DUBAI - For now, it remains a contest that resembles a bowl-off between two aggressive attacks feasting on two limp line-ups. In a game ruled by batsmen, that's not necessarily a bad thing, although Pakistan and South Africa would prefer to score more runs in the second ODI (today).
Graeme Smith's return has added some stability but South Africa's middle order is still shaky. Technique, although something that cannot be altered overnight, in the UAE conditions and against a crafty spin attack is still being exposed even as the bowlers continue to save the team blushes. Pakistan are in the same state. Their bowling attack is capable of putting the team in positions of advantage that their batsmen continually squander.
A disgruntled Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq Thursday urged his team to move on after gifting a one-run win to South Africa and called on his batsmen to rectify their mistakes. Pakistan snatched the proverbial "defeat from the jaws of a win" in the first of five one-day internationals in Sharjah on Wednesday.
Misbah said Friday's second game in Dubai was alltogether a different prospect. "If we keep recalling about what happened in the last match it will be difficult. We must forget that and all our players should play the next match as a new game," said Misbah.
Misbah said he was disappointed at his batsmen's failures. "The last six batsmen should have batted, knowing how many runs were needed to score. It is very disappointing that they played very irresponsible shots," he said "I think it is high time players understand how to play under such situations," added Misbah, whose dismissal for 31 in the 36th over proved to be the turning point.
"I think we could say that my dismissal and then those of Amin and Umar were crucial and after that Afridi was left alone and we wanted him to stay there till the end," said Misbah. Misbah urged his batsmen to learn from Parnell and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (16 not out) who added an invaluable 52 runs for South Africa's ninth wicket. "Our batsmen should also rise to the challenge in such situations," said Misbah. "We just needed two runs an over and one and half runs per over and I don't know what was going through the batsmen's mind, maybe, they over-relaxed a little bit."
South African captain AB de Villiers said his team never lost hope. "South Africans always believe we can turn things around. When you get a sniff you have drive it home," said De Villiers, who praised leg-spinner Imran tahir for his return of 3-45. "Immi (Tahir) was fantastic. Have to also give credit to Tsotsobe for his two wickets. Immi followed him and did his magic."
De Villiers said South Africa's poor batting display was unfathomable. "I cannot find the reason, sometimes we get low scores and sometimes we play well but I won't stop believing we will play every match and every game like we always do," said De Villiers whose team recovered from 129-8 to post 183 in Sharjah. "I believe we will get there and keep working on it. It is a funny old game and we have seen this before and things can turn around very quickly."
A few Pakistan fans joked that because Afridi had a sensational showing with the ball in the first match, he could be relied on to taper off for the rest of the series. It's a theory he will want to prove wrong. Afridi did not take a single wicket against South Africa earlier this year and has not made a significant contribution with the bat since his innings of 76 against West Indies in July. He will search for some consistency as Pakistan hope to come back in the series.
After their middle order crumbled, Pakistan may consider shuffling personnel. Asad Shafiq and uncapped Sohaib Maqsood will put pressure on Umar Amin for his place but the more pressing concerns are in the wicket-keeping department. AB de Villiers has admitted that Pakistan's tail starts with Umar Akmal, and the hosts may consider replacing Akmal with Sarfraz Ahmed. An attack that dismissed the opposition for under 200 needs little tinkering with, but Abdur Rehman is on hand should Pakistan opt for another spinner.
Colin Ingram is leading the run charts in South Africa's domestic one-day competition but, with three ducks in his last three ODIs, his form isn't extending to the international stage. Hashim Amla is still waiting for the birth of his second child so South Africa may have no option but to bring Quinton de Kock in, although they may leave the glovework to de Villiers. Tahir's impressive showing in Sharjah is likely to keep Robin Peterson out again and Vernon Philander will also have to await his turn.
SQUADS:
PAKISTAN: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, M Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Umar Amin, Asad Shafiq, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, M Irfan
SOUTH AFRICA: Graeme Smith, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (capt & wk), David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Imran Tahir. Collin Ingram.