It has been hard being a Pakistani supporter in last 18 months; the team has promised a lot on numerous occasions but has failed to get through on number of them. Centurion was one of those multiple failures. On the other hand South Africa amid all the troubles have managed to maintain an impressive record at home recently
It was still another two and half days left when South Africa romped to a six wicket victory over Pakistan at Centurion and took a 1-0 lead in three match series. However it didn’t come as easy as the scorecard showed. Hasan Ali struck immediately trapping Aiden Markram in front of stumps with 0-1 and then along with Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Afridi tested Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar in next couple of hours . While Pakistan were unlucky as Dean Elgar was declared not out when he was caught off Shaheen Afridi by Azhar ali , while the soft signal was out but to surprise of Pakistani players it was declared as not out . To make matter worse Fakar Zaman dropped Hashim Amla. The pair then put on 119 runs and ensured that South Africa doesn’t throws it away like Pakistan did on second evening .While the bowlers tried their best but the target seemed less in spite of a spicy pitch. By the end South Africa had ended match with half centuries from Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla .
While they have taken the lead in the series but it was far from being a dominant performance from South Africa as the batting struggled heavily though against a quality seam attack on a difficult pitch. The relief was that Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla both got very important half centuries in the second innings of the match and it would give them much needed confidence going further in the series . However captain Faf Du Plessis who have clearly indicated to quit after T-20 World Cup in Australia in 2020 have been struggling for form . The bowling though looks in much better shape. Even after exit of Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel and with Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander on last legs of their career South Africa’s pace arsenal looks in great shape . Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier and Lungi Ngdi seem to be taking over for future when the experience duo bid adieu to the game . Coming back to the series Duanne Olivier who bagged 11-96 in the match and was adjudged man of the match is still not sure to get the next game as Vernon Philander will return for the Cape town test
On the other hand not everything is right in the Pakistani team as the team is surrounded by multiple issues. Not only the loss at Centurion but coach Micky Arthur and senior member tussle at end of second day was also in highlight thereby showing not ever thing is well in the team . The challenge for both the coach and captain is how to bring the team back on track for this long and difficult tour which has just started. The major problem for Pakistan has been fitness and the performance of seniors. The Injury to Mohammad Abbas and Haris Sohail and failure of Sarafraz Ahmed, Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali was the major reason why the team failed to again win a test in South Africa . The coming days will even be more harder as the team needs to stand up to he rigors of touring South Africa . There are multiple changes which are expected t be made in the team . Asad Shafiq and Hasan Ali may make way for Haris Sohail and Mohammad Abbas if they will be fit . Thee return will strengthen the team , another probability might be though chances of which are bleak is to replace Yasir Shash with Shadab Khan which will make batting stronger but will team management take risk of dropping Shah ?
New year will have answer of all these questions , Batsman of both the teams will be expecting to get respite at Newlands but the chances are less as the bowling of both teams is of high quality . The fans though are surely guaranteed for some spicy stuff .
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