By SS
October 4 2003

Pakistan started the 5 match one day series with a narrow 8 run victory against South Africa today in Lahore. It was the Shoaib show as Malik scored an amazing 82 runs off only 41 balls and then Akhtar picked up 4 wickets at a time when the South Africans were in control. Phew what a match is the first thing that springs to mind when describing todays match. Tension right down to the end was in store for Pakistani and South African fans all around the world as these evenly matched sides fought out a close encounter in the Gaddaffi Stadium at Lahore.

Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis will have nightmares containing Shoaib Malik for a long time after todays innings from the young all rounder. Shoaib who initially was regarded as a solid methodical player is blossoming into a real hard hitter in the middle order, capable of really giving the ball a hefty whack. What is noticeable about Shoaibs batting is that he has big shot zones, mid wicket and straight down the ground are his favoured areas and he sticks to his plan nicely.

The first 15 overs still remain a problem for the Pakistan team with Hafeez scratching around and Yasir playing the big shots, but not really placing the ball too well. Pakistan were at least 25 runs short in the first 15 overs today and this could have proved crucial on such a flat batting track and this was proven by the South African batting in the first 15 overs.

After 40 overs of the Pakistan innings the South Africans must have been more than satisfied with their days work. Their bowlers with the exception of Ntini had predominantly bowled to a nice line and length and their fielding had been its usual high standard. The Pakistani batting had revolved around Yasir Hameed and Yousuf Youhana both scoring fifties, but both perished just when their team needed them to go on and make a three figure score.

What ensued in the last 10 overs was sheer carnage as Shoaib Malik tore the South African bowling apart with a barrage of sixes and fours. It is hard to recall an occasion where Pollock and Kallis have been treated by a batsman with such distain.

Even though Pakistan finished on 277, the South Africans must have known that this was not an impossible target, given that the track was a beauty for batting and the dew factor which would hamper the Pakistani bowlers later in the innings.

An excellent opening stand for the South Africans between Dippenaar and Smith meant that they were in control, that was until the Rawalpindi express came back and got rid of Smith and Kallis within the space of a few balls. The Pakistani team had been rejuvenated by Shoaib Akhtars heroics and the fielding and bowling once again picked up the intensity levels.

McKenzie and Dippenaar then shared a superb 101 run partnership and the South African team were within sight of a great victory. Once again Shoaib Akhtar came back to rescue Pakistan removing McKenzie with a clever slower ball and then getting rid of the dangerous Boucher with a perfect inswinging Yorker. The pendulum had swung Pakistans way and it was now down to Pollock, but he hit his first ball straight to Inzi off the bowling of Sami.

Dippenaar completed his first one day hundred in high humidity and although he hit Shoaib Akhtar for a six and four in his last over, it still meant that South Africa needed 13 off the last over to win the match. Mohamed Sami bowled a superb last over and only allowed the South Africans to score 4 runs off it. Sami and Shoaib clawed the Pakistanis back in the last 8 overs by stemming the flow of runs and also picking up wickets, in conditions that were not ideal for fast bowling. The dew was a major advantage to the South Africans and once can only praise both Shoaib and Smai for their efforts. Both these rapid pacemen are renowned for their speed, but today it was their speed of mind in varying their pace and also bowling plenty of yorkers that helped Pakistan.

The next match is on Sunday and will once again be played at Lahore and lets all hope it provides as much entertainment as todays match did.