Junaid rips apart Lankan batting line on first day - first test at Abu Dhabi

Junaid rejoices a wicket with team mates [Photo AFP]

The first day of the first test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was treat to watch - the day saw Pakistan's Junaid ripping apart the Lankan batting line and at the end of the day he had bagged five wickets for 58 with four maiden overs.

Pakistan, winning the toss, elected to field. And Karunaratne was first to succumb to Junaid Khan at 38 when he was caught by Asad Shafiq. Thereafter it was Bhatti and Junaid sending the Lankan batsmen one by one. Herath was Junaid's last victim who went out for a duck.

The ruthless bowling of Junaid(5/58), Bhatti(3/65) and Ajmal(2/32) cost very dearly to the opposing camp at the entire team was back in the pavilion for mere 204 runs. Mathews was the only batsmen who stood on the crease until dislodged by Saeed Ajmal at 91. Other than Mathews and Karunaratne, none could cross 20s.

Coming to bat, Pakistan had made 46 at the loss of Khurram Manzoor who was run out at 21 (Mathews/†HAPW Jayawardene). Ahmed Shehzad was not out at the stumps and was scored 25.

Pakistan resumes its second day of play today at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi (neutral venue).

The links for watching the free live streaming of the match are given here

If you like Movin' Sports, follow us on: Twitter | Facebook

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: First Test Match at Abu Dhabi | Watch Free Live Streaming - 31 December 2013 - 4 January 2014

Who will win the 3-test matches trophy - New year will tell

On the last day of the year 2013, Pakistan seems all set for the first test match, part of the three test matches series, against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi starting 31 December 2013.

Pakistan having won the 5-matches ODI series 3-2, feel confident in taking over the Islanders from the Indian Ocean - a feeling that has come from the rather satisfactory perfomance of the batsmen, who otherwise have been unpredictable in the past. 

Sri Lanka would be at odds at playing a test match since they haven't played any since March 2013. It may take sometime for them to get into test match mindset from the ODIs they have been playing.

Pakistan, beside its performing batsmen, has a strong and venomous bowling team. No bowler in Sri Lanka's 16-man squad is Junaid Khan's equal, and although Umar Gul has a mediocre record against Sri Lanka, the reverse-swing he gleans on dry pitches may prove potent against the visitors' inexperienced middle order. Saeed Ajmal's contest with Rangana Herath will be an exciting subplot in the series. 

In comparison, Suranga Lakmal has never taken more than four wickets in a match and averages 65.75, while Shaminda Eranga has been far from his best in domestic cricket over the past two months. 

The probable opposing teams for the first test match at Abu Dhabi may be as under:

Pakistan: 1 Khurram Manzoor, 2 Shan Masood, 3 Mohammad Hafeez/Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Adnan Akmal (wk), 8 Abdur Rehman/ Rahat Ali/ Mohammad Talha, 9 Umar Gul, 10. Saeed Ajmal, 11. Junaid Khan

Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Kaushal Silva, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4. Mahela Jayawardene, 5. Lahiru Thirimanne/ Prasanna Jayawardene, 6. Angelo Mathews (capt), 7. Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 8. Sachithra Senanayake/Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Shaminda Eranga/Nuwan Pradeep

The first match is scheduled for Dec 31, 2013 - Jan 4, 2014 daily at (10:00 local | 06:00 GMT | 11:00 PKT)

If you are one of the fans located at different destination and miss the chance to visit the stadium to watch your favourite team, You can now watch the match live on your laptop or desktop computer, FREE, provided you have an internet connection, from the links given below:

Link#1    Link#2    Link#3    Link#4    Link#5
* Links will be activated shortly before the match
* Please read our Disclaimer Policy with regard to free live streaming

If you like Movin' Sports, follow us on: Twitter | Facebook

South Africa draws first test against India - thanks to South Africans' slow and safe strategy

While many thought that South Africa will finally win over the visiting Indians in the first test match on the tricky Wanderers pitch,  Johannesburg  the match ended in a draw.

The slow running in the end of the match was perhaps part of the South Africans' tactics. However, the home crowd did not like the slow paced game as loud boos echoed around the ground for every refused run. South Africa had 16 to get off the last three overs and had shut shop. The fans were asking why.

After the match, South Africa's captain supported Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn's decision to play it safe, in the face of criticism from the crowd and former players - but he was not convincing  Nor was Graeme Smith who tried to explain that the decision was made by the two batsmen at the crease and was not a team order. 

One critic has been quoted as saying:
"I couldn't believe SA shut up shop either, an appalling end to a test match. More of a flop than a thriller. Australia will be ruthless against SA if they play with this roll over mindset. India were patient and AB and Faf were very good but SA should have tried to win the game. 16 off 20 is hardly a tall order."

This was the third-closest draw in Tests in terms of runs remaining. There have been two instances of teams drawing a Test with just one run remaining, which are the closest of draws in Tests. England drew against Zimbabwe with one remaining in Bulawayo in 1996 and India against West Indies in Mumbai in 2011. India have been involved in four of the seven single-digit margin of draws in Test history. Click here for a list of the closest draws in Tests in terms of runs remaining.

The 136 overs that South Africa played in their fourth innings was the seventh-highest ever played in the fourth innings of a Test in South Africa and the highest South Africa have played at home since the 144 overs against New Zealand in Port Elizabeth in 1962. This was also the fourth-highest number of overs South Africa have played in the fourth innings to draw a Test.

References: Cricinfo 

If you like Movin' Sports, follow us on: Twitter | Facebook

Pakistan stuns World No.1 South Africa with Seven Wickets defeat

Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal who bagged five wickets in the first test

The world no.1 South Africa was stunned when it was beaten by Pakistan by seven wickets in the first test match at Abu Dhabi.

This was South Africa's first defeat after a long unbeaten spree of fifteen test matches. Some are of the opinion that South Africa has been winning all these test matches on its own home pitches - the moment it came out of the the much acclimatised homely environment  it had the taste of a defeat it has long since forgotten.

Pakistan displayed a superb play in in the first innings of 443 with a ton by Manzoor (146) and Misbah (100), which put the South Africans completely out of their form who having scored 249 in the first innings were all back in pavilion for 232 in the second innings - giving a target of FORTY runs to chase to Pakistan on the fourth day of the first test match - which Pakistan achieved at the loss of three wickets (45/3) with two sixes from captain Misbah.

Pakistan's ace spinner Saeed Ajmal took six wickets in the test match followed by five by test deutante Baber and four by Junaid Khan. 

Pakistan's Khurram Manzoor was declared as the Player of the match for his remarkable 146 in the first innings.

Hashim Amla was the only South African to score a century in the first innings (118), followed lcosely by Villiers (90) in the second innings.

The second test match is scheduled from 23-27 October at Abu Dhabi.

If you like Movin' Sports, follow us on: Twitter | Facebook

Pakistan v South Africa at Abu Dhabi: First Cricket Test Match | Watch Free Live Streaming - 14-18 October

Pakistan and South Africa cricket team are host to the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi today to play their first cricket test match in a neutral country. 

And needless to mention that rock-steady South Africa face unpredictable Pakistan - a team which can rebound with lot of surprises. Pakistan's ace spinner  Ajmal wants to be best against the best. Pakistan's Misbah is confident to win the match for being closer to homely climatic conditions and general environment.

Pakistan has gone into the play with two new cricketers Shan Masood and Zulfiqar Babar, who are making their first test debut  for their country.

Squads:

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Adnan Akmal (w), Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Junaid Khan, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Shan Masood, Umar Amin, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar 

South Africa: Graeme Smith (c), AB de Villiers (w), Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile

Umpires PR Reiffel (Australia) and RJ Tucker (Australia)

The match is scheduled from October 14 to October 18 starting daily at  Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi 10:00 AM local time | 06:00 GMT

If you are one of the fans located at different destination and miss the chance to visit the stadium to watch your favourite team, You can now watch the match live on your laptop or desktop computer, FREE, provided you have an internet connection, from the links given below:

Link#1    Link#2    Link#3    Link#4    Link#5
* Links will be activated shortly before the match
* Please read our Disclaimer Policy with regard to free live streaming

If you like Movin' Sports, follow us on: Twitter | Facebook

England vs New Zealand: First Test Match at Lord's | Watch Live Free Streaming - 16-20 May

England the second best cricket team of the cricket world takes on the visitors New Zealand in the their first cricket test match of the season at Lord's from Thursday today onward for five days.

While the New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum expects England to raise their game at home but said his players were once again looking to "punch above their weight".

It may be added for information that in all both countries have played 97 tests so far of which 45 have been won by England and eight by New Zealand, while 44 ended in a draw. Of these 97 natches, 50 were played in England and 27 were won by the hosts while four were won by the visitors while 19 ended in a draw.

The likely opposing teams for the first test match that commences today are:
England 
AN Cook*, JM Anderson, JM Bairstow, IR Bell, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, NRD Compton, ST Finn, MJ Prior†, JE Root, GP Swann, IJL Trott

New Zealand
BB McCullum*, TA Boult, DAJ Bracewell, DG Brownlie, PG Fulton, MR Gillespie, MJ Guptill, TWM Latham, BP Martin, HD Rutherford, TG Southee, LRPL Taylor, N Wagner, BJ Watling†, KS Williamson

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Steve Davis (Australia)

The match is scheduled from Thursday 16 May to 20 May at 11:00 GMT daily at Lord's.

If you are one of the fans located at different destination and miss the chance to visit the stadium to watch your favorite team, You can now watch the match live on your laptop or desktop computer, FREE, provided you have an internet connection, from the links given below:

Link#1    Link#2    Link#3    Link#4 
* Please read our Disclaimer Policy with regard to free live streaming

If you like Movin' Sports, follow us on: Twitter | Facebook