Saturday, January 27, 2007

Live Scores-South Africa gain edge in decider

Third Test, Cape Town, day two (lunch): South Africa 183 v Pakistan 157 & 22-1
Here are the Live Scores.

South Africa held a slight advantage at lunch on day two of the deciding third Test with Pakistan four behind on 22-1.

The Proteas slumped from 131-5 to 140-8 in quick time but Mark Boucher's unbeaten 40 off 36 balls smashed them past Pakistan's 157 in Cape Town.

Mohammad Asif conceded 22 in one over before Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini fell off successive balls on 183.

With the pitch still offering bounce and seam movement, Mohammad Hafeez was caught off Steyn just before lunch.

It continued the absorbing battle of wits which began on Friday.

Pakistan struck three early blows, the first of which owed more to fortune than assistance from the surface.

Ashwell Prince appeared to get no touch to a Danish Kaneria googly but umpire Steve Bucknor raised his finger when the ball deflected off wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal's gloves to silly mid-off.

Paul Harris then drove flat-footedly at Asif to edge to slip and there was no doubt when Andrew Hall edged leg-spinner Kaneria behind.

With the hosts in danger of falling short, Boucher launched a devastating sequence of big-hitting off Asif.

He crashed two fours through mid-wicket, top-edged another to fine-leg and straight-drove for four more before heaving the ball well over long-on for six.

Kaneria was then biffed a long way back into the crowd at mid-wicket, while Mohammad Sami was carved over cover for four.

The mayhem ended thanks to a brilliant piece of fielding from Younis Khan, who threw down the stumps from gully to run out Steyn, and a full delivery from Sami to trap Ntini lbw first ball.

Ntini and Steyn then continued to extract steepling bounce, although Imran Farhat and Hafeez had several loose deliveries to tuck into.

But Hafeez's attempt to thrash a full and wide one resulted in Prince taking a smart catch at backward point to provide another twist in a fascinating encounter.

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