Gul's rescue act guides Pakistan past Proteas

Updated September 28, 2012 23:53:22

Umar Gul turned an unlikely hero with the bat as Pakistan survived a middle-order collapse to beat South Africa by two wickets in the Super Eights of the World Twenty20 on Friday night.

Pakistan, chasing South Africa's modest 6 for 133, crashed to 7 for 76 in the 15th over before Gul and Umar Akmal combined to share a match-winning partnership of 49 in 27 balls.

Gul smashed two fours and three sixes in his 32 off 17 balls before he was dismissed off the last ball of the 19th over by fast bowler Dale Steyn with nine more needed.

But Akmal, who remained unbeaten on 43, and Saeed Ajmal steered Pakistan home with two balls to spare; Ajmal edging the winning boundary off Morne Morkel.

Pakistan's openers raced to 24 in 2.5 overs before the innings fell apart after Imran Nazir (14) was caught behind off Steyn.

Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who came to bowl the fourth over, removed skipper Mohammad Hafeez with his second delivery and Nasir Jamshed with the sixth to leave Pakistan reeling at 3 for 31.

Off-spinner Johan Botha also struck in his first over by bowling Kamran Akmal for 1, Jacques Kallis dismissed Shoaib Malik (12) and JP Duminy had danger man Shahid Afridi caught in the deep for a first-ball duck.

But Gul and Umar Akmal launched a blistering attack on the Proteas to earn Pakistan full points in the opening match of group two.

Earlier, Pakistan's spinners revelled on a slow wicket to restrict mighty South Africa to 6 for 133.

Hafeez claimed 2 for 23 and 20-year-old left-arm spinner Raza Hasan conceded just 12 runs in three overs after South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

Seamers Yasir Arafat and Gul shared three wickets as the batsmen tried to hit out against them after failing to play the slow bowlers.

South Africa, the top-ranked side in the Twenty20 format, was reduced to 3 for 28 in 6.1 overs before recovering through skipper AB de Villiers and JP Duminy.

Left-handed Duminy top-scored with 48 off 38 balls, while de Villiers made 25, but no other batsman reached 20.

AFP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka, south-africa, pakistan

First posted September 28, 2012 23:53:22

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Old heads come to Australia's rescue

By Joel Zander

Updated December 28, 2011 19:17:57

Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting did their best to mask another top-order batting collapse as Australia limped to stumps leading by 227 runs in a topsy-turvy first Test against India.

A whopping 15 wickets fell on day three at the MCG as the tourists lost 7 for 68 to be bowled out for 282 before the home side suffered a landslide of its own, crawling to 8 for 176 in its second innings with Hussey unbeaten on 79.

Australia's batting woes overshadowed an impressive maiden five-wicket haul from Ben Hilfenhaus (5 for 75), who celebrated his Test recall with a rampant display of swing bowling to obliterate India's middle order.

He was a subdued though after Australia's batting line-up failed to capitalise.

"I feel like today we started really well and got the ball rolling but it's obviously disappointing to be down as many as we are tonight," Hilfenhaus told Grandstand.

"They proved today the way they bowled that there's still enough there (in the wicket), so I think if we get to (a lead of) 300 or over 250 I think we're still a chance."

Hilfenhaus led the way for Australia this morning from the moment he rocked the off stump of Rahul Dravid (68) from the second ball of the day.

He has bowled with increased pace and intensity in this match and cleaned up Virat Kohli (11), skipper MS Dhoni (6), and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma (11) to go with Gautam Gambhir (3) yesterday.

"It's obviously a pretty good place to get your first one (five-wicket haul) but I guess the match isn't over yet," Hilfenhaus said.

"I guess we bowled well as a group today, we didn't really give much away and were able to create enough pressure to make chances.

"I never thought it (my Test career) was over.

"I did spend most of the preseason working on a few technical things to get me back bowling the way I was a few years ago, so I think that's starting to pay off and hopefully it can continue to improve."

As has been an increasing trend in recent times, Australia's top-order batsmen failed to capitalise on the toil of their bowlers.

David Warner (5), Shaun Marsh (3) and Michael Clarke (1) all chopped deliveries onto their stumps while debutant Ed Cowan (8) shouldered arms as third-Test rookie Umesh Radav (4 for 49 off 15 overs) unleashed havoc in front of 40,556.

Old-ball specialist Zaheer Khan chimed in with 2 for 32, removing a set Ponting for 60 to end a 115-run stand with Hussey, their seventh century partnership.

The pair came together with Australia languishing at 4 for 27 and turned back the clock with their careers on the line.

Both have stated they have no intention of retiring and they dug in deep for their country today, surviving some nail-biting early moments to help Australia recover from a disastrous position.

Hussey is eyeing his first century since the Sri Lankan tour after woeful series against South Africa and New Zealand.

Ponting's ton drought stretches almost two years now but with two half-centuries in a match for the 14th time in his career, his spot for the second Test in Sydney is assured.

The same cannot be said for Brad Haddin, who once again failed to put a high-enough prize on his wicket and surrendered to Khan for 6.

Tags: sport, cricket, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 28, 2011 18:10:10

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