what a disgusting display of batting. 124 all out. I think we should start praying for rain already. Lets see if SA can keep the lead to a minimum

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434, world record for the shortest period. Whos choking now?

Farhat gone! Ntini strikes....

Could this be a two-day Test, gibbs fan?

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Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....

Pakistan's batting is too solid to fall for less than 200 on this pitch, they should comfortably gain a 200 run first innings lead. South Africa will just have to make in excessive of 350 in their second innings and hope the pitch has deteriorated badly on the 4th and 5th days.

I wonder how long until smith is dropped. Poor batsman, average fielder, uninspired captain and generates nothing but negative press with his stupid gaping mouth. Surely he's detrimental towards the progress of south african cricket?

Why was Rudoph dropped to begin with? He looked pretty sound technically and defensively, so he's more unlikely to throw his wicket away in the fashion most of the South Africans have in their innings. Boetta Dippenar also looked like he had the temperament for test cricket.

surely not Dipenaar, Coffeeman! He's no better than de Villiers....

But Rudolph probably would be a better bet.

I'm not so sure about that 200-run lead. Hafeez just committed suicide, and Pakistan are 17-2 at tea. Ntini has once again provided the fightback.

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Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....

Firstly, I doubt that Pakistan will have anything close to a 200 run lead. Did you not see the pitch, it has a green top and SA has fast bowlers who exploit green tops. I agree, Pakistan will get a lead but that lead will be between 50 and 120. If SA get Yousuf out early, Pakistan might not even get a lead as Younis and the rest tend to throw their wickets away.

Agree totally with you on Smith. Only problem is, here in SA they dont have the balls to fire him before the WC. They will play it safe and wait till after the WC but mark my words, they will fire him.

Rudolph, debatable. He is sound technically and defensively but sometimes he goes into such a defensive mode that he just dries up the teams runs and this negatively affects the entire team. Besides, while he can bat for long periods, he seldomly does. I would like to see him in though in place of de Villiers at the top of the order.

As for Dippenaar, dont ever mention him again. IMO he is the most overated most irritating player in SA. He is even worse to watch than Kallis and Rudolph combined. He got so many opportunities, I mean he has played over 30 tests, yet he has never sealed his place, he has no class. His test average says it all. Dippenaar is just not good enough. Think of him as SA's "Katich". Rathe bring somebody else in like Mckenzie or maybe even Martin van Jaarsveld.

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434, world record for the shortest period. Whos choking now?

19-3, and Pakistan are in deep trouble!

Ntini is really enjoying this pitch....

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Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....

Hmmm, maybe a 150 run lead then

Ah ok, I hadn't seen much of him aside from what i saw in Australia last year, and Dippenar looked really good, was your best batsman in the ODI series by miles, though his run-rate was a little slow, which is why i though he may find test cricket more comfortable, but from what you've told me obviously not.

Whats the deal with Andrew Hall by the way? The first i saw of him a few years ago he was opening the batting for SA and did quite well (made a century?) then a couple of years later he turns up in Australia as this bowling all-rounder who's in and out of the side. Was he chosen as a batsman initially, who could bowl a little and then just developed, or de-evolved into a bits and pieces player?

This seems to be quite a bowling pitch.South Africa first 124 all out and then Pakistan are currently 3 down for 27.This might be one of those 3 day matches

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Karthik Venkatesan

I wished I shared your faith in our batting Most of them are prone to throwing away their wickets.

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A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes
Mark Twain

Or could it even be a two-day match?

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Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....