Durban - With a dash of selective flair Azhar Mahmood has carefully written chapter three of his entertaining test career involving South Africa at Kingsmead.
With a third century on a pitch far removed from the expected seamers paradise, the 23-year-old Pakistani stitched together an attacking 132 runs on the opening day of the second test. And it was yet another rescue act for the bashful media shy young batsman who scored his first three-figure innings against Hansie and the boys in his home base of Rawalpindi back in October.
With the top order failing again the ``specialist No7'' had to nurse the Pakistan first innings to 259 with after it had subsided to an alarming 153 for eight in the 52nd over. An irresponsible lack of discipline was not the only reason for such a monumental slide against bowling often wayward in purpose if not direction.
After an early closure, with South Africa listing at 23 for one with the loss of Gary Kirsten's wicket Azhar, as slim as a willow wand, was grinning mischevously when it was put to the coach, Haroon Rashid, he should be moved up the batting order.
He was an innocent bystander listening to the Q&A show as Rashid, sat poker-faced, fending off the view of a readjustment of the batting order to accommodate the free-scoring Rawalpindi all-rounder at possibly four in the order. Azhar's third century had taken his run-making tally against South Africa to 471 in six innings and boosted by two not out innings his average now stands at 117.75.
``It is hard to find a place for him in the top order,'' admittted Rashid. ``Sure he is a good batsman, and perhaps there is a place for him . . . possibly at six. But we do have better players at present.''
Rashid also admitted the Pakistan top-order had again not performed that well had it not been for the specialist No7, who nursed the Pakistan first innings to a creditable 259 after it had subsided to 153 for eight by the 40th over.
``He is an all-rounder and although he has proved himself, it is hard to see him batting much higher,'' Rashid said.
Pakistan were forced to omit Inzamam-ul-Haq who injured an ankle during a practice session on Wednesady and was left a hobbling invalid yesterday morning.
Earlier we had Allan Donald celebrating a ``return to form'' with a 10th five-wicket haul and perhaps being more generous in his praise for Azhar than most would have thought after his 10th test five wicket haul.
``It was a superb innings,'' he agreed. ``I though I bowled well and it's nice to find my rhythm again. The pitch also helped a bit . . . Nice bounce.''
While Pakistan said they would have batted first their top-oder again failed to put runs on the board although Saeed Anwar, Donald's third victim, seemed to battle his way through a rough patch to reach 43, Pakistan's top order reemained shaky.
And this was despite some untidy South African bowling with the recalled Fanie de Villiers, mainly for his outswing variation, earned his only wicket of the innings with a slower ball which looked remarkably like an off-cutter that Moin Kahn chipped an edge to Allan Donald.
It was Donald, South Africa's leading test wicket-taker, who bowled Azhar for 132. Yet like the recalled Fanie De Villiers he did not have the best of days.
As always he played the same enthusiasm for the South African bowlers as he he did at the Wanderers and last weekend in Bloemfontein. So far his tour has yielded 379 runs in three firstclass innings.
We were treated to a style of batting rarely seen in this country. There two drives off the front foot which would not have disgraced the memory of Barry Richards, for those who can still recall that superb century at the same venue 28 summers ago.
With 96 of his runs coming in boundaries he employed limited-overs tactics by retaining the strike yet making the most of his runscoring opportunities.
His free-flowing straight driving and pulls and hooks were those of a young man enjoying his batting against one of the alleged better bowling attacks in the game today. Sadly only Shaun Pollock lived up to that reputation while the slip catching was back to its usual testmatch level standard.
While most of the Pakistan top-order need to take up the offer of lessons from Arthur Murray's dancing school, Azhar put together a text book performance of style and grace at which the more flashy toporder types need to take a closer look. Ijaz, for one, was guility of falling into the flashing out side the off syndrome, as were Wasim and Yousuf Youhama.
What was surprisng was how Cronje treated the revival as Azhar's manipulation of the strike during the last two partnerships. Shoaib Akhatar faced only 21 deliveries during an 82 minutes stay in a partnership of 80 runs: and scored only six.
Arguments will also be made why Cronje did not employ the long-on when De Villiers, Donald or Pollock were bowling; occasionally too full which allowed the tall, young man attack the bowling with impunity.
There are going to be queries why Pat Symcox was overlooked for this match instead of the other Natal all-rounder Lance Klusener. It seems the selectors had long made up their minds the ball would track around and you couldn't disuade them from such a half baked idea.
Day 2: Shaun Pollock to South Africa's rescue
Durban - Shaun Pollock, known for his ability to strike a few blows in defiance, partly rescued his father's battle plan for this second test at Kingsmead with a well-structured half century.
Apart from propping up the failed hopes and strategies launched by Peter Pollock with such confidence at the Wanderers 11 days ago, Pollock (jnr) put together a third test half century of character and cunning against Pakistan here yesterday on another day of high drama.
No doubt the selectors will feel comfortable with HD Ackerman's debut innings of 57 which did much to justify his selection; only post-mortems over the remainder of the innings should, sooner or later, emerge.
Serious question-marks about the failure of the side designed to take South Africa beyond the 90 for five scenario have been raised. Five wickets fell for only 39 runs in 20.2 overs, and all after discarding Plan A at the Wanderers. This led to Daryll Cullinan and Herschelle Gibbs being dropped for Ackerman while Cronje's return heralded the dismissal of the other.
Pollock's national selection panel no doubt considered their middle-order Plan B options would work. It may have, too, had Shoaib been left to lounge around with his hands in his pockets nursing a bruised thumb and perhaps sulking a bit as well.
He didn't bowl at all before lunch. In fact his captain, Aamir Sohail, did not even consult the 22-year-old fast bowler from Rawalpindi whether he wanted turn his arm over that first session.
Yet when he finished the day with a test best five for 43 South Africa, had barely managed, with the aid of Pollock (jnr), to scrape up first innings score of 231; a deficit of 28 which Pakistan, at 11 without loss, had stretched to 39.
There were two effective overs left when the tourists, complaining about shadows in the stand, were all too eager to depart. No doubt a second over from Fanie de Villiers, robbed of an lbw decision against Saeed Anwar with the first ball of his opening over, had them seeking any excuse to escape.
It was, however, Shoaib who created the havoc which did much in the second and third sessions to unravel the South African second innings. When he was finally brought on at the Old Fort Road end it seemed Sohail had made up his mind Shoaib's pace might cause a hiccup to South Africa's batting plan. And on a pitch which was still two-paced.
The score was 101 for two and Jacques Kallis and Ackerman were looking fairly comfortable in their task of putting together a foundation partnership designed to establish a lead. They were looking solid at 115 for two at the start of the 50th over when Kallis, playing down the wrong line lost his off-stump to a snappy delivery.
Andrew Hudson came and departed the next ball: an lbw decision given by Dave Orchard and the subject of much debate last night. When leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed trapped Hansie Cronje six overs later Plan B had all but disintegrated in alarming fashion. And Pollock (snr) and Dr. Ali Bacher, a former captain and UCB managing director, sat in stony silence.
About the only genuine query about Shoaib is the action of the Rawalpindi fast bowler. He straightens the elbow the way West Indian rebel fast bowler Hartley Alleyne did about 10 years ago, and the legality of that action was highly suspect
It was Mushtaq, tying up one end for most of the day, who finally removed Ackerman with a bat-pad catch. The sixth wicket to fall at 139 in the 63rd over, it was the end of the restructured middle-order plan and left to Pollock (jnr), with his hard-hitting 70 and a partnership of 53 with Allan Donald for the last wicket.
Ackerman had been watched by his proud father, Hylton, and when reflected on his half-century at Kingsmead admitted it was a ``nice feeling'' get runs on the board.
Ackerman joined his Western Province colleague Jacques Kallis with South Africa limping along at 32 for two.
While admitting that Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is the ``fastest bowler I've come across - yes he's very, very quick'' (he was clocked at 152 kpm/h in the first test at the Wanderers) Ackerman also considered batting with Kallis was no different to any other partner. Which is surprising as they have been on tour together in Sri Lanka and England; the first with the under-24s and the second with the A side
Shoaib is another to have come through the ranks: from under-19 level to Pakistan A. While he was chuffed over his test best five wickets for 47, a knee problem is causing more than a little concern. A debilitating knee injury, which needs to be drained, will not prevent the fast bowler from missing the Zimbabwe section of the tour next month.
Knee surgery has not been ruled out by the coach, Haroon Rashid.
``He has become an important member of the team since making his debut earlier this season against the West Indies,'' he added. ``But he does have some pain and it is a worry to us.''
Day 3: Fiery Polly puts the kettle on
Durban (South Africa) - When he sat down with the jaunty air of someone who knew he had done a pretty good job Shaun Pollock donned the sponsor's cap and looked at the assembled, assorted tape recorders and grinned.
It was barely 24 hours after he had sat at the same table, put on the same cap and spoke a few encouraging words about his batting in the second Test against Pakistan. An undefeated innings of some purpose and 70 runs which spared South Africa's embarrassment.
Saturday afternoon, bad light again claiming a number of overs, play had finished early. Fanie de Villiers, displaying his disgust at the light being offered Mushtaq Ahmed and Shoaib Ahktar, had flung the ball in the direction of umpire Dave Orchard. Pakistan were 222 for eight in the 79th over; the new ball was barely 11 balls away.
Pakistan did not want to bat on. Mushie was up to his old tricks of walking down the pitch and bemoaning how bad the light was; the tourists could not afford to lose another wicket. The need to add to the lead of 250 runs with six sessions and 180 overs of the game remaining was of more importance to Pakistan's survival; and Pollock might be asked to continue his spell which had done so much damage.
His five wickets in 43 balls had blown the vistors out of their comfort zone; well, awoke them to the dangers of how not to slip into a feeling of superiority.
What helped was Fanie de Villiers' second spell of the day. The game was drifting away from South Africa on a pitch of batting substance. A partnership of 101 between Saeed and Aamir in hot, sticky conditions more suited to relaxing at a nearby beach, found Hansie Cronje looking for answers. He even brought himself on as the coach, Bob Woolmer, suggested to add a change of pace to the attack and get a breakthrough. The first couple of overs were tidy enough: two niggling singles and little else.
Which did not stop Saeed scoring a fifth test century. It was a masterpiece of foot and wristwork, working balls into gaps and picking off boundaries. Not out 53 at lunch he advanced to 97 at tea, having watched Aamir, Ijaz and Wasim depart. He was fluently into his stride and at 159 for one, Pakistan had taken firm control.
It was Allan Donald, later to retire with a strained left buttock, first diognosed as a ``thigh twinge'', and then withdrawn from the test, who brokethrough when he had Aamir driving and edging a ball to Mark Boucher who still fails to impress behind the stumps.
Pakistan were 159 for one, De Villiers began the 55th over and the question: what was going through Woolmer's thoughts arose. ``I was being optimisitic and hoping for a wicket. Yes, the game was running away from us, but you always have hope of a breakthrough''.
Okay, so it was De Villiers, bowling that 55th over of the innings and still swinging the ball who cracked open the door a chink. With the second ball he produced a delivery which beat Ijaz and cannoned into the off stump. Three balls later Wasim, who had worked a fuller ball from De Villiers through mid-wicket for four the first one he faced, found himself trying to beat a return from Cronje only to see De Villiers break the wicket.
The crucial over of the innings? Two wickets instead if one to turn around the innings? Yes, it was. Even Pollock admitted as much. ``That over helped us a lot,'' he grinned. ``It gave us a crack at a new batsman and put doubt into Saeed's mind.''
These days they do not check the time of high tide and low tide to see when the ball starts moving around. It has long been a myth; but the argument in favour of the tide rather than cloud cover had some wags looking at the local Saturday rag. The tide, it said, would begin turning during the lunch break.
An interesting theory which in reality, as Jackie McGlew says, is a myth: so let it remain stored in the old wives tales cupboard of remedies for tricky problems.
Pollock's fifth ball of the third over of his spell had Youhana edging the ball to Boucher and 16 balls later Moin was the first of two lbw victims. The second was the big catch of the day Saeed after 312 minutes stay and the sixth wiccket to fall.
Big catch No.2 came when Azhar, on his 23rd birthday, departed; another wicketkeeper's catch which was straight forward while Waqar came and went without bothering the scorers. In 10 overs he had managed five wickets for 17 runs and added another chapter to his Test saga.
Day 4: Mushtaq destroys South Africa
Durban - South Africa's inability to play leg-spin bowing has been amply illustrated twice this season. First in Sydney and now at Kingsmead.
On a wearing surface which suited the cunning and expertise of Mushtaq Ahmed, Pakistan's wrist spin magician has all but left South Africa stranded 69 runs short of victory with two wickets remaining on a fourth dramatic day of this scond test.
Set a target of 255 to go 1-0 in the series, South Africa's batsmen stuttered and stumbled to 186 for eight when bad light ended play with seven overs of the day remaining. And that South Africa are able to return this morning with a glimmer of hope belongs to an unlikely partnership for the ninth wicket between Mark Boucher and Fanie de Villiers.
In a matter of 59 minutes of living dangerously they teased, occasionally bludgeoned and then coaxed 53 runs out of a bowling attack which revolved around Mushtaq. Although both were dropped by fielders fatigued by oppressive humidity, they kept their heads down: block, block, sweep sweep ... it all has a familiar ring if you remember the heroics of Ahmedabad.
When they came together a large Sunday crowd must have wondered whether South Africa would meekly surrender what advantage they managed to squeeze out of getting rid of the last two Pakistan batsmen for six runs in a matter of eight balls.
Boucher was undefeated on 36 and De Villiers, with a reverse sweep that spoke of eloquent confidence which earned him the first off his four boundaries, had 26.
Only the man who did so much to all but destroy South Africa yesterday, willy wrist-spinner Mushtaq, is now just a wicket away from joining Clarrie Grimmett as the second bowler to take 10 wickets in a Kingsmead test. His second innings figures at present are six for 66 off 35 overs with the possibility of two more today. Yet he was tiring toward the end of his marathon, unbroken spell of 35 overs.
South Africa's top order wrote their own epithet yesterday when they failed to read his googly: Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis and HD Ackerman fell into his cunning trap.
It is not the first time he was won a test almost on his own. He ripped through Australia to take 11 wickets a couple of seasons ago after Mark Taylor's side had already won the series. And there was a remarkable performance at Lord's two years ago.
In England's second innings he earned five for 57 as they succumed to the little Multan wizard. England lost nine wickets for 75 runs on the final day of a game they seemed set to win the night before and with the help of Waqar Younis stripped England's batting pride of any honour.
Yesterday, South Africa's lamentable display resembled that of a lame duck unable to find a crutch to prop up an ailing cause as several batsmen, including Hansie Cronje, the South African captain.
His gift-wrapped catch to wicketkeeper Moin Khan off Waqar in the 57th over said little for his particular cause, and the question of his batting at six must again be raised. The way he performed as a batsman was not an exmaple to others.
Yet there were times when the Pakistanis seemed to have fine tuned their orchestration for appealing off just about anything the leg-spinner bowled.
Day 5: Hansie slams South Africa's batting
Durban - Hansie Cronje may move back to four in the order to help solve South Africa's serious batting deficiency after Pakistan went up 1-0 in the three-match test series at Kingmead yesterday.
Although he did not admit it would be a vote of no confidence in the top-order, South Africa need someone with the ability to handle their main tormentor in this game, leg-spinner Mustaq Ahmed, after the tourists won by 29 runs.
Which would mean another restructuring of the middle-order in Port Elizbeth when the third test starts on Friday at St George's Park.
It also means Andrew Hudson could drop to six for the game while HD Ackerman, who certainly did not disgrace himself on his debut may find himself at five. But all this is subject to serious discussions between Cronje and the coach Bob Woolmer.
Cronje, disappointed and stone-faced attended yesterday's after-match media briefing alone and immediately attacked yet another submissive display by the top-order. He agreed is was not good enough.
He also felt the South African top-order needed to take a few lessons from the lower-order batsmen's penchant to score runs at a faster rate.
Although hardly exponents in the art of easy defence, they rely more on instinct to pick up the runs; certainly scoring more freely off the loose deliveries than their allegedly better- skilled teammates.
``It is a point we are well aware of an very much worthy of consideration,'' Cronje agreed. ``The way they attacked the bowling, scoring faster than the top-order in the two tests showed how it can be done.
``But we should not have to rely on those at nine, 10 and 11 in the order to score the runs,'' he admitted. ``That is not their job, it is ours and we failed.''
He did not add the result being a lost test, Pakistan's first over South Africa.
South Africa lost the second test by 29 runs after a record partnership of 86 between Mark Boucher and Fanie de Villiers which restored a modicum of respectability in a side which seemed to lack the appetite to put together big scores.
The inability to score match-winning totals was of serious concern before this match and remains so as the sides prepare to depart for Port Elizabeth in the back to back games.
Apart from dismantling the South African ninth wicket stand of 47 at Kingsmead, jointly held by Fred Nicholson and Bob Crisp (1935/36) and Kelly Seymore and Peter Pollock (1964/67), the unlikely duo also broke the record held for only 48 hours by Azhar and Shoaib.