Proteas Concede Too Many Mistakes In Pakistan

Proteas Concede Too Many Mistakes In Pakistan

Posted: 31 January 2021

The Proteas, who have a terrible recent record in Asia have nobody to blame but themselves for easily succumbing to a good Pakistani performance.

After winning the toss on day one, the Proteas had no hesitation in opting to bat on a pitch that was expected to spin from the first day. Having been given the perfect opportunity to bat and bat long, the Proteas batsmen proceeded to gift their wickets away.

The Pakistani team accepted these gifts with both hands, taking some beautiful catches and effecting two sharp runouts. This resulted in the Proteas only managing to score a below par 220 in their first dig.

The total was never going to be enough on a decent pitch, even though the South African bowlers tried. The bowlers had the Pakistanis at 33/4 at the end of Day 1.

Pakistan recovered from this uncomfortable position to score 378, showing the Proteas how to apply themselves on a spinning, but ultimately good pitch.

This total was built upon the innings of the unorthodox Fawad Alam who scored 109, having been dropped on 35 by Dean Elgar at slip off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj.

He got support from the lower order, who managed to score exactly 100 for the last 3 wickets after he was out, as the Proteas struggled to clean up the tail.

It was not all doom and gloom for South Africa though as they celebrated their 200th test wicket of young superstar, Kagiso Rabada, during the innings. Starting the 3rd innings with a deficit of 158 runs, the Proteas were on the back foot.

Even with the pressure the team seemed to have learnt from the first innings mistakes and progressed to 175 for the loss of one wicket. This was when the madness began in the Proteas camp as they proceeded to implode and lose 9 wickets for the addition of only 65 runs.

Temba Bavuma scored 40 of these 65 runs which illustrates how the rest had just crumbled after a solid start. Pakistan was then left requiring a mere 88 runs to win the game and go 1-0 up in the two-match series.

They had little trouble achieving this as they cruised to 90 for 3, with man of the match Alam scoring the winning runs. Credit must be given to Pakistan for their performance as they were clinical and took the chances they were handed. Despite this, the Proteas will be left wondering how they let a chance like this go.

Article By;

Aphiwe Scina.