South Africa overwhelm Pakistan in first Twenty20
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DUBAI: South Africa outclassed Pakistan with a commanding nine wicket win in the first Twenty20 international in Dubai on Wednesday to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.
Dale Steyn took 3-15 in his four hostile overs as Pakistan were restricted to 98-9 -- their lowest Twenty20 total against South Africa -- after they won the toss and opted to bat.
South Africa easily reached the target in 14.3 overs with opener Quinton de Kock hitting a 38-ball 48 not out while skipper Faf du Plessis made an unbeaten 37 knocking off the runs without being troubled by Pakistan's spin-packed attack.
The second and final Twenty20 will also be played in Dubai on Friday.
De Kock hit three boundaries and two sixes off 38 balls while Du Plessis hit four boundaries and a six off 40 deliveries as South Africa made short work of their opponents.
Du Plessis was impressed with how his bowlers had set up the victory.
“It was a pretty good game and that's how you want to start the series by breaking their back initially.
“The wicket was quite dry and our bowlers have been putting their batsmen under pressure.
“I wasn't too surprised by their selection but seeing (Shahid) Afridi at three was a surprise against the new ball.”
Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez blamed poor batting.
“I personally feel that we couldn't set up the total we wanted to, the early wickets did the damage and the South Africa bowlers really bowled to their plans,” said Hafeez who failed to score.
“Our batsmen are not taking the responsibility which individuals have to in a team and that's a concern.”
Pakistan's batsmen once again failed to fire just as they did in the 4-1 one day international series defeat.
Umar Akmal with a 41-ball 49 was the only batsman to put up any resistance in an otherwise chaotic batting display in which four batsmen failed to score after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat.
Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe chipped in with two wickets for the cost of just nine runs in his four tight overs, while Dale Steyn chipped in with two early wickets as Pakistan were reeling at 4-3.
Umar added 29 for the sixth wicket with Abdul Razzaq who made 10, before finally getting run out. He hit four boundaries and a six.
Shoaib Malik made 12 while Shahid Afridi scored ten.
Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Imran Tahir took two wickets apiece.
Pakistan's previous lowest T20 total against South Africa was 119 which they made at Abu Dhabi in 2010.
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On DawnNews
Comments (40) Closed
Nov 13, 2013 09:17pm
3 down with 4 runs on board... What a Shame!!!!!!!!!!1
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Nov 13, 2013 09:56pm
Let us see what benefit team Pakistan derives from the toss win, I have little hope from this team.
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Nov 13, 2013 11:09pm
We have never learned from our mistakes!
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Nov 13, 2013 11:42pm
Agreed that Pakistan's batting is anything but impressive, but, keeping in mind the possibility of the pitch being possibly lively in the beginning and their strength in the bowling department, Hafeez should have opted to field first. This would have been a psychological game which could have been won by Pakistan. Anyway, the sob story continues with another batting debacle. Consequently, the bowlers have very few runs to defend and result is almost foregone. No chance for Pakistan!
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Nov 13, 2013 11:35pm
South African pacemen distroyed Pakistani innings...Otherwise the great Pakistan team would have made atleast 200 in 20 overs......Dear Pakistanies please come out of the dream world.
Still there is time to do something before the world cup and bring in some real players.
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Nov 13, 2013 11:55pm
What a shame?
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Nov 14, 2013 12:09am
When will we ever leave shoaib malik out? When will we learn from our past mistakes? we need players based on merit. Even my 6year old cousin plays better than few Pak cricketers. Pak cricket has given nothing but heartache to us. Number 2 team in ICC rankings? You gotta be jokin'
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Nov 14, 2013 12:24am
Pakistan eye T20 top spot in South Africa series......That was a wishfull thinking for a team of this status and standard....Pakistan will have to make major change and purge in the team...and
listen to the real experts and players like...Waqar Younus,Zaheer Abbas,Waseem Akram and more...Please some thing must be dome the World cup is coming.
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Nov 14, 2013 12:29am
Pakistan eye T20 top spot in South Africa series..What a wishfull thinking....Please beleive that this team will not do any thing...put them against Bangaladesh or Canada the top 5 batsmen will be out under 10....We need a very big change...The World cup is coming
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Nov 14, 2013 12:49am
Simply very disappointing !
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Nov 14, 2013 12:50am
Very happy.
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Nov 14, 2013 12:56am
Hiring RAHUL DRAVID as pakistan coach can lessen the present batting and fielding problems. we wont because he is an INDIAN.
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Nov 14, 2013 12:58am
And lo, from this "home series", we are going to South Africa. Fans get ready for new records.
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Nov 14, 2013 01:17am
Well.....
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Nov 14, 2013 01:46am
well I am glad I sleep and not waste my time watching Pakistan play...
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Nov 14, 2013 02:15am
For Hafeez and Bong Bong...sharam muje magar nahi aati....Plz nation beg you...leave....have some dignity...and let other get some chance.
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Nov 14, 2013 02:14am
Afridi again got out to a bouncer. SA are targheting him with short pitched balls. It is the job of the coach to advise players about the tactics the other teams are using. I know what to do of Whatmore but I can't put it in print, except say "Nomore",.
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Nov 14, 2013 02:16am
I don't know when Pakistani batsmen learn from their mistakes and start performing consistently?
If Virat Kohli can bat consistently,why not our batsmen?When will they become professionals crickters? When?
How many matches Hafeez,Nasir Jamshed,Asad Shafeeq,Afridi,Younis Khan,and Azhar Ali need tp learn?Look at neighboring country,they have number of star batsmen who perform consistently.What's wrong with pakistani.Our standard batsmen was not that good as compared to the rest of world but now it has further lowered,which is very disappointing for cricket fans like me.
I am not fully satisfied with the bowlers performance,they should compare their line and length as well as their economy rate with those of South African bowlers.
Another thing selection has not been made rightly.They are choosing all left arm fast bowlers and some of them are not good at all like Sohail Tenvir,Wahab Riaz,they have already been tested.
A new talent should be tried and pick up a couple right arm fast bowlers who should have good speed like Muhammad Talha.
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Nov 14, 2013 02:40am
As much as I would like our team to win but unfortunately, with current team selection process as well as that of PCB officials, it's not going to happen. For those who have seen Air Marshall (R) M Nur Khan's era as PHF chief might also remember how he infused a new life in our national hockey that won us all kinds of championships although he himself was not a hockey player. There were reasons to it. PCB and PHF have never seen a man of character like him who held high integrity values and was a selfless die-hard Pakistani who never compromised country loyalties with his own interests in money, power or fame. He selected players based on merit and personally attended trials of 36-48 probables that were forwarded by each region/zone. His personal interest, character and national pride together with his strategic focus on improving players extreme fitness, agility, development of techniques for countering top teams of the world produced best results. He personally attended practice sessions and made sure that identifying and addressing weak spots were his top priorities so that team was prepared to produce best results in most challenging circumstances. Without any surprise, results were exactly what he had aimed for. Pakistan defeated world's best teams (Australia, Holland, Germany, England, Spain, India) on their home grounds and won the championships, Pakistan hockey team was reckoned as one of the finest in the world. Likewise, Imran Khan's self pride led the team to win 1992 ICC championship. So, why then cricket and hockey is on express decline despite of us having cricket academy facilities and astro turf for hockey? There are many reasons for this decline that includes lack of self pride, national pride, lack of proper infrastructure, not analyzing our players strengths and weaknesses and developing plans to address them, and above all valuing national interests higher than anyone else's self interest. Question: Do we need someone like Nur Khan who can get us our pride back or at least study him as a role model?
- Hasan Jawaid (NJ - USA)
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Nov 14, 2013 03:53am
who will bat for Pakistan?
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Nov 14, 2013 04:15am
If there a little bit of shame and dignity left in our so-called senior players like Hafeez, Malik and Razzak then they would leave the team for good.
Keep ignoring the technically sound and young players and you will pay the penalty. In current situation even likes of Afghanistan and Ireland will thrash us in T20 & ODIs.
Whatmore and Misbah has undone all the good work of Waqar/Afridi in ODIs when we reached the WC semi and had defeated Srilanka, Ausrali and Westindies with ease and could have won the WC if there was any team other than India in semi.
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Nov 14, 2013 04:22am
Pakistan cricket R.I.P.
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Nov 14, 2013 05:40am
Have we got a new Ijaz butt in Sethi in PCB. While whole is nation is demanding Hafeez to be sacked, Sethi wants to make him captain by leaving the only batsman who is in the World ranking charts and who consistently performed throughout the year. Is there any one who can tell them the sense to get rid of players like Hafeez, Amin and Sohail Tanveer. Why do they go on to bring in the same tried players to replace those who Again wait to be reinstalled after some time. Cricket has been hostage to Hafeez, Tanveer, Shoaib, Afridi type players who are nothing but burdon. Why don't make Umar Akmal or Ajmal captain with a Young team which includes new players like Haris Sohail and Sami Aslam. Let Afridi, Shoaib and Hafeez take a rest for god sake.
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Nov 14, 2013 06:25am
It is all written on the wall. Talent can win you matches here and there, but proper technique, grooming and mental strength are the only ingredients that can give you consistent success. South Africa has those three essential ingredients, and the results prove that. Pakistani team is solely dependent on Talent, and to make matter even worse, we now have Sifarshi Talent reducing our chances of success. Most of them are so oblivious that they have no idea what is wrong with them. Yet they keep repeating that same "We are talented". Talent without "Brain" is nothing. On top of everything, worst are (we) 'fans' who keep raising banners of Shahid Afridi, and there goes Afridi back to pavilion in a very predictable manner. .
I should give my Tribute to PCB for being so steadfast in keeping mediocre players like Hafeez, Tanvir, Amin and Riaz. Congratulate them for not giving the same amount of chances to Fawad Alam, Sohail, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam. The only sign of hope was 'Sohaib' but Hafeez successfully managed to deplete that by putting him opener today.
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Nov 14, 2013 06:38am
The words which comes to mind after reading this are "South Africa THRASHED pakistani team"
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Nov 14, 2013 07:14am
It will go on like this until sense prevail at PCB. While whole the nation is screaming out for PCB to get rid of non performers like Hafeez, Umar amin, Sohail Tanveer and Afridi, Sethi wants the only decent batsman, Misbah, to rest and he wants the worst player, Hafeez, to captain Pakistan.
If you want to rest them, then take Hafeez, Afridi, asad, Sohail Tanveer, A.Rahman out of it and let us try some other players like Haris, Sami Aslam and hammad.
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Nov 14, 2013 07:29am
**I started hating cricket due to this continuous extremely bad performance.**
http://pakistanifun.com/
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Nov 14, 2013 07:48am
This was not a surprise - the worst is in store for 2nd T20 and if the selectors will not learn from this the same results are expected when Pakistan makes the short tour of SA. The only thing PCB will gain is 1.5 Million dollars that will be good enough for the PCB officials to enjoy. For PCB officials money matters, who cares about Pakistan.
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Nov 14, 2013 09:15am
This too a BCCI conspiracy?
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Nov 14, 2013 11:05am
No Comment
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Nov 14, 2013 12:08pm
No surprises, as expected after ODI debacle.
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Nov 14, 2013 02:21pm
We can not play good test cricket against top class bowlings on wickets even replica of own home grounds dull flat pitches , Because , We are deprived of home advantage .....
We can not play decent ODI cricket against Top class owlings and fielding on wickets even would shame our own home ground flat ones Because , we are not being visited by Intl ODI teams to our country ........
We Can not play even any entertaining cricket against teams below our T20 rancjings Because Indian BCCI Conspired to keep our top class boys from the IPL participation for far too long ........
YET , We are Full of talented Super stars , who can destroy Any Top team of the 3 Crickets plays , any time , If at all we can Field , If we can bat full quota of relevant overs , if our top class mediaum pacers and ugly arm twisting slow bowlers CAN EVER bowl consistantly .
YET WE AIM AND PRONOUNCE LOUDLY , BEFORE THE START OF ANY SERIes THAT WE WILL WHITE WASH THE OPPONENTS GOD WILLINGS ( its a matter of concern for us that The God is Never Willing , to com down and Play the cricket for us the humble fearing all praying poor creation of his )
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Nov 14, 2013 04:54pm
@Saeed Masood:
Dear Saeed - this is all game. Don;t take it to heart - instead you need to motivate your team. Winning and losing is part of sports. I do feel bad to see Pakistan losing matches though i am an Indian. Your team has to maintain patience and play. There are many hidden talents in your country which need to be explored. We Indians also had a bad team, but by selecting youngsters and talented players we have reached this level. Hence, please keep supporting your team and I will pray you have a wonderful sport loving team as well.
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Nov 14, 2013 06:38pm
Why everybody is blaming hafeez .. Last time I have watched him against India he was very good.
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Nov 14, 2013 06:57pm
@cricketlover:
Hafeez doesn't know his right from his left. He's not even an average calibre batsman let along capable of leading the team in any format of the game. It's only in Pakistan that he could be given such a consistent run for almost 10 years despite being a proven failed batsman.
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Nov 14, 2013 09:17pm
A useless PAKI Cricket Team!
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Nov 15, 2013 12:35am
Where is Nasir Jamshed ? To me he should be regular in squad.. also why is Umar Akmal batting at 5? he is ideal for 3.... Also Fawad Alam was good find.. he has disappeared from scene... Its sad that PAK cricket is in shambles inspite of huge talent pool.....
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Nov 15, 2013 08:54am
We need a batting coach - check
We need to play with strategy, this is not gully danda - check
We need to lose weight, lets start with Dave W. - check please !
We need to stop with lame excuses like we don't have intl cricket in Pakistan - check
We don't need to learn any language other than cricket to play it - check
We need to play with caution and confidence - God I hope check
We need to help - check !!
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Nov 15, 2013 10:36am
I for once agree with Uni Citizen.....If PCB can get Rahul Dravid to become the batting coach....things can change for better.
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Nov 15, 2013 11:16pm
@Bong:
even if the Gods of cricket come down to coach this Pakistani side, they won't be able to make any difference. We scream proudly we have talent, where is that talent? Hafeez & Farhat - after playing for 10 yrs, a miserable avg of ~26 and bunnies for even medium pace average joe bowlers. Malik - a no talent who manages to sneak back in from backdoor through power connections perhaps?, Razzaq - a spent force who should have thrown in the towel long time ago. Afridi - after playing for more than 16 years still couldn't hone his batting skills. Umar Akmal - continually refuses to learn, improve and tone down his tamper. Kamran Akmal with a huge hole between his gloves and no batting prowess unlike most of his contemporary counterparts in other teams. I don't see even the T of talent in this lot.
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