's not fun for a batter."


https://m.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/faf-keshav-still-has-a-massive-role-to-play-for-sa-20190106

 

[CadPakFan]

In all honesty, we did much better than what everyone was expecting after day 2.

But for the position we were in while we were batting, we should've made at least 350 at the very minimum

 

[Vantage]

I think Sarfaraz is completely missing the point or employing misdirection. If he and his abject top order batsmen are incapable of posting a fairly decent first innings total, then you don’t need to be a genius to work out that our bowlers cannot take the game to the South African batsmen. First innings runs put pressure on the opposition’s batsmen and the psychological dynamic shifts more towards the bowlers; it doesn’t matter how good the opposition batsmen are. Pakistan’s batsmen give their bowlers hardly any ‘chips to play with’. His blaming the bowlers is inexcusable. He should focus on his top order’s pathetic batting and not lament the bowler’s form.
Poor excuse for a captain. Shame we don’t have a proper team leader to galvanise this team. I feel sorry for Micky; it must do his head in.

 

[PakLFC]

Prior to the tour some people here thought Pak had a good chance of winning the series We are a waste of space at Test Cricket. Now some commission will be formed to analyse the tour leading to nothing.

 

[Savak]

I think Sarfaraz is completely missing the point or employing misdirection. If he and his abject top order batsmen are incapable of posting a fairly decent first innings total, then you don’t need to be a genius to work out that our bowlers cannot take the game to the South African batsmen. First innings runs put pressure on the opposition’s batsmen and the psychological dynamic shifts more towards the bowlers; it doesn’t matter how good the opposition batsmen are. Pakistan’s batsmen give their bowlers hardly any ‘chips to play with’. His blaming the bowlers is inexcusable. He should focus on his top order’s pathetic batting and not lament the bowler’s form.
Poor excuse for a captain. Shame we don’t have a proper team leader to galvanise this team. I feel sorry for Micky; it must do his head in.

Pakistan's bowling was a huge problem on the tour to Australia in 2017. In that MCG test match Pakistan scored 443 runs in the first innings but the bowlers conceded 600 plus runs in the end and we ended up losing that test by an innings.

 

[Jabo]

poor batting

 

[AZulfi]

I think Sarfaraz is completely missing the point or employing misdirection. If he and his abject top order batsmen are incapable of posting a fairly decent first innings total, then you don’t need to be a genius to work out that our bowlers cannot take the game to the South African batsmen. First innings runs put pressure on the opposition’s batsmen and the psychological dynamic shifts more towards the bowlers; it doesn’t matter how good the opposition batsmen are. Pakistan’s batsmen give their bowlers hardly any ‘chips to play with’. His blaming the bowlers is inexcusable. He should focus on his top order’s pathetic batting and not lament the bowler’s form.
Poor excuse for a captain. Shame we don’t have a proper team leader to galvanise this team. I feel sorry for Micky; it must do his head in.

Agreed. Unless Pak improve their batting and somehow develop the ability to score 350-400 in the first test innings (whether they bat first or second) on a regular basis, they will continue to struggle to draw let alone win tests esp. in places such as Australia and South Africa. That said we also struggle to chase modest 170+/- totals in the 4th innings (I can cite at least 4 or 5 instances in the last decade alone. Twice Herath has done this to our batting) which proves that apart from not having very good batting techniques, our players also lack mental toughness and discipline.