Friday, January 19, 2007

Live-Pak Vs SouthAfrica-Shoaib strikes in comeback Test

Second Test, Port Elizabeth, day one:
South Africa v Pakistan
Scorecard
Shoaib Akhtar wasted no time in making an impact at the start of his comeback Test match for Pakistan.

Fast bowler Shoaib had both AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla caught behind after South Africa won the toss in Port Elizabeth and chose to bat.

His inclusion followed his successful appeal against a two-year ban imposed after a he failed a drugs test.

The home side slumped to 40-3 when skipper Graeme Smith was caught at slip off spinner Danish Kaneria for 28.

They were unchanged, with Herschelle Gibbs keeping his place despite a two-match ban imposed for making racist comments. He can continue to play until his appeal against the suspension is heard.

But their hopes of a good start were undermined when de Villiers attempted to pull a short ball in Shoaib's third over from well outside off stump and only succeeded in under-edging to keeper Kamran Akmal.

He departed for two and Amla, who made 71 and 64 not out in the first Test, quickly followed for five when a gloved a catch down the leg-side.

Shoaib and new ball partner Mohammad Asif were kept to six-over spells by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who surprisingly turned to Kaneria as first change after only an hour of play.

Smith greeted his introduction by advancing down the pitch and hitting him powerfully back over mid-off for four.

But his attempt to drive the next ball resulted in a nick which deflected off the gloves of Akmal and looped into the air before being taken by Younis Khan.

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