S.Africa’s cricket captain Kallis praises Pakistan

ABU DHABI: Stand-in South African captain Jacques Kallis said Pakistan deserved the credit for drawing the two-Test series on Wednesday.

“We put Pakistan under pressure in both the Tests, but Pakistan performed well and their cricket is looking positive,” said Kallis after the second Test ended in a draw, leaving the two-match series at 0-0.

The first Test also ended in stalemate in Dubai last week.

Set a daunting 354-run target in 82 overs, Pakistan were pegged back by South Africa with three wickets soon after lunch before Misbah-ul-Haq (58 not out) and Azhar Ali (28 not out) took them to safety.

Kallis said Pakistan — hit by spot-fixing scandal since their tour of England two months ago — showed a lot of guts.

“You have to give credit to Pakistan, under severe pressure they put big performances and showed that they have the determination

Pakistan off to a good start in 354-run chase

ABU DHABI: Pakistan were given a solid start of 66 by lunch on the fifth and final day in the second Test after South Africa set a 354-run target for them at Abu Dhabi Stadium on Wednesday.

Openers Mohammad Hafeez (34) and Taufiq Umer (31) were unbeaten at the break as Pakistan needed another 288 runs in a minimum of 63 overs after South Africa declared their second innings at 203-5 in the morning.

With the pitch still not posing any danger for the batsmen the match is likely to end in a stalemate, ending the two-Test series without a result after the first Test in Dubai ended in a draw last week.

Both Hafeez and Umer hit four boundaries each as South Africa — led by Jacques Kallis after captain Graeme Smith injured his finger on Tuesday and was unable to take to the field — used five bowlers but met with no success.

Resuming at 173-4, South Africa,

Kallis ton steers South Africa out of trouble

ABU DHABI: Jacques Kallis’s 37th test century steered South Africa out of trouble at tea on the first day of the second and final test against Pakistan on Saturday.

Kallis raced to 105 off 142 balls, one of his quickest test centuries which included 12 fours and three sixes.

He was supported on the other end by AB de Villiers (80) in an unbroken partnership of 179 which took South Africa to 212 for three.

Earlier in the day after Pakistan won the toss, Tanvir Ahmed, a 31-year-old debutant, burst into international cricket with a three-wicket haul in the first session, reducing South Africa to 33-3 at one stage.

He sent back Alviro Petersen (2), Hashim Amla (4) and South African captain Graeme Smith (10).

The first test in Dubai last week ended in a draw.

PAKISTAN OPTS TO FILED FIRST IN ABU DHABI TEST

Pakistan captain

South Africa power towards huge lead against Pakistan

DUBAI: Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis powered South Africa to 239 for two in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day of the first test against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Amla reached the break unbeaten on 85 while Kallis weighed in with 90 not out as the Proteas went to the interval holding a formidable lead of 371 over their opponents.

South Africa resumed on 139-2 and Kallis and Amla looked relatively untroubled on a wicket which offered very little assistance to the bowlers.

The duo brought up their century-stand for the third wicket off 187 balls before stretching the stand to 163 off 50.1 overs by lunch.

The morning’s play was once again conducted in front of an almost non-existent crowd and Amla brought up his fifty shortly after the start of play off 104 balls.

Kallis was slightly more

Gul leads Pakistan Test fightback against S.Africa

DUBAI: Paceman Umar Gul led Pakistan’s revival with a three quick wickets as South Africa were restricted to 365-9 at lunch on the second day of the first Test on Saturday.

Gul claimed three scalps in 20 balls to help Pakistan take six wickets for 54 runs in the morning session when it seemed South Africa were set to post a big first-innings total on a seemingly flat Dubai Stadium pitch.

Pakistan, who had to pull out experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf minutes before the toss on Friday, also lost paceman Wahab Riaz because of a side strain which will prevent him from bowling in the innings.

Gul (3-92) led the attack admirably and was well supported by spinners Abdul Rehman (3-101) and Saeed Ajmal (1-88). Ajmal dismissed a well-set Jacques Kallis, caught behind by debutant wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal for 73.

Akmal was called up to replace Zulqarnain

Kallis predicts good World Cup for South Africa

DUBAI: Veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis says the current South Africa side has “something special” and could end years of disappointment by securing the side’s first ever World Cup title.

The 35-year-old starred with bat and ball, scoring a brilliant 83 and taking 3-30, as South Africa beat Pakistan by 57 runs in Dubai on Monday to win their one-day series 3-2.

Kallis said next year’s tournament, which will be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, could be his last shot at the elusive crown, which South Africa have never won.

“It might be my last World Cup,” he said. “Obviously we haven’t had the success that lot of us would have liked (in the World Cups).

“But I really believe that this team (has) got something special going at the moment and if we just carry on playing the type of cricket that we playing, there is no reason why we

Cricket-Evergreen Kallis leads South Africa to series win

DUBAI: Jacques Kallis turned in a fine all-round performance to lead South Africa to a 57-run win over Pakistan on Monday and a 3-2 victory in the one-day international series.

Kallis top-scored for his side with 83 to help his side to 317 for five and the 35-year-old completed figures of three for 30 off five overs as Pakistan were bowled out for 260.

Kallis also became only the sixth player to score 11,000 one-day international runs.

South Africa made full use of a pitch that held few dangers for batsmen and opener Hashim Amla blazed 62 off just 47 balls.

Kallis and AB de Villiers (61) shared a third-wicket partnership of 121 before the Proteas suffered a middle-order collapse in which they lost three wickets for nine runs.

But JP Duminy ensured that his team would have a sizeable target to defend with 59 not out off 41

Kallis lifts S.Africa in 5th Pakistan one-dayer

DUBAI: Jacques Kallis scored a brilliant 83 to steer South Africa to 317-5 – one of four fifties – in the fifth and final one-day match here on Monday, also completing 11,000 runs during the knock.

The 35-year-old propelled the total during his 95-ball innings, adding an invaluable 121 with AB de Villiers (61) and another 61 for the second wicket with Hashim Amla (62) after South Africa won the toss and batted at Dubai Stadium.

Kallis, who scored a brilliant 66 in South Africa’s eight wicket win in the first match in Abu Dhabi, hit four boundaries before he cut leg-spinner Shahid Afridi straight into the hands of Wahab Riaz in the 39th over.

When Kallis reached 81, he completed 11,000 one-day runs in his 307th match. He became the sixth batsmen to score 11,000 or more runs in 50-over format of the game.

India’s Sachin Tendulkar (17598), Sri Lankan

Kallis, Tsotsobe lead South Africa win over Pakistan

ABU DHABI: Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe took four wickets and Jacques Kallis hit an unbeaten fifty to help a disciplined South Africa down Pakistan by eight wickets in the first one-day match here on Friday.

Tsotsobe took a career-best 4-27 off his ten tight overs to trigger a middle-order collapse and helped South Africa dismiss Pakistan for 203 before Kallis (66 retired hurt) saw off the target with 9.3 overs to spare.

The modest target was never beyond South Africa’s reach after Pakistan batsmen once again failed to take advantage of a good start on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium, much to the disappointment of a 10,000 holiday crowd.

The 35-year-old Kallis, back after missing the limited over series against Zimbabwe at home and South Africa’s 2-0 win in the Twenty20 series which finished here on Wednesday due to injury, was at his usual best.

He steadied the

Pakistan choose to bat in first ODI

ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and decided to bat in the first day-night international match against South Africa at the Abu Dhabi Stadium here on Friday.

Pakistan recalled former captain Younis Khan in the team after he was selected for the tour following clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board. The 32-year last played for Pakistan at Perth in January this year.

The other two men included were Asad Shafiq and Fawad Alam. Shahzaib Hasan, Imran Farhat and Umar Akmal, part of Twenty20 team on Wednesday, were dropped.

South Africa had to sit out fast bowler Dale Steyn (head injury) but had all-rounder Jacques Kallis back after missing the Twenty20 series which South Africa won 2-0. Also brought in was fast bowler Charl Langveldt and opener Hashim Amla.

All-rounder Albie Morkel, Loots Bosman and Rusty Theron were left out from

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