PORT ELIZABETH, March 6:
It was a heart-warming and spirited display by Pakistan who justified their decision well to put South Africa into bat and then end the first day's play in the decisive third and final Test by taking 7 wickets for 262.
It could have been even better had Pakistan taken their catches and Hansie had not played that face saving innings of 85 but Pakistan I am sure do not regret that because they dominated the day's play and kept the pressure mounting as wickets fell at regular intervals. For this Pakistan owe a lot to Waqar Younis who finished the day with 5 for 64, his 20th haul of five or more wickets in Tests.
Right from the word go he was on the target as he attacked the stumps with nagging accuracy. On a wicket with moisture coming out he revelled as he charged vigorously to get past the defence of the struggling batsmen. Pakistan as predicted had made three changes in the side with Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif and Inzamam-ul-Haq brought into the side. Waqar spirited and pumped up with Wasim Akram, another experienced strike bowler at the other end looked a different bowler as he seamed, swung and cut to devastate the South African batting.
Not even in the second Test had he shown such determination as he did at St. George's where he found the track to his liking. Used sparingly, as was Wasim Akram, he made play difficult. Young Azhar Mahmood was as much accurate but was unlucky as catches were dropped off him.
Tomorrow will, however, be another day and if Pakistan manage to bowl South Africa out within 300, the match like at Durban could become as much absorbing.
The wicket has dried up and the ball has started to come up and on to the bat much quicker which of course Pakistani batsmen would find them to their liking. And if Pakistanis are able to make a sizeable score on this, then South Africa will be struggling in the second innings to find their feet. By then Wasim Akram is also most likely to shake of the rust and bowl to his full potential.
Pakistan had a dream start of the day as they put South Africa to bat and picked up quick wickets. Waqar Younis bowling with nagging accuracy had done most of the damage. At lunch on 81 for 4 South Africa were struggling to salvage their innings which appeared to have been in all kinds of trouble against Waqar who had taken all the four wickets. Only on the fifth ball of the second over of the day Waqar struck as Adam Bacher left one pitched on the middle stump and was adjudged leg before when 3. The score then was 3 and ten runs later Jacques Kallis also parted as Waqar brought one into him which brushed his pad and hit the off stump. Kallis had made 10. And it was not long before another wicket fell. Hylton Ackerman playing forced back by Waqar lost his off stump as South Africa slumped to 36 for 3. Waqar in five overs had taken 3 wickets for 27.
His partner Wasim Akram playing for the first time in the series bowled steadily but appeared rusty after a lay off. He switched over to the other end and bowled relatively better having bowled five overs for 9 in his first spell. Rashid Latif also playing for the first time in the series made quick changes to unsettle the fourth wicket stand between Gary Kirsten and Andrew Hudson who had started to play well. Mushtaq Ahmed was tried before lunch as the partnership flourished. But it was Waqar Younis once again who struck as Kirsten in the last over before the luncheon interval played on to his stump when 38 after he had put on 45 runs with Hudson who later on resumption reached the landmark of 2,000 runs in Tests. Not much later he was dropped by Moin Khan at cover off Shoaib Akhtar when 41. the lapse did not cost much as Hudson could add only 2 more runs before being caught at silly point by Moin Khan off Mushtaq Ahmed for 42. With Hansie Cronje had added 41 for the fifth wicket.
Cronje well dug in later hoisted Mushtaq Ahmed for two sixes towards mid-wicket as he settled down to share a useful stand with Shaun Pollock. The two were together at tea with South Africa on 157 for 5. Both the batsmen had luck on their side as they gained in confidence. Pollock was dropped at first slip by Inzamam-ul-Haq off Azhar Mahmood when 33. It was a difficult chance but catchable. Minutes later Cronje too was spilled in the second slip by Wasim Akram off Azhar Mahmood when 46 but he hit a magnificent four to mid-wicket to reach his fifty with three fours and two sixes having faced 101 balls.
One hook off Waqar by him went a begging as Azhar failed to reach in time for the lofted hook. The partnership between Cronje and Pollock, however, ended with Wasim Akram having Pollock caught at second slip by Azhar Mahmood when 38 but not before 78 runs had come for the sixth wicket. With the wicket losing its moisture and sun beaming over Cronje who had started to look good played few superb drives and cuts of the Pakistani bowlers. He had taken full advantage of the drop catch and frustrated Pakistan attack with some sensible batting. In Mark Boucher he found another trusted partner as slowly but steadily he repaired the damaged done by Waqar Younis during the day. With new ball taken at 243 for 6 in the 84th over Waqar once again struck and on this occasion he had Cronje leg before at 85 after the batsman had put on 57 runs with Boucher for the seventh wicket. Cronje had stayed for 255 minutes to stave of the danger of big collapse and hit 7 fours and two sixes.
Day 2: Pakistan-SA 3rd Test: Rain washes out 2nd day's play
PORT ELIZABETH, March 7:
Play on the second day of the third and final cricket Test against South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled owing to rain.
The decision to call of the day's play was taken after lunch as rain continued to pour down and waterlogged the field.
The prediction was already there but the weather was expected to improve which, in fact, did not. Only an hour before the start of play rain had started and it continued unstopped as the umpires Steve Dunne and Rudi Koertzen made the final decision.
South Africa with 262 for 7 were to resume the day's play hoping to consolidate the score and possibly get past 300 runs and then try and bowl Pakistan out as cheaply as possible. But with a day lost South Africa ill now find it even harder to press a decision in this match. Pakistan on the other hand will be feeling even more confident to win the series for the first time against South Africa and thus avenge the embarrassment that they suffered, when losing at home last December.
The win in the series, if achieved, which indeed is a big possibility, Pakistan will leave South Africa for Zimbabwe on March 11 to play two Tests there on a happier not than when they came here on their last visit. They had lost not only the Mandela Trophy but also the one-off Test.
Pakistan first task, after they bowl South Africa out when play gets underway on the third day, will be bat on this wicket which appears a batting track. Once they do that the Test itself will be half won because there will not be enough time left for two innings to be completed.
The captain Rashid Latif thinks that Pakistan batsmen will not let themselves down on a pitch which has lost its moisture. ``We have the ability to make respectable score here because the pitch has even bounce and the ball is coming on the bat. The outfield is fast and that, too, is very useful, if a couple of our stroke players settle down.
Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock, needless to say, will have a job at hand if the Pakistan batsmen stick around but one man who will be even keener to dent Pakistan batting will be Fanie de Villiers who announced his retirement soon after the second day's play was called off. He would love to finish on a high note to say farewell.
Day 3: South Africa in firm control of 3rd Test
Port Elizabeth, March 8:
South Africa were well in control of the decisive third and final Test at St. George's when the third day's play was called off prematurely because of poor light with nine overs still remaining.
Having bowled out Pakistan for only 106 in reply to their first innings 293, they had already taken a handsome lead of 187 which was extended to 281 as they finished the day at 94 for 2. The men out were Adam Bacher and Gary Kirsten. Bacher made only 1 before Waqar Younis had him spectacularly taken by Rashid Latif but Kirsten scored 44 to add 75 runs for the second wicket with Jacques Kallis who was undefeated at close with 32 with Hylton Ackerman as his partner.
It was an unusual day though as 15 wickets fell and the fast bowlers dominated. Pakistan's batting demise was unexpected on a wicket on which the bounce was even. But their demolition at the hands of Fanie de Villiers and Allan Donald owed much to their urge to play attacking cricket and for that the frontline batsmen owe a lot of explanation. With nearly three days left in the game there was plenty of time for them to stay at the wicket and graft the runs to make sure of a respectable score. But there was complacency and lack of application which really caused them to whither and vanish as De Villiers and Donald attacked the stumps and made the ball move and do the rest.
South Africa would need to play two more sessions in this match to consolidate their position in this game further and that would mean a target of nearly 375 for Pakistan to save the game and that could pose a lot of problem for them unless weather comes to their rescue.
Resuming the third day's play at their overnight 262 for 7, South Africa lost their last three wickets for the addition of 31 more runs within 45 minutes of play to be all out for 293 in their first innings. Fanie de Villiers was the first to depart when Azhar Mahmood took a comfortable catch at second slip off Waqar Younis who with that scalp reached the landmark of 250 wickets in Tests. Allan Donald like De Villiers also made 1 but it was Wasim Akram who had him leg before. But Mark Boucher who started the day at 27 played sensible cricket and found most of the strike to reach his third fifty of the series with the help of 9 fours and a six in 135 minutes stay to add 24 runs for the last wicket with Paul Adams. He was the last man out when Rashid Latif caught him off Wasim Akram who finished with 3 for 70 but it was Waqar Younis who really did most of the damage.
On a wicket which did not seem to have deteriorated, Pakistan was expected to bat well and make a competitive score but shockingly they put up one of their worst batting displays against some very determined fast bowling by Allan Donald and Fanie de Villiers who shared the wickets. Donald had 4 for 47 but De Villiers playing in his last Test returned with the best figures of his Test career with 6 for 23 in only 11.3 overs.
Pakistan innings was so inept that it lasted for just over 40 overs as they were bowled out for 106. Not surprisingly Donald and De Villiers were on the verge of a hat-trick on three occasions but every time it was averted. The slide started after Saeed Anwar played a thoughtless cut off an outgoing delivery from Donald who had switched ends from Shaun Pollock. Anwar was caught by Mark Boucher for 18 with Pakistan on 21. On the next ball Ijaz played back and edged Donald to the keeper but Inzamam-ul-Haq avoided the hat-trick.
Minutes later Aamir Sohail who has not been in good form lately was brilliantly held in the slips by Andrew Hudson off Donald for 3 and when Inzamam was taken at the wicket off Donald when 6, the fast bowler had taken 4 for 5 in 13 overs, in fact 4 wickets in 11 balls from wicket to wicket.
Azhar Mahmood was off the mark with a four off Donald. With Moin Khan he was still there at lunch with Pakistan in tatters at 39 for 4. Moin was lucky not be caught at short leg by Adam Bacher off Donald seconds before lunch.
After lunch Moin was the man to be out having made 17 runs. He edged one from Fanie de Villiers to Boucher to give the keeper his fourth catch of the innings. With Azhar Mahmood, Moin had put on 32 runs, the highest stand of the innings. Five wickets had gone for 61 and Pakistan looked in real trouble to get back on its feet. Azhar Mahmood who was playing well then was the next to go off De Villiers when he played uppishly and rather carelessly to square leg where Paul Adams took a simple catch. Azhar made 17. Rashid Latif, next man in, was leg before next ball and De Villiers was on a hat-trick which was dangerously averted by Waqar Younis. De Villiers had taken 3 wickets in 4 balls. Waqar was later dropped at mid-on by Donald off Shaun Pollock when 3. He, however, survived few minutes more before holing out to De Villiers off a lifting delivery. Kirsten making lot of ground took a splendid catch as he moved down from the gully region. Shoaib Akhtar followed on the next ball as Boucher picked up his fifth victim behind the wickets. With 9 for 84 Pakistan still required 10 more runs to avert the follow on which loomed round the corner. De Villiers on a hat-trick for the second time in the match was, however, disappointed as Mushtaq Ahmed hit a four over slips head.
Wasim Akram, however, was well in control and hit two blistering fours off Pollock to take Pakistan past the follow on danger. He made 30 unbeaten runs, the highest of Pakistan innings which itself was a sad commentary on the Pakistan batting disaster. In the process Wasim also reached 2,000 runs in Test and added 22 runs with Mushtaq for the last wicket. De Villiers bowling superbly, controlling his swing later accounted for Mushtaq who too was caught at the wicket off him.
Boucher with his six victims behind the stumps had equalled his compatriot Denis Lindsay's record against Australia in 1966-67 at The Wanderers.
Day 4: Pakistan buckle under for the second time
PORT ELIZABETH, March 9:
For the second time in the third and final cricket Test the Pakistan batsmen failed to discipline their batting and were once again routed by the South Africans.
They were lucky that they were not bowled out on the fourth evening.
The South Africans having set them an formidable target of 394 to win had once again struck with as much venom as they had done in the first innings. They had reduced Pakistan to 117 for seven and also had claimed an extra half-an-hour in the hope of wrapping up the Test and levelling the series but bad light allowed only three overs as Pakistan finished at 120 for seven with a massive defeat staring them in the face as they still trailed by 276 runs.
For this they only have themselves to blame because they not only committed the blunder of playing with a thin batting line up but also allowed South Africa to bat first. South Africa took full advantage of it and exploited the conditions to their liking. Knowing fully well that the Pakistan batting line-up lacks discipline and depth, they used the conditions admirably and managed to succeed.
It is now only a matter of time on the final morning for the inevitable. South Africa will have to claim the three remaining wickets to win the Test and square the series. Azhar Mahmood with an unbeaten 30 was at the crease at the close but that will be of no consequence as in the final reckoning there is not much left to rely upon, Surely, Pakistan will regret the decision to leave out a batsman.
In absence of Aamir Sohail who had injured his right wrist on the third day while practising, Ijaz Ahmed opened the batting with Saeed Anwar and the two put on 36 runs for the first wicket. The out of form Ijaz was the first to go when he fell leg before to Fanie de Villiers. Inzamam-ul-Haq dropped by Andrew Hudson at third slip when zero off Shaun Pollock was the next to go when he stretched forward to spinner Paul Adams and was stumped smartly by Mark Boucher.
Saeed Anwar appeared in good shape and also rode his luck as Hudson dropped him when he was two. He reached his fifty with seven fours in a 128-minute stay but lost his partner Moin Khan who perished leg before to Allan Donald. Soon after, Anwar was caught at first slip by Kallis off the same bowler for 55. Wasim Akram survived 12 balls before he too holed out to the keeper off Pollok. Pakistan with five wickets DOWN at 81 were all but in the dumps.
And when spinner Adams trapped Aamir Sohail leg before and Rashid Latif for naught the end seemed just around the corner. Rashid for the second time in the match was out without scoring and must have regretted his decision to play in this match.
Earlier, South Africa declared their second innings closed within an hour after lunch for 206 for seven leaving a massive 394 runs for Pakistan to chase. They had resumed the fourth day's play in an impregnable position at 94 for 2 and with 281 runs in front already. Pakistan did well to contain both Jacques Kallis and Hylton Ackerman for only 33 runs in the first hour.
Both Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar bowling a good line had kept them quiet. Kallis 32 overnight had few anxious moments but survived to reach his fifty in 208 minutes at the crease in which time he hit five fours. With Ackerman he put on 78 runs for the third wicket before being caught at the wicket by Rashid Latif off Azhar Mahmood for 69. At lunch South Africa were 170 for seven and led by 357 runs.
In quest for quick runs and with declaration in mind, South Africa lost four more wickets after the interval Andrew Hudson played on to a Waqar Younis delivery and Ackerman was taken low down by Inzamam-ul-Haq off Azhar Mahmood but not before had made 42 runs.
Waqar bowling at brisk pace then accounted for Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher who played and missed the line of his swinging deliveries. Waqar with the wicket of Boucher had taken 10 wickets in a Test for the fifth time. He finished with 4 for 55 to return with a match figures of 10 for 133. At Boucher's demise, Hansie Cronje walked off and declared the innings closed.
Pakistan were left 52 overs to see out the day and with a whole day's play remaining. Not many teams have survived under pressure of a massive target like the South African's set Pakistan. Their unreliable batting display was unexpected in the present series.
Day 5: South Africa level series after winning third Test
PORT ELIZABETH, March 10:
Inevitable as it was the third and final Test between Pakistan and South Africa ended in a defeat for Pakistan by 259 runs.
The three-match series thus culminated with both the teams sharing the honours evenly. After a rain-marred drawn first Test, Pakistan had done remarkably well in winning the second Test by 29 runs to take a 1-0 lead. But their unreliable batting let them down in the final Test as they were bowled out twice for humiliating scores.
In reply to South Africa's 293 in the first innings, they were bowled out for 106 in the first innings and when South Africa put them under pressure with a massive target of 394 to chase and win. Pakistan once again failed to improve on their failing as they were all out for 134 in their second knock.
After South Africa had declared their second innings closed at 206 for 7 on the fourth afternoon, Pakistan were left with four sessions and a half to survive. Winning the match and going for that big score was certainly beyond them but they could at least have made the effort to stick around and defend their wickets. They failed to do that. What they did was another utterly disgusting display by their batsmen who once again wilted. With a day lost on the second day one would have hoped that they would be able to draw the game and win the series for the first time against South Africa but that dream remains unfulfilled for which they only have themselves to blame.
Safety first tactics would have been their strategy instead they changed the team and decided to play with a batsman short and that is where they faltered. At least this defeat must have come to them as a reminder that complacency at any stage does not pay and Pakistan undoubtedly had been guilty of that. The captain of the team Rashid Latif admitted that this was the case. ``We batted poorly and there is no excuse for that. With a day rained off we had become complacent and a bit relaxed and confident that we will be able to draw this game.''
The final day's play lasted for 25 minutes only and it was just a matter of time before Pakistan's second innings was over. Pakistan had resumed the day at 120 for 7 and in 5.5 overs in the morning the remaining three wickets were taken by the South African bowlers Allan Donald and Fanie de Villiers. The first to go was Waqar Younis who was caught at the wicket by Mark Boucher off Donald for 3 at the overnight score. Boucher had thus equalled Dave Richardson's record of nine victims behind the wickets in Tests which Richardson had achieved in a Test against India here at St George's in 1992-93. Azhar Mahmood added 11 more runs to his overnight 30 to be the next man out. He hooked Donald straight into the hands of Gary Kirsten when 41 made in 74 minutes batting in which he hit five fours and by far looked the best Pakistan batsman. Deservedly he was named the man of the series for his two centuries in the series.
Pakistan innings ended when Shoaib Akhtar was clean bowled by De Villiers for 2. De Villiers had taken 8 wickets in the match for 48 runs and Donald 8 for 74 to destroy Pakistan batting in this match.
Pakistan now leaves for Zimbabwe on March 11 to play two Tests and two one-day games. The first Test will be played at Bulawayo from March 14.