Umar Gul picked 5 wickets for 6 runs against South Africa in the 2n and final T20. PHOTO: BCCI/FILE
It is interesting to note that Hafeez had scored just 43 runs in the six innings he played in the Test series and was able to exceed that total in just a single Twenty20 innings, which also saw him becoming the first Pakistani to cross 1,000 runs in the format. The array of shots that flowed from the captain’s bat was nowhere to be seen in the Tests. Hafeez followed up this innings with a fine bowling performance, picking up three scalps. His display underlined the fact that he is one of Pakistan’s premier players in limited-overs cricket although question marks regarding his suitability as a Test opener will remain.
Besides the brilliance of Hafeez and Gul, the fielding on display was a heartening sight as well. With the hosts bowled out for just 100 in pursuit of 196, the win will give Pakistan much-needed confidence after the demoralising display in the five-day format. However, it is important that the team does not get carried away with this victory. With the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series kicking off on March 10, the hosts will surely aim at regrouping as soon as possible. Misbahul Haq will be back at the helm of affairs for the ODIs and it is hoped that he will follow Hafeez’s example, as Pakistan tend to do well whenever the man in-charge leads from the front.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (2)
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@Jawed...first of all thanks for explaining all the difficult terms in your comments. I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what a track is. Either way, the pitch was the same for both teams. If it was that flat of track, wonder why the South Africans were bowled out for a 100. The only difference was confidence. You can't compare Kyle abbots figures. It was a debutants luck. All debutants except for a very few who took more than 7 fers have failed to make it big. The difference between the two sides was mindset and confidence is all.
Nothing to get excited about ! Different format, different track (pitch) coupled with playing "too many inexperienced" South Africans provided ideal scenario for "the Professor" to turn around test series "fiasco" into a thumping T20 win. Make no mistake, it's the playing surface ( the pitch ) which makes the difference. It was a belter ( Paata ) pitch - even Steyn would have gone for plenty here ! Recall KJ Abbott test bowling fig. (at same venue last week) 7-29 & 2/39 on bouncy track conducive to seam/swing bowling going for 41 runs in 4 overs on this T20 flat/batting friendly track. Pakistani batsmen will continue to struggle on traditional bouncing and seaming South African tracks. Beware Pakistan : Life will be different in ODIs, as curators will NOT repeat the same mistake !