Pakistan struggling to avoid follow on

Staff Report

ABU DHABI: Pakistan resumed playing at 317 runs for 6 wickets at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on the fourth day of the second test match against South Africa.

Pakistan faced a huge loss in the beginning of the day when skipper Misbah-ul-Haq returned to the pavilion after he was dismissed at 77 runs by Dayle Styen. Pakistan has made 332 runs at the loss of 7 wickets. Pakistan still needs 53 runs to avoid the follow on with its 3 remaining wickets.

South Africa had declared its first innings at 584 runs for 9 wickets. Trend Pk

Ali helps Pakistan defy South Africa attack

DUBAI: Azhar Ali led a rearguard action as his half-century helped Pakistan to 187 for three in their second innings at lunch on the fifth day of the first test against South Africa at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old batsman, playing in just his seventh test, brought up his fourth fifty off 110 balls as he shared in third-wicket stand of 82 with Younus Khan.

The hosts began the day on 109-2, needing to bat out three sessions to save the match or score an unlikely 451 to win it, and Ali and Younus (46 not out) battled gamely to extend their partnership until half-an-hour before lunch.

However, Ali eventually fell for 63 when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Paul Harris with a ball that beat his defensive prod to peg back his off stump.

Younus, who enjoyed a slice of luck when he was dropped by keeper Mark Boucher

Gul sparks South Africa collapse

DUBAI: Paceman Umar Gul produced an inspired spell of bowling as South Africa collapsed to 365 for nine at lunch on the second day of the first test against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

During the morning session Gul served up a spell of 3-19 off 8.3 overs as the Proteas suffered a middle-order collapse that saw them lose seven wickets for the addition of just 56 runs.

Gul maintained an excellent line just outside the off stump while he extracted just enough seam movement to trouble the batsmen as he ended the session with figures of 3-92.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal chipped in with a wicket while left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman claimed two wickets towards the end of the session as the Proteas threw away the advantage that

they had built up on the first day.

Pakistan’s performance in the field was made all the

Smith sets up formidable South Africa score

DUBAI: Graeme’s Smith’s 22nd test century set South Africa on their way to a formidable 311 for three at the close of the first day of the first test against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Smith, who reached his half-century off 93 balls from the first ball after lunch, needed just another 58 deliveries to bring up his century as he looked to take the attack to the bowlers during the day’s middle session.

However, the left-hander who struck eight fours during his knock, departed to the next ball that he faced after reaching his ton when his attempted pull shot off left-arm swing bowler Wahab Riaz was caught by Taufeeq Umar on the deep midwicket fence.

Smith and Alviro Petersen had combined for a first-wicket stand of 153, with Petersen weighing in with 67 in an innings that included nine fours on a wicket which offered very

South Africa openers make solid start in first test

DUBAI: Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen combined for a century stand as South Africa reached 101 without loss at lunch on the first day of the first test against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Petersen reached the break unbeaten on 51, after having raised his second test fifty off 69 balls, while Smith weighed in with 48 not out.

On a pitch which offered very little assistance to Pakistan’s bowlers, Smith and Petersen overcame a testing opening spell from swing bowler Umar Gul as the duo brought up their first century partnership in a test.

Petersen survived a confident caught behind appeal off the bowling of Gul when he had scored just nine but the right-handed batsman grew in confidence during his knock as he scored eight boundaries during his 82 ball knock.

Smith was also troubled by Gul, with the left-hander playing

South Africa restricted to modest total

Staff Report

DUBAI: South Africa opener Hashim Amla scored an unbeaten 119 off 126 balls to guide his side to 228-9 against Pakistan in the third one-day international at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Amla was the only reason South Africa managed to set a respectable target. The next highest contribution was 26 from JP Duminy.

Pakistan gave a disciplined performance after putting South Africa into bat.

Pacer Shoaib Akhtar took two early wickets to set the tone and finished with 3-39. He got good support from spinners Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez who also chipped in with two wickets each.

The five-game series is tied at 1-1. Trend Pk

World Cup venue to be named after Muralitharan

COLOMBO: A new cricket stadium being built for next year”s World Cup will be named after the world”s most successful bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, a report said on Friday.

The 22,000-capacity stadium, being constructed in Pallekele in Muralitharan”s home district of Kandy, is due to host three matches of the World Cup in South Asia in February-March.

The Central Provincial Council in Kandy decided to name the venue as the Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium to honour the recently retired spinner, the Daily Mirror said.

The move had the backing of the provincial governor, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, and will be put to Sri Lanka Cricket shortly, the newspaper said.

Muralitharan, 38, quit Test cricket last week after reaching the unprecedented 800-wicket mark during the first Test against India in Galle.

He is also the leading wicket-taker in one-day cricket with 515 scalps and said he will be available for the World Cup if needed.

The matches in Pallekele are Pakistan v New Zealand on March 8, Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe on March 10 and Pakistan v Zimbabwe on March 14.

Sri Lanka, which co-hosts the showpiece tournament with India and Bangladesh, is due to organise 12 matches at three venues.

The other venues are the under-renovation Premadasa stadium in Colombo and a new cricket facility being built in Hambantota in the island”s south.

Pakistan Vs New Zealand Final ODi Today Live Streaming

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan Vs New Zealand Final ODi Today Live Streaming, The Cool & Cool Cup is all set for a thrilling finale with Pakistan, taking in New Zealand in the decisive third day at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Watch Live Cricket

With both teams having won one game each, the head decides its climax with lights.

While Pakistan had a crushing 138-run victory in the opening match on Tuesday, New Zealand hit back in style, winning the second game by 64 runs on Friday.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi still cornerstone of Pakistan in their aspirations to win a number of days after an interval of one year. Pakistan have not won an ODI series since beating West Indies ? here last year.

Afridi was at his devastating best in the first game, breaking 70 of 50 balls and then took two points of the star in the team’s victory. Although not scored in the second game, the leg-spinner took a couple of points.

Pakistan reflection would be looking at another brilliant display of his all-terrain, including Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq in the final.

In the positive field, the team is excited to be joining their starters. Khalid Latif was an impressive tournament, scoring 64 and 45 in two games.

After a disappointing start on Tuesday, Salman Butt successful form with a polished half-century in the second-dayer on Friday. However, the main concern for the team would be the master shape Younus Khan, who has been struggling to make runs for a while. Younus, who had scores of 0 and 19 in the tournament, tickets would be willing to play a captain on Monday.

Remains to be seen whether there will be any substantial changes in the team for the final match. Former players such as Waqar Younis and Rameez Raja Abdul Qadir and have questioned the decision to remove a young hitter like Omar ODI squad Akmal second. The players were in excellent form in the opening match, but proved costly in the second. The likes of Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer Saeed Ajmal is well established and have another opportunity to batters Kiwi.
http://watchlivecricket.cricketmove.com
Furthermore, New Zealand, led admirably by Daniel Vettori, the bank in his brilliant team to Pakistan last. Although Vettori would be the key player on the team, return to form Brendon McCullum new dimension to their strategies.

Devastating opening McCullum, who hit a brilliant century in his team’s victory on Friday, should be willing to give another great start for your team. Both Aaron Redmond and Martin Guptill had at least one good shot in the tournament, but a middle order batsman Ross Taylor is a concern. He could not open his account in the two games.

Fielding is an area in which New Zealand has a clear advantage over their opponents. The combination of Guptill, Taylor and Neil Broom has already made a mark in the tournament with his work in the field spending.

In bowling, New Zealand are pinning their hopes on Vettori and fast players – Shane Bond and Kyle Mills – to make an impact in the deciding game.

Both teams would also be very interested in the leadoff spot here, like chasing the sides, on both occasions, he finished on the losing side.

---

Pakistan Vs New Zealand Final ODi Today Live Streaming was first posted on November 9, 2009 at 11:55 am.

Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka Final ODI Today

COLOMBO: The final match of the five one day matches series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played today at Premadasa cricket stadium here.

Pakistan will likely to recall Fawad Alam to replace out of form Misbah-ul-Haq.

Intikhab Alam, Pakistan’s coach, said the wonderful partnership between Umar and captain Younis Khan gave a lot of confidence to the team for the final ODI and the Twenty20.

Excerpt from: 
Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka Final ODI Today