Pakistan's cricket players pay respect to Inzamam-ul-Haq (centre) who played his last Test of the career on the fifth day of their second Test cricket match against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday. Ul-Haq, 37, appeared in his 120th and final Test. - REUTERS LAHORE (Reuters)
South Africa secured only their second series win in 10 years in Pakistan yesterday after the second and final Test ended in a draw at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The South Africans, who won the first Test in Karachi by 160 runs, settled for the draw after Younis Khan (130), Kamran Akmal (71) and Mohammad Yousuf (63 not out) guided Pakistan to 316 for four at the close.
Pakistan under pressure
"We controlled nine out of 10 days of Test cricket in this series. We bowled very well and kept Pakistan under pressure from the word go. We are over the moon with this series win," South African skipper Graeme Smith told reporters.
"It is not easy to win in the subcontinent, but we have put in a very good team effort."
Pakistan, set an improbable victory target of 457, were boosted by his second century of the series by Younis who batted for 246 balls and hit 16 fours before he was out after lunch.
The day also featured the final Test innings of Inzamam-ul-Haq, who fell for just three runs to end his career with 8,830 runs from 120 matches.
Yousuf scored his 28th career fifty after he missed the first Test due to lack of match fitness.
Pakistan lost three wickets in the day. Akmal played on to his stumps after prodding defensively to left-arm spinner Paul Harris and Younis was caught behind off Jacques Kallis. Inzamam played his first shot to mid-wicket for three, but was out second ball when he jumped down the wicket to Harris and was stumped.
Kallis was named Man-of-the-Series for his 421 runs that included three hundreds and a fifty.
"It is one of my more memorable series. Specially after coming out of a winter break. Specially since this series was important for us," Kallis said.
Pakistan began the day on 108 for one and Younis, resuming on 48, continued to attack the bowlers with some fine strokes. He reached his fifty by hitting Makhaya Ntini for three successive fours in the third over of the day and followed it up with two more fours off Kallis in the next over.
Inzamam bows out meekly
LAHORE (Reuters)
Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq bade farewell to international cricket yesterday, disappointed he had failed to become his country's top Test run scorer but with no regrets after a wonderful career.
Inzamam, 37, fell for three in the second innings of the second Test against South Africa to finish his career on 8,830 from 120 matches. He had required just six runs to overcome Javed Miandad as Pakistan's top scorer.
no regrets
"It is disappointing not to have got a big score in my last match. But there are no regrets because I have enjoyed a lot of success and got a lot of love from the people," he told a news conference.
"It was a very emotional moment for me going out to bat one last time for Pakistan. It was very difficult for me to spend these last five days in the dressing room and on the field knowing it is my final Test. I am sad but have no regrets."
Inzamam was stumped off left-arm spinner Paul Harris from his second ball.
"There was a lot of pressure on me playing my final match. Today I went out to bat hoping to score quickly and give Pakistan a chance of chasing the runs.
"It happens. Sometimes the batsman wins, sometimes the bowler prevails. So it is part of the game. But I am happy that the team fought so well to draw the match in the end," he said.
enclosure bears name
Inzamam was presented with a gold medal by the Pakistan Cricket Board at a graceful ceremony and had a enclosure at the Gaddafi stadium, where he made his debut 17 years ago, named after him.
As he came out for the final ceremony the Pakistan team gave him a guard of honour with their bats.
Present captain, Shoaib Malik, broke down in tears when his former skipper embraced the players after the match.
Inzamam said it would be difficult for him to adjust after retiring from cricket as the sport had been his love and life.
"I have to move on. I am happy that as captain I have left a disciplined and good legacy in the team and I am sure under Malik they will go on to get many victories.
"I am thankful to the players who played under me for giving me lot of respect."
Inzamam, who retired from One-Day Internationals after the World Cup in March, rated the 1992 World Cup win as his most memorable moment, and said he had idolised West Indian Vivian Richards and New Zealand's Martin Crowe for their batting.
"At present I admire Ricky Ponting's batting a lot," he said.
"Among the bowlers, I faced a few good bowlers but Shane Warne, Courtney Walsh and Glenn McGrath stand out for me."
He named Imran Khan and Wasim Akram as the two best captains he had played under.
