South Africa finish Day 1 of first Test at 127/5 in response to Pakistan's total of 181

[Shandarchowka]

Pollock saying it’s very unusual for centurion to have such a quick bouncy pitch on day 1.. our boys are facing the toughest of conditions.. hope babar makes an impression here

 

[yasir]

They are sledging from comm box, “Pakistan has no real technique to play short ball. No body plays pull and hook”

 

[Bilal7]

It's a very decent wicket for Pakistan imho. India received stuff near the end of the spectrum. They deserved it after the rubbish they gave us in India though.

The last pitch they got after the series was won was obviously for revenge. However, they got an Indian-style track and I hope we get one too.

 

[Irtasam]

Babar and Shan dealing with the short ball with similar high elbow technique.

 

[mak36]

Please don't compare this useless cricketer to That guy averaged nearly 53 with the bat and could score heavily. No comparison here.

Lol, such a dumb comparison.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Look at the bounce and inconsistent bounce on Day 1

 

[Shandarchowka]

Come on bobby show us your the best

 

[yasir]

Playing in uae, our batter crouch so low, how the hell they are going to play anything short

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Pakistan has a good run rate here. The 4 wickets are the only issue here

 

[mak36]

Haysmen is so biased man. Annoying commentator. You can’t expect the batsmen to be playing a pull shot on his 3rd delivery you friggin idiot

Holding out him back in his box.

 

[Ab Fan]

SA bowlers infact all bowlers only bowl well against Indians.

Lol what rubbish.

I never said so, about India but in this game, if you watched Rabada's 1st spell, he bowled quite a few half-valley on pads which helped Pakistan get going after the two early wickets and that is why they reached 50 quickly. Shan was bad luck while Shafiq, I don't know what to make of him.

 

[Shandarchowka]

The last pitch they got after the series was won was obviously for revenge. However, they got an Indian-style track and I hope we get one too.

Indian series was overhyped.. pitched nowhere near this as

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Look at the bounce and inconsistent bounce on Day 1

But but but the pitch is easy to bat on and only Indians get tough wickets in the history of game.

 

[iRfaN_LA]

This pitch isn't that bad, I expect 280-300 to be a par 1st innings score.

pitch is very supportive. Excellent bounce and ball is moving around as well. With our batting lineup, we would be 4 down on any pitch.

 

[Pakprideuk]

Wow look how that delivery to Azhar took off. This is borderline dangerous...

 

[mak36]

Look at the bounce and inconsistent bounce on Day 1

Bounce is crazy.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Just need 200-250 on board. Need at least a hundred partnership from these two.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Why are we batting first on a green wicket? anyone?

Historically 4th innings in Centurion is bloody tough, 130 target will be a winning score if Pakistan can manage that.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Azhar is scoring the toughest possible runs here.. 40 is like 100

 

[ARK Rafay]

Bounce is crazy.

I highly doubt the play would go to Day 5.

 

[Mueez]

Bounce is crazy.

Advantage Pakistan in the 4th innings?

 

[mak36]

But but but the pitch is easy to bat on and only Indians get tough wickets in the history of game.

Lol the funny thing is India actually got a very dry subcontinent pitch last tour. Faf was very surprised/disappointed.

 

[Shandarchowka]

I want Shaheen to wreck havoc on Spith African batsmen here.. such a bad pitch they are dishing us

 

[Abdullah]

Missed a massive opportunity here. We were looking fine at 50-2 and just needed 250 and we were in the game. Let's hope these 2 are there at tea!!

 

[Rana]

Not sure why Sarfaraz would bat first knowing the brittle order that we have.

The ball is flying on this surface

 

[ARK Rafay]

I want Shaheen to wreck havoc on Spith African batsmen here.. such a bad pitch they are dishing us

Shaheen could get the most advantage with inconsistence bounce and his height

 

[shah_1]

Asad Shafiq is a big joke


Worst investment ever in history

 

[Abdullah]

Azhar is scoring the toughest possible runs here.. 40 is like 100

I wouldn't go that far but yes the first 2 days are the time to bat and we should have tried to bat for 4 off them!!

 

[Boi]

Not sure why Sarfaraz would bat first knowing the brittle order that we have.

The ball is flying on this surface

It will be flying through more as the days go on and the wicket quickens up.

 

[Irtasam]

Given the bounce on this pitch, expect Shaheen to be a handful since we'll be bowling today ofc.

 

[ILcricket]

Poor forecast for last 3 days means this one could be a draw too if visitors hang in & get 200 .

 

[Shandarchowka]

Not sure why Sarfaraz would bat first knowing the brittle order that we have.

The ball is flying on this surface

Batting first better than batting last for sure

 

[Rinnegan Sasuke]

Azhar is scoring the toughest possible runs here.. 40 is like 100

 

[Bilal7]

Why are we batting first on a green wicket? anyone?

Looks a bad decision in hindsight especially with the forecast showing rain on days 3 and 4. However, this has been a bat first pitch and I liked the bold move.

Shan and Shafiq will be back for more in the second innings, they were looking good for the short time they spent in the middle. Imam and Fakhar need to clear their heads though and see off the first 20 overs, at least.

 

[Rana]

Typically, non Asian teams preparing hard, bouncy wickets for Pakistan as compared to the usual flat tracks that are being played on throughout the world

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Poor forecast for last 3 days means this one could be a draw too if visitors hang in & get 200 .

Ain't no draw here, lol.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Results are irrelevant in the series , just want to see how shaheen afridi does in south africa.

 

[Ab Fan]

Azhar Ali still showing why he is the best batsmen in Pakistan.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Just hang on till the spinner comes on guys... Hang Onnnnnn!

 

[Rana]

De Kock might as well wear a helmet against the pacers. Yorker length balls are reaching up to his face when he takes them

 

[ILcricket]

Ain't no draw here, lol.

day 3 & 4 real bad .

 

[mak36]

Shaheen could get the most advantage with inconsistence bounce and his height

As long as he doesn't get overexcited and bowls too short.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Good bowling tactics. Bowler 1 and Bowler 2 bowling 6-8 overs together and then Bowler 3 replaces Bowler 1. Bowler 2 and Bowler 3 bowling 6-8 overs together and then Bowler 1 replaces Bowler 2 and so on...

 

[Oligochaetes]

Azhar Ali still showing why he is the best batsmen in Pakistan.

Stop jinxing pls...

 

[Rana]

Just hang on till the spinner comes on guys... Hang Onnnnnn!

Proper park cricket strategy

 

[mak36]

Advantage Pakistan in the 4th innings?

Let's get to 200-250 first lol.

 

[Wristy_Shuffler]

Don't think SA have bowled all that well on this pitch. They've been done too to use the bounce and not bowled full enough. If they continue bowling short, at least the ball is losing it's shine but it's just that at 4 down, Pakistan would be reluctant to make use of the middle period where the ball is old and any juice from a day one pitch has died a bit. That's where they would ideally go on the counter.

 

[Bilal7]

Good bowling tactics. Bowler 1 and Bowler 2 bowling 6-8 overs together and then Bowler 3 replaces Bowler 1. Bowler 2 and Bowler 3 bowling 6-8 overs together and then Bowler 1 replaces Bowler 2 and so on...

That's pretty standard, dude. How else would you distribute the workload between three pacers?

 

[Mamoon]

How dare Haysman criticize the impeccable batsmanship of Pakistani batsmen, but I am glad that well wisher of Pakistani cricket, the Whispering Death is there to put him in his place.

 

[ARK Rafay]

That's pretty standard, dude. How else would you distribute the workload between three pacers?

I don't know the name for it. So I tried to define

 

[ILcricket]

Azhar is playing well . Steyn bowling 9th over of session , poor SAF did not pick 5 bowling options .

 

[Rana]

2 SA wickets were bad luck on Pakistan really. Oliveir getting Masood and Shafiq. Pakistan have done better than I expected and its good to see that they are batting at a modern strike rate

 

[Oligochaetes]

Azhar has "owned" Stey today, four boundaries already...

 

[ARK Rafay]

Had Hafeez done better here in place of Imam?

 

[MMHS]

day 3 & 4 real bad .

I think, 300 overs are enough for a result here. First 2 days are more or less clear, in last 3 days they have up to 7.5 hours, for another 180 overs - enough for result.

 

[Rana]

Youve got to hand it to Azhar Ali, he wont go down as a Pakistan great but the guy can bat!

 

[Oligochaetes]

How dare Haysman criticize the impeccable batsmanship of Pakistani batsmen, but I am glad that well wisher of Pakistani cricket, the Whispering Death is there to put him in his place.

What did Holding say?

 

[Swashbuckler]

The last pitch they got after the series was won was obviously for revenge. However, they got an Indian-style track and I hope we get one too.

Lol the funny thing is India actually got a very dry subcontinent pitch last tour. Faf was very surprised/disappointed.

SA batted first in that match and SA's greatest test spinner Keshav Maharaj had match figures of 93/1 in 26 overs. SA quicks picked up 19 wickets, newbie Ngidi got 39/6 in the 4th innings. I don't see what was subcontinental about that?

Faf was disappointed because he wanted even more extreme conditions as revenge. His curators gave him precisely that in the final test and their batsmen couldn't handle the heat. Elgar and Amla were running away scared and SA experts were wanting the match to be called off despite India taking brutal body blows in their 2 innings. They even doctored the wicket overnight to make it easier for the SA batsmen but after initial resistance on a docile surface, when the pitch returned to normal character they were blown apart by Shami.

 

[ILcricket]

I think, 300 overs are enough for a result here. First 2 days are more or less clear, in last 3 days they have up to 7.5 hours, for another 180 overs - enough for result.

70% & 40% chance of rain on day 3 & 4 .

 

[Rana]

Sarfaraz's reaction to Afrikaans

Quality Heysman

 

[Ami]

M Yousuf might have scored tons of runs with an average of 53.

But how many of those runs actually help Pakistan win a test match.

He went AWOL on a regular basis when the chips were down.

He was bailed out on numerous occasions by the likes of Inzy and Co just like Azhar does now to Shafiq.

Good indicator, of a reasonable test match player is how many of his 100s actually help win a test match...Inzy was almost perfect in this...but Yousuf very low comparatively.

We, as Pak supporters, do tend to look back on our once coveted stars with goggle visions...

 

[AAli98]

Rather be 90/4 at lunch than 37/1 because the result is going to be 3-0 regardless.

At least theyr playing modern r/r

 

[ILcricket]

Rabada is off color . 76/4

 

[Pakprideuk]

Azhar has looked a class above mashaAllah.

 

[Rana]

Seems like Haysman is annoyed that Pakistan won the toss and batted first on a boxing day Test

 

[yasir]

On this wicket 230/250 is par, on Day 1 bounce is on high side but is also inconsistent

 

[babajee]

Where is my off stump

 

[Bilal7]

Even 200 would be a decent total. Sarfaraz will enjoy smashing Maharaj around if these two can get a 50 runs partnership here.

 

[Ab Fan]

Shaheen Shah Afridi is one bowler I look forward to.

 

[MMHS]

70% & 40% chance of rain on day 3 & 4 .

Still, 90+90, Day 3 wash out, Day 4, 60 overs, Day 5, 98 possible, that's around 330 overs. Without rain this Test won't go to Day 5.

 

[mak36]

What did Holding say?

He said batsmen have to be decisive as to whether they want to play the short ball or not, but doesn't have a problem with which option they choose.

Said as a bowler he used to get irritated when batsmen used to leave it (feels effort is wasted) so it's a good strategy for batsmen, whereas a bowler will get excited if batsmen take it on and makes a mistake etc.

Not sure which part is controversial lol.

 

[Rana]

Slip catchers need to be ready today

 

[Rana]

Haysman sounding really, really sour here!

 

[Bilal7]

"Best boxing-day crowd in South Africa for a long, long time" - Haysman.

South Africa vs Pakistan is always must-see cricket. Cannot believe it has been four-five years since they faced off.

 

[QalandarFan]

Tune in and not surprised to see Asad was dismissed cheaply. Looks like Azhar has played well though. 250 is still on if these two can put on a partnership here.

 

[mak36]

Seems like Haysman is annoyed that Pakistan won the toss and batted first on a boxing day Test

Someone should explain to him how cricket works.

 

[QalandarFan]

"Best boxing-day crowd in South Africa for a long, long time" - Haysman.

South Africa vs Pakistan is always must-see cricket. Cannot believe it has been four-five years since they faced off.

Agreed!

 

[Ozymandiasza]

SA batted first in that match and SA's greatest test spinner Keshav Maharaj had match figures of 93/1 in 26 overs. SA quicks picked up 19 wickets, newbie Ngidi got 39/6 in the 4th innings. I don't see what was subcontinental about that?

Faf was disappointed because he wanted even more extreme conditions as revenge. His curators gave him precisely that in the final test and their batsmen couldn't handle the heat. Elgar and Amla were running away scared and SA experts were wanting the match to be called off despite India taking brutal body blows in their 2 innings. They even doctored the wicket overnight to make it easier for the SA batsmen but after initial resistance on a docile surface, when the pitch returned to normal character they were blown apart by Shami.

)

Your post reads like India won the series heroicly in a decider... India won the third test by 63 runs with Amla and Elgar both getting 50s in the fourth innings.

 

[mak36]

"Best boxing-day crowd in South Africa for a long, long time" - Haysman.

South Africa vs Pakistan is always must-see cricket. Cannot believe it has been four-five years since they faced off.

Spot on.

 

[Markhor]

After England, South Africa is my favourite place to watch Test cricket.

Pitches usually with good pace and bounce keeping the bowlers interested but where batsmen can score if they apply themselves. Crowds are decent and fair minded, and quality coverage.