After three days of blistering & combative cricket, we witnessed a below par, boring game between Pakistan & South Africa at the Lords. Both the team were dismal & Pakistan being the lesser one, prevailed in the final outcome.
Electing to bat, Pakistan started strongly against an insipid SA bowling, putting up 81 runs, before Fakhar Zaman perished in the 15th over for a well made 44. Imam followed soon for a similar score, as Imran Tahir rolled back years to dismiss both of them, including a stunning one handed catch. However, South African could not benefit from this, as Babar Azam & Haris Sohail, coming together after Hafeez departed, played with assurance & fluency, especially Haris, who was brutal with his willow, carving out 89 runs off just 59 deliveries, before getting out to the penultimate delivery of the innings, as Pakistan put up a commendable 308 for 7. Earlier, Babar Azam, oozing class, had scored 69 runs. For the South Africans, it was one more time an insipid, lifeless display on field.
Chasing without any real intent or belief, South Africa immediately ran into trouble with veteran opener Hashim Amla, declared LBW out on review in the 2nd over itself. Skipper du Plessis & de Kock tried hard to consolidate by adding 87 runs for the second wicket, & for a while it looked like a good contest on cards. But when de Kock departed in the 20th over for a rather timid & uncharacteristic 47 runs & Markram followed soon after in the 24th over with score at 103, the required run rate well above seven & the game slipping away for the Proteas. du Plessis made a laborious 63, while Dussen got 36 & Miller grafted for 31runs - all struggling with timing & flow. Phehlukwayo managed some hits to remain unbeaten with 46 of 32 deliveries, while Morris slogged 16 of 10, as the pitiable South African innings folded at 259 runs for 9 wickets, leaving Pakistan victorious by 49 runs - it was a sorry display of insipid batting by a team that was feared by opponents for its fearless approach in yesteryears.
With this loss, South Africa are now out of contention, while Pakistan live to fight another day, having a slender mathematical possibility of making to the semis.
For Pakistan, barring the batting of Babar Azam & Haris Sohail, & the bowling of Md Amir & Shabad Khan, it was a very average game - atrocious fielding saw numerous catches go down & runs leaked. Against any other opponent, they would be taken to cleaners, if they dont improve.
South Africa are in the midst of a torrid time, failing to impress in either batting, bowling or fielding - the team probably needs a complete overhaul of talent as well as belief for future to come.
Electing to bat, Pakistan started strongly against an insipid SA bowling, putting up 81 runs, before Fakhar Zaman perished in the 15th over for a well made 44. Imam followed soon for a similar score, as Imran Tahir rolled back years to dismiss both of them, including a stunning one handed catch. However, South African could not benefit from this, as Babar Azam & Haris Sohail, coming together after Hafeez departed, played with assurance & fluency, especially Haris, who was brutal with his willow, carving out 89 runs off just 59 deliveries, before getting out to the penultimate delivery of the innings, as Pakistan put up a commendable 308 for 7. Earlier, Babar Azam, oozing class, had scored 69 runs. For the South Africans, it was one more time an insipid, lifeless display on field.
Chasing without any real intent or belief, South Africa immediately ran into trouble with veteran opener Hashim Amla, declared LBW out on review in the 2nd over itself. Skipper du Plessis & de Kock tried hard to consolidate by adding 87 runs for the second wicket, & for a while it looked like a good contest on cards. But when de Kock departed in the 20th over for a rather timid & uncharacteristic 47 runs & Markram followed soon after in the 24th over with score at 103, the required run rate well above seven & the game slipping away for the Proteas. du Plessis made a laborious 63, while Dussen got 36 & Miller grafted for 31runs - all struggling with timing & flow. Phehlukwayo managed some hits to remain unbeaten with 46 of 32 deliveries, while Morris slogged 16 of 10, as the pitiable South African innings folded at 259 runs for 9 wickets, leaving Pakistan victorious by 49 runs - it was a sorry display of insipid batting by a team that was feared by opponents for its fearless approach in yesteryears.
With this loss, South Africa are now out of contention, while Pakistan live to fight another day, having a slender mathematical possibility of making to the semis.
For Pakistan, barring the batting of Babar Azam & Haris Sohail, & the bowling of Md Amir & Shabad Khan, it was a very average game - atrocious fielding saw numerous catches go down & runs leaked. Against any other opponent, they would be taken to cleaners, if they dont improve.
South Africa are in the midst of a torrid time, failing to impress in either batting, bowling or fielding - the team probably needs a complete overhaul of talent as well as belief for future to come.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment
I would appreciate all feedback on this post from you.