Story Pakistan Test and ODI tours (C2005 PS2 Medium Level)

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - First Test at Faisalabad 2000/2001 preview

The first test between Pakistan and South Africa begins today. The Faisalabad pitch is Dry and the weather is Sunny and Humid.
The South Africans had a tough time in their warm up game, with their top order in particular struggling to find form, but they welcome back J.Kallis, S.Pollock, N.Boje and N.Hayward into their XI which will strengthen their bowling and should solidify their batting. The South Africans have decided to give the final bowling position in their XI to off spinner D.Crookes, who will make his test debut and provide variety and a contrast to N.Boje's left arm spin on a pitch that is expected to break up and offer more turn as the match progresses. M.Bruyns, B.Dippenaar and N.Pothas will also make their test debuts for the South Africans in this game.
The Pakistanis have chosen a bowling attack with plenty of variety, though their pace attack is short on test match experience. Left arm medium fast bowler Kabir Khan is back in the team for his first test since the 94/95 season, while Salim Elahi will play his first test since the 96/97 tour of Sri Lanka. Debutant Atiq-uz-Zaman has been chosen as wicketkeeper in place of the injured Moin Khan, who will be replaced as captain by Inzamam-ul-Haq. Younis Khan is unlucky to be left out of the XI after a century in his last test innings, his poor form in one day matches counting against him.

Pakistan team: Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Salim Elahi, Inzamam-ul-Haq (c), Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Atiq-uz-Zaman (wk), Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Kabir Khan, Mohammad Akram. 12th Man Younis Khan.

South African team: M.Bruyns, A.Bacher, J.Kallis, N.McKenzie, B.Dippenaar, L.Klusener, N.Pothas (wk), S.Pollock (c), N.Boje, D.Crookes, N.Hayward. 12th Man D.Terbrugge.

South Africa have won the toss and elected to field, a strange decision after the pounding their bowlers took on he first day in the warm up game, perhaps swayed by the humid conditions which will help the ball to swing.

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test, Drinks, Session 1, Day 1

In a chaotic start, the Pakistanis have collapsed against the new ball and have lost 5 wickets in the first hours play, all to reckless shots. To be fair, Pollock bowled extremely well, as he achieved prodigious swing in the humid conditions, and he received excellent support from the firey Hayward, who picked up two wickets in his first over. The danger signs were evident when Shahid Afridi edged a cover drive past a diving 4th slip for four in the first over. The Pakistanis failed to heed the warning and lost wickets regularily to balls pitched outside off stump that they would have been well advised to leave alone. Imran Nazir was the first to go, in Haywards first over, as he edged an attempted back foot cover drive to 3rd slip, where Boje held an easy catch. Shahid Afridi followed two balls later when he edged a cover drive to a full ball to Klusener at 4th slip. Inzamam launched a furious counter-attack but tried one slog too many and holed out to Dippenaar at fine leg of Pollock. Salim Elahi had looked comfortable but recieved a beautiful outswinger from Pollock that cut back sharply off the pitch and forced a spooned catch to Kallis at cover. Yousuf Youhana played a couple of airy drives through the covers for 4 before edging a cover drive to Klusener at 4th slip, who took an excellent diving off the bowling of Pollock. Pollock bowled with real fire, unleashing one ball that clocked in at 145kmh, in a performance that fully justified his decision to bowl. Abdul Razzaq and Atiq-uz-Zaman are at the crease and, as the last of the recognised batsmen, they have a lot of work to do if Pakistan are to post a competitive total on what looks a very flat pitch.

Pakistan 94-5 (14 overs) Extras 1

Abdul Razzaq 2* (6 balls)
Atiq-uz-Zaman 1* (2 balls)

Imran Nazir c Boje b Hayward 8 (7 balls) 1 four 14-1
Shahid Afridi c Klusener b Hayward 5 (3 balls) 1 four 15-2
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Dippenaar b Pollock 26 (14 balls) 4 fours 56-3
Salim Elahi c Kallis b Pollock 33 (36 balls) 4 fours 87-4
Yousuf Youhana c Klusener b Pollock 18 (16 balls) 4 fours 92-5

S.Pollock 7-0-57-3
N.Hayward 3-0-25-2
N.Boje 4-0-12-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test, Lunch Day 1

The Pakistanis have staged a fightback, mainly through an aggressive half century from Abdul Razzaq, who raced to his 50 off 43 balls with some lovely shots, including a slog sweep for 6 off Boje. Atiq-uz-Zaman was gave him some support but edged a ball from Boje to Pothas behind the stumps when attempted a back foot cover drive to one that spun a long way. Saqlain Mushtaq then played solidly with Razzaq until lunch and they had added an unbroken 60 run partnership for the 7th wicket at the break. Kallis had 3 big shouts for lbw with balls that swung away and cut back sharply into the batsmen who did not offer a shot but the umpire turned them all down.

Pakistan 193-6 (28 overs) Extras 5

Abdul Razzaq 63* (51 balls) 8 fours 1 six
Saqlain Mushtaq 18* (20 balls) 1 four

Atiq-uz-Zaman c Pothas b Boje 17 (21 balls) 3 fours

S.Pollock 10-0-89-3
N.Hayward 3-0-25-2
N.Boje 9-0-44-1
J.Kallis 6-0-32-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test, Session 2, Day 1

Pakistan have recovered from a perilous 92-5 to reach a reasonable total of 292, thanks chiefly to a partnership of 114 for the 7th wicket between Abdul Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq. Saqlain Mushtaq reached his half century off 46 balls before falling next delivery when he edged a cover drive to Bacher at 3rd slip of Pollock. Mushtaq Ahmed went next over when he hung his bat out to dry attempting to run the ball down to third man off the back foot and edged to Pollock at 3rd slip off Kallis, who bowled much better than his figures suggested. Razzaq was then dismissed 6 short of his first test century when he was bowled off stump through the gate from a peach of a delivery that swung away and then cut back sharply, giving Pollock a deserved 5 wicket haul. Mohammad Akram played 3 slog sweeps for four off Boje in a useful last wicket partnership of 30 with Kabir Khan, who edged an attempted back foot cover drive off Boje to a diving Pothas, who hung on brilliantly with one hand. As good as Pakistans recovery was, they finished about 100 short of par on a belter of a wicket and will have to bowl well to get back into this game.

Pakistan 292 all out (42.4 overs) Extras 11 (3nb, 8lb)

Imran Nazir c Boje b Hayward 8 (7 balls) 1 four 14-1
Shahid Afridi c Klusener b Hayward 5 (3 balls) 1 four 15-2
Salim Elahi c Kallis b Pollock 33 (36 balls) 4 fours 87-4
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Dippenaar b Pollock 26 (16 balls) 4 fours 56-3
Yousuf Youhana c Klusener b Pollock 18 (16 balls) 4 fours 92-5
Abdul Razzaq b Pollock 94 (76 balls) 12 fours 1 six 262-9
Atiq-uz-Zaman c Pothas b Boje 17 (21 balls) 3 fours 133-6
Saqlain Mushtaq c Bacher b Pollock 51 (47 balls) 7 fours 247-7
Mushtaq Ahmed c Pollock b Kallis 1 (2 balls) 252-8
Kabir Khan c Pothas b Boje 5 (16 balls) 292-10
Mohammed Akram not out 23* (18 balls) 3 fours

S.Pollock 16-0-125-5
N.Hayward 3-0-25-2
N.Boje 11.4-0-63-2
J.Kallis 11-0-70-1
L.Klusener 1-0-1-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Im going to take a break from this story and try my luck with the might of Bangladesh for a while. I dont know if I will play the One Day Internationals due to the bug that allows bowlers to bowl more than 10 overs, I'll try leaving my PS2 on during the one day matches and see if the bug persists. Never fear, I will return to my Pakistan story with more reckless batting and catches being taken (and dropped) at square leg with monotonous regularity.

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test, Tea, Day 1

The South Africans have made a useful start to their innings, scoring quickly but losing both openers, putting some pressure on Kallis to play a big innings to build a matchwinning total. Bruyns was first to go when he flicked a Kabir Khan leg cutter to square leg. Bacher had hit 3 fours with a pull shot, a cover drive and a lovely square cut before he chipped another leg cutter from Kabir Khan straight to mid on. Kabir Khan has looked the pick of the bowlers with Abdul Razzaq and Mohammed Akram proving expensive. Kallis was looking very confortable and it shouldnt be long before the spinners are called into the attack on a pitch that will turn more and become variable in bounce as the match progresses.

South Africa 70-2 (12 overs) Extras 8

J.Kallis 18* (23 balls)
N.McKenzie 6* (6 balls)

M.Bruyns c Mushtaq Ahmed b Kabir Khan 8 (13 balls) 17-1
A.Bacher c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Kabir Khan 30 (30 balls) 3 fours 58-2

Mohammad Akram 3-0-21-0
Kabir Khan 6-0-28-2
Abdul Razzaq 3-0-20-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test, Drinks, Session 3

South Africa have lost two more wickets including the danger man Kallis in a dissappointing hour for the visitors. McKenzie continues to struggle after a poor tour of Sri Lanka and fell to a brilliant diving catch by Mushtaq Ahmed at square leg off a Mohammad Akram outswinger. Kallis was looking untroubled until he misread the line of a Kabit Khan and was bowled leg stump attempting an airy on drive. The South Africans have a good lower order and will be hoping they can add some valuable runs and give their team a first innings lead of some sort because batting will be harder in the second innings on a pitch that is already taking a lot of spin. Left arm seam bowler Kabir Khan has been the pick of the bowlers in his comeback to the side and has taken 3 top order wickets, including the prize scalp of Kallis.

South Africa 112-4 (25 overs) Extras 12

B.Dippenaar 19* (36 balls)
L.Klusener 5* (5 balls)

N.McKenzie c Mushtaq Ahmed b Mohammad Akram 6 (7 balls) 70-3
J.Kallis b Kabir Khan 32 (59 balls) 101-4

Mohammad Akram 7-0-40-1
Kabir Khan 9-0-41-3
Abdul Razzaq 3-0-20-0
Saqlain Mushtaq 3-0-4-0
Mushtaq Ahmed 3-0-6-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test - Stumps, Day 1

Dippenaar and Klusener have taken South Africa to stumps with an unbroken partnership of 79. Dippenaar began to hit out as he became more comfortable, with an on drive for 4 off Kabir Khan and a lofted 6 over cover off Saqlain being his most memorable shots in a fine innings. Klusener belted 3 sixes off Shahid Afridi in the final over before stumps, with one over cover and two over midwicket, with one hit over midwicket nearly going clean out of the ground. The South Africans have a strong lower order and seem set for a first innings lead in a much improved effort over their poor all round display in the 4 day warm up match.

South Africa 179-4 (39 overs) Extras 18

B.Dippenaar 49* (83 balls) 3 fours 1 six
L.Klusener 36* (42 balls) 3 sixes

Mohammad Akram 7-0-40-1
Kabir Khan 11-0-51-3
Abdul Razzaq 5-0-29-0
Saqlain Mushtaq 8-0-19-0
Mushtaq Ahmed 6-1-20-0
Shahid Afridi 2-0-19-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test - Drinks, Session 1, Day 2

The Pakistanis have struck back, claiming 3 wickets during the first hour's play on Day 2. Dippenaar and Klusener had both reached half centuries and taken their partnership past the hundred mark and the Pakistanis were starting to wonder where the next wicket was coming from. Dippenaar reached a patient half century off 84 balls, while Klusener belted two more sixes over cover, including one that brought up his half century of 53 balls. Mushtaq Ahmed had Klusener caught on the cover boundary by Mohammad Akram, who took an easy catch from another attempted six. Dippenaar played patiently before trying to hit Saqlain Mushtaq for six over cover and was taken brilliantly by Kabir Khan, who ran back and leapt full stretch above his head to take the ball just inside the rope. The pace bowlers then came back into the attack and Mohammad Akram picked up the wicket of Pollock with his first ball of a new spell, Pollock flicking a catch off an outswinger to Abdul Razzaq, who dived forward and took the catch inches above the ground. South Africa will be hoping that Boje and Crookes can offer some support to Pothas, who is once again playing solidly, continuing his good tour. The pitch is beginning to deteriorate and the footmarks are starting to open up, and some variable bounce is predicted over the last couple of days so South Africa will be hoping to get some sort of lead on the first innings because chasing in the fourth innings on this pitch will be difficult.

South Africa 233-7 (54 overs) Extras 22

N.Pothas 16* (20 balls) 1 four
N.Boje 2* (3 balls)

L.Klusener c Mohammad Akram b Mushtaq Ahmed 52 (61 balls) 5 sixes 207-5
B.Dippenaar c Kabir Khan b Saqlain Mushtaq 63 (127 balls) 4 fours 1 six 224-6
S.Pollock c Abdul Razzaq b Mohammad Akram 2 (4 balls) 229-7

Mohammad Akram 8-0-44-2
Kabir Khan 12-0-56-3
Abdul Razzaq 5-0-29-0
Saqlain Mushtaq 15-1-48-1
Mushtaq Ahmed 12-1-36-1
Shahid Afridi 2-0-19-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test - Lunch, Day 2

The South Africans have been dismissed for 261, giving the Pakistanis a 31 run first innings lead. Pothas clipped an outswinger from Mohammad Akram straight to Abdul Razzaq at square leg to expose the tail after being caught of a no ball with an identical shot earlier in the over. Boje popped up an edge in front of him from a Mushtaq Ahmed delivery that pitched in the rough and keeper Atiq-uz-Zaman ran forward and took the catch easily. Crookes was last man out when he edged a Saqlain Mushtaq delivery to Inzamam-ul-Haq at bad pad, who dived forward to take an excellent catch. Pakistan then scored 16 off Pollock's first over, with Imran Nazir glancing three 4's off his hip to fine leg, to take Pakistan to lunch with a lead of 47. The South Africans have been on top at various stages of the match but Pakistan's ability to dig themselves out of trouble has once again come to the fore.

South Africa 261 (63.2 overs) Extras 23 (9w, 13nb, 1lb)

M.Bruyns c Mushtaq Ahmed b Kabir Khan 8 (13 balls) 17-1
A.Bacher c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Kabir Khan 30 (30 balls) 3 fours 58-2
J.Kallis b Kabir Khan 32 (59 balls) 101-4
N.McKenzie c Mushtaq Ahmed b Mohammad Akram 6 (7 balls) 70-3
B.Dippenaar c Kabir Khan b Saqlain Mushtaq 63 (127 balls) 4 fours 1 six 224-6
L.Klusener c Mohammad Akram b Mushtaq Ahmed 52 (61 balls) 5 sixes 207-5
N.Pothas (wk) c Abdul Razzaq b Mohammad Akram 22 (35 balls) 1 four 245-8
S.Pollock (c) c Abdul Razzaq b Mohammad Akram 2 (4 balls) 229-7
N.Boje c Atiq-uz-Zaman b Mushtaq Ahmed 16 (26 balls) 259-9
D.Crookes c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Saqlain Mushtaq 5 (13 balls) 261-10
N.Hayward not out 2* (5 balls)

Mohammad Akram 12-0-59-3
Kabir Khan 16-0-67-3
Abdul Razzaq 5-0-29-0
Saqlain Mushtaq 15.2-1-48-2
Mushtaq Ahmed 13-1-38-2
Shahid Afridi 2-0-19-0

Pakistan 16-0 (1 over)

Imran Nazir 13* (4 balls) 3 fours
Shahid Afridi 3* (2 balls)

S.Pollock 1-0-16-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test, Drinks, Session 2, Day 1

Pakistan have lost both openers, but scored briskly in the hour after Lunch in their second innings. Shahid Afridi belted a six over midwicket of Hayward before being caught of the same bowler when he flicked a ball to a diving Crookes at square leg. Imran Nazir posted his 50 off 26 balls soon after and was playing beautifully until he drove a ball off the back foot to cover off Pollock, where Boje took the catch. Saleem Elahi is looking in good touch, while Inzamam has bolted out of the box, scoring 64444 off his first 5 deliveries.

Pakistan 292 all out (42.4 overs)

South Africa 261 all out (63.2 overs)

Pakistan 160-2 (14 overs) Extras 5

Saleem Elahi 21* (16 balls) 2 fours
Inzamam-ul-Haq 22* (6 balls) 4 fours 1 six

Shahid Afridi c Crookes b Hayward 41 (22 balls) 5 fours 1 six 86-1
Imran Nazir c Boje b Pollock 71 (40 balls) 13 fours 137-2

S.Pollock 7-0-72-1
N.Hayward 6-0-67-1
D.Crookes 1-0-17-0

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - Tea, Day 2

Pakistan have lost 3 more wickets to leave the game evenly balanced. Saleem Elahi and Inzamam-ul-Haq both reached their 50's off 40 balls. Inzamam was fooled by a Slower ball and spooned the ball to Boje at cover off the bowling of Kallis. Yousuf Youhana went in the same over when he edged an attempted cover drive to Hayward at 2nd slip. Saleem Elahi was next to go when he leg glance was caught at square leg by a diving Crookes to give Kallis his 3rd wicket in a firey spell.

Pakistan 292 all out (42.4 overs)

South Africa 261 all out (63.2 overs)

Pakistan 257-5 (30 overs) Extras 6

Abdul Razzaq 6* (8 balls)
Atiq-uz-Zaman 1* ( 3 balls)

Inzamam-ul-Haq c Boje b Kallis 60 (46 balls) 11 fours 1 six 236-3
Yousuf Youhana c Hayward b Kallis 4 (2 balls) 1 four 240-4
Saleem Elahi c Crookes b Kallis 68 (59 balls) 10 fours 255-5

S.Pollock 15-0-123-1
N.Hayward 6-0-67-1
D.Crookes 4-0-35-0
J.Kallis 5-0-27-3

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test - Drinks, Session 3, Day 2

Wickets have fallen steadily during the hour after Tea as South Africa claw their way back into this match. Atiq-uz-Zaman edged a backfoot coverdrive to Klusener at 4th slip of Pollock to expose the tail. Saqlain Mushtaq edged a cover drive to Kallis at 2nd slip of Pollock to fall cheaply. Mushtaq Ahmed hung around for a while before trying to run one through the slips off the back foot against Hayward and edging to Kallis at 2nd slip. Abdul Razzaq clipped on of his toes to square leg Crookes off Pollock to end another good contribution with the bat from the allrounder.

Pakistan 344-9 (45 overs) Extras 11

Kabir Khan 13* (12 balls) 2 fours
Mohammad Akram 9* (13 balls) 1 four

Atiq-uz-Zaman c Klusener b Pollock 13 (12 balls) 1 four 276-6
Saqlain Mushtaq c Kallis b Pollock 7 (8 balls) 1 four 288-7
Mushtaq Ahmed c Kallis b Hayward 9 (15 balls) 311-8
Abdul Razzaq c Crookes b Pollock 38 (41 balls) 3 fours 327-9

S.Pollock 23-0-163-4
N.Hayward 12-0-101-2
D.Crookes 4-0-35-0
J.Kallis 6-0-35-3

 

[Hamish]

Could i suggest some screenshots, and maybe bold headlines and maybe the scores could be in a diiferent colour. Just to catch the eye of whoever is reading.

Otherwise, the story is good so far. Keep it up.

 

[Slowcoach]

Pakistan v South Africa - 1st Test - Stumps, Day 2

Pakistan have been dismissed for 376, setting South Africa a (then) world record of 408 to win. Last pair Kabir Khan and Mohammad Akram added an entertaining 49 for the last wicket to take the lead past 400. Kabir Khan was eventually out slogging to square leg Crookes, off Pollock, who picked up his second 5 wicket haul and 10th wicket of the match. South Africa got off to a bad start to their innings, losing Bacher early when he clipped an outsinger from Mohammad Akram to Abdul Razzaq at square leg.

Pakistan 292 all out (Saleem Elahi 33, Inzamam-ul-Haq 26, Abdul Razzaq 94, Saqlain Mushtaq 51, Mohammad Akram 23*; S.Pollock 5-125, N.Hayward 2-25, N.Boje 2-63)

South Africa 261 all out (A.Bacher 30, J.Kallis 32, B.Dippenaar 63, L.Klusener 52, N.Pothas 22; Mohammad Akram 3-59, Kabir Khan 3-66, Saqlain Mushtaq 2-48. Mushtaq Ahmed 2-38)

Pakistan 376 all out (49 overs) Extras 12 (1nb,11lb)

Imran Nazir c Boje b Pollock 71 (40 balls) 13 fours 137-2
Shahid Afridi c Crookes b Hayward 41 (22 balls) 5 fours 1 six 86-1
Saleem Elahi c Crookes b Kallis 68 (59 balls) 10 fours 255-5
Inzamam-ul-Haq (c) c Boje b Kallis 60 (46 balls) 11 fours 1 six 236-3
Yousuf Youhana c Hayward b Kallis 4 (2 balls) 1 four 240-4
Abdul Razzaq c Crookes b Pollock 38 (41 balls) 3 fours 327-9
Atiq-uz-Zaman (wk) c Klusener b Pollock 13 (12 balls) 1 four 276-6
Saqlain Mushtaq c Kallis b Pollock 7 (8 balls) 1 four 288-7
Mushtaq Ahmed c Kallis b Hayward 9 (15 balls) 311-8
Kabir Khan c Crookes b Pollock 33 (28 balls) 4 fours 376-10
Mohammad Akram not out 20* (21 balls) 2 fours

S.Pollock 25-0-184-5
N.Hayward 14-0-111-2
D.Crookes 4-0-35-0
J.Kallis 6-0-35-3

South Africa 31-1 (6 overs) Extras 3

M.Bruyns not out 15* (19 balls)
J.Kallis not out 6* (9 balls)

A.Bacher c Abdul Razzaq b Mohammad Akram 7 (8 balls) 17-1

Mohammad Akram 3-0-17-1
Kabir Khan 3-0-13-0