By SS
October 20 2003

Pakistan enjoyed a hugely succesful day, as they bundled out the tourists for 241 in their 2nd innings. Kaneria and Shoaib Akhtar were the inspired bowlers,leaving the home team needing 161 for victory. Openers Farhat and Umer,shared in another century stand and Pak only require another 24 tomorrow. An absolutely amazing and totally absorbing days cricket left Pakistan on the verge of victory against South Africa in the Pepsi first test at Lahore.

After yesterdays lethargic effort Pakistan were a totally revitalized team, once again led from the front by the scourge of the South African team, Shoaib Akhtar. The variety of the Pakistani bowling attack has caused severe problems for the South African batsman, with each of the Pakistani bowlers presenting their own blend of problems to the tourists. Today it was lanky leg spinner Danish Kaneria who took center stage bowling an inspired spell, which was surely the best of his young career. He bowled with control, variety and aggression and stemmed the flow from one end.

Danishs accuracy meant that Shoaib Akhtar was given license to attack and thrill, hence Shoaib decided to dispense with the line and length method at the start of play today and instead adopt an aggressive approach which mixed up the line and the length he was bowling with tremendous effect.

He got rid off with short pitched deliveries 2 possible dangermen in Dippenaar and also Herscelle Gibbs who seemed to have more lives than a cat in this innings. Not finished with that, Shoaib came back to once again haunt Jacques Kallis who must be sick of the sight of Shoaib tearing in and claiming his wicket.

That the South African innings surrendered so meekly after the brave resistance by Gary Kirsten, was a testimony to the nagging consistency and guile of Danish Kaneria who very cleverly resorted to googlies for the tailenders, knowing full well that the tailenders generally read the spinners off the pitch rather than out of the hand.

Set 161 to win, which was probably about 100 runs less than the South Africans would have hoped for, the talented left handed duo of Taufeeq Umer and Imran Farhat, set about the South African bowling like they had a prior engagement tomorrow, away from Lahore. Stroking the ball to all parts, the openers managed another century opening stand and eventually when Imran was out with the score on 134, the job was almost done.

Pakistan go into day 5 only requiring another 24 runs and victory in this remarkable test match which has ebbed and flowed.