1st ODI - Pakistan Vs South Africa at Centurion Park (Updates)

[Usman Chadda]

30 minutes to go guys

South Africa aim to continue momentum

Cricinfo staff

February 3, 2007

South Africa and Pakistan are the last two sides to begin their final World Cup preparations as their five-match series gets underway at Centurion Park on Sunday. Both sides have issues to resolve, although it is Pakistan with most questions to answer.

Their 10-wicket hammering in the Twenty20 International was a harsh reintroduction to limited overs action and, although too much shouldn't be read into the defeat, it certainly showed Pakistan at their worst.

The fresh faces brought in following the 2-1 Test series defeat hardly inspired. Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman feasted on the bowling and the batting line-up was undone by some fine seam and swing bowling. Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi, two experts at one-day level, appeared short on form and must up their game over the next five matches.

Bob Woolmer was less than impressed by his side at the Wanderers: "I was very disappointed with both the batting and the bowling and we have to pull up our socks in both departments."

Mohammad Asif will strengthen the bowling attack after resting for the Twenty20 but the decision to send Danish Kaneria home leaves the spin department exposed. Pakistan are hopeful that Inzamam-ul-Haq will have recovered from his back problem to lead the side and the batting could also do with his guidance. Kamran Akmal played purely as a batsman on Friday and his role could be anyway from opener to No. 7.

South Africa, too, have a question mark over the top order. AB de Villiers' poor Test season has left him under pressure for a place, although his dynamic fielding is a major asset in the one-day team. Bosman showed his clean-hitting ability in the Twenty20 and could slot in alongside Smith as de Villiers slips down the order. Who misses out when Herschelle Gibbs returns from his ban can be left for another day.

"There are a couple of different scenarios when it comes to replacing Herschelle," said Mickey Arthur, "but otherwise we would like to start with the side that finished against India. You can almost consider that our best XI."

On the bowling front South Africa are spoilt for choice and, coming at the end of a packed season, it won't be a surprise to see Smith and Arthur employ an Australian-style rotation system during the series.

South Africa (probable) Graeme Smith (capt), Loots Bosman, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher (wk), Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel

Pakistan (from) Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Yousuf, Naved-ul-Hasan, Shabbir Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Yasir Hameed, Zulqarnain Haider

© Cricinfo

[Usman Chadda]

Coaches' View:

Mickey Arthur said he was eager to keep the side that beat India by nine wickets in their last ODI. "There are a couple of different scenarios when it comes to replacing Herschelle, but otherwise we would like to start with the side that finished against India. You can almost consider that our best XI. I was very impressed by the skills we showed [at the Wanderers] and hopefully it sets us on the way for a good one-day series."

Bob Woolmerdescribed the 20/20 loss as "abject" and hoped Inzamam would be fit: "I was very disappointed with both the batting and the bowling and we have to pull up our socks in both departments."

[161]

inzi and shabbir injured?

asif rested ?

possible line up -

hafeez
nazir
malik
moyo
yk
razzaq
afridi
haider
rana
sami
asif/rehman ?

[darkmoon459]

20 or so minutes to go .

[iZeeshan]

We will lose this one, then win the next 4.

[Usman Chadda]

Originally Posted by PepsiCola We will lose this one, then win the next 4.

What makes you say that?

[darkmoon459]

Originally Posted by kashif77 inzi and shabbir injured? asif rested ? possible line up - hafeez nazir malik moyo yk razzaq afridi haider rana sami asif/rehman ?

Bowling dept looks really weak ,to encounter that top 5 + afridi and razzak has to fire and put up a fightng total .Need couple of big innings at a good pace , 290 + needed to have any chances to win.

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by UsmanCHADDA What makes you say that?

Eh, just a gut feeling.

Is paktv showing the match? What channel?

[Usman Chadda]

Originally Posted by PepsiCola Eh, just a gut feeling. Is paktv showing the match? What channel?

They were showing the Twenty20 on channel 3. Dunno if its the same this time round

[dog_again]

Inzi wins the toss and asks us to bat. Advantage Pakistan, great ground for chasing.

[161]

Originally Posted by dog_again Inzi wins the toss and asks us to bat. Advantage Pakistan, great ground for chasing.

oh...

us meaning s. africa.

[dog_again]

Yes.

Me = South African.
Therefore: Us = South Africa.
and: You = Pakistan.

[161]

Pakistan team
Abdul Razzaq, Inzamam-ul-Haq, wicket-keeperKamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Yousuf, Naved-ul-Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, captainYounis Khan


haha haider got a short run as did shabbir.

[Bouncer]

Isthere any feed available?

[darkmoon459]

Originally Posted by dog_again Yes. Me = South African. Therefore: Us = South Africa. and: You = Pakistan.

So its kinna like

ME tarzan
YOU jane.

[161]

and afridi gets the nod ahead of rehman

[iZeeshan]

So, Saf batting first?

I see, should be interesting. Pakistan are better chasers then setters, so...

[Shahid A]

so south africa are batting first?

[dog_again]

Originally Posted by darkmoon459 So its kinna like ME tarzan YOU jane.

Hey, no jungle references please.

[iZeeshan]

Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif

No Nazir? AAAAAAAAAAAGH!!! Akmal playing? I HATE THIS TEAM!!!

[octavian]

Nazir Dropped again ?? what the hell ?

[Bouncer]

Is

there

any

feed

available?

[octavian]

Why on earth is sami playing?

[MIG]

No illegal feeds are available on PP - pls dont ask this again.

[SameerAhmad]

Let's go Pakistan. I'm happy with the squad. I just wish Kamran was rested, and maybe Asif, but its a pretty good squad....

other than Sami of course, but then again, the PCB has that virus of selecting him for no apparent reasons. Nazir deserves it more.

Anyhow, its fine, go Pakistan, win this one!

[iZeeshan]

Graeme Smith, and De Villiers opeing

Asif to open

[Easa]

Fantastic team chosen. Just what I would have liked.

[161]

replace sami with shoaib and this is more or less our wc top 11

[iZeeshan]

Quite some start...

[dog_again]

Big appeal for testicles before wicket from Asif.

[darkmoon459]

7 runs of the first over .

[iZeeshan]

And four. Flying Start by South Africa

[darkmoon459]

Rana to start ,hope he finds his rythm

[iZeeshan]

Smacking cover drive from Smith!

11-0 1.1 Ov

[Easa]

11/0 (1.1)

[dog_again]

Lovely start from Rana. For us.

[darkmoon459]

guess not ,first ball goes for 4 .and the second one the same result

[iZeeshan]

wow we are already screwed...rana is so bad...

[Nauman]

What pathetic bowling from Rana, so much so for him being back in form with the ball.

[DesiMD]

poor start by pakistani

[CricketBuff]

I think Rana has pretty much lost it

[SUPERSAMI]

Rana bowls a wide, looks out of sorts.

[Nauman]

and a wide

[iZeeshan]

Looks like a batting beauty eh? Stupid Inzi?

[mooz]

kamran's pretty excited he finally caught something.

[dog_again]

4 4 1 wd wd wd

[iZeeshan]

And more wides. This guy has lsot it. He's terrible.

[SUPERSAMI]

A hat-trick of wides by Rana, pathetic bowling

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by dog_again 4 4 1 wd wd wd

I am laffing with you bro! No sarcasm, or jokes intended.

[ataullah]

1.4 Rana Naved to de Villiers, wide, this is a real poor start for Rana Naved here, full and wide outside off on that occasion, three wides in a row!!!
1.4 Rana Naved to de Villiers, wide, back of a length delivery outside the leg stump, de Villiers goes on the backfoot and looks to flick it away, misses it, it would have been a wide in any case
1.4 Rana Naved to de Villiers, wide, Rana Naved strays down the leg side on that occasion
1.3 Rana Naved to Smith, 1 run, touch short of good length delivery outside the off stump, Smith opens the face of the bat and steers it down to third man
1.2 Rana Naved to Smith, FOUR!!, Rana Naved has started off on a poor note, full and wide outside off, Smith reaches for it and drives it to long off for four, glorious drive!!!
1.1 Rana Naved to Smith, FOUR!!, starts off with a real loosener, full and wide outside off, Smith leans into the shot and drives it square of the wicket for four, crashing shot!!!
Rana Naved will share the new ball

[PlanetPakistan]

woooh Rana paa jee what's going on?

[CricketBuff]

Please kick out this bald Rana out of the team

[Easa]

Originally Posted by PepsiCola Looks like a batting beauty eh? Stupid Inzi?

So a bowler is bowling looseners and wides and its Inzi's fault?

[DesiMD]

agressive start for RSA

[darkmoon459]

2 boundries ,3 wides ,10 ball over ................ wt fudge rana doing.

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by CricketBuff Please kick out this bald Rana out of the team

you do understand that he was the man of the series against the WI...

[CricketBuff]

Rana another of Inzi's favourites

[mooz]

Originally Posted by Easa So a bowler is bowling looseners and wides and its Inzi's fault?

thats why he put a question mark after "stupid inzi".

[slix10]

I think I would drop him just cause of that over?

Unless he redeems himself with some wickets...

[Nauman]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan you do understand that he was the man of the series against the WI...

Do you understand that he is bowling rubish right now

[CricketBuff]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan you do understand that he was the man of the series against the WI...

Yes PP, but he is so unpredictable.

[Bailan]

Actually Rana is looking farword to displace Waqar in the fastest pakistanis to 100 wickets ...

i am sure he will come through for us here ...

[Easa]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan you do understand that he was the man of the series against the WI...

No no, he bowled a poor over. He's lost it.

[pacman]

Cricinfo says:

Toss: With Inzamam-ul-Haq rendered hors de combat due to a back problem, Younis Khan won the toss and put South Africa in to bat.

What game is he watching? LOL

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by Nauman Do you understand that he is bowling rubish right now

No i don't understand this type of rubbish bowling.

[DesiMD]

asif's always accurate!!

[161]

well when waqar was bowling coach rana was man of the series ... now he's total crap again.

good job pcb in getting rid of waqar and getting cheerleader mushy

[dog_again]

Smith reckons it's still friday night, waltzing down and hoiking Asif for 4.

[darkmoon459]

smithcomesdown the wicket and smacks asif for 4.

[CricketBuff]

Some sanity restored in Asif's over.

[iZeeshan]

down the wicket and 4

oh boy...

should we have batted first?

[DesiMD]

Originally Posted by kashif77 well when waqar was bowling coach rana was man of the series ... now he's total crap again. good job pcb in getting rid of waqar and getting cheerleader mushy

well that was an obvious mistake...no doubt abt that...
i think thats also the reason for injuries...pak has no idea how to train their current team pacers

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by Easa No no, he bowled a poor over. He's lost it.

well Asif went for 7 runs in his over too so let's snub him too.....ROA IFTHIKAR IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THESE 2 GALLI bowlers!

[mooz]

khair he yaro, Sami will take care of these damn South African batsmen.

[CricketBuff]

Mushy, the leg spinning bowling coach, another Inzi buddy

[amerrahman]

Originally Posted by kashif77 well when waqar was bowling coach rana was man of the series ... now he's total crap again. good job pcb in getting rid of waqar and getting cheerleader mushy

Just wanted to clarify that mushtaq is not there for cheerleading but, to quote waqar, 'put the cones' .

[MIG]

Is Rehman playing ? If so, its really him who will bring the score rate down.

As for Asif, he isnt too great when being attacked.

[DesiMD]

better over...only a boundry..that was an aggressive one

[mooz]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan well Asif went for 7 runs in his over too so let's snub him too.....ROA IFTHIKAR IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THESE 2 GALLI bowlers!

You need a lesson in understanding sarcasm.

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by MIG Is Rehman playing ? If so, its really him who will bring the score rate down. As for Asif, he isnt too great when being attacked.

Nope.