Pakistan v South Africa, 5th ODI, Lahore, 29th Oct

Moved from Karachi, wisely, it's now a Lahore final. South Africa must be favourites:

Geoff Lawson, the Pakistan coach, believes players in the national team are still nine to 12 months away from being as fit as they should be. "They are that far away from being where they should be as professional cricketers," he told Reuters.

from:
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakvrsa/content/story/317483.html

Smith has won the toss and SA will be batting first.

Shoaib is playing his first ODI game in 13 months. And he hasn't played any test cricket since Jan-07.

Shoaib's 38576th "last chance".

Shoaib's first over back in international cricket is typically low key-





0.1
Shoaib Akhtar to Gibbs, no run, what a start that is, Shoaib jogged in and landed one on a good length outside off stump, the ball bounced sharply and angled into Gibbs and struck him on the glove





0.2
Shoaib Akhtar to Gibbs, (no ball) FOUR, full ball on leg stump, Gibbs helps himself to an easy boundary by flicking off his pads to the square leg boundary, poor line from Shoaib, and it was a no-ball as well so Gibbs has a free hit coming up





0.2
Shoaib Akhtar to Gibbs, 1 no ball, Gibbs backs away and tries to hammer it down the ground but misses, the ball just misses off stump, it's another no-ball so Gibbs has another free hit





0.2
Shoaib Akhtar to Gibbs, 1 run, 143 kmh, good length ball on off and middle stump, Gibbs strangely decides to just push the ball towards mid-off, it was a free hit and he could have tried to hit it anywhere





0.3
Shoaib Akhtar to Smith, OUT, he's bowled him! Shoaib lands one on a good length and angles it into Smith who doesn't move his feet and plays with his bat away from his body, the ball hits the bottom edge of the bat and clips off stump, Shoaib strikes with his third ball and gives Pakistan an important wicket


GC Smith b Shoaib Akhtar 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00





0.4
Shoaib Akhtar to Kallis, no run, Shoaib goes back over the wicket to the right-hander and bowls it just short of a length outside off stump, Kallis waits on the back foot and blocks

Jacques Kallis walks in at No 3.




0.5
Shoaib Akhtar to Kallis, no run, slightly fuller in length on off stump, Kallis moves forward and across and pushes the ball towards mid-off





0.6
Shoaib Akhtar to Kallis, no run, 143.4 kmh, short of a length on off and middle stump, Kallis moves on to the back foot and defends, Akhtar finishes a motley first over, two no-balls, a loose one on the pads and a wicket

Henry wrote:Shoaib's 38576th "last chance".

It has now taken him 13 years to get fit.

I see Kallis has been crabbing away to his heart's content.

While Shoaib made a good comeback to int'l cricket with figures of 4/43.

doremi wrote:I see Kallis has been crabbing away to his heart's content.

Does he know any other way?

South Africa will go home in disgrace after this poor effort. Their batting was atrocious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if7M_fRfFTI

No?

Ohh nevermind, SA won already.

Red wrote:South Africa will go home in disgrace after this poor effort. Their batting was atrocious.

Snicker.

South Africa in 'not choking' shocker!

What an incredible comeback...

Well done South Africa, worthy winners of the OD series 3-2, they would have won the Test series 2-0 had they not declared generously in the second Test.

Pakistan, kings of chokers in OD and Twenty20 - Afridi, you twit and half!

filosofee wrote:Well they would have won the Test series 2-0 had they not declared generously in the second Test.

can anyone explain this comment to me?

If my memory is correct SA were castigated for slow batting and a late declaration.

Now you know why inzi preferred batting at 4 & 5 no one else in our team knows how to finish a game.

Congrats SA, our batting is very poor apart for Moyo/YK the rest are useless, time to get rid of Misbah for good, we need to bring someone in who can atleast make one 50 in 3 matches let alone 5. Spineless batting at the end.

Must say, a really good end to an ODI series - would have been even if we had been pipped at the end.

Somone wrote in another thread that this was Pakistan giving the Saffies a taste of their own medicine.

Pakistan snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

doremi wrote:Somone wrote in another thread that this was Pakistan giving the Saffies a taste of their own medicine.

After 4 overs chuckter went in to take herbal medicines.

Well done SA, good come back both in the series and the match and even more impressive given the cirumustances and last minute venue change.