Web desk: Pakistani batsmen and spinners have given them a strong advantage against South Africa on Day 2, and they can sense a big lead in the first innings, but they cannot afford to concede the advantage to them.
South Africa were 216 for 6 at the end of 2nd day’s play in response to Pakistan’s 378 in the first innings. If Pakistan wants to get a stranglehold in this match, they must look to finish off the South African tail quickly.
Thanks to fifties by Imam, Masood, Rizwan, and Salman, Pakistan posted an above-par score of 378 runs on a wicket that showed signs of turn and inconsistent bounce from Day 1. If it weren’t for losing wickets in clumps twice, Pakistan could have scored 450 plus.
They lost three quick wickets for 0 runs, and 199 for 2 became 199 for 5 when they lost Imam, Saud, and Babar in tandem.
Salman and Rizwan then built a crucial partnership of 163 runs to take Pakistan out of danger.
Another collapse occurred, and they lost another three wickets for no runs, going from 362 for 5 to 362 for 8. They lost their last 5 wickets for mere 16 runs and got bowled out for 378 runs.
Still, it was a competitive total on Lahore’s deteriorating wicket.
When the South African batsmen came to bat, they showed why they were the recently crowned WTC champions. On a turning wicket against some quality spinners, they played brilliantly and were sitting comfortably at 174 for 2 through fifties from Rickelton and de Zorzi.
In the 3rd session, they suffered the same fate as Pakistani batsmen. A collapse late in the day resulted in them losing 4 wickets for 42 runs.
They ended the day at 216 for 6, and Pakistan had gotten into the tail.
Tony de Zorzi is still batting at 81, but Pakistan will fancy its chances of bowling South Africa out cheaply and taking a handsome lead.
A good lead will help them set a big total for South Africa, who will bat last on a wicket which will become a landmine come day 4.
However, Pakistan cannot afford to become complacent and hand over the advantage to South Africa, as they have done several times in the past in important matches.
They were in a commanding position in their last match against the West Indies when they were reduced to 54 for 8, only to get bashed by their tail-enders Moti, Roach, and Warrican, who scored briskly and took their team to a respectable total of 163.
In the end, those crucial runs were the difference, as they brought the West Indies back into the match, and they went on to defeat Pakistan by 120 runs, levelling the series.
The same thing happened in the test match against Bangladesh, when they had them 26 for 6, only for Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz to score runs and help their team recover. Pakistan lost that match too by 6 wickets.
Pakistan cannot afford to repeat those mistakes if they are to win this match against South Africa, who are known for fighting till the last breath. They won’t gift their wickets; Pakistan will be ruthless and get them out.
If Pakistan takes a 100+ run lead, they will be in a really strong position, and Pakistani batsmen must bat sensibly to build on that advantage tomorrow. They shouldn’t lose wickets in clumps, like they did in the first innings, because batting will only get tougher as the match progresses.
This pitch demands players to play unconventional shots, including sweeps and reverse sweeps. Rizwan and Salman demonstrated how to do that, and the rest of the Pakistani batters must follow suit.
Once the bowlers get the African team out, the batters must try to take the game to the African bowlers and aim to set a target of 300+, giving them a great chance of beating the World Test Champions, South Africa.
And then it will be up to the spin duo of Noman and Sajid to weave a web around South African batsmen and take Pakistan to victory.
