Date-stamped : 25 Oct97 - 06:26 Day 1- Dawn Pakistan squander advantage, allow S. Africa to recover By Ilyas Beg FAISALABAD, Oct 24: South Africa snatched back the advantage by claiming both the Pakistani openers Captain Saeed Anwar (3) and Ali Naqvi (11) for 41 runs in first innings of the third and last cricket Test at the Iqbal Stadium on Friday after being bundled out for only 239 runs despite a valiant century by Gary Kirsten (exactly 100), who carried his bat. On the first day of the all-important Test, the result of which hinges the outcome of the series as both the first two Tests at Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura had been marred by rains, all the good work done by the Pakistani bowlers was wasted by early dismissal of the Pakistani openers. Had one-down batsman Ejaz Ahmad Senior (15) and Number 4 batsman Inzimam-ul-Haq (12) not batted responsibly to take the Pakistani total from a perilous 18 for two to 41 without being separated, the Pakistani side would have been in dire straits. Pakistan team still needs 198 runs to over-haul the South African total and has eight wickets intact. there is no "demon" in the pitch which is slow and turning. But also helped the world-class pacemen like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and later in the day, the incomparable Alan Donald and Shaun Pollock. The way Mushtaq Ahmad bowled on this pitch from far end to deceive the middle-order South African batsmen, Shaun Pollock (5), Dave Richardson (8) and Lance Kluesener (18) in-a-row, it indicated that a good spinner will not allow batsmen to score runs easily as with the passage of time it is bound to take more and more turn. However, the strong Pakistani batting line-up, provided the players do not play irresponsibly, has the capacity to put up a good total and put pressure on the visiting side and go for a win. Surprisingly, Captain Saeed Anwar did not bring on a useful left-arm spinner like aamir Sohail to break the stubborn eight wicket partnership of the South African side, which added 124 highly precious runs and lifted the total from a disappointing 98 for seven to somewhat respectable 222 for eight. The way Gary Kirsten played the role of a sheet-anchor and Pat Symcox, batting at number 9, scored a swashbuckling knock of 81 on 94 balls in only 124 minutes which had two huge sixes and 10 boundaries, left a lesson for others to fight back against all odds. The way opener Gary Kirsten put his head down while wickets kept tumbling at the other end, showed his class and calibre. More amusing is the fact that he never hesitated to go for his shots on loose deliveries. Kirsten hit 15 exquisitely-timed boundaries in his highly responsible, marathon knock of 100 which lasted 299 minutes. Kirsten coped with 208 deliveries, some of them real "thunderbolts" from both Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and some highly deceptive ones from the diminutive, experienced Pakistani right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad. His application, concentration and fighting spirit will never be forgotten by seven thousand cricket-lovers, who turned up to enjoy the first day's proceedings. Credit must also be given to tall and well-built Pat Symcox, who rode his luck and played daringly to pull the South African side out of woods when it was really struggling. Pakistan's pick of the bowlers was the experienced, world-class left-arm paceman Wasim Akram. He not only made early breakthrough in the South African innings by removing opener Adam Bacher (1) and Brian McMillan (2), having both caught brilliantly by substitute fielder Muhammad Waseem in the slips, but also came back from the other end to mop up the South African tail. Wasim gave away only 15 runs in his first spell of eight overs, which was a demonstration of controlled hostility, and claimed the first two wickets which fell. Adam Bacher edged an outswinger into hands of Muhammad Waseem, who had come to field in slip in place of aamir Sohail, slightly injured while diving to catch on a half-chance from the same batsman. Brain McMillan also made the same mistake and perished! South African side was struggling at 11 for two. But soon afterwards the speed-merchant Waqar Younis made further dents in the South African batting by claiming the prized wickets of luckless Daryll Cullanin (0) and Captain Hansie Cronje (9). Incidentally, both fell leg before wicket and both the decisions were awarded by the New Zealand umpire Steve Dunne, who was supervising the match from the far end. Cullanin missed the line of a delivery from Waqar which kept low and was out at the total of 12. Cronje fell to a full toss from Waqar as he also could not pick the line of the ball and umpire Dunne immediately raised his finger. The fourth wicket fell at the total of 30. The four dismissals were followed by a major spell from Mushtaq Ahmad which sent the South African side reeling. Shaun Pollock fell to a brilliant diving catch by Aamir Sohail who spilled the ball but held it on second attempt. Shaun had tried to cut a leg-break from Mushtaq Ahmad. The fifth wicket fell at 40. Dave Richardson played a lofted cover-drive and Saqlain Mushtaq held a beautiful catch off the delivery of Mushtaq Ahmed at the total of 64. Lance Kluesener was well caught by Ejaz Ahmad at close position while attempting a defensive prod off a Mushtaq Ahmad leg- break. The seventh wicket fell at 98 and everything seemed to have been lost for South Africa. However, Pat Symcox and Gary Kirsten had other ideas. Symcox played two deliveries before the tea interval. After the tea interval, both Symcox and Kirsten played in contrasting styles but survived. Symcox lofted Mushtaq Ahmad over long-off to hit first six of the day. Symcox rode his luck as a delivery from Mushtaq Ahmad went through the off and middle stump without dislodging his bails and he was not out. Symcox's second six was also over long-off boundary off the frighted delivery of Mushtaq. The productive 8th wicket stand was finally broken by Wasim Akram as he started operating from the other end. Wasim Akram's inswinger uprooted Symcox's off-stump. The 8th wicket partnership yielded 124 runs of 61.5 overs and consumed 124 minutes. At that stage, Kirsten was batting at 85. Alan Donald was the ninth batsman out at the total of 230. He tried to fend a rising ball from Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmad held a fine catch. It goes to the credit of Paul Adams that he survived anxious moments and helped Kirsten complete his well-deserved century. Paul Adams was deceived by Azhar Mahmood's fell-length ball and Mian Muhammad Aslam declared him leg before wicket. Earlier, the umpire had turned down all appeals from the Pakistani fielders, some of them very forceful ones. The South African innings folded at 239. Azhar Mahmood thus claimed his only wicket for 36 runs. Wasim Akram was the most successful Pakistani bowler. Captain Saeed Anwar used him judiciously and he produced results. Wasim Akram took four wickets for 42 runs. Mushtaq Ahmad gave away 81 runs for his three scalps while Waqar Younis two wickets cost him 36 runs. Source:: Dawn (http://dawn.com/) Day 1 - Electronic Telegraph Kirsten grateful for 'missed' run By Peter Deeley in Faisalabad ERRORS are as much a way of life in this series between South Africa and Pakistan as upset stomachs. Well could South African century-maker Gary Kirsten describe day one of this third and final Test as "crazy". We saw a ball pass through the stumps without bowling veteran off-spinner Pat Symcox. Then there was an awful muddle over whether Kirsten had reached his hundred - resolved in his favour, one suspects, by some judicious juggling. These two dominated South Africa's innings and the fightback from a gruesome lunchtime 99 for seven. They batted throughout the afternoon, adding 124 runs in even time to take the tourists to 239 on a tricky pitch. At the end Pakistan lost both openers in reaching 41. Kirsten carried his bat through the five-hour innings, the fifth South African to do so and the first on foreign soil. He encountered none of the problems his partners endured against the swinging ball, with Wasim Akram, after all his shoulder troubles, taking four for 42. Hansie Cronje plumped for batting after winning the toss, then saw four wickets fall to the new ball. Wasim took the first two, the edge each time carrying to third slip, and Waqar Younis took a brace of leg-befores. Then Mushtaq Ahmed collected three more before lunch. The second session belonged to South Africa as the pitch eased and the ball softened. The veteran Symcox attacked with relish, hitting two sixes, and outpaced his senior partner. Symcox must have realised the force was with him when, on 56, he played inside Mushtaq. The ball went between off and middle stumps, nudging them on the way. They parted, then came back into place without disturbing the bail. A grinning Symcox, a wistful Mushtaq and the rest gathered round the offending set and it transpired that the bail was not properly cut, allowing it to stay in place as the stumps moved. Both sets were later replaced. If that was perplexing, Kirsten's extra run was in the classic mystery mould. Symcox was eventually bowled for his Test highest score of 81, only his second fifty, and Kirsten was left - so we thought - on 91 when last man Paul Adams joined him. The scoreboard registered his century, brought up with a single, and the player rightly rejoiced in a quality innings. Adams was out next ball and then it was discovered that two sets of scorers had the opener on 99. Kirsten said: "I heard there were some doubts when I got back to the dressing room. It is official, isn't it?" The official scorer put his seal of approval on the innings, saying a leg bye had been missed somewhere. There were some nods and winks, but it stands. Pakistan have now received an official complaint from South Africa about the home bowlers practising on the Test pitch the evening before the game started. A copy has also been sent to the International Cricket Council. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Day 2 Report- Dawn Pakistan snatch lead after a poor start By Ilyas Beg FAISALABAD, Oct. 25: Pakistan tightened grip over the match by not only taking 69 runs vital lead in the first innings but also claiming two South Africa wickets in the second knock on second day of the third and last cricket Test at the Iqbal Stadium on Saturday. The umpires finished the game three overs before scheduled close of play and at that time the South African side was still 48 runs in arrears and had eight wickets in hand. Both the openers Gary Kirsten (4) and Adam Bacher (14) were back in the pavilion. On third morning of the Test on Sunday, Brian McMillan (2) and nightwatchman McMillan (0) will resume the South African second innings. Kirsten had the distinction of carrying the bat in the first innings with a century. He edged an outswinger from paceman Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmad held a good catch at chest height in the first slip before tumbling. The first wicket fell at the total of 16. Mushtaq Ahmad sent back Adam Bacher to the pavilion by claiming him leg before wicket at the total of 21. The opener went on his front-foot, was beaten by the straightish delivery and umpire Steve Dunne declared him out. The Pakistan team is in a position to force a win in this match; Clouds made the visibility poor in the afternoon but they were not threatening. A good crowd of around four thousand enjoyed excellent stroke-play of the Pakistani tailenders which helped in giving team much-needed lead of 69 runs. batting at number nine, Aamir Sohail, despite a bruised little finger of his left hand, played an attractive knock of 38. Alan Donald held a fine catch at mid-on at Aamir went for an uppish drive off Shaun Pollock. He stayed at the crease for 99 minutes, played 76 balls and hit five well-timed fours. He was the ninth batsman out. Waqar Younis contributed brisk 34 runs, studied with four boundaries and one six. He played 42 balls during his stay of 59 at the wicket. Waqar played one-handed shot off Donald and was caught by Cronje at mid-on. The Pakistani first innings finished 62 minutes after the tea interval at the total of 308 in 89.4 overs. Earlier, Saqlain Mushtaq had been the eighth man out at the total of 246. Saqlain was caught at silly mid-on by Adam Bacher off Paul Adam's delivery. The Pakistani tail wagged. Aamir Sohail and Waqar added invaluable 58 runs for the ninth wicket partnership to put the visiting team under tremendous pressure. These runs may prove very costly to the visitors. Served brilliantly by a sixth wicket partnership of 144 between Inzamam-ul-Haq and wicketkeeper/batsman Moin Khan in 134 minutes off 200 deliveries, the Pakistan team reached a respectable total of 224 for six a little before the tea interval.Their fine knocks helped the team overhaul the South African first innings total of 239 in the first innings. At the tea break, the Pakistan team scored 244 for seven in 74 overs. Captain Hansie Cronje used seven bowlers, including himself, and finally succeeded in not only breaking the flourishing stand by picking the prize wicket of Inzamam-ul-Haq but also sent Moin Khan back to pavilion to lesson Pakistan's chances of a big lead in the first innings. At his personal score of 96. Inzamam-ul-Haq became too cautious and did not take the risk of stealing cheaky singles. At a delivery from Hansie Cronje, which moved away, Inzamam lunged forward and snicked the ball but McMillan dived to his right to hold a brilliant catch to deprive Inzamam off his well-deserved century. The crestfallen Inzamam slowly walked out of the field very dejectedly. Inzamam stayed at the crease for 225 minutes, faced 167 balls and hit a big six and 15 artistically-timed boundaries in his brave knock which pulled Pakistan team out of deep trouble. On Friday afternoon when Inzamam had walked to the crease, Pakistan team had been struggling at 18 for two. Inzamam's was a knock of a team-man, who thrashed all the bowlers and was not at all over-awed by the south Africans at any stage of the game. Inzamam hit Pat Symcox over long-on boundary for a huge six. He cut, drove, pulled and swept with the mastery of a majestic batsman. Inzamam was sixth batsman out at the total of 224. Moin Khan was also unlucky to miss his century and his was an equally important knock for Pakistan, which helped in pulling the team out of a disappointing situation. moin Khan could not last long after the dismissal of Inzimam. The experienced Moin Khan played on a delivery from Cronje after hitting a swashbuckling knock of 80 in trying circumstances. moin stayed at the crease for 155 minute, played 123 deliveries and hit 12 elegant boundaries and two big sixes. In Symcox's one over, Moin played fine pull shots over mid-wicket fence to get two sixes. The strokes were executed on third and sixth balls of second over of Symcox. Moin Khan fell at the total of 229. The sixth wicket partnership boosted the sagging morale of the Pakistan team. Earlier, in the morning, before a handful lovers of cricket, the Pakistan team resumed its first innings in disastrous circumstances. Ejaz Ahmad Senior could add only one more run to his overnight score of 15 before falling to the left-arm spinner Paul Adams. He played half-cock on chinaman of Adam and umpire Steve Dunne declared him leg before wicket as Ejaz failed to connect. The third Pakistani wicket fell at the total of 42. Azhar Mahmood tried his best to lift the Pakistan first innings out of doldrums but could not do that. However, he did not hesitate to go for his strokes at any stage of his knock of 19. Azhar Mahmood hit two fours in his stay of 46 minutes at the crease in which he played 40 balls. In Paul Adam's sixth over, Azhar hit him over long-off boundary for the first six of the day. Although the Pakistani team was struggling yet both Azhar Mahmood and Inzamam batted boldly. Captain Hansie Cronje brought on Lance Kluesener from the far end in place of Paul Adams and the pace-bowler met with immediate success. On last ball of Kluesener's first over, which was an inswinger, Azhar Mahmood missed the line completely and got his off-stump uprooted. The Pakistan team lost its fourth wicket at the total of 74. Apprehensions were that the Pakistan team's first innings will fold soon because Aamir Sohail had injured little finger of his left hand and was demoted in the batting order. Wasim Akram played only four deliveries in his brief stay of seven minutes in which he could score two runs. Wasim Akram edged an outswinger from Kluesener into the safe hands of wicketkeeper Dave Richardson. The fifth wicket fell at the total of 80. Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan started to repair the Pakistan innings in a brave manner and took the Pakistan team's total to 136 without being separated at lunch break . At that stage, Inzamam was batting at 59 and Moin at 36. Both batted merrily and took the total to 224 before Cronje broke the partnership. Source:: Dawn (http://dawn.com/) Day 2 Report -Electronic Telegraph McMillan catches more positive mood by Peter Deeley in Faisalabad BRIAN McMILLAN has been South Africa's leading and only real all-rounder since the country got back into the international game six years ago. But like many cricketers before him from the western world, Big Mac, as this big-hearted, likeable personality is known, has a weak spot: the subcontinent. He has openly indicated that he does not enjoy touring in this part of the world. Statistics can lie but here they vividly portray the two sides to the man. His batting average in 26 Tests elsewhere is almost 50: in eight games in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka he has amassed 88 runs at an average of eight. In the three Tests in the present series, McMillan has failed to take a wicket and scored only 18. That includes his two not out yesterday on the second day of the final meeting here when the tourists finished 21 for two in their second innings, still 48 runs behind. His captain, Hansie Cronje, said McMillan had to "get his head together". The omens have not been good but in one flash yesterday we saw again the McMillan who has set alight South African crowds. Not with the bat or the ball - but still a moment that pulled South Africa back into a game threatening to run away from them. Facing a total of 239 on a sometimes difficult pitch, Pakistan collapsed to 80 for five before Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan pulled them round with a hard-hitting sixth-wicket stand of 144. Inzamam was on 96 when Cronje brought himself on as a last throw of the dice. He bowled a delivery down the leg side to Inzamam which took the leading edge and flew across the slips. McMillan, moving his bulk with incredible agility, reacted as few fielders could and flung himself into its trajectory, hanging on for dear life. Cronje then had Moin slogging at a wide ball and playing on for 80, but Aamir Sohail, with a damaged left hand, and Waqar Younis punished the new ball for 34 runs in nine overs. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Day 3 Report- Dawn Pakistan poised for first win over South Africa By Ilyas Beg FAISALABAD, Oct 26: Pakistan ended third day of the third and last cricket Test against south Africa in a commanding position, needing only 142 runs to force a win in the second innings with all the ten wickets intact. A spirited bowling by the Pakistanis gave no respite to the South African batsmen, who were all out for 214 runs in 69 overs, consuming 304 minutes. Pakistan earned 69 runs lead in the first innings by restricting the visitors to 239 score and thereafter hitting up a respectable total of 308. When umpires stopped play due to bad light at 4-35 p.m, Pakistan had scored four runs through an excellent on-drive by opener Ali Naqvi off Paul Adams. Pakistan played only three overs. Ali Naqvi at four and the other opener Aamir Sohail, who started the proceedings for Pakistan in place of our-of-form Captain Saeed Anwar, will resume the Pakistan second knock on fourth morning of the Test on Monday. Light rain during Saturday night and spraying on Sunday morning delayed the start of the third day's play by 50 minutes. Another 75 minutes' game was lost due to bad light in the afternoon and 25 overs could not be bowled. At 4:50 p.m., sun came out of the clouds and was shining brightly but umpires Steve Dunne (New Zealand) Mian Muhammad Aslam (Pakistan), despite remaining in the ground for better part of the remaining time, did not order resumption of play thinking that light was not good enough. in remaining two days' time, to hit off the required 142 runs for a win of this Test and with that the series should not be a problem for the Pakistan team, which consists of experienced campaigners and some talented youngsters, provided the clouds hovering over the skies of Faisalabad do not become "unkind" and burst out or the Pakistanis crash to some unpardonable, rash stroke-play! The South Africans resumed their second innings at 21 for two on the third morning of the match and fought as well as they could but had no answer to immaculate bowling of the Pakistanis, well backed up by good fielding and catching. The Pakistan team looks fired up to clinch this Test and series, having lost earlier two opportunities at Sheikhupura and Rawalpindi due to unkind rains. had the burly South African all-rounder Pat Symcox, who came to bat at number four as a nightwatchman on the dismissal of Adam Bacher on Saturday afternoon, not batted daringly and contributed 55 precious runs in 171 minutes off 120 balls with the help of one six straight into the sightscreen in Mushtaq Ahmad's 14th over, besides seven excellent boundaries, the South African side would have been bundled out for a very poor total. Symcox added 43 invaluable runs for the fifth wicket partnership in 73 minutes on 98 balls along with Captain Hansie Cronje and both were involved in the most productive stand of the day. Some useful knocks by Cronje (21 in 79 minutes), Shaun Pollock (21 not out in 94 minutes Brian McMillan (21 in 69 minutes) and finally by Lance Kluesener (38 with the help of two big sixes and two fours in 44 minutes) proved only a flash in the pan! All of them failed to lift the sagging morale of the South African side, whose wickets kept on falling at regular intervals throughout the day. Perhaps experience of less Test cricket have not brought enough maturity into the South African batting which has built up a reputation of being a worth-watching side in the limited-over one-day internationals but has not been able to prove be a good enough Test side. All that should not detract from a highly professional show of the Pakistani team in this Test, which has not only batted and bowled better, as expected, but surprisingly, has also proved equal to the South African side in catching. To bad luck of the visitors, at present Pakistan has one of the best pace-cum-spin attacks in the world today. When the Pakistani bowlers get their rhythm, they destroy the best batting line-ups. The diminutive right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad brought his rich experience of Test cricket to good use to make dents into the South African batting. He sent down six maiden overs out of his total 22 and claimed four precious wickets of Adam Bacher (14), Brian McMillan (21), Daryll Cullanin (15) and Paul Adams (0), conceding 57 runs. Mushtaq Ahmad had claimed three scalps for 81 in as many overs in the first innings and has now staked his claim for the "Man-of-the-Match" award along with some other Pakistani contenders, besides Pat Symcox and Gary Kirsten of South Africa. The South African side batted very cautiously in the morning session on Sunday and added 58 runs, losing only the wicket of "big bird" Brian McMillan. Incidentally, the tall all rounder also fell to Mushtaq Ahmad at the total of 63, after contributing 21 runs with the help of two boundaries. McMillan snicked Mushtaq's leg-break straight into the hands of eagerly waiting wicketkeeper Moin Khan, who made no mistake! At lunch, South Africans were 79 for three and struggling for runs. The second session between the luncheon and tea intervals proved the most disastrous for the South African side which lost five batsmen with the addition of 108 runs. Most of the batsmen fell making an effort to hit the team out of trouble although they had two-and-a-half day play left and should not have been in a hurry! The luckless Daryll Cullanin, who is perhaps technically the most qualified to play the role of a sheet-anchor amongst the visitors, started off well with two fluent boundaries but was the first casualty after luncheon interval. At the total of 97, Daryll stepped across on backfoot, to play Mushtaq Ahmad's leg-break, missed the line of the ball and fell leg before wicket. The 100 runs of the South African side were scored in 144 minutes. Symcox lofted Mushtaq got him at the total of 140. Symcox first went forward but then decided to play the sharply-turning off-break from Saqlain Mushtaq on the backfoot, was hit o the front-foot and umpire mian Muhammad Aslam raised his finger to declare him out. The dejected Symcox walked back after a heroic effort. Waqar Younis claimed Captain Hansie Cronje and Dave Richardson (0) on the first two deliveries of his 12th over to be on a hat-trick at the total of 140. Cronje deflected a fast delivery towards square-let and Azhar Mahmood dived forward, full length, to hold a brilliant catch. A strong crowd of around 9,000 was electrified by the dismissal. Among an uproar from the crowd, in came wicketkeeper Dave Richardson and went back to the pavilion. Richardson missed a straight ball from Waqar, was hit on the front-foot and umpire raised his finger to declare him leg-before-wicket. Waqar was on a hit-trick and Lance Kluesener survived another lethal delivery from the fast-bowler by flashing his bat amidst an uproar from the highly-charged crowd. Lance Kluesener continued to play in his flamboyant style and also hit two huge sixes over Saqlain Mushtaq's head on his deliveries before falling to the off-spinner. Saqlain had his revenge at the total of 187 as Kluesener missed on a wild cross-bat swing at the next delivery and Mian Aslam declared him leg before wicket. At tea interval, South Africans were in deep trouble, having lost eight wicket for 187. Waqar gave away 43 runs for his two scalps. End of the South African second innings was not very far now Alan Donald got a boundary off Mushtaq Ahmad edging his ball to thirdman boundary and later drove a ball past mid-on fence. Donald was Saqlain Mushtaq's third victim. The off-spinner had no success during the first innings. Saqlain shattered Donald's stumps at the total of 201. Poor Paul Adams survived 21 minutes before mistiming a delivery from Mushtaq Ahmad into the hands of the bowler, who accepted the catch near the cover position on his follow-through. With that folded the South African innings at 214. Shaun Pollock remained not out at 21. Saqlain mushtaq gave away 36 runs in his 15 overs, out of which six were maiden and claimed three wickets. He helped in mopping up the tail. Wasim akram was the most successful bowler of the first innings but he could get only one wicket in second innings, that too on Saturday, conceding 46 runs. Source:: Dawn (http://dawn.com/) Day 3 report from the Electronic Telegraph Light decisions anger S Africa By Peter Deeley in Faisalabad PAKISTAN need only another 142 runs with all their second-innings wickets intact to win the final Test here and take the series, after a day which left the South Africans fuming at what they saw as umpiring inconsistencies. By four o'clock in this textile city the light has been as poor as an English November afternoon. Yet on Saturday the Pakistan bowlers were allowed to continue and dismissed both openers, leaving the tourists already vulnerable. When South Africa were bowled out yesterday, with Mushtaq Ahmed completing a seven-wicket match haul, the umpires went to the visitors' dressing room and told captain Hansie Cronje they would not restart because of the light. The umpires relented when Cronje said he would open with his spinners, but play was still terminated after three overs. South Africa coach Bob Woolmer said: "We are very disappointed at the inconsistencies in rulings over the last two days. "Our only chance of winning this game was to grab some quick wickets. The conditions were in our favour, but we couldn't make full use of them." South Africa feel irked - as do many touring sides to this part of the world, England included - that the dice are unduly loaded against them. But the tourists must accept that in sum they have been out-gunned by the quality and variety of one of the premier attacks in the world. Both Mushtaq and Saqlain Mushtaq have made the ball fizz on a wearing pitch and Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis fired when needed. Pakistan captain Saeed Anwar conceded he would not want a target of much more than 200 batting last, and the series possibly turned on five minutes of play just before tea when the sixth-wicket partership of Cronje and Pat Symcox was rescuing their side. Symcox, whose batting here has been a revelation, had reached his second fifty of the game when he misjudged Saqlain's turn. He was one of five lbw victims in the innings, another factor to annoy the South Africans. Sensing the kill, Waqar moved up a gear and dismissed Cronje and Dave Richardson with successive deliveries. Though Lance Klusener hit out with 38 off 36 balls, including two sixes, he was out last ball before tea - and the breach was then probably irreparable. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Day 4 Report - Electronic Telegraph S Africans defy odds to surprise Pakistan By Peter Deeley in Faisalabad IN TERMS of plucking Test victories out of the blue this 53-run win by South Africa in Faisalabad yesterday, clinching the Pakistan series 1-0, must rank up there with the most unexpected. The South Africans had largely written off their chances on Sunday night when Pakistan wanted another 142 runs. Instead, electrifying fast bowling by Shaun Pollock for five wickets and old-fashioned spin cunning by Pat Symcox flattened the home side. In 157 minutes Pakistan were dismissed for 92 runs, only two batsmen reaching double figures. Pollock took four wickets in seven balls at the outset, Symcox three in 14 at the end. South Africa's captain Hanise Cronje admitted that Symcox had been almost alone in believing victory was still possible. "He kept reminding us of the miracle of Sydney '94," he said, referring to South Africa's five-run victory over Australia. For Cronje this even out-ranked Sydney. "It gave us the series, not just a match; the margin was finally decisive and success doesn't come easily here." At home it was only Pakistan's 11th Test defeat in 40 years and the third time in 17 years they have gone down in a series. Their captain, Saeed Anwar, said they had batted poorly on a difficult pitch, his own form had been miserable and he was uncertain about carrying on. South Africa measure their achievement in both moral and monetary terms. They can claim to be number one challengers for Australia's unofficial world crown. The din from a full-house holiday crowd of 10,000 set the tone for a tense day, and how they loved it when Adam Bacher at square-leg put down Aamir Sohail in the third over. Bacher redeemed himself in the following over when Sohail went to cut Allan Donald and the ball came off the toe of the bat. Sohail, batting with a split finger, had been sent in first, his captain's reasoning being that "he might see the new ball off and, with my form, make it easier for me to follow". Now Anwar was in at the deep end and Pollock immediately had him caught flashing outside off-stump. Next ball Ijaz Ahmed was leg before trying to turn off his pads. Ali Naqvi paid the penalty for one too many loose shots, caught at first slip, and Pakistan were already 31 for five when Inzamam, without foot movement, edged to second slip. Moin Khan and Azhar Mahmood inched the score to 68 as the fast bowlers rested. Then Azhar gloved Lance Klusener down legside to give Dave Richardson his 141st Test dismissal, equalling the South African wicketkeeping record. Pakistan subsided tamely once Wasim Akram skied Symcox against the spin to deep mid-on, where an eternity must have passed for Gary Kirsten before the catch fell to hand. Pollock ripped out Waqar Younis's off-stump, and Moin, after two hours, was last out, caught off Symcox on the midwicket boundary. Symcox went down in a heap beneath his jubilant colleagues. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Historic win for S. Africa on Pakistan soil By Ilyas Beg FAISALABAD, Oct 27: In an appalling display of poor batsmanship, Pakistan team crashed to a dismal score of 92 in the second innings, 37 minutes after the lunch interval on fourth day to lose the third and last cricket Test to South Africa by 53 runs on Monday. With that South Africa also won the three-Test series 1-0. It was an abject surrender by the Pakistan side. Needing only 142 runs for a win in the last two days' play, the Pakistani batting never got going and the players continued to come to the crease, play rank, bad shots and get dismissed! Young right-arm paceman Shaun Pollock was the wrecker-in-chief of the Pakistan batting. He was richly rewarded with a haul of five wickets for 37 runs as he sent down 11 lethal overs. He swung the ball both ways and never allowed the Pakistani batsmen to settle down. Only exception being wicketkeeper Moin Khan, who fought all alone but could not avert the inevitable. Off-spinner Pat Symcox, who had batted very well in both the innings of this Test by scoring 81 and 55, respectively, mopped up the Pakistani tail. In his 9.3 overs, Pat Symcox claimed three wickets for eight runs and deservingly won "Man-of-the-Match" award. With only lastman Mushtaq Ahmad at the crease on other end, Moin Khan had a wild swing at the third delivery of Symcox's 10th over and was caught at mid-wicket boundary by Alan Donald. It was all over bar shouting. All the South African fielders ran to pick stumps, bails and other things as souvenirs of this historic win, hugged and embraced each other in absolute delight for registering a hard-earned win on Pakistani soil. A crowd of over ten thousand, which thronged the Iqbal Stadium to watch Pakistan team registering an easy win, saw in bewilderment a procession of seasoned Pakistani batsmen and was bitterly disappointed by this totally unexpected defeat. Many enthusiasts who roamed around the stadium to enter into it were lathi-charged by police." It was a planned and purposeful bowling by the South Africans, well backed by a spirited fielding which won them the day. Right from the first moment of the day, in bright sunshine with clouds totally disappearing, the South African side showed that it meant business. Moin Khan stayed at the crease for 112 minutes, faced 79 balls, played all the bowlers with confidence before being the last man out at his individual score of 32. Moin hit three fours. Only other batsman to reach double figures was Aamir Sohail, who contributed 14 runs with the help of two boundaries. He played 26 deliveries in his 27-minute stay at the crease. Four Pakistani batsmen Captain Saeed Anwar, Ejaz Ahmad, Saqlain Mushtaq and Waqar Younis were out for ducks. Aamir was the first casualty on Monday morning. From the Pakistani side, diminutive right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad was declared "Man-of-the-Series" while a similar honour from amongst the South Africans was claimed by opener Gary Kirsten. Alan Donald began South Africa's demolition at by having Aamir Sohail caught by Adam Bacher at point at the total of 23. Aamir Sohail unnecessarily touched a bouncer from Donald to lose his wicket. Two wickets fell with addition of only one run. Sadly out-of-form Captain Saeed Anwar survived 12 anxious moments, played 10 deliveries and was out without scoring. He edged an outswinger from Shaun into the hands of wicketkeeper Dave Richardson. On the very next ball, Ejaz Ahmad went on his backfoot, missed the line and was adjudged leg-before wicket by umpire Mian Muhammad Aslam. Shaun claimed his first and second wickets on the fourth and fifth deliveries of his fourth over at the total of 24. Ali Naqvi, after staying at the crease for 50 minutes and playing 34 balls, tried to drive an in swinger from Pollock, snicked it to be well caught by Daryll Cullinan in the first slip. Ali Naqvi hit one four in his score of six and was fourth Pakistani out at the total of 29. It was an unexpected collapse of Pakistani batting and the South Africans started sensing a victory. Inzimam-ul-Haq, having successfully averted the hat-trick of Shaun Pollock, fell soon after Ali Naqvi's dismissal. Inzimam chased an outswinger from Shaun Pollock and Brian McMillan dived in second slip to hold a brilliant catch. The fifth Pakistani wicket fell at 31. Inzimam scored five. Azhar Mahmood and Moin Khan defied the South African bowling for a while and when it seemed that they will pull Pakistan team out of crisis, the former also got out. At the total of 68, Azhar Mahmood (6 in 56 minutes on 34 balls), gloved Kluesener's delivery into the hands of wicketkeeper Dave Richardson. Wasim Akram walked on to the field amidst deafening cheers from the crowd. He along with Moin Khan took the Pakistani total to 79 for six at the luncheon interval. All eyes were focussed on Wasim Akram and Moin Khan for a miracle to be performed. However, when well set, Wasim Akram lost his cool and trying to hit Symcox out of the ground skied the ball at mid-on. On his mistimed drive, ball hung in the air for a while and Gary Kirsten ran under it to hold a simple catch. The seventh wicket fell for 85 and hopes of a win vanished in the air. Wasim stayed at the wicket for 36 minutes, played 34 balls and hit one boundary. Symcox's next victim was Saqlain Mushtaq, who is also having a bad patch these days. Saqlain offered a bat and pad catch to Adam Bacher at a close-in position. Saqlain struggled for 11 minutes and played 9 balls. Shaun Pollock claimed his fifth wicket by hitting Waqar Younis' off-stump with an excellent delivery. The ninth Pakistani wicket fell at the total of 88 with Waqar being out without scoring. Mushtaq's only scoring shot was a four when ball flew into thirdman boundary as he mistimed his cut. Seeing that he has run short of partners, Moin Khan decided to go for South African bowling. On his lofted pull off Symcox, Donald held the catch to send the Pakistan team reeling at 92 all out in 157 minutes on 37.3 overs. The Pakistan team's performance showed once again that it has the capability to rise to great heights but can also crash inexplicably. Well-wishers of Pakistani cricket were expecting an easy sailing of the team on Monday but the batting did not come off on a pitch which helped both the seamers and spinners. Good batsmen did hit good knocks whenever they tried to graft runs. Shaun Pollock got five for 37, Pat Symcox three for 8 and Alan Donald and Lance Kluesener one wicket each, for 14 and 13 runs, respectively. Source:: Dawn (http://dawn.com/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)