1st Test - Pakistan v S.Africa - Abu Dhabi

Baking heat, road of a pitch ..  (not as humid as Sharjah, but, still pretty hot).

Expecting draw to trade v low, and have backed at all prices, down from 3.4


Pre Toss :

Pak 5.5

S.Africa  2.3

Draw 2.58

...

Pitch looks browner than, the last time (when they played to 2 draws), and SA have won a v good toss, and bat.

(Misbah lost 8th consecutive toss .. world record, held by Sunil Gavasker - 9)

Pak have 2 spinners, who, will be a bit of a luxury now.

Pak 7.0

SA 2.16

Draw 2.48

Run line - 380 or so, which looks low to me .. am long runs.

///

Petersen ,, who I am not a fan of, goes early ..

SA 6-1  .. but, prices don't move a huge amount.

SA 14-1 after 5 .. Amla and Smith at crease

Pak 7.0

SA 2.30

Draw 2.38

...

Smith goes - 19-2 ..

Pak 5.0

SA 2.4

Draw 2.58


SA 28-2 after 10

Pak 5.7

SA 2.3

Draw 2.58

Drinks - 40-2

Pak 5.8

SA 2.32

Draw 2.48 ..

Once shine goes, and heat gets to bowlers, draw shud go much shorter .. with draw for now ..


Wkt - which, I didnt really see coming,as ball was seeming slower off the pitch .. Kallis goes

SA 43-3

Pak 4.0

SA 2.48

Draw 2.9


Lunch 66-3

Pak 4.2

SA 2.34

Draw 2.94

Am with draw, against SA .. but, long SA runs .. so, its tricky.


78-3 after lunch, and batting already seems a little easier.

Pak 4.8

SA 2.26

Draw 2.82

Good 50 for Hashim Amla .. 89-3

Pak 6.0

SA 2.14

Draw 2.66

Still with draw ..

Wkt - stumping .. but, just poor batting.

AB Dev 19 from 76  .. SA 104-4

Pak 4.0

SA 2.32

Draw 3.05


SA 129-4   .. Amla 63 from 119 so far

Pak 4.6

SA  2.18

Draw 3.00

I make draw, consistently, much lower  .. and am still with draw ..

Tea --  152-4

Pak 6.0

SA 2.08

Draw 2.82


after Tea, SA pick up scoring pace, a bit ..

SA 174-4

Pak 8

SA 2.02

Draw 2.62

Irfan goes off .. maybe cramp .. maybe injury .. heat doesnt help etc..


SA move on .. not the fastest .. 196-4 after 69

Pak 9.2

SA 1.92

Draw 2.66

Wkt - Duminy goes


SA 201-5

Pak 6.8

SA 2.02

Draw 2.78


Wkt - SA 206-6

Pak 4.1

SA 2.2

Draw 3.3


Wkt - SA 217-7


Pak 3.00

SA 2.24

Draw 4.6


Wkt - SA 222-8  .. and this is going pear shaped ..

Pak 2.98

SA 2.2

Draw 5.3


Run lines look sick,as do draw backs .. looking for a bridge ..

SA 245-8 .. 88 overs in

Pak 3.45

SA 2.08

Draw 4.3


End of a fascinating days play .. SA 245-8  .. Amla still unbeaten, on 118.

Pak 3.5

SA 2.08

Draw 4.3


Pak bowled great, and SA looked rusty/careless at times. Book looks sick, from where it was this morning .. should have stayed in bed .. but, have some hope ..