South Africa to adopt a ruthless approach (5 June 1999)

5 June 1999

South Africa to adopt a ruthless approach

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

NOTTINGHAM, Friday - South Africa with only two points from the first round of the competition will adopt a tough and ruthless approach in their vital game against new tournament favourites Pakistan in the second Super Sixes match which takes place at Trent Bridge here tomorrow.

South African captain Hansie Cronje knows only too well that Pakistan's recent successes have revolved around a batting lineup which, if given any latitude, can rip the best of attacks apart. It is not just another World Cup match for both teams. There is more than one thing at stake in this crunch battle.

A win would provide an invaluable psychological boost on top of a priceless two points to either team and at this stage South Africa could do with both.

South Africa has carried forward only two points from the first round for their victory over Group 'A' qualifiers India, making two wins out of three against Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand in the Super Sixes a priority.

"We're just two matches away from the Cup semis," said Cronje. "Right now that is our top priority. And the quicker the better. So if we can win tomorrow it will be a big step in the right direction". Cronje was open about the tongue-lashing he gave his fellow players after the unexpected loss to Zimbabwe in the final group match. He called the defeat a "timely wakeup call" and said: "I told the players there were so many reasons why we lost. It is good for them to see that if you are not 100 percent switched on then any team can beat you."

Cronje hopes his bowlers will turn things when bowling first. "If you look at the times that we've bowled first our opponents have had 60 odd runs on the board after 15 overs. It's difficult to pull it back from there. When we've bowled second however we've had a very good attitude in going about defending totals. I would like to swing it around and say if we bowl first we've got to have that same attitude," said Cronje.

He is confident South Africa can extend a sequence of 12 successive wins against Pakistan to 13 after tomorrow.

If his bowlers have to tame the likes of Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi and Inzamam-ul Haq however, Cronje also realizes that his batsmen have to do likewise to fast bowling menace of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

Akhtar will be out to not only break South African stumps, but possibly also the 100 miles (162 kilometres) per hour barrier for the first time as speed guns are introduced to the tournament. But Indian paceman Javagal Srinath, who was under the gun Friday as India took on Australia at The Oval, said bowlers should concentrate on beating their opponents, not the clock.

"You don't bowl for the machine, you bowl for the team," said Srinath.

Pakistan captain Akram is optimistic about his team's chances against South Africa. "We have shown that we can beat them in the past. To beat South Africa, you have to be tough inside your head," said Akram.

Like South Africa, Pakistan's strength lies in containing teams with its highly talented bowling attack. It has successfully defended against West Indies, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand - claiming a tournament-high 42 wickets.

Pakistan's top-order has mirrored South Africa's woes with its top six batsman and Akram is confident the Super Sixes will bring the best out of them.

"Hopefully our top six are storing it up for the Super Sixes onwards," said Akram.

The composition of the Pakistan batting will largely depend after a final look at the rain-effected Trent Bridge pitch that has remained under covers.

"If we feel the surface is going to do a little bit, we'll open with (Wajahatullah) Wasti. If not (Shahid) Afridi will open," said Akram.

Pakistan will also be strengthen by the return of middle-order batsman Yousuf Youhana, who hasn't played since pulling a hamstring in the game against Australia at Headingley on May 23.

Pakistan (from): Wasim Akram (captain), Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi (or Wajahatullah Wasti), Abdur Razzaq, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar.

South Africa (from): Hansie Cronje (captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, Daryl Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Steve Elworthy and Allan Donald.

Umpires: David Shepherd (England) and Darrell Hair (Australia), TV umpire: Doug Cowie (New Zealand), Match Referee: John Reid (New Zealand).

Source :: The Daily News