South Africa end Day 1 at 123/2 after bowling Pakistan out for 177

[ARK Rafay]

Whenever our teams shine fake and roar load to hide the mistakes and vulnerabilities. New Zealand comes to rescue and provides us the much needed reality check. 1st 0-5 in New Zealand in ODIs and before this series 1-2 in UAE in Tests

 

[Ramsay]

What a brutal Cape Town wicket though! Looks ominous!

All hopes pinned on Mohammed Abbas now.

My gut feeling is that, Abbas will go merry on this wicket!

 

[Shafi]

For the betterment of our cricket we need to get rid of Inzi the culprit and Micky the drama queen first, then get rid of Azhar, Shafiq, Imam, Sarfraz and Fakhar.

 

[Mamoon]

Not only is Sarfraz a terrible batsman, he is also extremely ugly in terms of technique.

 

[iRfaN_LA]

Sarfu still on duck in series

 

[bantu]

I will be surprised if we are not 50/5 at the end of first session.

Spot on .. 54/5 ..

 

[Abdullah719]

Micky has informed Sarf, that he needs to score just 1 run in this test match to remain captain till world cup. Can Sarfaraz score the single?

Looks tough.

 

[Pete Rose]

This reminds me of Pakistan’s 2010 tour to England. On that tour only Azhar Ali scored, on this tour only Shan will score.

 

[ILcricket]

3 overs to lunch . Sarfaraz needs to grind it out .

 

[Mueez]

For the betterment of our cricket we need to get rid of Inzi the culprit and Micky the drama queen first, then get rid of Azhar, Shafiq, Imam, Sarfraz and Fakhar.

Why Mickey?

He has done a great job with these bunch of clowns.

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

Not only is Sarfraz a terrible batsman, he is also extremely ugly in terms of technique.

Really good against spin on turning / flat tracks though

 

[Green Patriot]

All hopes pinned on Mohammed Abbas now.

My gut feeling is that, Abbas will go merry on this wicket!

He needs something to defend though.

 

[AAli98]

Masood wouldn’t get into zimb xi & his paks best batsman.

Imam & shan must have some serious connections even Micky cannot get rid of them.

 

[Mamoon]

Really good against spin on turning / flat tracks though

He looks ugly even when he scores. Doesn't play a single attractive shot.

 

[shariqnoor]

Never in a million years thought that Shan Masood would be Pakistan's best batsman. He looks like he is playing on a completely different pitch.

 

[Green Patriot]

We were told that our batsmen handle swing, seam and bounce better than Indian batsmen.

Who said that?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Surprised its taken SA 20 overs to get into the pakistan tail.

Head need to roll on this test side regardless of fact our next series vs SL is not until late this year.

 

[Shafi]

We just scored 10 runs more than Australia. Its a moral victory!!!!

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

He looks ugly even when he scores. Doesn't play a single attractive shot.

He looks ugly most times agreed but has a really attractive cut shot and cover drive at times against spin

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pietersen praising Shan's stance.

 

[ILcricket]

Rabada seems to be off color today .

 

[Pete Rose]

Pakistan have basically been dismissed on length so in this innings. Barring maybe Shafiq to whom the delivery seemed slightly.

 

[Fahdi]

KP is suddenly a Shan fan.

 

[Varun]

Pakistan getting ravaged. 57/5.

The time for Sarfraz to hit a 150 is now.

 

[Pete Rose]

Masood wouldn’t get into zimb xi & his paks best batsman.

Imam & shan must have some serious connections even Micky cannot get rid of them.

Wot?

 

[Mueez]

Pakistan getting ravaged. 57/5.

The time for Sarfraz to hit a 150 is now.

He won’t do it.

 

[Pete Rose]

Time to pump up the captain: looking good so far. And probably happy to face philander.

 

[bantu]

Make Shan Masood , the batting Coach as well ..

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

Pakistan getting ravaged. 57/5.

The time for Sarfraz to hit a 150 is now.

Its Sarfraz not Yuvi

 

[yasir]

SA is trolling on Pakistani technique for last two hours. Sending batting 101 lessons to 6 coaches and 200M Pakistanis how to bat, who will forget all that in a month when PSL starts. We will be looking for another battery of hacks and then curse corruption is the reason we don’t win, otherwise talent is there

 

[Mamoon]

Never in a million years thought that Shan Masood would be Pakistan's best batsman. He looks like he is playing on a completely different pitch.

He has the highest IQ in the team. A little preparation and understanding of the game can you take a long way. He is clearly not very gifted, but it doesn't take much to outperform this bunch of thick, mediocre players if you are mentally up for it.

 

[Mueez]

Pakistan have basically been dismissed on length so in this innings. Barring maybe Shafiq to whom the delivery seemed slightly.

And the one of Babar which stayed low tbh.

 

[bantu]

Vern is back

 

[Pete Rose]

Shot.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Phialnder is easiest to play of all of them. Bowls at such a low pace..

 

[shariqnoor]

Unfair comparison! Pakistan's bowling attack are bowling against more capable/gritty batsmen.

How many runs do you think this current batting line up will make when facing Amir, Afridi etc.... They will be bundled out for next to nothing.

This whole premise of blaming the bowling line up for the struggle is simply not right.

Even our batting lineup will post 270 against Amir, Shaheen, Hasan. You only need to see off their first spell. After that they will trundle in the 130-133 kph range.

 

[Mamoon]

You know the attack is good when Philander appears to be the weak-link. Well at least he is slow.

 

[Fahdi]

I have a feeling Sarfraz may get a 30 odd here.

 

[Pete Rose]

And the one of Babar which stayed low tbh.

Yes length, not seam.

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

Phialnder is easiest to play of all of them. Bowls at such a low pace..

He seams it in and out more than any other bowler in the world currently and especially on this pitch

 

[Shandarchowka]

Take that Philander

 

[Amjid Javed]

Quick fire 10-15 from captain here before he throws it away.

 

[yasir]

Now Karachi lobby will talk about those two fours till WC to justify Sarfraz’s place and ignore how SA commies have dissected his great technique

 

[Pete Rose]

Phialnder is easiest to play of all of them. Bowls at such a low pace..

Sarfaraz is suited to play him.

 

[Mueez]

Ahh did Sarfraz really score a boundary?

 

[ILcricket]

150 could be something to bowl with .
64/5

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Lol 125 kph even Sarfraz can score off. This reminds me of Abu Dhabi test against OZ earlier this year. 5 down and sarfraz scored when it was most needed. Can he do that here?

 

[Varun]

Sarfraz launching a counterattack!

 

[Shandarchowka]

Such a refreshing technique from Shan! Lovely to watch

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

Sarfraz launching a counterattack!

he played like 1.5 shots lol... What counterattack??

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Last over before lunch.

 

[ILcricket]

You know the attack is good when Philander appears to be the weak-link. Well at least he is slow.

They are the best in the World .

 

[Fahdi]

Sarfraz trying to get some cardio? Ran almost to the boundary there

 

[Pete Rose]

The captain is here to play

 

[Green Patriot]

Please get to lunch safely.

 

[aukhan]

Sarfraz to score a 50 today.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Lol Sarfraz yelling while calling for the run.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Sarfi running )

 

[Green Patriot]

Sarfaraz dying to get to the other end

 

[shariqnoor]

He has the highest IQ in the team. A little preparation and understanding of the game can you take a long way. He is clearly not very gifted, but it doesn't take much to outperform this bunch of thick, mediocre players if you are mentally up for it.

Being educated makes a huge difference. You learn to critically analyze. Plus credit to him for not going the crying road like Khurram Manzoor, Umar Akmal, et al. He understood he had deficiencies, seemed to have worked on it and giving it his best. He's still not great but the way he has conducted himself is admirable. Huge change from the guys who come in and spout "I played my natural game and coach/captain gave me confidence".

 

[Pete Rose]

They’ve been more precise with the short ball to shan: it’s shorter than centurion. He has been patient as well.

 

[Adeel Naseem]

Sarfarz is in a very good position to hit a nice 20

 

[Pete Rose]

Incoming delivery now

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

When game is so pathetic that commies discuss rugby instead

 

[shortbread]

SA is trolling on Pakistani technique for last two hours. Sending batting 101 lessons to 6 coaches and 200M Pakistanis how to bat, who will forget all that in a month when PSL starts. We will be looking for another battery of hacks and then curse corruption is the reason we don’t win, otherwise talent is there

Having someone like Fakhar play tests in SA conditions is simply a poor call. Assembling a test batting line-up on the basis of limited over heroics is not a recipe for success.

 

[Pete Rose]

Umpire trolling Pakistan by playing one more over.

 

[Mueez]

If only these two can survive till the 30th over.

 

[Mamoon]

Sarfraz has already scored enough runs for his two fans to have a voice today.

 

[imshally81]

Just need 150 runs..

 

[Green Patriot]

Stick it out guys.

 

[Pete Rose]

Who has the bigger belly: Yasir or Philander

 

[Nikhil_cric]

There was a time Philander used to bowl 132-135 in spells. Now its all 80 mph and below.

 

[ILcricket]

Umpire trolling Pakistan by playing one more over.

You realize they have to come out after lunch to play !

 

[yasir]

KP is trolling Sarfraz hyper personality, not very still

 

[Oligochaetes]

Sarfraz has already scored enough runs for his two fans to have a voice today.

Yes, with this monumnetal innings he has guaranteed his spot as the captain of the Pakistan team until the end of World Cup 2019.

 

[imshally81]

 

[Pete Rose]

You realize they have to come out after lunch to play !

Eyes on the prize, young one. Need to get away right now.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Bit of a recovery here. SA should not get complacent.

 

[shortbread]

Being educated makes a huge difference. You learn to critically analyze. Plus credit to him for not going the crying road like Khurram Manzoor, Umar Akmal, et al. He understood he had deficiencies, seemed to have worked on it and giving it his best. He's still not great but the way he has conducted himself is admirable. Huge change from the guys who come in and spout "I played my natural game and coach/captain gave me confidence".

Agree, especially it makes a difference in the statements one makes.

Shan seems to have his feet firmly on the ground and wont be wavered by brief moments of success, good on him.

 

[ILcricket]

At this pace Philander appears very ordinary .Lunch at 75/5