Just as a struggling marathon runner should concentrate on the next step rather than think about the finish line 10km away, it was not the time for the men’s Proteas to look at the scoreboard and do the maths after the second day of the first Test in Lahore. Never mind the defence of their deeply cherished World Test Championship crown.
Trailing by 162 runs with just four wickets remaining on a treacherous pitch offering sharp but inconsistent spin and increasing low bounce, they will start Tuesday’s third day in second place in a two-horse race — by a distance. But the track is exactly the reason they are still in the race at all. It is falling to pieces.
Aiden Markram said before the Test began that hosting teams have every right to prepare conditions as extreme as they wish and suit them: home-ground advantage is part and parcel of Test cricket, he said. The only disincentive to radical conditions which suit home teams is the “lottery” aspect and an overemphasis on the importance of the toss.
The pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium was dry and cracked from the outset on Sunday morning, but, far from being daunted, the tourists responded not just with a selection “see” in poker terms, but a “raise”. Whereas Pakistan had two specialist spinners in their starting XI, SA chose three.
It was bold, but more symbolic than practical. Specialist spinners, by nature, are not just prepared to bowl long spells but usually thrive in doing so. As it transpired, it was the excellent Senuran Muthusamy’s left-arm variety which did most of the damage with a career-best 6/117 as Pakistan were dismissed for 378 after resuming on 313/5 with hopes of something well in excess of 400.
Pakistan would still start as favourites in such a scenario, but SA would be ‘in the game’, and, at this stage, that’s the summit of their ambition. There are only two things better than no hope — Bob Hope and some hope.
But his job on the third morning will be to help Tony de Zorzi (81*) reduce the deficit to double figures and perhaps even to within 50 or 60 runs — then anything can happen. Simon Harmer may be playing just his 11th Test, but the 36-year-old has an astonishing 988 first-class wickets and has been the most prolific spinner in the world for the past five years. It is entirely feasible to imagine an overly aggressive Pakistan approach in the second innings leading to dismissal for 150ish, leaving the tourists with about 200 to chase.
Pakistan would still start as favourites in such a scenario, but SA would be “in the game”, and, at this stage, that’s the summit of their ambition. There are only two things better than no hope — Bob Hope and some hope.
The first time SA toured Pakistan in 1997, the series was on the line after a rain-drenched draw in Rawalpindi and a rain-soaked one in Sheikhupura. The tourists batted first in Faisalabad and were quickly 98/7 against an attack featuring Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed.
But Pat Symcox bashed 81 at No 9 and added 124 with Gary Kirsten, who carried his bat for 100. Still, 239 was made to look even more modest when the home team replied with 308 and bowled SA out a second time for just 214, leaving themselves with a fourth innings target of just 146.
Then Symcox opened the bowling with a spell of 9-3-5-8-3, and Shaun Pollock took 5/37 to bowl them out for 92. Weird stuff happens in Pakistan Test cricket.
If the men can’t “find a way” in Lahore, then at least we had the stunning joy of the women doing exactly that in their World Cup match against Bangladesh in Visakhapatnam on Monday. It was yet another, utterly compelling performance in the closing overs after considerable stumbles.
Following a clear plan to a designated total, Bangladesh posted 232/6 to give their battery of spinners something significant to defend. They backed their strengths. When the Proteas crashed to 78/5, their strategy looked set to pay rich dividends with a semifinal place beckoning.
The imperious Marizanne Kapp (56) looked grimly determined to rectify the situation, but it was left to Chloe Tryon (62) and Nadine de Klerk (37* from 29 balls) to finish the job with just three balls and three wickets to spare. It was utterly inspiring.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.