Pakistan all out for 49 against South Africa

February 3, 2013

pakJohannesburg, Feb 3: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn took six for eight as Pakistan collapsed to their lowest test total of 49 on the second day of the first test at the Wanderers on Saturday.

Pakistan's previous lowest innings total was 53 against Australia in Sharjah in 2002.

Steyn, the world's leading paceman, recorded his best test figures at home against a Pakistan batting lineup who were unable to cope with the pace and bounce of a lively Wanderers' pitch.

South Africa were dismissed for 253 after winning the toss and electing to bat with Pakistan off-spinner Mohammed Hafeez capturing a career-best four for 16.

Steyn dismissed Hafeez in his first over of the day when the opener got a faint edge which went straight through to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers after failing to add to his overnight total of six.

Debutant Nasir Jamshed survived a television referral from Vernon Philander when the bowler was convinced he had him lbw, only for the replay to confirm the ball was going over the top.

Two balls later, Steyn swung the ball into Jamshed (2) and trapping him in front. The batsman challenged umpire Billy Bowden's decision, but this time Hawk-eye had the ball crashing into the leg stump.

Veteran Younus Khan lasted just five balls before he pushed forward to a full Steyn delivery and edged to Graeme Smith at first slip without scoring.

Forty-two dots ball in a row followed Younus's dismissal as Azhar Ali and captain Misbah-ul-Haq tried simply to survive the South African onslaught.

They managed to tentatively push the score on to 36 before Ali (13) received a vicious bouncer from Kallis that was headed for his throat. He tried to get his bat in the way, but could only fend the ball to De Villiers behind the stumps.

Misbah (12) became Kallis' second victim in controversial circumstances after Bowden gave a caught behind decision not out and South Africa reviewed.

There appeared to be no evidence of a nick on the hot spot replay but third umpire Steve Davis from Australia chose to overturn the decision.

The session got worse for Pakistan when Asad Shafiq (1) chased a wide delivery from Philander and succeeded only in edging to de Villiers for his fourth catch of the innings.

Two balls later and a reckless Umar Gul (0) flayed at another wide delivery, the edge providing Graeme Smith with a comfortable catch in the slips.

Saeed Ajmal lasted just two balls after lunch before he became Steyn's fourth victim. The thick edge was flying to first slip but de Villiers produced a diving effort to take the catch.

Steyn picked up his fifth wicket when he induced an edge from Sarfraz Ahmed that was much simpler for de Villiers, who equaled the South African record for most wicketkeeper dismissals in a test innings held jointly by Mark Boucher and Dennis Lindsay

The innings was completed when Rahat Ali edged to Faf du Plessis in the slips and was out for a duck. Steyn was once again the wicket taker.

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News Network
May 26,2020

Mumbai, May 26: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said that if he was playing currently he and Virat Kohli would have been the best of friends off the field, but real enemies whenever they stepped on the field.

Akhtar also said that he would have liked to challenge Kohli to drive the ball.

"Virat Kohli and I would have been the best of friends as both of us are Punjabi, but on the field, we would have been the best of the enemies. I would have loved to get inside the head of Kohli. I would have told him that you cannot play a cut or pull shot against me," Akhtar told Sanjay Manjrekar in a videocast hosted by ESPNCricinfo.

"I would have gone wide of the crease and bowled a ball that would go away from him, I would have forced him to drive the ball as it is his favourite shot. So I would keep forcing him to play the drive shot at my pace," he added.

Akhtar also said that he wishes that Kohli could have played against some of the top bowlers in the game.

The Rawalpindi Express said that Kohli would have enjoyed the challenge of facing bowlers like Wasim Akram, Shane Warne, and Waqar Younis.

"I would also keep talking to him, because if I get him to lose his focus then that would have been great. The great thing about Kohli is that he gets more focused when he is challenged. But I believe Virat Kohli would have still scored the same amount of runs if I was playing," Akhtar said.

"I really wish that he had played against Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shane Warne, and then Virat would have also enjoyed the challenge," he added.

Akhtar played 224 matches for Pakistan in international cricket and took 444 wickets across all formats.

Over the years, comparisons between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have been growing and many have picked the current Indian skipper to break the records set by Tendulkar.

Tendulkar called time on his career after registering 100 international centuries, while Kohli has 70 centuries across all formats.

Currently, Kohli is ranked at the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings while he is in second place in the Tests rankings.

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News Network
January 2,2020

New Delhi, Jan 2: Thrilled after getting to know about Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic's engagement, skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday called it a "pleasant surprise".

Extending his best wishes to the newly-engaged couple, Kohli posted a comment on Pandya's Instagram post which read, "Congratulations H. What a pleasant surprise. Wish you guys great times ahead. God bless".

On the first day of the New Year 2020, Pandya announced his engagement with Serbian actor Natasa Stankovic.

The cricketer took to Instagram to share the photo with the actor and captioned the post: "Mai tera, Tu meri jaane, saara Hindustan. 01.01.2020 #engaged".

The couple got engaged in Dubai and were seen taking a ferry ride along with close friends.

On the work front, Stankovic was last seen in a song from the Bollywood movie The Body starring Emraan Hashmi and Rishi Kapoor. She had also made it to the finals of the TV show Nach Baliye with her ex-boyfriend Aly Goni.

Stankovic first became a household name after appearing as a contestant on famous reality show Bigg Boss 8.

In 2019, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had confirmed that Pandya had had lower-back surgery in London.

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News Network
February 9,2020

New Delhi, Feb 9: The Indian Fed Cup team will travel to Dubai for this year's competition as the ITF has named the desert city as the new venue for the matches, to be held from March 3 to 7.

The ITF named the new venue after moving out the matches from then Chinese city of Dongguan due to Coronoavirus threat. The Asia/Oceania Group I matches were originally scheduled to be played from February 4-8.

"The event will be held in the week following the ATP Dubai tournament at the same venue, and will see six nations China P.R., Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Korea Rep. and Uzbekistan - compete for a place in the Fed Cup Play-offs in April," an ITF release said.

The six teams will vie for two spots in Fed Cup Play-offs.

"Being in Dubai makes no difference. But the dates give enough time to Sania for her recovery. Doubles is an important point. Ankita is playing well. The other team members will also get some tournament to play under their belt," India's Fed Cup captain Vishal Uppal told news agency.

Sania's participation was under doubt due to a calf injury she aggravated during the Australian Open, where she pulled out of the mixed doubles before retiring mid-way into her women's doubles opening round match.

"I think we have a good chance but we will have to be at our best and fight hard for every point, every game, every set, every match," Uppal added.

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