South Africa win rain-hit match

OHANNESBURG - A surprise bowling change brought a key wicket and was a crucial factor as South Africa beat Pakistan in a rain-affected first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday. Shortly before a storm broke over the stadium, South African captain Faf du Plessis called up JP Duminy to bowl his off-spinners, and Duminy caught Nasir Jamshed off his own bowling with his third delivery.

Only ten more deliveries were possible before play was halted. Pakistan were 60 for two after 9.1 overs, four runs short of a revised par score after South Africa made 153 for seven in their 20 overs. Jamshed's wicket meant that the target was pushed just out of Pakistan's reach. Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla gave South Africa a flying start, putting on 72 for the first wicket before Amla was bowled by Pakistan captain and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 31 off 20 balls.
De Kock made 43 off 33 deliveries before he was well caught at long-on by Sohail Tanvir off Hafeez. A third wicket fell to slow bowling in the space of 15 runs when Shahid Afridi bowled Henry Davids for three. The success of the slower men made it puzzling that Pakistan made a late switch in their team, leaving out their world-class off-spinner Saeed Ajmal at the last minute, causing a delay in the toss.
With play starting 25 minutes late following a thunderstorm, Hafeez said it was the first time he had seen the pitch. Ajmal was in the team list handed to the media before the toss but it transpired the change was made as a result of seeing a pitch expected to favour fast bowlers. Junaid Khan, not originally named, took the field instead of Ajmal after Hafeez sent South Africa in.
Hafeez and Afridi took three wickets between them for 39 in their combined eight overs as the South African innings lost momentum. South Africa's defence of their total started badly when Lonwabo Tsotsobe's first deliveries were called wide, with one going for an extra four runs. But Tsotsobe came back strongly and bowled Ahmed Shehzad for nine in an unbroken four-over spell of one for 19.
Shehzad and Hafeez put on 32 and Pakistan looked well placed before they were thwarted by Duminy and the rain. South Africa won both Twenty20 matches in the United Arab Emirates last week before the teams travelled to South Africa for a hastily-arranged reciprocal series. A second and final game will be played in Cape Town on Friday before the teams clash in three one-day internationals.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...rain-hit-match

Pakistan holds on for tight win over South Africa

CAPE TOWN: Pakistan held on for a close six-run win in the second Twenty20 on Friday to end a six-game losing streak to South Africa in limited-overs games.

Shahid Afridi’s 3-28 backed up earlier half-centuries by Umar Akmal and captain Mohammad Hafeez as Pakistan successfully defended its 176-4 at Newlands to draw the series 1-1. Akmal made 64 and Hafeez 63 in a match-winning 102-run stand off just 55 balls after Pakistan opted to bat first and made it count.

Hashim Amla replied with 48 opening South Africa’s chase, but legspinner Afridi accounted for Quinton de Kock (26), Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers to have the hosts 87-3.

After Amla was out just short of his half-century, JP Duminy (47 not out) and David Miller were held at bay by good death bowling by Sohail Tanvir to give Pakistan a long-awaited win. South Africa finished on 170-4.

The teams begin their three-game ODI series at the same ground on Sunday.

"We have been working hard," said Hafeez, who was named man of the match and man of the series. "We knew we had to win this game to stay positive for the rest of the series."

Akmal and Hafeez combined for their century stand to lift Pakistan from a slow start at 44-2. Akmal had five fours and four towering sixes in his explosive 64 off 37 balls in Pakistan’s only significant partnership. Hafeez hit five fours and three sixes for his 63 off 41 balls before he was out in the 17th over to Dale Steyn (2-29).

Akmal fell to Steyn in the last over but the damage was already done, giving the home team a tough target to chase down under lights.

Amla began brightly, stroking five fours while opening partner De Kock hit four boundaries in his 26.

Spinner Afridi changed the game, though, having De Kock and captain Du Plessis caught in the deep and then bowling De Villiers with a quicker, flatter delivery. Amla fell to Pakistan’s other spinner, Saeed Ajmal, leaving Duminy and Miller with 60 runs to get in only 27 balls.

Their unbroken 53-run stand brought South Africa close, but Tanvir held his nerve in the final over to concede just six runs off the first five deliveries, clinching just a second win for Pakistan in nine limited-overs games against the South Africans.

Teams: South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, David Wiese, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Aaron Phangiso.

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan.

Umpires: Johan Cloete, Shaun George (both RSA)

TV umpire: Karl Hurter (RSA)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
http://dawn.com/news/1057868/pakista...r-south-africa

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

All-round Ali, Bhatti spur Pakistan to victory

CAPE TOWN: Debutants Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali spurred Pakistan to victory after their team had been in deep trouble in the first one-day international against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday.

The newcomers shared an eighth wicket stand of 74 to rescue Pakistan from a precarious 131 for seven, then shared five wickets as Pakistan won by 23 runs.

Pakistan made 218 for nine in their 50 overs after winning the toss.

Despite a half-century from returning veteran Jacques Kallis, South Africa were bowled out for 195.

Bhatti (39) and Ali (43 not out) prospered after Pakistan's recognised batsmen struggled against a strong South African pace attack.

Bhatti, 22, took three for 37 in South Africa's innings, while Ali, 25, claimed two for 24, including the crucial wicket of Kallis, bowled for 50.

Bhatti and Ali shared the man of the match award and earned high praise from captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

“I am very happy, especially as the two youngsters set it up. The plan was to negotiate the new ball, then accelerate but we kept losing wickets at the wrong time. It was not a good total but the bowlers did really well,” said Misbah.

For the first time since South Africa began their rise to the top of the Test rankings, the hosts fielded all three of their leading fast bowlers - Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel - in the same one-day side.

With Kallis returning for his first one-day international since February 2012, South Africa applied relentless pressure as Pakistan struggled. But Bhatti and Ali, who have both scored first-class centuries despite primarily being picked as bowlers, went for their shots to keep their side in the game.

Steyn took three for 33 and Morkel three for 39, while Philander claimed one for 37.

Bhatti and Ali put on 74 off 70 balls. Bhatti made his 39 off 25 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes, while Ali hit six fours in a 55-ball innings.

“We spoke about batting out the 50 overs,” said Ali.

“We have played together a lot in domestic cricket so that helped.”

South Africa suffered an early blow when Hashim Amla exposed his leg stump and was bowled by Junaid Khan in the third over of their innings.

Graeme Smith followed in the next over, stumped by Umar Akmal off Mohammad Hafeez, although it was a fortuitous dismissal for the wicketkeeper as the ball bounced off his gloves, onto the ground and into the stumps while Smith's foot was momentarily off the ground.

Kallis and Quinton de Kock put on 42 for the third wicket before De Kock was bowled by Bhatti.

Batting with calm assurance, Kallis reached 50 for the 103rd time in one-day internationals but was then bowled by Ali, edging an in-swinging delivery from Ali off the bottom of his bat into the stumps.

When David Miller edged Ali to Akmal, South Africa were 123 for six.

JP Duminy made 49 before he was caught behind, attempting a reverse sweep against Saeed Ajmal and Bhatti claimed the last two wickets to seal a memorable win for the tourists, who were beaten 4-1 by the same opponents in a recent series in the United Arab Emirates.

“The bowlers did a brilliant job in getting them seven down but we let it slip at the end,” said South African captain AB de Villiers.

Teams:

South Africa: AB de Villiers, (captain), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali.

Umpires: Johan Cloete (RSA), Chris Gaffaney (NZL) TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) Match referee: Chris Broad (Z)
http://dawn.com/news/1058263/all-rou...tan-to-victory

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Pakistan hold nerve to seal historic series win over South Africa

PORT ELIZABETH: Pakistan held on for a thrilling one-run win in the second one-day international on Wednesday to beat South Africa in an ODI series for the first time, making its short-notice tour an historic one.

Pakistan defended its 262 in a rain-shortened 45-over game by the smallest of margins as South Africa fell just short of the nine runs it needed off the last over at St. George's Park to take the three-game series to a decider.

Pakistan has the chance to be the first team ever to whitewash South Africa at home in an ODI contest in the final game.

A century partnership between Hashim Amla (98) and AB de Villiers (74) took South Africa to the brink of victory, but Amla's wicket fell off the last ball of the penultimate over. Junaid Khan took 3-42 for the victorious tourists, who just held on under intense pressure.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad's 102 set up victory for Pakistan, while Dale Steyn's career-best 6-39 was part of a losing effort for South Africa as the world's leading team in test cricket continued to struggle for consistency in ODIs.

Following a 4-1 drubbing by the South Africans in United Arab Emirates at the start of the month, Pakistan turned the tables dramatically weeks later to send South Africa to its first one-day series defeat at home in over two years.

The Pakistanis have the chance to become the first team to ever whitewash South Africa at home in the final game in Centurion this weekend.

Pakistan wasn't even meant to tour now, but was asked to fill a gap in South Africa's home schedule after India shortened its upcoming series. It also lost key players to injury before the series started and still came through for a momentous win.

Shehzad's 102 off 112 balls with eight fours and two sixes laid a winning platform in Port Elizabeth.

He shared a 124-run partnership for the third wicket with Sohaib Maqsood (42) after coming through an early onslaught by Steyn in overcast conditions at the start of the day.

Umar Akmal added a quick-fire 42, but it was Pakistan's cool under pressure at the end that sealed their triumph as a partnership of 110 between Amla and De Villiers looked to have put South Africa on track to come from behind to win and stay alive in the series.

Saeed Ajmal struck for the crucial wicket of Amla on the last ball of the penultimate over and Khan had JP Duminy caught off the second ball of the last over as Pakistan fought until the end to make sure of its moment in history.

Misbah hails series victory

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hailed the series win against South Africa.

Misbah admitted that a win seemed unlikely with two overs to go.

He said: “But there is always pressure on the side batting second. We knew that we would have a chance if we had one good over so that South Africa needed more than a run a ball in the last over, especially if they had new batsmen at the crease.”

“It really means a lot to us to beat South Africa in a bilateral series for the first time, especially doing it in South Africa,” said Misbah.

It was especially satisfying because Pakistan were recently beaten 4-1 by the same opponents in the United Arab Emirates.

“It is a young side and now they believe they can win. That was what was lacking (in the previous series),” said Misbah.

De Villiers struggled to explain yet another failed run chase by his team, who have now lost their last seven matches when batting second.

“I had the game in my hands with Hash out there with me,” he said.

“I've finished a lot of games like that before and I was on a bit of a roll there. I should have caught my breath a little bit and looked at the situation again. It is very disappointing.”

Teams:

South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Imran Tahir

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan.
http://dawn.com/news/1058940/pakista...r-south-africa

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Pakistan beaten by four wickets in final ODI

CENTURION: Pakistan were defeated by four wickets in the third and final One-day International but they won the three-match series 2-1 against South Africa.

Chasing an easy target of 180, South Africa completed the victory with 68 balls remaining after Pakistan fought hard to dismiss their six batsmen.

The main scorers were captain AB de Villiers with an unbeaten 48 and opener Hashim Amla with 41.

For the tourists, off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets for 34.

Earlier Pakistan sent into bat by the hosts batted poorly and at one stage they were reeling on 97 for seven in the 29th over.

However, it was their captain Misbah-ul-Haq who was determined to stay at the wicket. He came to the crease at the score of 48-3 at the board and remained not out on 79 after the whole team were bowled out for 179 in 46.5 overs..

Only three other batsmen could enter into the double figures. They were opener Umar Amin (25), middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood (25) and late-order batsman Abdur Rehman (22).

Fast bowler Vernon Philander was the most successful bowler for South Africa, capturing three wickets for 26 runs, followed by Ryan McLaren (2-28), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2-38) and leg-spinner Imran Tahir (2-56).

Pakistan won the first two One-day Internationals of the series – first by 23 runs at Cape Town on Sunday and one run at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday – to record their first ODI series win against South Africa.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-12...-in-final-ODI-

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Afridi takes Pakistan to victory

DUBAI: Pakistan won the 1st T-20 against Sri Lanka by 3 wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Chasing 146 for victory, Pakistan got to the target after some anxious moments with 3 wickets and 5 balls to spare.

Shahid Afridi played a match winning but more surprisingly a sensible knock of 39 off just 20 balls 2 fours and 3 towering sixes.

Shahid Afridi also became the first player to score 1000 runs and get 50 wickets in T-20 internationals.

Sharjeel Khan also played a handy innings scoring 34 and skipper M.Hafeez got 32.

Malinga was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers picking up 3 wickets for 26 runs.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-12...tan-to-victory

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan, preserve number one ranking

Dubai (AFP) - Sri Lanka retained their status as the world's top Twenty20 team by beating Pakistan by 24 runs in a thrilling finish to the second game in Dubai on Friday.

The win also levelled the two-match series at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first match by three wickets on Wednesday.

Kusal Perera hit a career best 59-ball 84 and spinner Sachitra Senanayake took three wickets in a match with full of runs and records.

The series draw kept Sri Lanka at number one in the Twenty20 rankings, shattering Pakistan's hopes of claiming the top spot in any form of the game for the first time.

Chasing a daunting 212-run target, Pakistan finished at 187 in 19.2 overs with Sharjeel Khan scoring 50 and Sohail Tanvir making 41.

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal was excited at holding on to the number one ranking.

"We are over the moon," said Chandimal.

"We keep our number one ranking. Kusal and Dilshan (Tillakaratne, wo made 48) batted really well. After that Seekkuge (Prasanna) and (Kumar) Sangakkara batted well at the end so it was a good total."

Pakistan captain Mohammed Hafeez admitted they conceded too many runs.

"We didn't bowl in the right areas early on, and they got a score higher than what we expected. We were looking at 160-170," said Hafeez.

Perera had been ably supported by Dilshan (48) and Kumar Sangakkara (44 not out) as Sri Lanka posted an imperious 211-3 in 20 overs.

Pakistan fought valiantly despite Sharjeel's 25-ball 50 but they slumped from 83-3 to 85-7 in the space of just seven balls.

They looked well set when Sharjeel brought up his fifty off just 24 balls with two towering sixes off Seekkuge Prasanna but was bowled by the leg-spinner in the same over.

Senanayake, who finished with 3-27, then chipped in with the wickets of Umar Amin and Bilawal Bhatti for nought in the same over.

Sohail Tanvir added 63 for the ninth wicket with Saeed Ajmal (20) -- the highest stand for this wicket in all T20 cricket -- but the target proved beyond Pakistan's reach.

Shahid Afridi chipped in with a rapid 13-ball 28 with two sixes and two fours.

Earlier Perera, who hit five fours and four sixes, put on a rapid 100 with fellow opener Dilshan as Sri Lanka posted the highest ever total against Pakistan in all Twenty20 cricket.

Perera added another 77 for the third wicket with Kumar Sangakkara who made a 21-ball 44 not out with four boundaries and two sixes.

It was Dilshan who started the run spree, hitting four boundaries in the fifth over bowled by paceman Bilawal Bhatti as Sri Lanka raced to 90 off the first ten overs.

Dilshan hit eight boundaries before he holed out off spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Debutant Prasanna lifted the tempo with a blistering eight-ball 21 with the help of two boundaries and two sixes before he too fell to Ajmal, who despite the run-feast, finished with 2-25 in four overs.

Perera was run out off the last delivery, improving his previous highest Twenty20 score of 64 he made against Bangladesh at Pallekele earlier this year.

The previous highest T20 total against Pakistan was 191, made twice by Australia.
The two teams now play five one-day internationals, with the first game in Sharjah on Wednesday. They will also play three Tests.

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/cricket/n...r-one-ranking/

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

18.12.2013

Pakistan narrowly win 1st ODI against Sri Lanka

HARJAH: Pakistan recorded a sensational 11-run victory after Sri Lanka gave a tough fight in the first One-day International here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a huge target of 323, Sri Lanka batted aggressively to win the match but Pakistan bowled them out for 311 with two balls to spare.

Pacer Junaid Khan captured three for 44 and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took two for 30 for Pakistan.

http://www.geo.tv/article-130898-Pak...inst-Sri-Lanka

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Pakistan win ODI series against Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan cricket side have won the fifth and final one-dayer in Abu Dhabi but Pakistan have taken the five-match series 3-2.

Dinesh Chandimal finished with 64 not out off 70 balls and added a match-turning 40 runs for the ninth wicket with Ajantha Mandis scoring 19 not out to see Sri Lanka through with two balls to spare.

Earlier captain Misbah-ul Haq top-scored with 51 as Pakistan were bowled out for 232 in the 50th over.

The two teams now play a three-match Test series, with the first in Abu Dhabi from December 31.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/...inst-sri-lanka

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

The Pakistan seamers shredded Sri Lanka's batting in unthreatening conditions to wrest control after a manic second session in Abu Dhabi. Junaid Khan maintained his stranglehold over the Sri Lanka batsmen, picking up his fourth five-wicket haul against them, but central to the collapse was debutant Bilawal Bhatti's post-lunch spell during which he picked up three wickets -two of them in one over.
The pitch in its green guise didn't offer much to the bowlers, but it was a mix of tight bowling and loose batting from Sri Lanka that resulted in their innings slipping off the precipice. From a comfortable 66 for 1 at lunch, Sri Lanka lost seven wickets for 58 runs and only a rearguard action from their captain, Angelo Mathews, who scored a counterattacking 91, prevented a complete capitulation.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 204 and Pakistan had a comfortable start to their innings till a run-out off the last ball took some sheen away. Khurram manzoor was only Pakistani wicket to fell as Pak was 46/1.

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Visions and ideals are like stars,we never reach them; but like mariners over sea,we can chart our course by them.