Pakistan Vs India, 1st Test, Delhi, 1st day

Day 1: Pakistan 210 for 8 (Misbah 71*, Sami 20*) against India

Anil Kumble's first day as India's Test captain went nearly perfectly for two sessions, but a spirited rearguard action from Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Sami redressed the balance somewhat on an engrossing opening day at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Misbah, who had never gone past 41 in his previous seven Tests, batted more than four hours for his unbeaten 71, while Sami embarrassed more illustrious team-mates with a defiant 20 that spanned the entire final session.

After having picked up eight Pakistani wickets for 142 in the first two sessions, India ran out of steam after tea, with nothing more than half chances coming their way. The best of them came just before stumps, when Misbah pulled Munaf Patel to midwicket. Harbhajan Singh got his hands to it, but the ball was struck with such force that it burst through his fingers and went for two.

By then, with the partnership mounting and spin not providing an answer, Kumble had opted for the new ball, but by the time play was called off 4.2 overs early, the ninth-wicket pair had survived 31.4 overs while adding 68. The application that they showed was a far cry from the headless-chicken act that went before, with batsman after batsman pressured into mistakes by disciplined Indian bowling.

The key wicket arrived shortly after lunch, when Mohammad Yousuf played down the wrong line to Sourav Ganguly to be trapped in front for 27. He and Younis Khan had taken heavy toll on the Indian bowlers in recent times, but the failure of either to play a big innings here put Pakistan under severe pressure.

For Shoaib Malik, whose decision to bat first in overcast conditions had been most likely prompted by the reluctance to face Kumble in the fourth innings, it proved too much. Fortunate to survive a confident leg-before shout off the first ball he faced from Ganguly, he departed without making a dent on the scoreboard, fending at a Munaf delivery that left him a touch. When Kamran Akmal walked in with the score 83 for 5, he might have been reminded of the Karachi Test last year, when his brilliant century won Pakistan the game after they had slumped to 39 for 6.

He played a couple of cracking drives and flicks through midwicket, but when Kumble returned more than an hour into the second session, he had no answer to a delivery that shot through at shin height to knock back the off stump. It was reward for some disciplined bowling at either end, with Ganguly especially outstanding in his role as support seamer. Misbah tried to stem the relentless Indian tide with a superb six over long-on off Harbhajan Singh, but the support from the other end was paper-thin until Sami arrived.

The innings had started inauspiciously, with both Zaheer and Munaf bowling probing spells. Yasir Hameed had the scoreboard ticking with a lovely cover-drive, but Salman Butt was becalmed at the other end. His misery lasted all of 20 balls before Zaheer shaped one back in to beat a tentative prod.

Younis and Hameed tried to wrest the initiative with some singles, but Zaheer's second intervention of the morning put India firmly on top. Younis had committed himself to the front foot when Zaheer surprised him with a short ball at the body. The hook was a hurried one, and despite his reputation as not the most athletic of fielders, Munaf held on to the catch at fine leg.

Yousuf embarked on his innings with a steer to third man and a delightful off drive, but when Kumble and Ganguly came on to relieve the opening bowlers, the runs dried up again. Hameed flicked Kumble for a four through midwicket, but Ganguly's use of the seam was causing Yousuf problems at the other end.

A glorious cover-drive broke the shackles briefly, but when Yasir played all around a straight one from Kumble, it was again backs-to-the-wall for Pakistan. Yousuf ended the session with two magnificent square drives, but on a pitch that was hardly a minefield, it was clear that Pakistan would need to perk up after lunch.

They couldn't, and when Harbhajan and Kumble polished off Sohail Tanvir and Shoaib Akhtar in quick succession before tea, Pakistan were in danger of not being able to match the 150 they made here on their first tour 55 years ago. But as the sun started to shine and the pitch eased out, Misbah and Sami started to grow in confidence. A reverse paddle-sweep got Misbah his 50, and he then produced a gorgeous on-drive when Munaf overpitched with the new ball.

The real star though was Sami, doughty and unflappable in equal measure. A precise cut for four off Harbhajan showed what he could do, and the reintroduction of Ganguly only prompted a charge down the pitch and a massive six down the ground. It summed up India's evening, though they had every reason to be otherwise pleased with their day's work.

Pakistan's Kaneria targets Tendulkar scalp

Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said he will target all India's batsmen in the forthcoming Test series but getting the wicket that has eluded him so far -- Sachin Tendulkar -- would be a dream.

"I have not dismissed Tendulkar and perhaps this will be the last time I will be up against him so I wish to get his wicket,"

Kaneria told AFP before leaving for India on Monday.

Besides Kaneria, batsman Faisal Iqbal and paceman Mohammad Sami will join the Pakistan squad in India where the first of three Tests start in New Delhi from Thursday.

Pakistan won the fifth and final one-day game by 31 runs Sunday at Jaipur but India clinched the series 3-2.

Kaneria, 26, said playing against India was always a tough challenge.

"India pose one of the biggest challenges for us, and playing against them in their own backyard is more challenging because they have world class batsmen like Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and many others,"

he said.

The bubbly spinner has grabbed 31 wickets against India in eight Tests but has yet to dismiss Tendulkar.

"He (Tendulkar) is a master and I came close to dismissing him in the 2005 series at Mohali. I thought it was a bat-pad but the umpire thought otherwise and his wicket eluded me.

"The world knows how good a batsman Tendulkar is and it would be like an empty cupboard without his wicket so the first thing in all the innings would be to get his wicket and it's always the key."

Kaneria said he would target all Indian batsmen with the ploy he usually unfolds against the archrivals.

"Since you know Indians play leg-spin, well, you have to use a different ploy against them so I have that in my mind and I want to play my part as the main bowler and help Pakistan win the series,"

said Kaneria, only the second Hindu behind Anil Dalpat to play for Pakistan.

Kaneria said scoring big would be the key to victory.

"Since they have a very deep batting line-up the opposition needs to score big and then only you can pressurise India. If we score big then we can attack them like we did against them at Bangalore in 2005,"

said Kaneria, who has 208 wickets in 48 Tests.

Pakistan squared the series 1-1 with a come-from-behind win at Bangalore in the third Test two years ago.

Kaneria felt Pakistan will badly miss former captain Inzamam-ul Haq in the batting department.

"Inzamam was like a big brother to every player and he infused a fighting spirit in the team so not only as captain but also as a key batsman he will be missed. But we now have Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf to shoulder our batting."

The other two Tests will be played at Calcutta (November 30-Dec 4) and at Bangalore (December 8-12).

Pakistan loses Test for second time in Karachi

KARACHI: After a bold attempt to chase huge 424-run target Pakistan gave up the fight and were all out for 263 before tea on the fifth and the final day here at the National Stadium on Friday to give South Africa the 160-run victory.

This is for the second time in Test history that Pakistan has lost a match in Karachi. Earlier, England beat them here in 2000-01.

Younus Khan scored a brilliant century today and kept alive the hopes of Pakistan chasing an impossible target but finally he got out at 126. It was his 13th Test hundred and the first against South Africa.

Among others, only Faisal Iqbal (44) and captain Shoaib Malik (30) could make significant scores.

Dale Steyn was the most successful bowler from South Africa who captured five wickets for 56. Andre Nel and Paul Harris claimed two wickets each and Makhaya Nitni took one wicket.

The summarized scores were:
SA: 450 ( JH Kallis 155, AB de Villiers 77, HM Amla 71, HH Gibbs 54, Abdul Rehman 4-105) and 264-7 dec. (JH Kallis 100 not out, Abdul Rehman 4-105).
Pak: 291(Shoaib Malik 73, PL Harris 5-73)and 263 (Younus Khan 126, DW Steyn 5-56).

The second and the final Test will be played in Lahore from Monday.

Pakistan chasing record 424 target set by SA

KARACHI: The first of the two Test series between Pakistan and South Africa has entered into an interesting stage when Pakistan’s young team is chasing a daunting target of 424 to win and made 146 for three by the close of play on the fourth day with Younus Khan batting on 93.

They are required to score 278 more with seven wickets in hand and besides Younus, there are in-form batsmen - Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal - to bat with determination.

After two early dismissals, Younus Khan and Faisal Iqbal got together and fought bravely to take score to 134 when Faisal departed on 44 in the last moments. At stumps, Pakistan were 146 for three with Younus batting at 93 and night watchman Muhammad Asif at one.

Younus has played 99 balls and hit 14 fours and one six in his. With Faisal, he added 114 runs for the third wicket. Faisal faced 69 balls and hit eight fours.

Earlier, South Africa declared their second innings at 264 for seven and set Pakistan a daunting target of 424 to win the match, after Jacques Kallis reached his second hundred of the match. He became the fourth South African to score centuries in each innings of a Test, but his stubborn and flawless unbeaten 100 was in sharp contrast to his 155 in the first innings, during which he was dropped twice.

Other main scorers were Ashwell Prince (45) and Andre Nel (33) where as left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman finished on identical figures of four wickets for 105, in the second innings also, thus claiming eight for 110 in his debut Test. leg-spinner Danish Kaneria captured three wickets.

South Africa in control after Pakistan's batting collapse

A middle-order collapse inspired by Paul Harris gave South Africa the upper hand at the end of the second day of the first Test in Karachi. Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal, who was opening the innings due to Salman Butt's illness, put on 71 in 14 overs before five wickets fell for 49 runs to leave Pakistan trailing by 323 runs on a pitch assisting spinners immensely.

Pakistan looked set to emulate South Africa with the bat as Akmal and Hafeez, their ninth opening combination in the last 16 Tests, began with some lovely drives on either side of the wicket. Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn built up a good pace and a few anxious moments were witnessed when Akmal played away from his body and edged either past the diving slips or between gully and point.

The slide began when Harris replaced Ntini, who was driven and cut past point for boundaries by Akmal. Getting sharp turn with his loop and quick bounce by pitching it slightly short, Harris had Akmal stretching forward to an arm ball and struck plumb in front. It was not only the batsmen that Harris troubled with his bounce - he hit Mark Boucher on the cheek with a ball that spun and beat the batsman.

Harris then accounted for Hafeez, brilliantly caught at first slip by Jacques Kallis, whose day only got better when he removed a shaky Faisal Iqbal off an inside edge. Pakistan's batsmen, missing the cue from Kallis' splendid innings, failed to apply themselves - Misbah-ul-Haq edged a slower Steyn delivery way outside offstump - and played loose strokes away from their bodies. Pakistan will need a spirited performance from Shoaib Malik, their captain, and the tail to avoid the follow-on.

South Africa, meanwhile, had looked all set to post a 500-plus total in their first innings before the debutant Abdur Rehman, who bowls left-arm spin, utilised the crumbling pitch to pick up four wickets.

Bowling unchanged after lunch, Rehman varied his length well while using the bowler's footmarks outside the right-handers' leg-stump to force the batsmen into a defensive mode. It was this tactic that got rid of Mark Boucher, who swept outside leg stump and gave Akmal an easy catch as the ball popped up in the air. His probing length was rewarded once again as Andre Nel prodded forward and gave a simple catch to Misbah at silly mid-off.

Danish Kaneria, Pakistan's other spinner, was brought into the attack in the sixth over of the day and managed to pick up his 200th Test wicket, and the prize wicket of Kallis for 155. Kallis looked good for his first-ever double century, clipping Mohammad Asif for three fours in his second over as the bowler failed to get any movement off the seam.

Using his feet well against the spinners, he swept with authority as the well-spread field provided ample scoring opportunities. His innings ended when Kaneria, who was getting immense turn, decided to come round the wicket. Kallis tried to cut off the back foot but Akmal, who had dropped him on 36 yesterday, made no mistake this time.

AB de Villiers then took matters in his own hands, refusing singles - although Pakistan's dismal ground fielding did allow him several twos - and alternating between power and placement. Dispatching Rehman into the sightscreen for a six to reach his 50, de Villiers twice pulled Kaneria fiercely as the legspinner pitched it short. His innings, and South Africa's, was ended by a searing Umar Gul yorker and the home side headed for the dressing room with sighs of relief. Not for long though, as it turned out, and they now face the threat of a follow-on on day three.

Salman Butt admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis

Salman Butt, the Pakistan vice-captain and opener, was admitted to hospital early this morning with suspected gastroenteritis.

Talat Ali, the Pakistan manager, said Butt experienced severe pain in his stomach late last night and a decision was taken to take him to hospital early this morning.

"He is still at the hospital. He was on a drip initially but the doctors suspect gastroenteritis."

No word was forthcoming on whether or not Butt would take the field at any stage but Yasir Hameed has taken his place in the field. This is Butt's first Test for Pakistan in over a year and is also his first as vice-captain.

South Africa scores 294-3 at close on 1st day of 1st match against Pakistan

KARACHI: All-rounder Jacques Kallis made Pakistan pay for dropping him twice by scoring a brilliant unbeaten century to help South Africa make a solid start to the first Test here on Monday.

The 31-year-old scored an unbeaten 118 for his 25th Test hundred as South Africa reached 294-3 at close on the first day after winning the toss on a dry and well-prepared pitch at the National Stadium.

Kallis, in the news for the wrong reasons after quitting the vice-captaincy over his omission from the Twenty20 world championships squad last month, shared a third-wicket stand of 170 with a resolute Hashim Amla, who made 71.

Kallis hit 15 boundaries during his 224-minute stay at the crease. He should have been out on 36 when he edged leg-spinner Danish Kaneria only for wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal to drop a regulation catch. Salman Butt then grassed a pull off Mohammad Hafeez when Kallis was on 61.

Kallis, who took 91 deliveries to score fifty, reached his second half-century off just 56 balls, hitting 11 boundaries to reach his ton, his second against Pakistan.

Amla hit six boundaries and a six during his 225-minute knock. He was also let off on one when Misbah-ul Haq spilled a catch off skipper Shoaib Malik.

The lapses allowed Kallis and Amla to continue untroubled before paceman Mohammad Asif bowled Amla in the second over with the new ball.

Earlier, South Africa were given a solid opening start of 87 by Herschelle Gibbs (54) and Graeme Smith (42).

Gibbs, without a hundred for 37 innings, looked set for a big score as he drove and cut with confidence to reach his half-century in two-and-a-quarter hours, hitting seven boundaries.

But he fell to a low catch in the slips by Hafeez off Umar Gul. Gibbs fell three short of reaching 6,000 Test runs.

Pakistan had been forced to rely on the only two available seamers in Asif and Gul but they failed to achieve an early breakthrough, forcing Malik to introduce Kaneria in the tenth over.

Kaneria did turn the ball but it was batting all-rounder Hafeez who claimed Pakistan's first wicket when he trapped Smith leg-before in his second over.

Smith hit five boundaries in his 105-minute stay at the crease. The home team received a jolt before the start of the match when prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf pulled out, citing a lack of match practice and form.

The 33-year-old last week made himself available to play for Pakistan after cancelling a contract with a rebel Indian league.

But he had barely picked up a bat for two months after being dropped for the Twenty20 tournament, at which Pakistan were finalists.

"Yousuf told us that he needed time to gain match fitness and opted out on his own,"

chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said.

Pakistan included Faisal Iqbal in Yousuf's place and gave a debut to left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman.

South Africa preferred paceman Andre Nel over veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock after rookie paceman Morne Morkel failed to regain fitness following a leg injury.

Misbah recalled but no place for Shoaib for the First Test

Misbah-ul-Haq's impressive performances in the World Twenty20 have earned him a recall to Pakistan's squad for the first Test against South Africa in Karachi on Monday. But there was no place in the 15-man lineup for either Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former captain, or Shoaib Akhtar.

Misbah was the third-highest run-scorer in South Africa, helping Pakistan reach the final and was also the highest run-scorer in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's premier first-class tournament. He played the last of his five Tests four years ago against Bangladesh. Joining him in the middle order is Mohammad Yousuf, who yesterday agreed to represent Pakistan, after having initially signed up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

But there was no place in the squad for Inzamam, another ICL signatory. Inzamam has retired from ODIs, though insists he wants to play Test cricket. Salahuddin Ahmed, Pakistan's chief selector, said that Inzamam had been considered for the squad but had declared himself unavailable for the first Test.

"I spoke to Inzamam and though he didn't specify the reasons, he said he was unavailable for the first Test,"

said Salahuddin.

"If he is available for the second Test [in Lahore], he will be considered."

Shoaib's exclusion was also expected, as he is currently the subject of a disciplinary inquiry into his altercation with Mohammad Asif in South Africa.

"Shoaib's is a policy decision,"

said Salahuddin.

"The disciplinary inquiry is ongoing and only when their decision has come will we take a decision."

Rao Iftikhar Anjum took the third fast bowler's spot, edging out Sohail Tanvir, the left-arm, wrong-foot bowler who did so well in the Twenty20 World Cup.

"Sohail is a very talented all-rounder but we feel he still has some time before he is ready for the longer version of the game,"

added Salahuddin.

Pakistan will field yet another new opening pair when the first Test begins from October 1. One of Taufeeq Umar, who averages 74 in four Tests against South Africa, or Mohammad Hafeez will partner Salman Butt, the vice-captain.

Pakistan squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Danish Kaneria, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Hameed, Taufeeq Umar, Abdur Rehman