Asif the lone ranger

A tired host, Shaun Pollock rested for the decider and a strong pace attack meant that this was Pakistan's best chance to win a series in South Africa in recent memory. They didn't capitulate as they had in 2002-03 but despite a tough battle, they couldn't quite sneak through. Still provided enough gumption to warm the heart on occasion.

9
Mohammad Asif
For much of the series, he was Pakistan's sole threat but what a threat. The weaker batsmen were worked out with cruel efficiency and the better ones with a little more thought as he dismissed the entire South African top seven, Ashwell Prince apart, at least once. The pace was down but he was relentless, lion-hearted (most overs by any fast bowler in the series) and intelligent throughout. His Port Elizabeth five-for will be remembered as one of the best spells of the year, already. With due respect to the 31-year-old Stuart Clark, Asif is the most exciting young pace bowler in world cricket at the moment.

7
Danish Kaneria
Wheeled away admirably through the series for 15 wickets, including a match-turning spell in the first innings at Port Elizabeth. He even unveiled a flipper of sorts late in the series. Will not be thanking Kamran Akmal who shelled any number of chances off him. But as has become the norm, he bowled well, without luck, with little support and without ever threatening to run through a side. Given the bounce and turn in the surfaces, that will irk him.

7
Younis Khan
Remarkably similar to his 2004-05 series against Australia, where he was the leading run-scorer for his side and consistently its most solid player, but incapable of making starts count. In the first two Tests, he should have made three fifties and a hundred, instead of the two fifties he ended with. Loses marks for irresponsible wafts at Cape Town but makes up for it by being Pakistan's most reassuring presence at second slip since a young Inzamam.

6
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Unusually, got off to starts and didn't make them count through the series, apart from once. His unbeaten 92, a lesson in batting with the tail, at Port Elizabeth was every bit as good as any of his 17 match-winning hundreds and equally as effective. Sadly, will end career without a hundred in South Africa. Captained astutely when he was a bowler short at PE and took two very good slip catches.

6
Mohammad Yousuf
Looked mostly untroubled in the four innings he batted, yet had only one score to show for it. His 83 was a stunning knock but as befits a batsman in his form, it twice required superb deliveries to dismiss him. Still searching for a first hundred against South Africa.

6
Mohammad Sami
At Port Elizabeth, gave his best Test bowling performance in a couple of years, combining pace, aggression and accuracy but no fortune. Threatened to revert to type at Cape Town, before injuring his finger though he batted with good sense and spirit. With injuries galore, has given Pakistan a glimmer of hope to cling to.

5
Imran Farhat
Scored nearly half his runs in second innings at Centurion, but apart from that never appeared comfortable at any stage. Continued to slash and burn in the slips and six years after his international debut, you have to wonder whether Pakistan aren't better served by trying out someone, anyone else. Dropped only one catch and held on to a rather good one.

5
Yasir Hameed
Announced his return with a pleasant, battling fifty at Centurion but threw away his wicket. It wasn't the last time either and at as crucial a position as one-down, it was criminal. Wasted both his starts and a chance to cement his spot in the team.

4
Mohammad Hafeez
Never failed to get to double figures but never went beyond 32. The pattern was repetitive: a couple of pleasant boundaries to begin, a few plays and misses and a dismissal. Impression that he is merely a short-term replacement for Shoaib Malik forever lingers. Given that Malik is not a specialist opener either, that is worrying.

4
Kamran Akmal
An awful, horrific series behind the stumps, the kind that you have nightmares about, and shelled so many chances you eventually lost count. Looked as lost with Kaneria's legspin as the English have against Warne's. Worryingly, it caps a poor year for him with gloves and bat, as calls for resting or replacing him continue to grow. But for a brave, bustling fifty at Port Elizabeth and a couple of useful lower-order hands, would have scored even less.

3
Shahid Nazir
Not just ineffective with the ball, apart from a beauty to Kallis at Cape Town when it didn't matter, but damaging as he continued to let up pressure at ever opportunity. Useful tailend biffing on occasion.

3
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan
Test matches continue to flummox him as a desperately poor stint with the new ball at Centurion confirmed. Leaked runs for fun and never looked like taking a wicket until the very end. Cheery, breezy run-bashing lower down, reinforcing the belief that he is a key ODI player.

3
Faisal Iqbal
Errr. Asim Kamal anyone?

Choose your own marks

Shoaib Akhtar
A five if for those who think he left his team in the lurch by getting injured when they needed him most, and picking a fight with Bob Woolmer to boot. A nine for those who think his 11 overs and four wickets set up and eventually won the Test for Pakistan.

Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

3rd test Pakistan Vs Southafrica

The third and final test of the 3 test match castle series will start tommorow in capetown.
The match will start at 4:00pm PST(GMT +5).The Live Scores of the match will be available here as usuall.

Pakistan is facing a lot and severe injury and health problems.First Umar Gul got his ankle injured than the Rawalpindi express got hamstring injury and has been adviced by doctor to rest for atleast 2 weeks.
And now the rumurous is that Pakistan's key striker Muhammad Asif has got some little knee problem and he might will not be available in the third match as Pakistan cant sustain the danger of getting him injured in the WorldCup.
I think that Pakistan will now have to rely solely on Shahid Nazir and Rana Naveed-ul-hassan.And if pakistan are to win the match and series,they'll really have to bowl their hearts out.
If we take about Southafrica,they would be pretty happy if Muhammad Asif will be out of the match as he is the real threat to them.Southafrica had a real busy summer this year,and they have finally decied to rest Shaun Pollock and Andre Nel for the third test.Whereas,Gibbs has been ruled out of the match due to his Racial comments.
Anyways,keep visiting the site frequently tommorow to see the Live Scores.And we hope to see a great final test:)

Chanderpaul brilliance in vain

First one-day international, Nagpur: India 338-3 bt West Indies 324
Here are the Live Scores.
A pulsating 149 from Shiv Chanderpaul was not enough to save West Indies from a 14-run defeat against India in the first of the four-match one-day series.

Sourav Ganguly hit 98 before Mahendra Dhoni and Rahul Dravid smashed a stand of 119 from 71 balls in India's 338-3.

Chris Gayle and Chanderpaul fired 80 in just over 12 overs in reply but the Windies began to fall behind the rate.

Brian Lara got them on track with two sixes in 31 and Chanderpaul hit five fours in six balls but was just denied.

Ganguly, making his first appearance in coloured clothing for 16 months, put on 144 for the first wicket with Gautam Gambhir.

On a lifeless track at Napgur's Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, he lofted seamer Daren Powell for six over long-off to reach his half-century.

Another Ganguly six, off Gayle, disappeared way over long-off and the landed outside the stadium, but he was denied a 23rd one-day century when he was run out by Dwayne Smith.

When Lara came to the crease in the 34th over of the West Indies innings, a formidable 164 were still needed with seven wickets remaining.

The skipper launched Sachin Tendulkar for a magnificent straight six, and added another off Harbhajan Singh which landed on the roof, followed by a feasrome cut which raced for four.

Having reduced the asking rate to 98 from 58 balls, he advanced down the wicket to Tendulkar again, but the Indian maestro saw him coming, fired the ball well wide of off-stump as Lara backed away a fraction and Dhoni executed a neat stumping.

Chanderpaul hit consecutive fours off Ajit Agarkar and then fired three successive boundaries when Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was brought back to bowl the 48th over.

He came within inches of hooking a fourth but Harbhajan Singh limited the scoring to a single and from the next delivery, Dinesh Ramdin top-edged to square-leg to become the seventh wicket to fall.

With 12 balls left 33 were needed, but Chanderpaul retained hope when he swung his third six of a remarkable innings.

Sreesanth bowled the final over with 20 needed and Ian Bradshaw was run out frm the opening delivery as Chanderpaul's drive went straight back to the bowler with Bradshaw stranded.

Live Scores-2nd test Pakistan Vs Southafrica(day 3)

19-01-2007 at Port Elizabeth, Day 3 of 5
In Play
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat
South Africa 1st Innings
124 all out (40.0 overs)
Pakistan 1st Innings
265 all out (76.0 overs)
South Africa 2nd Innings
194 for 4 (85.2 overs)

Click here to see the previous Scorecard.
Umpires: B R Doctrove, P D Parker
South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, H M Amla, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, P L Harris, A Nel, M Ntini
Pakistan: Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif

Live Scores-Inzamam puts Pakistan in Command:

Second Test, Port Elizabeth, day two (tea):
South Africa 124 & 25-1 v Pakistan 265
Here are the Live Scores:
South Africa found themselves in trouble at tea on day two of the second Test with South Africa, reaching the interval 116 runs behind at 25-1.

Pakistan added 130 with their remaining four wickets, skipper Inzamam playing a masterful knock and shielding the tail.

Makhaya Ntini struck early, recording his 300th Test victim, but Inzamam moved to 92, adding 74 from 122 balls with last man Mohammad Sami (7).

The skipper then held a superb diving catch to dismiss Graeme Smith for 10.

The tourists, seeking to level the series, added useful runs when tailender Sami hit two fours in an over, much to the annoyance of Andre Nel.

But to the great delight of Ntini, who revealed an inscribed t-shirt, he nipped none back and caught the inside edge to secure his landmark.
Short balls accounted for Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria but Inzamam-ul-Haq survived to make his 46th Test fifty.

Pakistan were already 11 runs ahead of South Africa's mediocre 124 going into the second day at Port Elizabeth, and looked set for a commanding advantage when Inzamam and Sami took their partnership to 31 from 49 balls.

But Ntini's pace and the agility of keeper Mark Boucher signalled the landmark wicket, with the paceman becoming the 22nd man to reach the 300 wicket stage, and the third South African.

The Pakistan tailenders were clearly uncomfortable against the short ball and this was not lost on the experienced South African bowlers, with venerable all-rounders Jaques Kallis and Shaun Pollock soon brought into the attack.

Shoaib, after fending off some brutal deliveries awkwardly, finally succumbed to Kallis, while Danish Kaneria could only glove Pollock tamely to the gully.

Kallis even employed the short ball to the kingpin himself, Inzamam, and might have dismissed the captain when he was on 35 and the score 195-9.

Inzamam, trying to take as much of the strike as possible, saw the need to find more runs and hooked at the fifth ball of the over.

He could only glove a quick delivery down the leg-side but Boucher could not cling on to the chance one-handed at full stretch to his left.

The skipper seemed destined to complete his personal set of a century against every Test-playing nation, but partner Asif saw his off-stump uprooted by Ntini, who finished with 6-59.

There was time before the interval for Pakistan to make early in-roads when Smith was squared up by a good one from Asif, and Inzamam continued his impressive day by swooping to his left and clutching a fine catch.
Story from BBC sports.

Live Scores-2nd test Pakistan Vs SouthAfrica-Stumps(Day 1)

19-01-2007 at Port Elizabeth, Day 1 of 5
Close
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat
South Africa 1st Innings
124 all out (40.0 overs)
Pakistan 1st Innings
135 for 6 (40.2 overs)
Here are the live Scores.



Umpires: B R Doctrove, P D Parker
South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, H M Amla, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, P L Harris, A Nel, M Ntini
Pakistan: Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif

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.

‘Let umpires seek more assistance of technology’

KARACHI: Unhappy with some decisions during the first cricket Test against South Africa in Centurion, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to allow the umpires seek the assistance of modern technology more often. “Why should assistance from modern technology just be restricted to stumping or run-out line decisions? Why can’t it be applied to other dismissals as well,” Inzamam was quoted as saying in a TV interview. Pakistan were at the rough end of some poor umpiring decisions, but Inzamam did not blame it for the defeat. Inzamam urged the ICC to allow the umpires to seek the assistance of modern technology while reaching at a conclusion on doubtful decisions. “Modern technology can be used by umpires to rule on any close decisions including caught behind or leg before ones,” he added. The ICC experimented with the option of allowing the batting teams to appeal against any disputed decision to the third umpire last year in one tournament, but soon afterwards dropped the idea.

SA expect tough Pakistan challenge in second Test

PORT ELIZABETH: South Africa are expecting a stronger challenge from Pakistan in the second Test starting at St George’s Park here on Friday (tomorrow).
The Scorecard of the match will be available here.
Star batsman Mohammad Yousuf will be back in the team after missing Pakistan’s seven-wicket defeat in the first Test at Centurion because his wife was having a baby, while Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar could both strengthen what was a disappointing bowling line-up.
Yousuf made a world record 1788 runs in a calendar year in 2006 at an average of 99.33 and completes a world class trio for Pakistan with Younis Khan and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in the three to five batting positions.
Inzamam said he expected Gul to have recovered from an ankle injury. The fast bowler was a key figure in Pakistan’s series win over the West Indies in November.
If fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is included, Pakistan will field four of the top 20 bowlers in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, together with Mohammad Asif and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.
The inability to sustain pressure on the South African batting when Asif and Kaneria were not in action in Centurion was a major factor in South Africa taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
South Africa are likely to field an unchanged team, with fast bowler Dale Steyn still struggling with a thigh strain.
There has been discussion, however, about the possibility of rotating the South African fast men to give Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock a break before the World Cup in the West Indies in March.
South African captain Graeme Smith said he would prefer to pick the strongest possible team at all times but added: “You’ve got to be realistic in terms of the season. The bowlers have had a huge workload on wickets that haven’t been too helpful.”
Pitches have been a source of frustration to the South Africans this season, with their wins over India in Cape Town and Pakistan at Centurion achieved on surfaces which did not have the pace and bounce which has been one of the main advantages for South African teams playing at home.
Port Elizabeth traditionally has one of the slowest pitches in South Africa. Only one first-class four-day match has been played at St George’s this season and slow bowlers did much of the bowling in a match which had a high-scoring first innings before the bowlers had the upper hand the second time around.
South Africa will go into the match high on confidence after winning three matches in a row.
Their top order batting, which was a concern earlier in the season, has been reasonably solid lately, although opening batsman AB de Villiers has yet to make a half-century in four home Tests this season.
Squads: Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Asim Kamal, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis (vice-captain), Paul Adams, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn.
Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS), Peter Parker (AUS). TV umpire: Rudi Koertzen (RSA). Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).

Inzamam expects stronger Pakistan

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq put Pakistan's opening defeat to South Africa down in part to lack of preparation time.

But he was confident a stronger touring side will be in a better position for the rest of the three-Test series.

"We did not have enough time for practice but that's not an excuse," he said after the seven-wicket defeat.

"Mohammad Yousuf is coming, Shoaib [Akhtar] is there and Umar Gul is fit so we will have stronger bowling and stronger batting."

Pakistan had just once three-day match before the Test series, and have little time to recover before the second Test starts in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

At least record-breaking batsman Yousuf will be with the side after staying at home to be with his wife as she gave birth.

Pace bowler Gul is recovering from an ankle problem.

And Shoaib - called up initially to replace Gul - has taken time to regain fitness after taking time away during a successful appeal against a drug ban.

Inzamam bemoaned his side's inability to take a first-innings lead or to take advantage of a turning pitch on the final day.

"We had a good opportunity because we won the toss," he said.

"In the last innings it was not easy to bat so credit goes to the South African team, who batted very well."

SA win streak 'down to hard work'

Captain Graeme Smith paid tribute to South Africa's resilience after their third Test victory in as many weeks.

They came from 1-0 down to beat India 2-1 before beating Pakistan by seven wickets at the start of a new series.

"They haven't been easy wins. We've had to work hard for them and played in conditions that have been a little foreign for us," Smith explained.

"We've played under pressure at key moments and, on different occasions, different guys have stood up."

The hosts began day five on 69-2, requiring another 130 for victory, and soon lost night-watchman Paul Harris.

"I couldn't have asked for a better guy to bat with than Jacques, who is so calm"

Hashim Amla

But despite some sharp turn for Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, and invariable bounce for the seamers, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis played confidently to steer them home.

Amla came into the game under a bit of pressure after several low scores against India but was named man of the match after hitting half centuries in each innings.

"It's quite easy when you have fantastic guys around you and I couldn't have asked for a better guy to bat with than Jacques, who is so calm and composed," he said.

"The wicket was deteriorating but we hung in there and came out on top."

Smith added: "It's about having different guys in your top six who can perform.

"Pakistan performed well and put us under pressure but the way we stood up and made it count was the key factor at the end of the day."

Gibbs banned for racist comments

South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs has been banned for two Test matches for making racist comments during the first Test against Pakistan.

The ban, imposed by match referee Chris Broad, was half the maximum penalty for an offence of this sort.

His words were picked up by the stump microphone and broadcast on television during day four in Centurion.

Cricket South Africa said the comments were made after fielder Paul Harris was abused by members of the crowd.

Several unruly spectators were ejected from the ground on Sunday's fourth day in Centurion.

"Herschelle says these remarks were for the ears only of his team-mates in his proximity," said chief executive Gerald Majola.

"He has apologised if he has caused offence to anyone."

Gibbs, who hit 94 in the first innings of the seven-wicket win at Centurion Park, near Pretoria, will miss the rest of the series against Pakistan.

"The remark was racially offensive, the player admitted saying it and on that basis I am content that the punishment is appropriate"

Chris Broad
match referee

CSA has also organised its own disciplinary hearing, set to take place on Tuesday and headed by former judge Mervyn King.

Rule 3.3 of the International Cricket Council code of conduct prohibits using " ... any language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethic origin."

Gibbs pleaded not guilty to the level three charge but guilty to a level one offence, that does not mention racism.

Broad said: "I took into account the mitigating circumstances that the players were provoked by unruly spectators.

"However, the remark was racially offensive, the player admitted saying it and on that basis I am content that the level of the charge and the resulting punishment is appropriate.

"Cricket has a zero tolerance of racism, as has been illustrated by the introduction last year of an amended ICC Anti-Racism Code, and this decision is an illustration of that fact."

"Herschelle was down at third man and he was copping a lot of abuse and I think even racial abuse"

Graeme Smith
South Africa captain

The last leading player to be given a ban for a racist outburst was Australia's Darren Lehmann, who was suspended for five one-day matches in the run-up to the last World Cup after an incident against Sri Lanka.

Captain Graeme Smith said he could not condone Gibbs' action but he made strong comments about the circumstances which led to the incident.

"There was quite a lot of racial abuse from the Pakistan fans towards our players and I think that provoked a lot of what happened," he said.

"Herschelle was down at third man and he was copping a lot of abuse and I think even racial abuse.

"The worrying thing is that Pakistan always have a large support base around the world. Security needs to be looked at.

"There was an incident where Makhaya [Ntini] was hit on the head by a Pakistan flag going up the stairs.

"The guys were provoked and that is why they are angry but we understand that what Herschelle did was wrong."

This is the second time Gibbs has been banned from the international game.

He was suspended for six months in 2000 for accepting a bribe to play poorly in a match against India, although he subsequently went back on the agreement.

South Africa ease to opening win against Pakistan

First Test, Centurion, day five: South Africa 417 & 199-3 bt Pakistan 313 & 302 by seven wickets
Scorecard

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis hit fifties to guide South Africa to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan on the last afternoon of the first Test.

After rain delayed play at Centurion by 45 minutes, night-watchman Paul Harris drove Mohammad Asif to cover for seven.

That left the hosts 80-3, chasing 199, but Amla (64) and Kallis (60) added an unbroken 119 to prevent further alarm.

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria found some sharp turn but, despite some invariable bounce, the seamers proved ineffective.

The second of three Tests starts in Port Elizabeth on Friday, when Pakistan will have prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf and paceman Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar available.

They will hope to improve on a below-par effort in this game, even though they were still in with a chance when play eventually began on day five.

Asif improved their prospects when he drew Harris into droving uppishly to Faisal Iqbal.

Amla then edged just beyond the leaping Mohammad Hafeez's fingertips at gully.

But things then settled down and, despite the ball occasionally keeping low, Amla and Kallis encountered few difficulties in the afternoon.

The fifty partnership came up off 110 balls when Amla crashed a wide long-hop from Rana Naved-ul-Hasan for four before both batsmen drove part-time off-spinner Hafeez beautifully for boundaries in the same over.

Amla, who came into this game under some pressure, clipped Shahid Nazir off his pads to complete his second fifty of the game off 137 balls.

With the runs flowing, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal twice conceded four byes off poorly directed Kaneria deliveries and Kallis hammered another through the off-side as he reached his half-century off 102 balls.

A comprehensive victory was sealed shortly afterwards with 40 minutes to go before the tea break.

Gibbs to face panel over 'abuse'

South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs is to face a disciplinary panel after making an allegedly racist comment during the first Test against Pakistan.

His words, apparently concerning unruly fans, were picked up by the stump microphone and broadcast on television.

Pakistan's management complained to referee Chris Broad, who could suspend a guilty player for up to five Tests.

Cricket South Africa said the comments were made after fielder Paul Harris was abused by members of the crowd.

"Herschelle says these remarks were for the ears only of his team-mates in his proximity," said chief executive Gerald Majola.

"He has apologised if he has caused offence to anyone.

"However, CSA regards this whole matter in a most serious light."
What are your comments?

scorecard-1st test Pak Vs southAfrica(Day 4)-Stumps

11-01-2007 at Centurion Park, Day 4 of 5
Close
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat
Pakistan 1st Innings
313 all out (96.5 overs)
South Africa 1st Innings
417 all out (117.5 overs)
Pakistan 2nd Innings
302 all out (96.2 overs)
South Africa 2nd Innings
69 for 2 (18.0 overs)



Click Here to see the Previous Scorecard
Umpires: S A Bucknor, B R Doctrove
South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, H M Amla, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, A Nel, P L Harris, M Ntini
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Nazir, Naved-ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif

South Africa close in on victory

First Test, Centurion, day four (stumps): Pakistan 313 & 302 v South Africa 417 & 69-2
Scorecard
South Africa looked on course to win the first Test against Pakistan after ending day four on 69-2, needing a further 130 runs at Centurion Park.

They appeared even better off when the tourists slumped to 199-7.

But tail-enders Shahid Nazir (40), Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (33) and Danish Kaneria (23) attacked to lift the total to 302.

Spinner Paul Harris finished with 4-46 and Shaun Pollock 3-60. AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith (32) fell late on, but the Proteas remained favourites.

Tight bowling helped them control the first half of the day, with Younis Khan the first to fall after being pinned in his crease by one that Pollock nipped back.

Makhaya Ntini then twice found the edge of Imran Farhat's bat, with the left-hander on 41 and 47, but Jacques Kallis at slip and wicket-keeper Mark Boucher failed to hold on.

Having reached his 13th Test fifty off 124 balls, Farhat fell just before lunch when a push forward to Harris resulted in the ball flying to de Villiers at silly point.

Faisal Iqbal, skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal then perished in the afternoon trying to play aggressive shots.
Nazir was dropped by Pollock before the break off the luckless Ntini and could have been run out twice before thrashing the seamer over mid-wicket for six and seeing his stumps re-arranged attempting a repeat.

Naved, who survived a strong caught behind appeal off Pollock in the first over after tea, and Kaneria took over to launch a succession of meaty blows.

Three fours came in one over from Ntini and a startled Pollock was thrashed over long-off and mid-wicket for huge maximums.

Harris saw off Kaneria to bring the carnage to an end but the momentum had shifted back towards Pakistan.

When De Villiers edged a delivery that Mohammad Asif shaped away, the tourists were scenting something dramatic at 20-1.

But Smith and Hashim Amla looked set until the slow bowlers were introduced and the batsmen were playing for stumps.

Part-time off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez beat skipper Smith with one that turned and won an lbw verdict.

But Pakistan knew they would need a combination of inspired bowling and poor batting to avoid an opening defeat in the three-match series.

Alleged insult under investigation

South African officials are investigating an incident during the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan in which an unnamed South African allegedly made an insulting remark which was heard by television viewers around the world.

"They're like animals," was the comment picked up by a stump microphone which apparently had not been turned off as normally happens soon after a ball has been bowled.

Mickey Arthur, South Africa's coach, said the comment had been the subject of complaining e-mails, some "from as far afield as Pakistan." He added: "The comment was not aimed at any Pakistan player."

Arthur said the incident was the subject of an internal investigation and that a statement will be issued on Monday. As far as he was aware, he said, it had not become a matter for match referee Chris Broad.

The comment was made shortly before lunch, soon after a complaint from the South African team about three spectators near the boundary who allegedly swore at bowler Paul Harris.

The head of security at the ground, Terence Jacobs, said the three spectators, who were supporters of Pakistan, were questioned and two were asked to leave the ground after admitting that they had sworn at the players.

Arthur added he was not happy about the stump microphones. "They are a bit intrusive," he said. "What is said on the field should stay on the field."

© Cricinfo

scorecard-1st test Pak Vs southAfrica(Day 4)

11-01-2007 at Centurion Park, Day 4 of 5
Lunch
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat
Pakistan 1st Innings
313 all out (96.5 overs)
South Africa 1st Innings
417 all out (117.5 overs)
Pakistan 2nd Innings
160 for 4 (59.0 overs)



Click here to see the previous Scorecard.
Umpires: S A Bucknor, B R Doctrove
South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, H M Amla, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, A Nel, P L Harris, M Ntini
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Nazir, Naved-ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif

Gibbs hopeful of opening Test win

South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs believes his side can build a winning position with two days to play in the first Test with Pakistan in Centurion.

The home side faltered somewhat from 356-4 to 417 all out, a lead of 104 that Pakistan reduced to one at 103-2.

"We're a bit short of where we wanted to be and the match is evenly poised," said Gibbs, who was dismissed for 94.

"We've got a lot of work to do but if we restrict them to a lead of 200 I'm sure the guys will be confident."

Gibbs shared a dominant fifth wicket partnership of 213 with Ashwell Prince, who was involved in a controversial incident when he had scored 126.

Pakistan were convinced they had dismissed the left-hander when Shahid Nazir scooped up a caught and bowled, but the batsman stood his ground and, to the dismay of the tourists, the third umpire returned a not out verdict.

"I saw the ball going into his hand," Prince said. "But then I saw it go out of his hand as well and I wasn't sure whether it touched the ground."

The obdurate Prince batted for almost six hours for his 138 from 214 balls, which featured 19 fours.

"It was one of the more fluent innings," he said. "I hit three or four boundaries in my first 20 runs, and that saw me off to a good start."

scorecard-1st test Pak Vs southAfrica(Day 3)-Stumps

11-01-2007 at Centurion Park, Day 3 of 5
Close
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat
Pakistan 1st Innings
313 all out (96.5 overs)

Pakistan 2nd Innings
103 for 2 (33.0 overs)
South Africa 1st Innings
417 all out (117.5 overs)

Click here to see previous Scorecard:
Umpires: S A Bucknor, B R Doctrove
South Africa: G C Smith, A B de Villiers, H M Amla, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, A Nel, P L Harris, M Ntini
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Nazir, Naved-ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif