Saturday, March 10, 2007

Pakistan sink SA on dubious pitch

World Cup warm-up match, Trinidad:
Pakistan 200-3 (44.3 ovs) bt South Africa 199 (48.3 ovs)

Here are theLive Scores.

South Africa and Pakistan
There were serious concerns for the safety of the players
Pakistan beat South Africa by seven wickets but the match was overshadowed by a treacherous wicket.

Put into bat, the South Africans were unhappy with the unpredictable bounce at Trinidad's Frank Worrell Stadium.

Coaches Mickey Arthur and Bob Woolmer discussed the pitch with umpires Peter Parker and Ian Gould, causing a delay.

Loots Bosman hit 53 as South Africa recovered to make 199 but Younis Khan struck 79 as Pakistan reached their target with more than five overs left.

The South Africans were without Justin Kemp, who missed out with a toe injury and paceman Makhaya Ntini - who would no doubt have relished bowling on such a sprightly wicket - but was at home awaiting the birth of his child.

Pakistan omitted all-rounder Yasir Arafat and fast bowler Mohammed Sami from their expanded 13-man squad.

The ground will not be used for the World Cup matches, but both teams were disappointed to not have a better final preparation.

Opening bowlers Mohammed Sami and Umar Gul found some extravagant lift, but also saw some deliveries shoot along the ground.

AB de Villiers was the first casualty in Sami's opening over, playing back to one that did not bounce and trapped him lbw.

With no addition to the score, Graeme Smith was bowled and Herschelle Gibbs fell for 11 when he gloved a brutal delivery from Sami in the 10th over, leaving the world's top one-day side at 27-3.

They had recovered to 56-3 when the mid-pitch consultation took place.

"The batsmen were not happy with the way the ball was bouncing, but the umpires asked them to continue," said Dhiraj Malhotra, an International Cricket Council official at the venue.

Younis made light of the concerns about the wicket, striking a six and nine fours in a commanding 98-ball innings.

He shared 68 with Mohammad Hafeez, who made a stylish 49, then added 100 with prolific Mohammad Yousuf, who also gained useful time in the middle by scoring a fluent unbeaten 48.

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