Tea South Africa 423 and 58 for 2 (Amla 24*, du Plessis 1*) lead Australia 246 (Warner 70, Smith 49, Morkel 3-63) by 235 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Dale Steyn flattened Brad Haddin's middle stump, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Port Elizabeth, 3rd day, February 22, 2014
South Africa built a dominant position on the third day at St George's Park as they reached tea with a lead of 235, but Graeme Smith's problems continued when he fell cheaply against Mitchell Johnson and the home side are likely to have to cope without Wayne Parnell's bowling for the remainder of the match after he suffered a groin strain.
Parnell limped off midway through his ninth over, but the other South Africa bowlers combined effectively to dismiss Australia for 246 and earn a 177-run advantage. It was set to be even more until a pesky last-wicket stand of 37 between Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, who would have been out without scoring had South Africa reviewed when he gloved a short ball from Dale Steyn, ensured the follow-on was not an issue for Smith. He was always unlikely to enforce in any event, despite a dodgy forecast for the final day which will need to be factored into any declaration should the situation present itself.
Morne Morkel received reward for his hostile bowling which continued into the third day to finish with three wickets, although Johnson's name was worthy of being among that tally after he dusted up the quick bowler who then missed a straight ball from JP Duminy.
Johnson responded in kind when he had the ball in hand, finding Smith's inside edge to take out leg stump after earlier being unimpressed with Smith pulled away from the first delivery of the innings which he then clipped to the boundary. It was superbly edgy, tense Test cricket. Hashim Amla came out at No. 3 despite earlier dislocating a finger when he could not hold a tough chance at gully and was unbeaten at tea on 24, but Dean Elgar did not make the interval when he edged Siddle from around the wicket.
South Africa's fielding again failed to reach the high standards expected of them - Robin Peterson, on as sub for Amla, dropped a dolly at square to reprieve Steven Smith - but the bowlers continued to create enough chances that no single miss proved overwhelmingly costly, although the errors could yet add up to hurt.
David Warner had been among those given a life when he was dropped on the second evening by AB de Villiers, but his innings was ended early in the morning session to give South Africa an even stronger hold on proceedings. Philander, who teased the batsmen with his usual combination of line and length, accounted for Warner with a wide delivery that the batsman could not resist flashing at.
Four balls and two fours from Smith later, Nathan Lyon was dismissed for the first time in nine innings spanning 160 deliveries. Morkel, who pounded him from around the wicket, banged in another one, quick and short, and Lyon was in two minds about whether to play. He made room and forced himself into a shot, which he ended up playing onto his stumps.
South Africa could have had a third scalp in the next over when Amla dropped Haddin on 1. Amla's replacement, Peterson, then put down a simple chance at square leg when Smith flicked Steyn off his pads.
Smith cashed in on his lifeline and attacked Parnell and Steyn, dealing with the hint of swing with relative ease. Halfway through his ninth over, Parnell then pulled out of his delivery stride and, on trying to start again, aborted all efforts. He walked to Smith, handed him the ball and trudged off with a slight limp. He was immediately taken to hospital for scans which confirmed a strain, but not a more serious tear.
Steyn continued to find movement and following an appeal for lbw when one tailed back into Haddin he then found a gap between bat and pad as the keeper went for drive, the ball snaking to take out middle stump. With a bowler down, Smith had little choice but to introduce spin and Duminy operated in tandem with Steyn. Johnson tucked into his half-volleys but had a much tougher time against Morkel, who was relentless with the bouncer in his second spell. He hit Johnson on the glove and ribs and then on the helmet but could not dismiss him.
That wicket went to Duminy who had Johnson playing for the turn and missing, only to find the off stump knocked back. Shortly after lunch, Smith became Morkel's third when he was given caught behind via the DRS when the third umpire used a spike on Snicko to decide it was sufficient prove to over-turn the on-field not-out. The look on Darren Lehmann's face suggested he did not believe it was conclusive prove.
Harris and Siddle showed that the surface remained true for batting; Harris cleared the follow-on target with a six over midwicket against Philander and timed the ball sweetly through the leg side before driving at a full delivery, edging high to second slip
Yuvraj and Dinda take India to series-levelling win
India 192 for 5 (Yuvraj 72, Dhoni 33*, Gul 4-37) beat Pakistan 181 for 7 (Hafeez 55, Jamshed 41, Dinda 3-36) by 11 runs
India overcame a Mohammad Hafeez masterclass to win by 11 runs and level the two-match series. His wristwork and effortless clearing of the ropes would have inspired admiration from those he tormented today. But Ashok Dinda bowled an excellent second spell at a time when Pakistan, led by Hafeez, were on track to chase down 193, a target set up by a dominating innings by Yuvraj Singh, who treated a packed house in Ahmedabad to an airshow that included seven sixes.
Dinda was at the receiving end of a last-ball six that sealed victory for England in their T20 against India less than a week ago, but he came back well despite being put under pressure early in each of his two spells. He conceded 13 in his first over, during a promising opening stand of 74 between Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, and was struck for two consecutive fours by Mohammad Hafeez in the 15th over that began with Pakistan needing 68 to win off 36 balls.
The conditions in Ahmedabad were pitted against the seamers, with no movement on offer and thereby forcing them to rely on variations to contain the batsmen. Dinda not only did that, he was largely accurate and picked up three wickets, including Hafeez, in a three over spell that yielded 23 when Pakistan still had wickets in hand and the target appeared within reach. A slower ball that bowled Umar Akmal ended a 62-run stand with Hafeez that had given Pakistan the edge in the chase, and Dinda got Hafeez and Kamran Akmal to hole out in the penultimate over at the start of which Pakistan required 26.
India's spinners, R Ashwin, part-timer Suresh Raina and Yuvraj, slowed down Pakistan's openers between overs six to 11, resulting in their wickets at the cost of just two boundaries. The required rate had climbed to more than 12 in the 12th over, when Hafeez began his charge with a scoop for four that highlighted the feature of his innings, swift but skilful and interspersed with some wonderful touch-play, but little brute force.
Hafeez deftly guided Yuvraj past point, then proceeded to dispatch Ashwin for two straight sixes over midwicket before driving and paddling Dinda for two consecutive boundaries, all in successive overs. A flat six over extra cover off Ishant Sharma showed the confidence he was playing with, but Dinda's comeback was vital in preventing Pakistan from pushing on. Two wickets in the penultimate over brought the equation to 20 required off the last, too much for Umar Gul and Shoaib Malik against Ishant.
India's middle order played a prominent role in the win, after having squandered an excellent foundation laid by openers Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane in the opening encounter in Bangalore. The openers did their job again, and Yuvraj and MS Dhoni, in a stand of 97 off 44 balls, ensured their work wasn't laid to waste.
Yuvraj , who was struck a painful blow to the toe off a Mohammad Irfan yorker early in his innings, recovered well and seemed to be in his element, striking the ball cleanly, with a lovely flourish. Afridi and Saeed Ajmal were deposited towards cow corner, and two successive short balls were pulled over the square-leg boundary. Ajmal was targeted in the penultimate over, as Yuvraj took him for three consecutive sixes, the last of them smacked over long-on.
The last five overs yielded 74 and though Dhoni played the supporting role, he wasn't left far behind. He ran well between wickets, and pulled and drove Umar Gul for two straight fours. Though Gul picked up four wickets, accounting for India's openers and the pair that took them towards 192, he was short of support from the rest of his attack and bowled a no-ball in the final over that yielded a boundary off the free-hit. Tanvir, Ajmal and Afridi each went for over 10 an over, leaving their batsmen too much to compensate for.
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India v Pakistan, 1st T20, Bangalore
Malik and Hafeez guide Pakistan to victory
December 25, 2012
Two of Pakistan's experienced hands guided them to victory in their first game in almost three months, and their first bilateral tour of India in five years. An early burst from debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who began his international career with a fabulous display of swing bowling, rattled the Pakistan top order but the calm presence of Mohammad Hafeez and some enterprising batting from Shoaib Malik put a chase of 134 back on track.
Pakistan had another scare at the death, losing two in quick time when victory appeared secure, but Malik ultimately saw them through in the final over, sealing the game with a six. The hosts were a specialist bowler short, as the Pakistan pair targeted the non-regulars, but a more significant factor in India's loss was their implosion with the bat, when they lost nine wickets for 47 runs in 46 balls.
| Mohammad Hafeez led Pakistan's recovery |
A 36,000-strong crowd had been silenced during an impressive display of bowling backed up by some excellent ground fielding that had helped Pakistan fight back after India's openers had laid a strong foundation in an attractive stand of 77 in under 11 overs. The decibel levels at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, however, hit their peak when Bhuvneshwar swung it this way and that, setting up two of this three victims with outswingers before nipping one back in to dismantle the stumps. At 12 for 3, Pakistan were reeling; their rebuilding was steady, and resulted in 24 boundary-less deliveries, but Hafeez and Malik pounced in at the right time.
Virat Kohli was one of the part-timers used by India, and Hafeez slogged him for two boundaries in the 11th over, at the start of which the required-rate had hit almost nine an over. Yuvraj Singh dragged the ball too short on occasion and was heaved for two sixes by the pair and they each stepped out to Ravindra Jadeja to dispatch him for maximums over his head.
The return of India's seamers didn't immediately check Pakistan, as the equation was brought down to 16 off the last three overs, but Ishant Sharma dismissed Hafeez and conceded just two in an over in which he had Malik caught off a no-ball for height. Ashok Dinda was given the penultimate over and he left Pakistan needing 10 off the last, which Malik helped achieve with a straight six off a Jadeja length delivery to win with two balls to spare.
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Ajinkya Rahane's supreme timing was the feature of India's opening partnership, as he lofted Pakistan's bowlers over extra cover effortlessly, though they hit back after he fell upper-cutting to third man. Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal were the architects of that comeback, after being struck for sixes in their respective opening overs. Gul was smashed over midwicket by Gambhir, but had Yuvraj Singh caught in the deep off a slower ball in his new spell before removing two in two towards the death. Ajmal was carted over extra cover by Rahane, but returned to dismiss MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina with quicker deliveries at a time when India would have backed themselves to reach a score of around or above 150.
Gambhir had started picking up the pace but was caught short of the crease when attempting a second run in the 13th over. Sohail Tanvir returned a throw on the half-volley to Kamran Akmal, who collected well and dislodged the stumps. Kohli and Yuvraj began well but fell trying to heave the seamers over square leg - left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan got rid of Kohli to bag his first international wicket.
Ajmal's tricks against Dhoni and Raina, and the early run-out of Rohit Sharma, sent back by a direct hit from the deep, transformed India's game from one aimed at an aggressive charge to mere survival. India scored just one boundary in the last six overs, their early advantage was squandered and not even a dream debut that produced a spell of 4-0-9-3 could restore it completely.
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Bal Thackeray opposes Pakistan's tour of India
New Delhi: Destructive group of Shiv Sena in India is totally against the Pakistan’s cricket team tour to India which is in the very next month of 2012. This tour has two T20 international and three One-day international between the arch-rivals. According to media reports, Shev Sena leader Bal Thackeray criticized the government of Manmohan Singh. Former Indian cricketers Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar have also partially opposed the Pakistan tour of India. Mr Thackeray also said that to allow Pakistan cricketers to play in India is an insult of martyred jawan which died in Mumbai terror attack of 2008 and the 2001 Parliament attack. Sena also dug up the pitch in Oct 1991 at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium to protest against the Pak-Indo match. It is expected that high profile security will be given to Pakistan cricket team as Shiv Sena group may try to attacks Pakistan team.
Brian Lara, Chris Gayle , Sanath Jayasuriya , Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg have shown their interest to play in PPL.
Breaking news
Brian Lara, Chris Gayle , Sanath Jayasuriya , Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg have shown their interest to play in PPL. If they are coming to play then I am sure that this event could have great chance of succession and the main goal of resolving cricket in Pakistan would be achieved.
British Army XI arrive in Pakistan
British Army Xi arrive in Pakistan to play a short series the series started today between Pak Xi and Brtsh Xi.
Brtsh Xi: 85
Pak Xi: 70/1
Brtsh Xi: 85
Pak Xi: 70/1
Pakistan in India 2012-13 Pakistan begin India tour in Bangalore
Pakistan will arrive in Bangalore for the India tour on December 22 and will play the first Twenty20 international on Christmas Day. The schedule, announced by the BCCI on Thursday, has the second T20 in Ahmedabad on December 27; Chennai will host the first ODI three days later and the two remaining one-dayers will be played in Kolkata and Delhi on January 3 and 6.
The BCCI's announcement came following the Indian home ministry's approval of the tour on Tuesday. The series is sandwiched between two legs of England's tour of India. England play the second and final T20 international in Mumbai on December 22 - the day Pakistan arrive - before heading home for Christmas. The ODI series between England and India starts on January 11, five days after Pakistan wind up their tour.
Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chairman, welcomed the announcement and said that the series was long due. "This is a great news for the people of both Pakistan and India," Ashraf told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium. "You can't just clap with one hand. Both countries need each other and that strengthens the relationship. The series will be a big breakthrough and a revival of our cricketing relationship with India."
Pakistan will play their first bilateral series against India since touring the country in end-2007. However, they have met in multinational tournaments - their last meeting was in the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. Cricket ties between the two countries were snapped following the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai by militants from Pakistan.
PCB welcomes day-night Tests
The PCB has welcomed the possibility of the day-night Tests, calling the change a "boost in the game's value for the host boards."
The ICC announced earlier this week that Tests can now be played under lights, allowing the boards of the two countries involved to decide on playing times and the brand, type and colour of the ball used. Pakistan have already experimented with day-night long-form cricket twice, by playing their first-class Quaid-e-Azam trophy final in January 2011 and December 2011 under lights with orange ball, instead of the pink ball that has been mainly used by various other boards.
The Executive Coordination Committee of PCB met at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday and welcomed the ICC's decision. "Cricket has changed over time and this decision (of day-night Tests) would provide the cricket fans with an opportunity to watch the cricket matches played under this format during prime-time television," PCB said. "The Committee observed that the application of the concept would also increase the product value of these matches for the host boards."
Pakistan has been a no-go country for major international teams after the attack on Sri Lankan team in March 2009. Since then, Pakistan have played their 'home' series away from home, mostly in UAE - where Pakistan failed to draw too much of a crowd for the Test matches, partly due to play being during working hours. Pakistan's last home Test series was against England earlier this year in UAE and the next Test series is against South Africa in October next year.
Experiments over the past couple of years have shown that either pink or orange balls are easier to sight than the traditional red one under lights. West Indies, England and Bangladesh have experimented with pink balls. The PCB, however, was undecided over the colour of the ball to be used for day-night Tests, though it has preferred the orange ball to the pink one in domestic trials. The experiment proved successful with the captains, umpires, referee and broadcaster giving encouraging feedback over the visibility of the ball.
Pakistan announce 15 man squad
Pakistan announce squad.
Squad:
Squad:
Squad for Australia T20s, World T20
- Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal (wk), Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Umar Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir
- In: Kamran Akmal, Imran Nazir, Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, Nasir Jamshed
Out: Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shahzad, Hammad Azam, Haris Sohail, Shakeel Ansar
Kolkata wins IPL after thriller
Chennai 190 in 20 overs
Kolkata 191/5 in 19.4 overs
When it comes to the final, everyone thought that Chennai will win because it is fixed but against all odds KKR sealed the final in their name two time champions for the last two years where the favorites but they disappointed the Chennai fans. The KKR coach Wasim Akram was happy over the win aswll as Sharukh Khan after having a life ban at the Wankhede Staduim.
Jaques Kallis scored 69 and Bisla 89 which took KKR to victory. Dhoni was happy from the performance of the Chennai players but disappointed because of the loss.
The KKR team s=celebrated in an very excited manner. Sharukh was also happy
Kolkata 191/5 in 19.4 overs
When it comes to the final, everyone thought that Chennai will win because it is fixed but against all odds KKR sealed the final in their name two time champions for the last two years where the favorites but they disappointed the Chennai fans. The KKR coach Wasim Akram was happy over the win aswll as Sharukh Khan after having a life ban at the Wankhede Staduim.
Jaques Kallis scored 69 and Bisla 89 which took KKR to victory. Dhoni was happy from the performance of the Chennai players but disappointed because of the loss.
The KKR team s=celebrated in an very excited manner. Sharukh was also happy
WELL DONE KKR!!!
IPL, when this comes to mind, one thinks of some magnificent sixes, juicy strokes for boundaries & great fielding that might change the game around many times merely in the passage of 20 overs each side. The targets given by the team batting first is averaged at 170, and the chasing team loses all the wickets in pursuit of keeping the asking rate in control – some sloppy running between the wickets, few miss timed shots (not much of bowler’s efforts seen yet), while some chase it down with half the team still in the camp. Unfortunately, IPL seems to be a bat vs bat contest, unlike the real cricket that used to be a ball vs bat game, and how would it would be a tough competition without some of the best T20 players of the world!
Imagine the first ball of the innings, an in-swinging yorker, Adam Gilchrist finding it hard to dig the bat at it & suddenly the middle stump is out of the pitch! Umer Gul, master of yorkers, delivers one to get the wicket of one of the best batsmen of the tournament! And the crowd is stunned!
In the middle overs, comes the tiger Afridi, messing with the batsmen, showing some aggression, skidding ball here & there, continuously making the batsmen think which ball is it gonna be! Takes the wicket, does his trademark - raising his arms in the air, the crowd roars as the tiger has struck!
Shoaib Akhtar, opens up bowling against Mumbai Indians’ Sachin Tendulkar, marches to the wicket, delivering the fastest ball to clip Tendulkar’s stumps, gotcha! Crowd going ecstatic to the outstanding delivery!
And how can you forget Saeed Ajmal, who’s been blowing minds of almost every batsman, his doosras, arm ball, and the conventional one, keeping the batsman guessing which one would be! And getting a wicket out of nowhere, changing the game around, bringing the crowd alive!
Umar Akmal, exciting young prospect of Pakistan, doesn’t take much time to launch his assault, against any bowler of the world, we’ve seen him getting the better of Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, Zaheer Khan, Tim Southee, Brett Lee, Dale Steyn, Yuvraj Singh, Murali and list goes on! Imagine what would be like, Umar Gul bowling against Umar Akmal, which way would the ball go? Crowd would be on their feet in any case
If you’re looking for a wall in the middle order that just wont give away his wicket, the name to recall is Misbah-ul-Haq, suffering a collapse? Ask him to do the honors!
An all round performance from Mohammad Hafeez, is the tip of the ice berg, having comeback as a wicket taking bowler, he has a done remarkably well keeping opposition in check, as well as some sweetly timed shots, that just what the crowd wants!
The crowds enjoy the wickets falling, the dot balls at the death as much as the sixes & fours. Unfortunately the IPL 2011 has been more of a batsman’s paradise. But if batsmen are needed, Pakistan team can stun the crowd even there. All in all, the team Pakistan has a lot to offer to the world, the crowd would be on their feet, enjoying not just the batsmen hitting hard, but the bowlers getting the better of them in crunch situations! That’s what we call cricket!
Pakistan take Asia Cup 2012 after thriller
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat and lost three wickets when only 57 on the board. Azam and U.Akmal put up 59 to recover Pakistan's innings, but soon after Azam falled to Shakib hitting a skier at the wrong time. Azam scored 30. Afridi then scored 32 and got out on a full toss. Sarfaz the wicket keeper scored 40*. While Shahdat Hussain conceded 19 runs in the last over with two no balls helped Pakistan to go up to 236 for 9.
Bangladesh started very well but Nazimuddin fell on 16. Tamim Iqbal scored his 4th fifty in the Asia cup 2012, but he also fell to Umar Gul by hitting a bullet to Younis Khan who took his third catch in the match. Shakib and Nasir put up 89 but then Shakib was bowled by Aizaz Cheema. Musfiqer was then caught by Misbah. Masrafe rose the hopes of Bangladesh but then fell on 18.
In the last over 9 runs were required. Cheema kept his nerve and took a wicket and conceded only six and made Pakistan win by 2 runs. Pakistan: 236/9 (50) Bangladesh: 234/8 (50). MOM: Shahid Afridi
MOS: Shakib ul Hasan.
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| Afridi plays a shot during his cameo of 32 |
Bangladesh started very well but Nazimuddin fell on 16. Tamim Iqbal scored his 4th fifty in the Asia cup 2012, but he also fell to Umar Gul by hitting a bullet to Younis Khan who took his third catch in the match. Shakib and Nasir put up 89 but then Shakib was bowled by Aizaz Cheema. Musfiqer was then caught by Misbah. Masrafe rose the hopes of Bangladesh but then fell on 18.
In the last over 9 runs were required. Cheema kept his nerve and took a wicket and conceded only six and made Pakistan win by 2 runs. Pakistan: 236/9 (50) Bangladesh: 234/8 (50). MOM: Shahid Afridi
MOS: Shakib ul Hasan.
Spinners script stunning series win for Pakistan
Pakistan v England, 2nd Test, Abu Dhabi, 4th day
Report by Ibrahim Khawaja
28 January 2012
England suffered one of their most disastrous batting collapses in Test history as they disintegrated against Pakistan's spinners to lose the second Test in Abu Dhabi and with it the series. Pakistan went 2-0 up with one to play as Abdur Rehman, their left-arm spinner, took most of the plaudits with a Test-best 6 for 25.
Abdur Rehman took 6 for 25 to skittle England for 72 in Abu Dhabi, giving Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series © AFP
Full report to follow
Report by Ibrahim Khawaja
28 January 2012
England suffered one of their most disastrous batting collapses in Test history as they disintegrated against Pakistan's spinners to lose the second Test in Abu Dhabi and with it the series. Pakistan went 2-0 up with one to play as Abdur Rehman, their left-arm spinner, took most of the plaudits with a Test-best 6 for 25.
Abdur Rehman took 6 for 25 to skittle England for 72 in Abu Dhabi, giving Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series © AFP
Full report to follow
Ajmal's seven makes it Pakistan's day
Pakistan 42 for 0 trail England 192 (Prior 70*, Ajmal 7-55) by 150 runs
Saeed Ajmal took seven wickets for the first time in his Pakistan career as England capitulated in the first Test in Dubai. There was limited turn for Ajmal on a sound batting surface, but his beguiling mix of offspinners and doosras drove England to distraction as they were dismissed by the 73rd over to leave Pakistan firmly in command.
England lost their first seven wickets for 94 and matters would have been much worse without a robust response by Matt Prior, who looked the most decisive of their batsmen from the outset and, with eight down, counterattacked against the spinners before running out of partners.
Pakistan, who batted in untroubled fashion for 15 overs in reply, would have been highly satisfied. They are careful not to describe the UAE as home, but it is fast becoming a favourite refuge. They enjoyed a jubilant first morning, claiming five wickets on a placid batting surface, and Ajmal made further inroads in the last two sessions to ensure that England's first outing as the No.1 ranked Test side in the world began disastrously.
When Ajmal unveiled his new mystery ball, the teesra, midway through the afternoon session, it proved to be an initial disappointment: a slingy, round-arm affair that Stuart Broad stoutly blocked. But he did not need a mystery ball. To England they were all mystery balls.
He was the last Pakistan bowler to be introduced into the attack but after ten deliveries he had had figures of 3 for 1, removing Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen. England briefly held firm after lunch, as Eoin Morgan and Matt Prior put on 39 for the sixth wicket but Ajmal then removed Morgan and Broad, both lbw sweeping, to maintain Pakistan's superiority. Only when Swann came to the crease did England play with adventure. Umar Gul wasted a Pakistan review in the last over before tea as he demanded a DRS verdict against Swann that had no hope of success.
Morgan, more content than many against spin, was lbw to the slog sweep, a decision by the Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford that was upheld by the third umpire after England, logically enough at 82 for 5, opted for the DRS. It was a weaker paddle sweep that did for Broad, who rarely believes he is out, and who also asked for a review, but again TV evidence ruled in the umpire's favour.
When England first encountered Ajmal, at Edgbaston 17 months ago, he took five wickets before they gradually worked him out as the series progressed. They looked more fraught against him second time around. The battle between Ajmal and Swann, both contenders as the best offspinner in the world, could be pivotal.
England won the toss, the pace of the pitch was gentle, there was no swing or seam, and just a hint of turn. However, just about everything attempted by Pakistan's impressive captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, came off as the cream of England batting disappeared in the first two hours.
There had been concerns about how England, who moved to No. 1 with high-adrenalin performances in front of packed crowds, would respond to the dead air of a virtually empty stadium, especially as their record in Asia is so mediocre - Bangladesh apart they had not won in their previous seven Test series on the subcontinent. Those doubts were now apparent to all.
Mohammad Hafeez's offspin was introduced in the sixth over to counter England's left-hand openers and he dismissed Alastair Cook in his first over. Cook attempted to work his first ball into the leg side and got a thick outside edge through point. Then Hafeez found gentle turn with his third delivery and Cook edged obligingly to the wicketkeeper.
Pakistan had opted for three spinners; England stuck to their successful formula of Graeme Swann's offspin supported by three fast bowlers. It was not long before England looked in denial.
Jonathan Trott was the one batsman to fall to pace, the bustling pace provided by Aizaz Cheema. His new-ball spell was curtailed to two overs but Trott found him a handful on his return. A walking clip to the square-leg boundary represented England's most authoritative moment of the session but he edged successive boundaries, the second of them flying over leg stump off the inside edge. Trott fell in Cheema's next over, strangled down the leg side as the bowler banged one in.
Ajmal struck with his sixth, seventh and tenth deliveries. Strauss had batted 42 balls for 19 when he misread the length, tried to pull a ball that was too far up to him, and was bowled.
Bell came in with his wrist heavily strapped, courtesy of a blow in the nets the previous day while batting against the dog thrower used by the England batting coach, Graham Gooch. He was met by a perfect doosra from Ajmal, which he edged to give the bowler his third wicket of the morning. Bell did not appear to read it but, first ball at the start of a new series, reading Ulysses would have been easier.
Bell then departed for a long conversation with Gooch, who exchanged dog thrower for any bone of consolation that he could toss his way.
Misbah had begun by taunting Pietersen with left-arm spin, his nemesis, in the shape of Abdur Rehman. He survived against Rehman, but not Ajmal. Pietersen played slightly across the ball and was hit on the front pad, just outside the crease. Oxenford was unconvinced but the wicketkeeper gestured excitedly for the DRS and his judgment was well founded, the replay suggesting that the ball would have struck halfway up leg stump. Pakistan's jubilation was complete.
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| Saeed Ajmal ran through England's batting with 7 for 55 © AFP |
Saeed Ajmal took seven wickets for the first time in his Pakistan career as England capitulated in the first Test in Dubai. There was limited turn for Ajmal on a sound batting surface, but his beguiling mix of offspinners and doosras drove England to distraction as they were dismissed by the 73rd over to leave Pakistan firmly in command.
England lost their first seven wickets for 94 and matters would have been much worse without a robust response by Matt Prior, who looked the most decisive of their batsmen from the outset and, with eight down, counterattacked against the spinners before running out of partners.
Pakistan, who batted in untroubled fashion for 15 overs in reply, would have been highly satisfied. They are careful not to describe the UAE as home, but it is fast becoming a favourite refuge. They enjoyed a jubilant first morning, claiming five wickets on a placid batting surface, and Ajmal made further inroads in the last two sessions to ensure that England's first outing as the No.1 ranked Test side in the world began disastrously.
When Ajmal unveiled his new mystery ball, the teesra, midway through the afternoon session, it proved to be an initial disappointment: a slingy, round-arm affair that Stuart Broad stoutly blocked. But he did not need a mystery ball. To England they were all mystery balls.
He was the last Pakistan bowler to be introduced into the attack but after ten deliveries he had had figures of 3 for 1, removing Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen. England briefly held firm after lunch, as Eoin Morgan and Matt Prior put on 39 for the sixth wicket but Ajmal then removed Morgan and Broad, both lbw sweeping, to maintain Pakistan's superiority. Only when Swann came to the crease did England play with adventure. Umar Gul wasted a Pakistan review in the last over before tea as he demanded a DRS verdict against Swann that had no hope of success.
Morgan, more content than many against spin, was lbw to the slog sweep, a decision by the Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford that was upheld by the third umpire after England, logically enough at 82 for 5, opted for the DRS. It was a weaker paddle sweep that did for Broad, who rarely believes he is out, and who also asked for a review, but again TV evidence ruled in the umpire's favour.
When England first encountered Ajmal, at Edgbaston 17 months ago, he took five wickets before they gradually worked him out as the series progressed. They looked more fraught against him second time around. The battle between Ajmal and Swann, both contenders as the best offspinner in the world, could be pivotal.
England won the toss, the pace of the pitch was gentle, there was no swing or seam, and just a hint of turn. However, just about everything attempted by Pakistan's impressive captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, came off as the cream of England batting disappeared in the first two hours.
There had been concerns about how England, who moved to No. 1 with high-adrenalin performances in front of packed crowds, would respond to the dead air of a virtually empty stadium, especially as their record in Asia is so mediocre - Bangladesh apart they had not won in their previous seven Test series on the subcontinent. Those doubts were now apparent to all.
Mohammad Hafeez's offspin was introduced in the sixth over to counter England's left-hand openers and he dismissed Alastair Cook in his first over. Cook attempted to work his first ball into the leg side and got a thick outside edge through point. Then Hafeez found gentle turn with his third delivery and Cook edged obligingly to the wicketkeeper.
Pakistan had opted for three spinners; England stuck to their successful formula of Graeme Swann's offspin supported by three fast bowlers. It was not long before England looked in denial.
Jonathan Trott was the one batsman to fall to pace, the bustling pace provided by Aizaz Cheema. His new-ball spell was curtailed to two overs but Trott found him a handful on his return. A walking clip to the square-leg boundary represented England's most authoritative moment of the session but he edged successive boundaries, the second of them flying over leg stump off the inside edge. Trott fell in Cheema's next over, strangled down the leg side as the bowler banged one in.
Ajmal struck with his sixth, seventh and tenth deliveries. Strauss had batted 42 balls for 19 when he misread the length, tried to pull a ball that was too far up to him, and was bowled.
Bell came in with his wrist heavily strapped, courtesy of a blow in the nets the previous day while batting against the dog thrower used by the England batting coach, Graham Gooch. He was met by a perfect doosra from Ajmal, which he edged to give the bowler his third wicket of the morning. Bell did not appear to read it but, first ball at the start of a new series, reading Ulysses would have been easier.
Bell then departed for a long conversation with Gooch, who exchanged dog thrower for any bone of consolation that he could toss his way.
Misbah had begun by taunting Pietersen with left-arm spin, his nemesis, in the shape of Abdur Rehman. He survived against Rehman, but not Ajmal. Pietersen played slightly across the ball and was hit on the front pad, just outside the crease. Oxenford was unconvinced but the wicketkeeper gestured excitedly for the DRS and his judgment was well founded, the replay suggesting that the ball would have struck halfway up leg stump. Pakistan's jubilation was complete.
Spinners wreck England top order
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| Ian Bell was one of Saeed Ajmal's three victims within his first two overs |
Pakistan are careful not to describe the UAE as home, but it could soon become one of their favourite destinations. They enjoyed a jubilant opening morning in the first Test against England in Dubai, claiming five wickets on a placid batting surface.
After ten deliveries, Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal had figures of 3-1, removing Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen, the last to a DRS decision. He did not unveil his new mystery ball but he did not need it. To England, they were all mystery balls.
England's first outing as the No. 1 ranked Test side began disastrously. They won the toss, the pace of the pitch was gentle, there was no swing or seam, and just a hint of turn. However, just about everything attempted by Pakistan's impressive captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, came off as the cream of England batting disappeared in the first two hours.
There had been concerns about how England, who moved to No. 1 with high-adrenalin performances in front of packed crowds, would respond to the dead air of a virtually empty stadium, and those doubts were not lessened. Mohammad Hafeez's offspin was introduced in the sixth over to counter England's left-hand openers and he dismissed Alastair Cook in his first over. Cook, who had been so productive against fast bowling in Australia this time last year, looked tentative against spin. He attempted to work his first ball into the leg side and got a thick outside edge through point. Then Hafeez found gentle turn with his third delivery and Cook edged obligingly to the wicketkeeper.
Pakistan had opted for three spinners; England stuck to their successful formula of Graeme Swann's offspin supported by three fast bowlers. It was not long before England looked in denial.
Jonathan Trott was the one batsman to fall to pace, the bustling pace provided by Aizaz Cheema, whose belated introduction into Test cricket after a decade of being overlooked at first-class level, is proving a revelation.
Cheema's opening spell was curtailed to two overs, but Trott found him a handful on his return. A walking clip to the square-leg boundary represented England's most authoritative moment of the session, but edged boundaries off successive balls were less impressive, the second of them flying just over leg stump off the inside edge.
Trott fell in Cheema's next over, strangled down the leg side as the bowler banged one in short of a length. Trott paused, as though wondering whether he might escape with a review, then sensibly thought better of it; it was an obvious deflection.
Misbah taunted Pietersen with left-arm spin, his nemesis, in the shape of Abdur Rehman, but Pietersen, thrusting well forward, survived, only for Ajmal to bring about a remarkable transformation. England regard him as their greatest challenge and that feeling grew stronger as Strauss, Bell and Pietersen all departed.
Strauss had batted 42 balls for 19 when he misread the length, tried to pull a ball that was too far up to him, and was bowled.
Bell came in with his wrist heavily strapped, courtesy of a blow in the nets the previous day while batting against the dog thrower used by the England batting coach, Graham Gooch. He was met by a perfect doosra from Ajmal, which he edged to give the bowler his third wicket of the morning. Bell did not appear to read it but, first ball at the start of a new series, reading anything is a demanding task.
Bell then departed for a long conversation with Gooch, who exchanged dog thrower for any bone of consolation that he could toss his way.
1 day to go for the thrilling series between Pakistan and England!
Pakistan will be facing England tommorow at Dubai at 10:00 local | 06:00 GMT | 11:00 PKT.
Misbah-ul-Haq and Andrew Strauss have both spoken about letting the cricket provide the headlines in this series.
Big Picture:
History will hang heavily over this series. Three Pakistan players are serving custodial sentences after being found guilty on match-rigging charges during the 2010 series in England. However much England suggest that the affair is now largely a media obsession and Pakistan provide indications of more stable and contented times, such matters cannot be easily waved aside.
Players to watch:
Saeed Ajmal has enlivened the build-up to the Test by announcing, Shane Warne-style, that he is about to unleash a formidable new delivery. The doosra - "the other one" - is about to be supported by the teesra - "the third one".
Whatever the impact of that proves to be, Ajmal will test England's improvement against spin bowling to the utmost. For England, Stuart Broad will be desperate to escape the run of injuries that have disrupted his progress over the past year. A bruised foot suffered when batting in the nets is unlikely to hinder him, but it gives a further impression of vulnerability that he could do without.
All matches will be broadcasted here at in HD!!
Misbah-ul-Haq and Andrew Strauss have both spoken about letting the cricket provide the headlines in this series.
Big Picture:
History will hang heavily over this series. Three Pakistan players are serving custodial sentences after being found guilty on match-rigging charges during the 2010 series in England. However much England suggest that the affair is now largely a media obsession and Pakistan provide indications of more stable and contented times, such matters cannot be easily waved aside.
Players to watch:
Saeed Ajmal has enlivened the build-up to the Test by announcing, Shane Warne-style, that he is about to unleash a formidable new delivery. The doosra - "the other one" - is about to be supported by the teesra - "the third one".
Whatever the impact of that proves to be, Ajmal will test England's improvement against spin bowling to the utmost. For England, Stuart Broad will be desperate to escape the run of injuries that have disrupted his progress over the past year. A bruised foot suffered when batting in the nets is unlikely to hinder him, but it gives a further impression of vulnerability that he could do without.
All matches will be broadcasted here at in HD!!
Australia 369 (Warner 180, Yadav 5-93) beat India 161 (Kohli 44, Hilfenhaus 4-43) and 171 (Kohli 75, Hilfenhaus 4-54) by an innings and 37 runs
Ben Hilfenhaus claimed four wickets in each innings © Getty Images
Australia's fast bowlers completed an innings-and-37-run destruction of India minutes after lunch on day three of the third Test, snatching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the most emphatic style imaginable. Ryan Harris split a stubborn stand between Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid before Peter Siddle nicked out MS Dhoni in the shadows of the interval, and Ben Hilfenhaus razed the tail with three wickets in five balls on resumption.
Siddle found Kohli's outside edge to complete proceedings, heralding the start of rich celebrations for the hosts following victory over opponents who never came to terms with the challenges posed by Australia's bowlers and conditions. The performance of the match was by a home batsman however, and it was a measure of the Man-of-the-Match David Warner's 180 that India's batsmen fell short of his individual tally in each innings.
His efforts gave the pace ensemble a chance to squeeze India, and all the bowlers contributed in another strikingly even performance. Harris will bowl far worse and claim five wickets rather than the one he plucked in the second innings, while Siddle and Hilfenhaus maintained their outstanding marriage of pressure and late movement. Mitchell Starc, of course, had made two critical breaks on the second evening.
Dravid and Kohli provided the staunchest Indian batting resistance of the match in a union of 84, but were never completely in control against Harris, who deservedly found a way past Dravid towards the end of an exacting spell. Siddle's dismissal of Dhoni was a familiar sight, the captain's edge snapped up by Ricky Ponting in the cordon.
Kohli's innings was a beacon of hope for India's future, demonstrating strong technique and a stronger mind to cope with Australia's bowling that did not flag in considerable heat. Following up a similarly composed 44 in the first innings, it may warrant a promotion in the batting order for Adelaide.
Resuming at 4 for 88, still 120 short of going into credit, Dravid and Kohli had plenty of testing moments in the opening overs. Harris' first two deliveries of the day did everything but bowl Dravid, angling in and seaming away, while at the other end Hilfenhaus swung the ball tantalisingly away with the help of a south-westerly breeze.
Kohli was the more assured of the batting duo, collecting his runs quietly with ones and twos, reining in his most aggressive tendencies in a struggle for survival against bowling that offered precious little latitude.
Harris, in particular, posed question after question, taking advantage of a crack on a length at the Lillee-Marsh Stand end to bring the ball sharply back into Kohli and Dravid. Dravid was late to react to some subtle inswing, the ball swerving between bat and pad to send leg stump cartwheeling. Dravid shuffled off, bowled five times in six innings during the series.
Dhoni's technique has been found similarly wanting, and once again he would edge tamely into the cordon. Siddle's delivery was full, fast and swinging, and Ponting's hands at second slip were alert and safe. Nevertheless, the dismissal was another grim reflection on the batting of Dhoni, who has always struggled to replicate his subcontinental run-scoring on foreign shores.
Lunch came and went, Kohli still harbouring the desire to reach a century. But Hilfenhaus was not in a mood to countenance charity. Bashing the ball in short of a length, he had Vinay Kumar and Zaheer Khan fencing to Michael Clarke at slip in consecutive balls, and while Ishant Sharma survived the hat-trick delivery, he fended his third straight to Ed Cowan at short leg.
Umesh Yadav survived one ball to give Kohli the strike, but Siddle probed the perfect line and length once more to coax a touch behind and seal a series that has been more lopsided than anyone can have imagined.
Australia's fast bowlers completed an innings-and-37-run destruction of India minutes after lunch on day three of the third Test, snatching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the most emphatic style imaginable. Ryan Harris split a stubborn stand between Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid before Peter Siddle nicked out MS Dhoni in the shadows of the interval, and Ben Hilfenhaus razed the tail with three wickets in five balls on resumption.
Siddle found Kohli's outside edge to complete proceedings, heralding the start of rich celebrations for the hosts following victory over opponents who never came to terms with the challenges posed by Australia's bowlers and conditions. The performance of the match was by a home batsman however, and it was a measure of the Man-of-the-Match David Warner's 180 that India's batsmen fell short of his individual tally in each innings.
His efforts gave the pace ensemble a chance to squeeze India, and all the bowlers contributed in another strikingly even performance. Harris will bowl far worse and claim five wickets rather than the one he plucked in the second innings, while Siddle and Hilfenhaus maintained their outstanding marriage of pressure and late movement. Mitchell Starc, of course, had made two critical breaks on the second evening.
Dravid and Kohli provided the staunchest Indian batting resistance of the match in a union of 84, but were never completely in control against Harris, who deservedly found a way past Dravid towards the end of an exacting spell. Siddle's dismissal of Dhoni was a familiar sight, the captain's edge snapped up by Ricky Ponting in the cordon.
Kohli's innings was a beacon of hope for India's future, demonstrating strong technique and a stronger mind to cope with Australia's bowling that did not flag in considerable heat. Following up a similarly composed 44 in the first innings, it may warrant a promotion in the batting order for Adelaide.
Resuming at 4 for 88, still 120 short of going into credit, Dravid and Kohli had plenty of testing moments in the opening overs. Harris' first two deliveries of the day did everything but bowl Dravid, angling in and seaming away, while at the other end Hilfenhaus swung the ball tantalisingly away with the help of a south-westerly breeze.
Kohli was the more assured of the batting duo, collecting his runs quietly with ones and twos, reining in his most aggressive tendencies in a struggle for survival against bowling that offered precious little latitude.
Harris, in particular, posed question after question, taking advantage of a crack on a length at the Lillee-Marsh Stand end to bring the ball sharply back into Kohli and Dravid. Dravid was late to react to some subtle inswing, the ball swerving between bat and pad to send leg stump cartwheeling. Dravid shuffled off, bowled five times in six innings during the series.
Dhoni's technique has been found similarly wanting, and once again he would edge tamely into the cordon. Siddle's delivery was full, fast and swinging, and Ponting's hands at second slip were alert and safe. Nevertheless, the dismissal was another grim reflection on the batting of Dhoni, who has always struggled to replicate his subcontinental run-scoring on foreign shores.
Lunch came and went, Kohli still harbouring the desire to reach a century. But Hilfenhaus was not in a mood to countenance charity. Bashing the ball in short of a length, he had Vinay Kumar and Zaheer Khan fencing to Michael Clarke at slip in consecutive balls, and while Ishant Sharma survived the hat-trick delivery, he fended his third straight to Ed Cowan at short leg.
Umesh Yadav survived one ball to give Kohli the strike, but Siddle probed the perfect line and length once more to coax a touch behind and seal a series that has been more lopsided than anyone can have imagined.
Hafeez, Younis punish average Bangladesh
Pakistan 415 for 4 (Hafeez 143, Younis 96*, Shafiq 40*) lead Bangladesh 135 (Rehman 3-9) by 280 runs
Mohammad Hafeez's century had an air of inevitability to it © AFP
Mohammad Hafeez strolled unimpeded to a century, and Younis Khan got to within touching distance of one, as Pakistan subjected Bangladesh to a comprehensive lesson in crease-occupation. After the chaotic batting from Bangladesh on the first day, the action swung to the other extreme on the second morning as Pakistan blunted the minimal threat posed by their opponents, before gradually moving out of their sight.
Despite it being the weekend, the home fans chose to stay away as their side took a beating for the second day running. Bangladesh had neither the skill nor the discipline to dent Pakistan's now customary Test-match resolve. The seamers, Shahadat Hossain and Rubel Hossain, bowled spells of ornamental value, but the spinners - Elias Sunny and Mahmudullah, in particular - tested the rougher patches on the pitch with flight and rip. However, they could make much of an impact against batsmen well-versed in the art of milking spin.
While Shahadat bowled pedestrian lines, Mahmudullah resumed his overnight battle with Taufeeq Umar from the other end, and persevered with loop and turn. Having edged several times while leaning out on the first evening, Taufeeq chose to play Mahmudullah off the back foot as much as possible. More than once, he left alone balls alarmingly close to offstump, and looked at his most vulnerable when reaching out. Hafeez stayed put to defend a series of length balls from Shahadat's end, and Bangladesh strung together five successive maidens to create an illusion of control.
Hafeez resumed progress with a languid cover-driven boundary off Shahadat, but Taufeeq needed 23 balls to score his first run for the day. He even summoned the spirit to advance down the track and loft Mahmudullah for a straight four, but the bowler deservedly had him leg-before with a quick, flat offbreak.
Hafeez carried on as if he hadn't noticed his partner's struggles, steering Rubel past gully before threading Mahmudullah through the covers to reach his fourth Test ton. His celebration was almost mechanical as he pulled off his helmet and kneeled down to perform the sajda, before breaking into a smile.
Azhar Ali was uncharacteristically edgy to start off. He repeatedly charged out of the crease to the spinners, and on one such instance barely cleared mid-on. He was also beaten comprehensively by a huge spinner from Sunny, before being pegged on the back foot by an arm-ball that took a thin inside edge onto the pad. Shahadat finally got him to bottom edge a wide ball to the wicketkeeper to leave Pakistan 220 for 2.
Younis walked in with his accumulation-mode turned on, and rolled into gear with a smooth cover drive off Sunny. Hafeez thumped a Rubel Hossain bouncer in the 80th over so effortlessly that Mushfiqur Rahim took the second new ball as soon as it was available. Younis should have been run out immediately, but Shahriar Nafees missed the stumps and the two fielders backing up comically let the ball escape for four overthrows. Shahadat kept bowling inexplicably short, without the pace or trajectory to back it up. Hafeez took him for fours on either side of the stumps before pulling uppishly to Sunny, who couldn't even get his hands to a tumbling chance at midwicket.
With the bowlers and the fielders looking helpless, Bangladesh needed a poor umpiring call to get a wicket. Hafeez inside-edged a Sunny arm-ball onto his pad, but Billy Doctrove adjudged him lbw. Misbah-ul-Haq pulled his first ball straight at Nafees who had no chance of holding on at short leg, before edging a drive off Shahadat straight past Nafees at slip, who, like Sunny earlier, didn't manage to even touch it.
Misbah couldn't cash in, though, and missed a loopy Sunny full toss to be caught plumb in front. The loss of his favoured partner in defence seemed to ignite a spark of aggression in Younis, and he dispatched Shakib through point, cover and fine-leg to reach his fifty. He then skated out of the crease to dump him for a straight six, in the process chugging past 6000 Test runs, as Bangladeshi shoulders began to slump. It was the moment Pakistan were waiting for, after staying cautious for much of the day.
Sensing the slackening intensity, Asad Shafiq kicked off by heaving Sunny over extra cover, and launching Shakib straight for sixes. Suddenly, Bangladesh were forced to do away with the extra catchers they had employed through the day. That didn't stop the run-flow, though, as both batsmen swept and steered efficiently to pick up boundaries. With stumps approaching, Younis made a concerted dash towards his ton, slamming Mohammad Ashraful straight and slapping Shakib to midwicket for boundaries to reach 96. Shafiq couldn't give him the strike in the day's final over, though, but Younis didn't seem too perturbed.
Mohammad Hafeez's century had an air of inevitability to it © AFP
Mohammad Hafeez strolled unimpeded to a century, and Younis Khan got to within touching distance of one, as Pakistan subjected Bangladesh to a comprehensive lesson in crease-occupation. After the chaotic batting from Bangladesh on the first day, the action swung to the other extreme on the second morning as Pakistan blunted the minimal threat posed by their opponents, before gradually moving out of their sight.
Despite it being the weekend, the home fans chose to stay away as their side took a beating for the second day running. Bangladesh had neither the skill nor the discipline to dent Pakistan's now customary Test-match resolve. The seamers, Shahadat Hossain and Rubel Hossain, bowled spells of ornamental value, but the spinners - Elias Sunny and Mahmudullah, in particular - tested the rougher patches on the pitch with flight and rip. However, they could make much of an impact against batsmen well-versed in the art of milking spin.
While Shahadat bowled pedestrian lines, Mahmudullah resumed his overnight battle with Taufeeq Umar from the other end, and persevered with loop and turn. Having edged several times while leaning out on the first evening, Taufeeq chose to play Mahmudullah off the back foot as much as possible. More than once, he left alone balls alarmingly close to offstump, and looked at his most vulnerable when reaching out. Hafeez stayed put to defend a series of length balls from Shahadat's end, and Bangladesh strung together five successive maidens to create an illusion of control.
Hafeez resumed progress with a languid cover-driven boundary off Shahadat, but Taufeeq needed 23 balls to score his first run for the day. He even summoned the spirit to advance down the track and loft Mahmudullah for a straight four, but the bowler deservedly had him leg-before with a quick, flat offbreak.
Hafeez carried on as if he hadn't noticed his partner's struggles, steering Rubel past gully before threading Mahmudullah through the covers to reach his fourth Test ton. His celebration was almost mechanical as he pulled off his helmet and kneeled down to perform the sajda, before breaking into a smile.
Azhar Ali was uncharacteristically edgy to start off. He repeatedly charged out of the crease to the spinners, and on one such instance barely cleared mid-on. He was also beaten comprehensively by a huge spinner from Sunny, before being pegged on the back foot by an arm-ball that took a thin inside edge onto the pad. Shahadat finally got him to bottom edge a wide ball to the wicketkeeper to leave Pakistan 220 for 2.
Younis walked in with his accumulation-mode turned on, and rolled into gear with a smooth cover drive off Sunny. Hafeez thumped a Rubel Hossain bouncer in the 80th over so effortlessly that Mushfiqur Rahim took the second new ball as soon as it was available. Younis should have been run out immediately, but Shahriar Nafees missed the stumps and the two fielders backing up comically let the ball escape for four overthrows. Shahadat kept bowling inexplicably short, without the pace or trajectory to back it up. Hafeez took him for fours on either side of the stumps before pulling uppishly to Sunny, who couldn't even get his hands to a tumbling chance at midwicket.
With the bowlers and the fielders looking helpless, Bangladesh needed a poor umpiring call to get a wicket. Hafeez inside-edged a Sunny arm-ball onto his pad, but Billy Doctrove adjudged him lbw. Misbah-ul-Haq pulled his first ball straight at Nafees who had no chance of holding on at short leg, before edging a drive off Shahadat straight past Nafees at slip, who, like Sunny earlier, didn't manage to even touch it.
Misbah couldn't cash in, though, and missed a loopy Sunny full toss to be caught plumb in front. The loss of his favoured partner in defence seemed to ignite a spark of aggression in Younis, and he dispatched Shakib through point, cover and fine-leg to reach his fifty. He then skated out of the crease to dump him for a straight six, in the process chugging past 6000 Test runs, as Bangladeshi shoulders began to slump. It was the moment Pakistan were waiting for, after staying cautious for much of the day.
Sensing the slackening intensity, Asad Shafiq kicked off by heaving Sunny over extra cover, and launching Shakib straight for sixes. Suddenly, Bangladesh were forced to do away with the extra catchers they had employed through the day. That didn't stop the run-flow, though, as both batsmen swept and steered efficiently to pick up boundaries. With stumps approaching, Younis made a concerted dash towards his ton, slamming Mohammad Ashraful straight and slapping Shakib to midwicket for boundaries to reach 96. Shafiq couldn't give him the strike in the day's final over, though, but Younis didn't seem too perturbed.
Pakistan make reckless Bangladesh pay
Pakistan 132 for 0 (Hafeez 74*, Taufeeq 53*) trail Bangladesh 135 (Nasir 41, Nazimuddin 31, Rehman 3-9, Ajmal 3-40) by three runs
Mohammad Hafeez opened the bowling in the morning, and later underlined Pakistan's dominance with the bat © AFP
The Bangladesh top order graced the first day of the Chittagong Test with a display of carelessness, to make a masterstroke of Misbah-ul-Haq's strange decision to bowl on a flat pitch. The senior batsmen - Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan - led the way, succumbing to three of the more atrocious shots of the morning, and the lower order followed suit in the afternoon. Bangladesh were eventually dismissed for 135 in less than two sessions, proving additional strength to the growing criticism of their Test status.
The situation would have been worse had Nazimuddin not batted with more grit on debut than some of his colleagues have shown in the entire year. His 31 and Nasir Hossain's free-spirited 41 contributed more than half the total. The Pakistan openers - Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar - put Bangladesh's performance and the pitch in perspective with an unbeaten 132-run stand.
Obduracy is not beyond Bangladesh - they routinely give up stiff ODI chases and bat out time, as they did in the second ODI - but they refuse to show that characteristic in the format where it is a pre-requisite. Bangladesh underlined why they hadn't managed even a draw against a full-strength top-flight side in over 10 years, without assistance from the weather.
Misbah undermined his decision to bowl by handing the new ball to Mohammad Hafeez - the first time a Pakistan spinner was bowling the first over of a Test. The experiment was quickly shelved after Hafeez's bunny, Tamim, survived his first three overs. Aizaz Cheema replaced Hafeez, and angled his fourth ball across Tamim, who responded with a loose drive away from his body and edged behind. In Cheema's next over, Shahriar Nafees fell for a duck while defending in front of his body without decisive footwork.
While Cheema specialised in big inswingers bowled from wide of the crease, Umar Gul settled into his usual mix of legcutters, indippers, and tempting half-volleys. Mohammad Ashraful's comeback lasted 11 balls, before he produced a mirror-image of Tamim's dismissal. The away-going delivery was not quite there for the drive, but he threw his hands at it and nicked behind.
Mushfiqur Rahim started with a promising off-drive for four, but Saeed Ajmal trapped him in his first over with a sharp offbreak. Shakib produced the illusion of stability by hanging around for eight overs, before the rash-stroke epidemic got to him. With ten minutes to go for lunch, and men around the bat, he swept Abdur Rehman straight to square leg.
Nazimuddin battled through it all, showing exemplary judgement against short balls and swing. He repeatedly dropped his wrists and swayed out of line when tested by bounce, and covered the line of length deliveries. A series of rasping drives showed that he belonged, before he betrayed his inexperience with two needless flirts outside the off stump. The first edge landed short of the slips, but the second carried to Hafeez.
By now Ajmal had settled into his nagging lines from round the wicket, tossing up doosras, sliders and offbreaks from similar trajectories. Mahmudullah was lbw playing back to a slider, while Elias Sunny nicked another to slip. Nasir did the right thing in the circumstances, chancing his arm while he still had partners. The best of his shots came against Cheema, whom he pulled, glanced, hooked and drove for boundaries. He also heaved Ajmal for a six down the ground, and eased him through the covers for four as Bangladesh nursed hopes of getting to 150. They were denied by another hare-brained shot, when Nasir paddled Rehman onto his jaw en route to silly point.
After tea, Hafeez began an afternoon of accumulation by flicking his first ball for three. As always Hafeez's driving was top-class, but Bangladesh's indiscipline also allowed him to cut and glance for early boundaries. Shahadat Hossain and Rubel Hossain bowled six listless overs that yielded 33 runs before Mushfiqur brought on his crew of spinners.
Whenever the spinners over-pitched, Taufeeq was completely at ease, driving and flicking with a strong bottom hand. That prompted a change in approach from Bangladesh's spinners - the one department in which they can claim to be world class. They shortened the length, and Taufeeq repeatedly pushed in hope with an opened face as the ball spun away. The edge inevitably followed, but Mushfiqur could not hold on. Mahmudullah got Taufeeq edging three more times - on either side of Nafees at slip, and once on the bounce.
Hafeez had no such worries, though, and strolled past fifty with a cover-driven four. Shahadat then dropped Taufeeq in the final over, denying Bangladesh the sliver they could have taken out of the day.
The Bangladesh top order graced the first day of the Chittagong Test with a display of carelessness, to make a masterstroke of Misbah-ul-Haq's strange decision to bowl on a flat pitch. The senior batsmen - Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan - led the way, succumbing to three of the more atrocious shots of the morning, and the lower order followed suit in the afternoon. Bangladesh were eventually dismissed for 135 in less than two sessions, proving additional strength to the growing criticism of their Test status.
The situation would have been worse had Nazimuddin not batted with more grit on debut than some of his colleagues have shown in the entire year. His 31 and Nasir Hossain's free-spirited 41 contributed more than half the total. The Pakistan openers - Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar - put Bangladesh's performance and the pitch in perspective with an unbeaten 132-run stand.
Obduracy is not beyond Bangladesh - they routinely give up stiff ODI chases and bat out time, as they did in the second ODI - but they refuse to show that characteristic in the format where it is a pre-requisite. Bangladesh underlined why they hadn't managed even a draw against a full-strength top-flight side in over 10 years, without assistance from the weather.
Misbah undermined his decision to bowl by handing the new ball to Mohammad Hafeez - the first time a Pakistan spinner was bowling the first over of a Test. The experiment was quickly shelved after Hafeez's bunny, Tamim, survived his first three overs. Aizaz Cheema replaced Hafeez, and angled his fourth ball across Tamim, who responded with a loose drive away from his body and edged behind. In Cheema's next over, Shahriar Nafees fell for a duck while defending in front of his body without decisive footwork.
While Cheema specialised in big inswingers bowled from wide of the crease, Umar Gul settled into his usual mix of legcutters, indippers, and tempting half-volleys. Mohammad Ashraful's comeback lasted 11 balls, before he produced a mirror-image of Tamim's dismissal. The away-going delivery was not quite there for the drive, but he threw his hands at it and nicked behind.
Mushfiqur Rahim started with a promising off-drive for four, but Saeed Ajmal trapped him in his first over with a sharp offbreak. Shakib produced the illusion of stability by hanging around for eight overs, before the rash-stroke epidemic got to him. With ten minutes to go for lunch, and men around the bat, he swept Abdur Rehman straight to square leg.
Nazimuddin battled through it all, showing exemplary judgement against short balls and swing. He repeatedly dropped his wrists and swayed out of line when tested by bounce, and covered the line of length deliveries. A series of rasping drives showed that he belonged, before he betrayed his inexperience with two needless flirts outside the off stump. The first edge landed short of the slips, but the second carried to Hafeez.
By now Ajmal had settled into his nagging lines from round the wicket, tossing up doosras, sliders and offbreaks from similar trajectories. Mahmudullah was lbw playing back to a slider, while Elias Sunny nicked another to slip. Nasir did the right thing in the circumstances, chancing his arm while he still had partners. The best of his shots came against Cheema, whom he pulled, glanced, hooked and drove for boundaries. He also heaved Ajmal for a six down the ground, and eased him through the covers for four as Bangladesh nursed hopes of getting to 150. They were denied by another hare-brained shot, when Nasir paddled Rehman onto his jaw en route to silly point.
After tea, Hafeez began an afternoon of accumulation by flicking his first ball for three. As always Hafeez's driving was top-class, but Bangladesh's indiscipline also allowed him to cut and glance for early boundaries. Shahadat Hossain and Rubel Hossain bowled six listless overs that yielded 33 runs before Mushfiqur brought on his crew of spinners.
Whenever the spinners over-pitched, Taufeeq was completely at ease, driving and flicking with a strong bottom hand. That prompted a change in approach from Bangladesh's spinners - the one department in which they can claim to be world class. They shortened the length, and Taufeeq repeatedly pushed in hope with an opened face as the ball spun away. The edge inevitably followed, but Mushfiqur could not hold on. Mahmudullah got Taufeeq edging three more times - on either side of Nafees at slip, and once on the bounce.
Hafeez had no such worries, though, and strolled past fifty with a cover-driven four. Shahadat then dropped Taufeeq in the final over, denying Bangladesh the sliver they could have taken out of the day.
Can Bengal Tigers solve batting woes?
Big Picture
It's been 11 years since Bangladesh made their Test debut and 71 games later their status as a Test-playing nation continues to divide opinion. There have been those who've been dismissive of their ability, others have been more generous and patient about their progress. There have been some highs, though very rare. They challenged Pakistan in Multan and Australia in Fatullah, and beat a severely-depleted, strike-ridden West Indies in 2009, but 61 defeats, and most of them by a comprehensive margin - 34 by an innings - is a bitter, embarrassing fact to digest.
Their fast bowlers aren't express but their spinners have been quite effective, and remain their biggest strength. It's in the batting that the team has been found most wanting. While their batsmen have promised much and even earned some success in limited-overs cricket, and won a few sessions in Tests, batting time, preserving their wickets and proving their durability are areas in which they've failed consistently.
They've, once again, found the going difficult in recent weeks, struggling against Pakistan's slow bowlers on pitches keeping low and taking turn, and face an even more testing challenge in the five-day format. If the results in the recently-concluded ODI series are anything to go by, Bangladesh don't stand much of a chance but how hard they make Pakistan's bowlers work for their wickets will be the focus.
Form guide
Bangladesh: LDLLL (most recent first)
Pakistan: DWDWW
In the spotlight...
Mohammad Ashraful is back in the Bangladesh squad. Again. Once their best batsman, his form underwent a serious slump and he was relegated to the fringes of the national team. He was dropped for the Tests against West Indies in the series before this, and Stuart Law, the Bangladesh coach, said he'd have to perform in domestic cricket to warrant selection. In his last three innings on the domestic circuit, Ashraful scored two half-centuries and a ton to win his place back. Some say his call-up is a backward step; that it's time for other youngsters to take Bangladesh's batting forward. He's still only 27, and has plenty to offer. How desperate and determined he is to ensure his selection this time is one for some time to come remains to be seen.
One of the best slow bowlers in the world currently, Saeed Ajmal, who is on top of the ODI bowling rankings, has had plenty of success in Tests as well. He's well acclimatised with the tracks in the Middle East, where Pakistan play England early next year, and can be potentially lethal with his variations on even slower pitches in Bangladesh. At 34, recognition has taken time to come to Ajmal but in Pakistan's post-spot-fixing revival, Ajmal has been a key performer. The Bangladesh batsmen didn't have too many answers against him in the ODIs and it doesn't bode well for the Tests either.
Team news
Bangladesh have left out opener Imrul Kayes and Raqibul Hasan from their Test squad. Mahmudullah, who missed the Test series against West Indies due to dengue fever, makes his way back and so does Ashraful. Bangladesh have also selected batsman Nazimuddin, and medium-pacer Robiul Islam in the squad.
Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Shahriar Nafees, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Nazimuddin, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 7 Mahumudullah, 8 Nasir Hossain, 9 Elias Sunny, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Shahadat Hossain.
Pakistan are without Junaid Khan and should they choose to go in with two seamers, Aizaz Cheema could open the bowling with Umar Gul.
Pakistan (possible) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Adnan Akmal (wk), 8 Abdur Rehman, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema.
Pitch and conditions
It rained in Chittagong during the Test against West Indies but the weather forecast is encouraging for this game, with plenty of sun for the next few days. The pitch is usually slow with adequate assistance for spinners, calling for graft and patience from batsmen which is something Bangladesh have rarely shown.
Stats and trivia
- Both of Pakistan's wins in Bangladesh, in 2002 which was the last time they played a bilateral series in this country, were innings victories. Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan and Mohammad Ashraful were part of that series.
- Younis Khan is 60 away from reaching 6000 runs in Tests.
Quotes
"It's actually time for the batsmen to show something because our bowling and fielding was not bad in the series. Bangladesh always bounce back strongly when they fell in dire state."
Shahriar Nafees
"If they stick to their goals, they will give us tough competition. It will not be easy for us since Bangladesh are playing in home conditions."
Younis Khan
Younis Khan
Virender Sehwag makes history- He scores the highest score in One Day Internationals 219 of just 149 balls
It took nearly 40 years for a batsman to score the first double-century in one-day international cricket but less than two years for the second. Virender Sehwag, the batsman most touted to break Sachin Tendulkar's record for the highest individual ODI score, didn't merely break it - he shattered it and raised the bar so high that it's hard to Virender imagine anyone, apart from Sehwag himself, raising it higher.
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Sehwag slammed 219 off 149 balls, the highest one-day score in history, to flatten West Indies in Indore © |
Unlike Tendulkar in Gwalior, Sehwag wasn't running out of time as he raced towards 200 in Indore. He got there in the 44th over and had made 219 off 149 balls by the time he was dismissed in the 47th. And in one of cricket's stranger coincidences, both ODI double-centuries were scored in the same Indian state - Madhya Pradesh - at venues less than 500 kilometres apart.
Sehwag's performance led India to 418 for 5, their highest ODI total, and all but ensured India would extend their 2-1 lead and win the five-match series against West Indies. It was an innings characteristic of Sehwag's approach to batting. He hit his second ball for four and simply did not stop. He took plenty of risks too, surviving two run-out chances and two dropped catches, but thundered on, ensuring India's run-rate stayed above seven after the 15th over. Sehwag's only out-of-character moment came in the 20th over, when he dived to avoid being run out. Sehwag never dives. It was a sign that he was determined to stay the course. He went to 50 off 41 balls, to 100 off 69 balls, to 150 off 112 and past 200 off 140. The record was broken with a withering cut that sped to the backward-point boundary, and he celebrated with an aggressive fist-pump before breaking into a smile.
Before this game, and after each of the previous three in the series, Sehwag had admitted that the top-order failures, which he contributed to, were the reason India had struggled in their three chases. Sehwag had made a duck in the previous match in Ahmedabad, where India lost, but led by example today.
India hadn't had a century opening stand for 22 matches. They did two things differently at the Holkar Cricket Stadium. They chose to bat and also opened with their strongest combination, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who will open in Australia, and pushed Parthiv Patel down the order. The upshot of those decisions was an opening partnership of 176 that began smoothly, picked up speed, and gathered the momentum of a runaway train before it was eventually ended, inevitably, by a run-out.
A strong crowd continued the trend of resurging attendances during the home ODIs and they cheered the first boundary in the second over, when Sehwag flicked Ravi Rampaul's first ball for four - a treatment he would give three other West Indian bowlers. The first six came off Kemar Roach - a bouncer steered over the slip cordon and placed fine enough to avoid third man. Sehwag looked dangerous from the start.
Gambhir did not. Roach and Rampaul denied him room in the first few overs and pinned him to the crease with their lengths. He inside-edged past his stumps and struggled to pierce the off-side field. After making only 3 off 15 balls, Gambhir finally had the width he needed and cut Roach to the point boundary. He half-edged, half-steered the next ball wide of the cordon, and was away.
Both batsmen, however, could have been dismissed on 20. Sehwag had given up hope of making his ground but Kieron Pollard missed the stumps from point, and Andre Russell dropped Gambhir on his follow through.
Gambhir began to steer, cut and drive through the off side frequently, going over fielders' heads and placing wide of the boundary riders. Seven of his first nine fours were in this region. Sehwag brought up the 50 stand in the ninth over by glancing Russell to the fine-leg boundary. India ended the mandatory Powerplay on 63 for 0.
The field spread after that but it didn't matter. Sehwag and Gambhir scored 45 runs between overs 11 and 15. This passage began with Sehwag hoisting the offspinner Sunil Narine's first ball over the long-on boundary. He then launched Darren Sammy's first inside out over extra cover. The 100 partnership came in the 15th over, when Gambhir glanced Narine to the fine-leg boundary. This passage ended with Sehwag hammering Narine again, this time into the stands beyond deep midwicket.
The field came in for the bowling Powerplay and Gambhir immediately cut Roach through point, and then dabbed for a single to reach his half-century off 51 balls. The smash-and-dab combo was a feature of the partnership. The bowling Powerplay produced 41 runs.
Sehwag ran amok, plundering everyone. He got to his hundred with a fierce cut, hit in the air, grazing the fingertips of the leaping fielder at point before speeding to the boundary. The next ball, he ran Gambhir out, to a direct hit from Samuels. Visibly upset with himself, Sehwag continued to punish West Indies.
When he was hitting fours, Sehwag preferred to go square of the wicket, flicking and glancing the numerous deliveries he was fed on the pads. When he wanted six, he usually went straighter, targeting the arc between midwicket and long-on. He hit 25 fours and seven sixes in all.
Against a deflated bowling attack, Suresh Raina settled in quickly and brought up India's 200 in the 27th over with a cut to the boundary. India waited until the 36th over to take the batting Powerplay, and in its first over, Sehwag took 13 off Marlon Samuels. On 170, in the 38th over, Sehwag spooned Rampaul towards cover, where Sammy dropped a dolly, leaving the bowler distraught.
The rest of the innings was a blur of boundaries and landmarks. Raina got to his half-century off 42 balls. India reached 300 off 39.1 overs. Sehwag broke his personal best - 175 against Bangladesh in the World Cup - with a flick to the square-leg boundary. He went past 8000 ODI runs with a chip over the fielder at short fine leg That shot took him from 191 to 195, and soon he was cutting Russell to send India into rapture.
When he was dismissed - lofting Pollard to the substitute Anthony Martin at long-off - most of the West Indian fielders came from various corners of the ground to shake his hand.
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