Story Im Going To Kill Someone - Runtime Error - Please Close

[Karachi Xpress]

Good decision by Inzi to bat first. Bad that Afridi isn't playing

 

[freddiw]

The batsmen Taufeeq Umar and Imran Farhat came out to bat and face the South African openers Ntini and Pollock. From the first over of the day both Farhat and Umar looked in good form playing the bowlers with confidence and aggression. The pitch has showed all signs of being as it was expected with the batsmen being capable of taking advantage of anything full or short. There have been a few fours but the early running between the wickets was the key. If Pakistan continue to bat with this positive attitude they will be risky but also have a chance to push on and knock the bowlers of their lines.

The first wicket came with a touch of luck and it was disappointing to see the Pakistanis lose an early wicket in this fashion. They openers were just beginning to look good when Umar hit one to cover and called through for a single. Kallis picked up threw and Boucher took the bails and left Farhat out of his ground. The decision did not need to be reffered to third umpire and although deffinatly out Farhat was livid with his partner Umar. The run was probably a safe one although Farhat did not back up as much as he could have done. This has been a big issue in his game and to open a series with such a poor piece of running is not the way he would have wanted to start.

So far the South Africans have been keen in the field despite the conditions. From the word go they put pressure on the batsmen and didn?t give anything away. With Khan coming in earlier than predicted the South Africans have a real opportunity to rip into their top order. So far the game is in the balance although South Africa have got to be happy with an early wicket. So now the game is set and lets see what happens will Khan bat through or fall early and start a collapse?

 

[Highlander999]

Great start by the South Africans, getting the early wicket and keeping the run-rate down.

Excellent work mate, keep it up

 

[shantanu_rooney]

great presentation

 

[gamerkid22]

South Africa doing well at the moment by keeping the runs down. Nice presentation mate. Just decrease the stroke value given to the text by 1.

 

[freddiw]

thanks all for comments update maybe today probs tommorow keep them coming
will do gamer thanks

 

[gutterman]

If pakastans batsmen can stay in they are a sure chance of getting 450+

 

[freddiw]

Note - FARHAT is NOT OUT and UMAR IS OUT OK

Pakistan vs South Africa
1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Score Slowly Till Lunch ​

Pakistan are beginning to build a very slow yet solid base on the first morning of the first test here in Rawalpindi. Imran Farhat and Younis Khan are watching the ball careful and just steadily moving the score along. The South African bowlers who have had a go so far have all kept good discipline and more so than any other is debutant Harris who has bowled well with good flight and turn for day one pitch. Zondeki looked aggressive but bowled to many bad balls and went for 31 from 9 overs. Ntini kept very good pace and bounce getting close to a wicket but never quite there. He has bowled a very good 7 overs for 26 runs. Pollock has lead from the front of the seam bowling with 9 overs for only 15 runs and getting close to a wicket on more than one occasion.

So with the score 80-1 at lunch Pakistan are in a position to go for the big runs throughout the rest of the day. This session has not been a good one with a slow run rate and few wickets. The Pakistanis have built well and with Yousef and Ul Haq in next they still have a very classy middle order remaining. South Africa have bowled well despite their luck and conditions and the tide could easily change. Both sides have a chance to capitalize on the current score in the next session.

Throughout this series we will choose a ‘player of the session’ every session and show their session statistics. Throughout this session their were two blatant players who could have got the title with Farhat batting well and very sensibly scoring 41 from 105 balls. He batted very well but the pace at which he has scored has been an issue and he will really want to get to 50 and push on after lunch. The other is debutant Paul Harris who has bowled 7 very good overs for 7 runs. He has turned the ball well and had countless LBW appeals and beaten the bat on a number of occasions. If the luck was with Harris he could have 3 or 4 wickets the way he has been bowling and that’s why he is player of the session

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[Karachi Xpress]

Thats superb bowling by Harris! 5 Maidens

 

[surendar]

Harris is becoming better and better in recent times as well. RR of 2.5 is neither too bad nor good SA need wickets though!

Forgot to mention that, poll has been reseted as per the story writer's request yesterday!

 

[gutterman]

its unlucky for south africa theyve been bowling well but they cant seem to take wickets

 

[gamerkid22]

Harris bowled well in this session. Pakistan have lost only 1 wicket till now but they should not worry about the slow run rate as long as they have wickets in hand.

 

[Highlander999]

Although slowly, at least Pakistan are playing themselves in.

Great scorecards and graphics mate, keep it up

 

[freddiw]

Harris Takes Two Wickets To Secure Session​

What a Session and defiantly taken by the South Africans. After all the effort and consistency from the bowlers they broke the partnership of Farhat and Khan and then snatched the wicket of Yousef for only 7 after he really couldn?t get started. Younis Khan remains on 58* and at the other end Inzamam has powered to 18 from only 25 balls. With the score at 173-3 from 65 overs the bowlers have been perfect. They have kept tight lines and been unlucky not to pick up more than 2 wickets through the session. With the Pakistanis lower order being weak there is serious pressure on Inzamam to get his eye in and build an innings with Khan. This is still a track for batting and with the new ball still 15 overs away Pakistan will have a chance to get back in and be ready to last out the day without losing any more wickets.

So the main key to Pakistan so far has been the Partnership between Younis Khan and Imran Farhat and the numbers 2 and 3 batsmen. They have batted well together making 80 odd and putting Pakistan in a position to to build a big score. There is a big amount of pressure on both Khan and Ul Haq after Yousef failed to score double figures after being tied down and eventually getting caught plum in front by Paul Harris the debutant left arm spinner.

South Africa have bowled well keeping tight lines and most predominatly Harris is getting turn off the pitch to put pressure on the Pakistani batsmen. Pollock, Kallis and Ntini have all bowled well and really look like they could get wickets with any delivery. Zondeki has been the weak link of the bowlers and I will be surprised if he is given the ball again today. He has been inconsistent and constantly let the pressure slip when Khan and Farhat were scoring slowly.

As I said earlier the key to Pakistan has been their second wicket partnership and although they scored slowly both showed great discipline and maturity lasting through severe pressure from the quicker bowlers and playing the young spinner Harris while he was getting turn flight and consistently dragging them forward consistently. The boundries were few and far between but to stay out there and survive such a tough couple of sessions will really stand them in good stead for the rest of this series.

First Farhat and with a scoring rate of 39 runs every 100 balls and 7 boundries from 57 runs he showed discipline necessary to make runs at the highest level. He was troubled early by the pace of Ntini and the movement of Pollock but has played Harris with great maturity and used his feet to the spinner very well. He hit almost all his runs through the off side with only 19 on the leg and a huge 46 on the off. In comparison a large amount and showing the batsmens style. He got forward drove well but also had a bit of luck hitting 19 runs through the slips and almost all of them were off the edge. Overall he was strongest driving and the flat pitch was one were anything overpitched was four runs.

In comparison to Farhat, Younis Khan is one of the most experienced and best batsmen in world cricket today. He showed his maturity and class running well between the wickets and being able to stay calm and bat defensively even though the run rate was never up to 3 an over. He hit in different areas to Farhat and although this could be due to the left/right combination he hit the 47 runs on the leg and an amazing 11 on the off. Although these are the stats he was still looking to get forward and drive but just couldn?t beat the South African ring of steel. With a strike rate of 37 he will really have to look to keep ticking it over after lunch.

Harris has been the key for South Africa with two wickets from a huge spell of 23 overs. He has bowled with Zip, Dip, Rip and Consistency to keep the runs down and the pressure on. For a debutant the 29 year old has played a very mature part of the South African attack. If he continues to bowl like this he could have another three of four years at the top and be a key to the South African side. On a pitch that is helping the spinners Harris will want to continue bowling and try to really get some big wickets on his test debut.

So the game is very much in the balance with Pakistan at 173-3 with one session to go in the first day. And as the final part of the tea break Presentation we must name our player of the session. Despite maybe a solid batting performance from both Khan and Farhat the man who is the player of the session for the second time in the day is Paul Harris with session figures of 16 overs 1 maiden 47 runs and 2 wickets. He was really looking the part as a left handed off spinner. That?s why today he is our Player of the Session for the second time.

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Very good bowling by Harris. Pakistan are in trouble here.