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South Africa defeat Pakistan by six wickets in the first Test to take 1-0 series lead

A moral victory for Pakistan. Can’t wait for the second test and the return of Mohammed ‘McGrath’ Abbas.
 
Only positives are bowlers (Still believe that 5th option should be there) and ofcourse Babar, Imam and Shan.

Rest were just free riders.
 
Well done Amla, Elgar. Congratulations SA. Sarfaraz is not a test material for any of the role.
 
Every team will now know that we can be 150 for one only to be all out for 220... this means bowlers and fielders heads will never be down....

Only way to change it is to be brave and replace the non performing seniors
 
IMMY69 said:
Every team will now know that we can be 150 for one only to be all out for 220... this means bowlers and fielders heads will never be down....

Only way to change it is to be brave and replace the non performing seniors
Click to expand...

Thats for regurgitating what the commentators just said
 
You would need a lot of guts to anything if you are Sarfraz. Scoring ducks and not only that, has been doing nothing other than letting the opposition off the hook for sometime.
 
If Sarfaraz has any shame, he should quit and give chances to the deserving wicket keeper batsman. An absolute clown of a captain and does zilch when the chips are down!
 
Ramsay said:
If Sarfaraz has any shame, he should quit and give chances to the deserving wicket keeper batsman. An absolute clown of a captain and does zilch when the chips are down!
Click to expand...

Might be the time for Mickey and Inzi to take tough call and drop Sarfraz from next match and make Rizwan wk
 
Another blessing in disguise

Can we expect the real Pakistan or Naya Pakistan to turn up in the remaining matches? :sarf2
 
RyanRyan10 said:
Another blessing in disguise

Can we expect the real Pakistan or Naya Pakistan to turn up in the remaining matches? :sarf2
Click to expand...

I don't think so. I think they will perform poorer in remaining series with their world class batters Azhar,Asad,Sarfraz
 
We may bounce back in the next match but there will be nothing of consistency until we start picking batsmen with character...
 
Titan24 said:
Might be the time for Mickey and Inzi to take tough call and drop Sarfraz from next match and make Rizwan wk
Click to expand...

Who will be the captain ? Sarfaraz deserves to be dropped but I don't expect anything from Rizwan either. He too has similar Sarfaraz like crouching technique.
 
AMLA AND ELGAR SET UP PROTEAS SIX-WICKET VICTORY

Friday, 28 December 2018

HASHIM AMLA and Dean Elgar scored half-centuries and shared the only century partnership of the match to set the Standard Bank Proteas up for a six-wicket victory over Pakistan with a session and two full days to spare in the opening Castle Lager Test match at SuperSport Park on Friday.

Although the Proteas lost a few wickets at the end the deal was virtually done by the time Elgar (50 off 123 balls, 10 fours) was dismissed after making his 13th Test half-century. He and Amla shared a partnership of 119 in 42 overs after Aiden Markram had been dismissed without a run on the board with Amla finishing unbeaten on 63 (148 balls, 11 fours).

In the process he completed 1 000 Test match runs against Pakistan at an average in excess of 52.

It was South Africa’s 13 Test match victory in 24 outings against Pakistan.

The match was effectively won in the final session on day two when the Proteas seized the moment to take 9 Pakistan wickets for 90 runs. As well as Pakistan bowled on the third day they were simply left with too small a total to defend.

Duanne Olivier was named Castle Lager Man of the Match for his career best match figures of 11/96.

The second Test match starts at PPC Newlands on January 3 and the final one at the Bidvest Wanderers on January 11.

PROTEAS TOP PERFORMERS IN THE 2018 CALENDAR YEAR

BATTING

Aiden Markram 672 runs at 33.50
Dean Elgar 661 runs at 36.72
Temba Bavuma 295 runs at 42.14

BOWLING

Kagiso Rabada 52 wickets at 20.07 (world leader)
Keshav Maharaj 34 wickets at 33.26
Vernon Philander 32 wickets at 17.03
 
Thanks to Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz we threw away a match we should have won.
 
Its just embarassing...Pak batting failures almost every inns.

Can i just ask posters...why dont they change players?

What is wrong with these people that they dont take the game of cricket seriously?

I dont buy the crap that we dont have the players...
..

There is a population of 220 million...

FIND THEM!
 
Our bowlers gave it there all in both inns, not really show having yasir in the side in such conditions was any benefit.

The batting was a joke and Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz all need to be dropped for 2nd test, time to kick failing seniors out.
 
Special thanks to the Sainted Seniors Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz - the latter two especially.

I don't know what we'd do without their experience.
 
babajee said:
Thanks to Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz we threw away a match we should have won.
Click to expand...

Had Asad and Sarfraz done as much as Azhar in this match we would have won. Not to excuse Azhar's failure but he doesn't deserve to be lumped in with the other two.
 
Haha I remember Rameez's interview with Asad after the 1st Test against New Zealand. Asad goes on and on about how this is not the end of the world and they will make a come back, and Rameez was so angry that he kept going after Asad.

Pretty much sums up Asad's attitude right now. Nowhere in that interview did it feel like Asad was hurting.
 
Pakistan played way better than PPers expected. Batsmen will come good in the next test and you will have Abbas back.

Fascinating 2nd test coming.
 
MMHS said:
You think Fakhar did better in 2 innings?
Click to expand...

Fakhar is still finding his feet in tests. He's had one very good test scoring 50s in both innings on debut and a disappointing second test. Unlike the trio (AS, AA and SA) he is mentally tough and can handle pressure. He's shown that he is a quick learner evident from his first few LOI games to the heroic knocks in the CT. He is the one man army in the LOI batting line ups.

In addition he is the best opener in Pakistan according to his domestic stats. I don't think he deserves to be ridiculed at this stage of his career. He should bat at six in the next 2 tests as he will be effective in scoring against the older balls, whereas in Asia he needs to open.
 
Buffet said:
Pakistan played way better than PPers expected. Batsmen will come good in the next test and you will have Abbas back.

Fascinating 2nd test coming.
Click to expand...
They've already out-performed Misbah's team from 2013. I'm frustrated about these lads throwing a test match away in an hour once again, but the fact that they got in that position is a pleasant surprise no one was expecting on this forum.

Although I believe we'll be smashed in the next two tests :inti
 
topspin said:
Fakhar is still finding his feet. He's had one very good test scoring 50s in both innings on debut and a disappointing second test. Unlike the trio (AS, AA and SA) he is mentally tough and can handle pressure. He's shown that he is a quick learner evident from his first few LOI games to the heroic knocks in the CT. He is the one man army in the LOI batting line ups.

In addition he is the best opener in Pakistan according to his domestic stats. I don't think he deserves to be ridiculed at this stage of his career.
Click to expand...
Also Fakhar gutsed it out for a good partnership with Imam, and was very unlucky with his dismissal. Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz played like lame ducks.
 
Usman Chadda said:
Also Fakhar gutsed it out for a good partnership with Imam, and was very unlucky with his dismissal. Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz played like lame ducks.
Click to expand...

It was an unlucky dismissal, it was there to hit and on another day he would have kept it down or gone all the way for six. Quite rightly said he should some steel unlike the trio of mental midgets.
 
topspin said:
Fakhar is still finding his feet in tests. He's had one very good test scoring 50s in both innings on debut and a disappointing second test. Unlike the trio (AS, AA and SA) he is mentally tough and can handle pressure. He's shown that he is a quick learner evident from his first few LOI games to the heroic knocks in the CT. He is the one man army in the LOI batting line ups.

In addition he is the best opener in Pakistan according to his domestic stats. I don't think he deserves to be ridiculed at this stage of his career. He should bat at six in the next 2 tests as he will be effective in scoring against the older balls, whereas in Asia he needs to open.
Click to expand...

Ideal line-up for SAF tour was (... clearing throat, don't bash) -

Azhar, Imam/Shan
Haris, Babar, Asad, Umar/FZ
+Rizwan
*Amir, Abbas, Afridi, Yasir/Hasan
-------------------------------------

That's 14. Umar is back-up WK, so no need to disturb Sarfraz in this Biriyani season (in BD DEC-JAN is marriage season - I used enjoy at least 12 X 2 invitation per year ...., shouldn't be much different in PAK).

Other 2 for the squad are: a middle order (Saad), and 1 more pacer - may be Hamza or Fahim if his bowling is satisfactory.

The job Azhar, Asad did at critical moment of the game .... put Umar there, I can bet my house he would have stopped that free fall by hitting out few - even a quick fire 20-25 at that situation could have completely shifted the momentum, because SAF also must have been under immense pressure (no one knew Amla will play like this).

Yesterday, I wrote that 170 will make it interesting chase - add another 35 with that 170, it was probably PAK's game to lose.
 
Last edited:
MMHS said:
Ideal line-up for SAF tour was (... clearing throat, don't bash) -

Azhar, Imam/Shan
Haris, Babar, Asad, Umar/FZ
+Rizwan
*Amir, Abbas, Afridi, Yasir/Hasan
-------------------------------------

That's 14. Umar is back-up WK, so no need to disturb Sarfraz in this Biriyani season (in BD DEC-JAN is marriage season - I used enjoy at least 12 X 2 invitation per year ...., shouldn't be much different in PAK).

Other 2 for the squad are: a middle order (Saad), and 1 more pacer - may be Hamza or Fahim if his bowling is satisfactory.

The job Azhar, Asad did at critical moment of the game .... put Umar there, I can bet my house he would have stopped that free fall by hitting out few - even a quick fire 20-25 at that situation could have completely shifted the momentum, because SAF also must have been under immense pressure (no one knew Amla will play like this).

Yesterday, I wrote that 170 will make it interesting chase - add another 35 with that 170, it was probably PAK's game to lose.
Click to expand...

Sarfraz should be banned from eating a biryani until he scores a hundred lol :inzi2

I wouldn't mind having Umar Akmal batting at 6 (or at least as back up in the squad), since he's shown form and one of the best attacking players against pace in the country. The only disagreement I have is with Asad Shafiq. Like come on how much longer do we have to put up with such a mentally weak batsman with no drive whatsoever?
 
Babar's brave innings was a great positive for me. Shan and Imam also stepped up.Bowling was quite good.Just need some good batsmen and a proper captain and our ranking will rise inshaAllah.

Painful to lose though especially when there are moments when your team is clearly in the drivers seat.
 
Usman Chadda said:
They've already out-performed Misbah's team from 2013. I'm frustrated about these lads throwing a test match away in an hour once again, but the fact that they got in that position is a pleasant surprise no one was expecting on this forum.

Although I believe we'll be smashed in the next two tests :inti
Click to expand...

That SA team had lightning Steyn in his prime and pitches wasn't this flat. Lol
 
MMHS said:
Ideal line-up for SAF tour was (... clearing throat, don't bash) -

Azhar, Imam/Shan
Haris, Babar, Asad, Umar/FZ
+Rizwan
*Amir, Abbas, Afridi, Yasir/Hasan
-------------------------------------

That's 14. Umar is back-up WK, so no need to disturb Sarfraz in this Biriyani season (in BD DEC-JAN is marriage season - I used enjoy at least 12 X 2 invitation per year ...., shouldn't be much different in PAK).

Other 2 for the squad are: a middle order (Saad), and 1 more pacer - may be Hamza or Fahim if his bowling is satisfactory.

The job Azhar, Asad did at critical moment of the game .... put Umar there, I can bet my house he would have stopped that free fall by hitting out few - even a quick fire 20-25 at that situation could have completely shifted the momentum, because SAF also must have been under immense pressure (no one knew Amla will play like this).

Yesterday, I wrote that 170 will make it interesting chase - add another 35 with that 170, it was probably PAK's game to lose.
Click to expand...

You spoilt it for me, when you mentioned Umar.

Pak can lose the next 20 tests, but disruptive players like Umar and the likes of Shehzad...can stay put.

We need players who give a hoot about Pak Cricket, not childish, self obssessed, twitterati pranksters!
 
topspin said:
Sarfraz should be banned from eating a biryani until he scores a hundred lol :inzi2

I wouldn't mind having Umar Akmal batting at 6 (or at least as back up in the squad), since he's shown form and one of the best attacking players against pace in the country. The only disagreement I have is with Asad Shafiq. Like come on how much longer do we have to put up with such a mentally weak batsman with no drive whatsoever?
Click to expand...

I kept him in XI because can’t drop deputy on 1st Test😝. After that, it becomes FZ, Umar ... instead of FZ/Umar.
 
Ami said:
You spoilt it for me, when you mentioned Umar.

Pak can lose the next 20 tests, but disruptive players like Umar and the likes of Shehzad...can stay put.

We need players who give a hoot about Pak Cricket, not childish, self obssessed, twitterati pranksters!
Click to expand...

Some times disruption isn’t bad - it shakes up things, which can be more damaging but can be positive as well. This absolute low steady state isn’t good either, actually worse. I can sense few players are backing each other to be safe as a lot and Ul Haq has his endorsement in that as well (he also has a stake here). In his press release, indirectly Sarfraz has shifted the blame to bowlers - and you haven’t seen the end of it.
 
A newbie SA fast bowler helped demolish the visitors in three day test match, who at no point in the game looked even remotely close to winning the test.
Thats was unexpected. Well not really.
Lucky for visitors...that Philander was injured or he could have spun a web from where the visting batters would have felt lost.
 
A pair of captains getting a pair, surely the only time this has happened in the history of the game.
 
We can still come back in this series, Harris and Abbas will strengthen our line up.
 
Bowlers bowled admirably in this game but our batting is just not good enough at this level. The collapse from 100 odd for 1 to 190 all out in the second innings sums up our batting woes and this is where the game was lost (despite the now all too familiar first inning batting failure). Even a target of 250 plus would have tested SA's not so formidable bating line up. 146 was never going to be enough. Middle order is too fragile and inconsistent. Besides tail cannot bat. Captain is not contributing with the bat either. A side that finds it hard to score 200 in a test innings has little chances of success in the remaining two games.

India are making 400 on average in Australia and should win the Melbourne test despite the 2nd innings collapse. Our pathetic batsmen together struggle to score 200 in a test innings.
 
This is true.

Also we must take under consideration that South Africa have officially another main front line bowler in Duane Olivier. Much like how Kyle abbottt destroyed us in 2013 (took a 6 for i believe) we must also Forget that they didnt have Philander neither. I personally did not think that dale Stryn would be as good after HIS absence but he proved us wrong. Still able to bowl 140+ after surgery impressive.

We need to give shafiq and sarfaraz a rest for one or two games, i agree bring in faheem and perhaps Shadab
 
3rd innings batting cost us here. 180 plus would have been enough. Pathetic batting from so called senior batsmen. Asad should be dropped for the next game. Specialist captain should be dropped after the series.

The only way we can do anything in this series is by improving our batting.
 
Not a surprise at all with our batting letting us down again. Just a matter of time before we lose the series after the next match.
 
Losing by just 6 wickets after horrific batting displays in both innings is not that bad ?
 
iHammad said:
Losing by just 6 wickets after horrific batting displays in both innings is not that bad ?
Click to expand...

You must have totally missed how close Pakistan was to dominate in this test match if it wasn't for a mega collapse in the second innings.
 
MRSN said:
You must have totally missed how close Pakistan was to dominate in this test match if it wasn't for a mega collapse in the second innings.
Click to expand...

You must be in lala land if you expected anything other than a Pakistani collapse.
 
After scoring a match-winning half-century on a tough Day 3 pitch against Pakistan at Centurion, South Africa opener Dean Elgar admitted that batting was very difficult and the chase "could have gone either way".

South Africa opener Elgar, along with Hashim Amla, steered the side to victory with a gritty partnership of 119 on a pitch featuring uneven bounce as well as prodigious seam movement. Elgar made a round fifty, while Amla shepherded the chase through with a knock of 63 not out. While the two batsmen displayed plenty of skill and character, luck had a role to play as well.

Elgar had enjoyed a reprieve when he was caught at slips by Azhar Ali off Shaheen Afridi, only for the third umpire to adjudge that the catch wasn't clean since it appeared to make contact with the ground, thus overturning the onfield umpire's soft signal.

"Fortune was on our side," Elgar said. "We mentioned it yesterday, while we were fielding, that we need so much luck in this game actually. The wicket has obviously had a lot of favour for the bowlers, and as a batting unit, you just needed something to go your way.

Elgar did seem to find some rhythm later in his knock, but conceded that it never got easier. "They need to triple my salary, and Aiden's as well, because it's hard work in South Africa," he joked. "It's definitely the toughest place in the world to bat, I can vouch for that now. But that's what makes the job so satisfying once you get through the tough times."


In fact, Elgar even has a few bruises to show for his efforts after copping a few blows to his body. After being dismissed he watched the proceedings from the dressing room with an ice pack tending to the areas he was struck on. Elgar said he might opt for extra protective material in the next game.

"I might have an armguard for the next game. We'll just have to see what the wicket's going to play like. But it's ok. I've been hit there many a time in my career, and it's never pleasant. I know the guys in the changeroom appreciate the work I do, and that makes it heal a little easier."

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/959056
 
A great opportunity missed; we had the advantage of the toss, we had a poor Saffer team as opposition( comparatively) and we have a very experienced Middle order. In the end none of these could compensate for our mediocrity.
 
Bewal Express said:
A great opportunity missed; we had the advantage of the toss, we had a poor Saffer team as opposition( comparatively) and we have a very experienced Middle order. In the end none of these could compensate for our mediocrity.
Click to expand...
This was our game. No wonder why Mickey was so upset.

If we get Haris in for Shafiq and Abbass in for Yasir next game, it will not be a bad team at all.
 
Bewal Express said:
A great opportunity missed; we had the advantage of the toss, we had a poor Saffer team as opposition( comparatively) and we have a very experienced Middle order. In the end none of these could compensate for our mediocrity.
Click to expand...
This is the weakest SA batting line up in last 30 years. In my opinion Pakistan bowling did not perform well in 4th innings. They need Abbas back.
 
Our batting collapses are becoming quite a regular affair. Doesn't help that we can hardly expect more than 10-20 runs in total from the last 4-5 batsmen.


Azhar, Asad and Sarf have totally failed to take up their responsibilities. Fakhar does not have the technique to be test opener, he needs to bat at 6. The less said about Imam the better, only selected because of chachu. I was impressed by Shan in this test.


In the next test, we should try something like this:

Azhar
Shan
Haris
Asad
Babar
Fakhar
Sarfaraz
Hasan
Amir
Abbas
Shaheen
 
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