Woolmer hits out at Newlands as Pakistan face defeat by AFP

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Ground:	Newlands, Cape Town
Scorecard:	South Africa v Pakistan
Event:	Pakistan in South Africa 2006/07

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DateLine: 28th January 2007

 

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has a home in Cape Town but he said he had never seen a Newlands pitch like that on which 32 wickets fell on the first two days of the third and final Test.

 

South Africa were 36 for two at the close Saturday after being set to make 161 to win for a series-clinching triumph, with captain Graeme Smith unbeaten on 33.

 

With the series set to be decided early Sunday, Woolmer acknowledged: "South Africa are favourites but we would be stupid to come here tomorrow thinking we had lost the game. We'll certainly be trying."

 

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria will be the key to Pakistan's fortunes.

 

He took both wickets for two runs, having Boeta Dippenaar caught behind for three before trapping nightwatchman Paul Harris leg before in the last over.

 

Seventeen wickets fell for 274 runs during the day, with South Africa bowled out for 182 in their first innings after resuming at 131 for five before Pakistan were dismissed for 186 in their second innings.

 

Woolmer said: "With 32 wickets in two days, it's either extremely bad batting, wonderful bowling or something slightly wrong with the pitch."

 

It wasn't bad enough to be reported to the International Cricket Council, he said, because it wasn't dangerous but it wasn't good for Test cricket for matches to be decided in three days.

 

"The odd ball is unplayable and then you get out trying to score runs off a ball that is pretty mediocre. You don't often get these games. Specifically in Test cricket you shouldn't get these games because in Test cricket you should be more disciplined in the way you bat," added Woolmer.

 

"Although I'm an advocate of results in Test cricket I know the financial implications are pretty high when there are two-and-a-half days of no cricket."

 

Woolmer said that despite the difficulties of the pitch, Pakistan had batted poorly in their second innings.

 

Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher hit an aggressive 40 not out to take South Africa to a 26-run first innings lead which could yet prove crucial on a pitch which has helped both seam and spin bowlers.

 

Fast bowler Dale Steyn, after helping Boucher add 43 for the ninth wicket, took three for 47 in Pakistan's second innings, dismissing both opening batsmen and Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

 

"Mark was brilliant," said Steyn. "He told me I must just stick around and he'll get the runs."

 

Pakistan were only 95 ahead when Inzamam was seventh man out but tailenders Mohammad Sami and Shahid Nazir put on 55 for the eighth wicket to give their team an outside chance and ensure that the match would go into a third day.

 

Steyn said the eighth wicket stand showed that even lower order batsmen could form a partnership.

 

"All we need tomorrow is one or two semi-partnerships and one decent partnerships and we should wrap it up soon after lunch," he said.

 

After 15 wickets fell on the first day, the pattern of batting woes continued Saturday when Ashwell Prince was given out in the third over with only two runs added.

 

Two balls later nightwatchman Paul Harris edged Mohammad Asif to Younis Khan at second slip and South Africa had lost two wickets for two runs. Andrew Hall was quickly caught behind off Kaneria for four.

 

Boucher went on the attack after a quiet start in which only 18 runs were scored off the first 11 overs, hitting three fours, a two and a straight six in an over from Asif which cost 22 runs. The over included two no-balls.

Kaneria, bowling into a large bare area at the Wynberg end, took three for 44 and Asif three for 53.

 

Steyn had Mohammad Hafeez caught at backward point, then swung a ball in to the left-handed Imran Farhat to win an lbw decision before Makhaya Ntini had Younis Khan caught behind without scoring.

 

First innings top-scorer Mohammad Yousuf looked threatening before he was bowled for 18 by a ball from Hall which held its line after a series of out-swingers. Hall then had Yasir Hameed caught at gully for 35.

 

Boucher pulled off a smart stumping to dismiss fellow wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal off left-arm spinner Harris and Inzamam was caught behind for 22 after surviving two difficult chances.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)