South Africa win one-day series in Pakistan

LAHORE – Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 20 runs as South Africa won the fifth and final one-day international by 14 runs yesterday to win the series 3-2.

Pakistan were bowled out for 219 in 46.3 overs at the Gaddafi stadium with Albie Morkel taking 4-44 and Makhaya Ntini 4-61. Younis Khan (58) and Mohammad Yousuf (53) had shared a third wicket partnership of 106 in 134 balls to provide a solid platform but Pakistan lost their last six wickets in 36 balls.South Africa clawed their way back after Younis was caught at deep midwicket by Morkel off Shaun Pollock in the 30th over.Three overs later part-time spinner Jean-Paul Duminy had Yousuf slashing at a wide ball to be caught behind.Captain Shoaib Malik then went for 23 before Misbah-ul-Haq (19), Shahid Afridi (9) and Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar and Shoaib Akhtar, who all failed to score, were undone by the swinging ball and some brilliant catching in the outfield.”We played 90 per cent better cricket.The total was chaseable.We have learnt today what we need to do how to finish a game,” Malik said.Earlier, Pakistani strike bowler Shoaib made a dramatic return to international cricket by grabbing four wickets.The controversial paceman, back in the side after a 13-match ban for his first one-dayer since September 2006, bowled with fire to trouble South Africa’s batsmen on a slow pitch, taking four for 43.Paceman Rao Iftikhar supported him well, taking 3/45, for his third three-wicket haul in the series.South Africa elected to bat first and were soon in trouble when captain Graeme Smith was bowled for a duck.Herschelle Gibbs, who scored 10 fours in his 54 and Jacques Kallis, who scored 86 rebuilt the innings with an 80-run partnership.AB de Villiers contributed 17 and JP Duminy 44, but the last five wickets went for only 40 runs as South Africa reached 233/9 off their 50 overs.Nampa-ReutersYounis Khan (58) and Mohammad Yousuf (53) had shared a third wicket partnership of 106 in 134 balls to provide a solid platform but Pakistan lost their last six wickets in 36 balls.South Africa clawed their way back after Younis was caught at deep midwicket by Morkel off Shaun Pollock in the 30th over.Three overs later part-time spinner Jean-Paul Duminy had Yousuf slashing at a wide ball to be caught behind.Captain Shoaib Malik then went for 23 before Misbah-ul-Haq (19), Shahid Afridi (9) and Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar and Shoaib Akhtar, who all failed to score, were undone by the swinging ball and some brilliant catching in the outfield.”We played 90 per cent better cricket.The total was chaseable.We have learnt today what we need to do how to finish a game,” Malik said.Earlier, Pakistani strike bowler Shoaib made a dramatic return to international cricket by grabbing four wickets.The controversial paceman, back in the side after a 13-match ban for his first one-dayer since September 2006, bowled with fire to trouble South Africa’s batsmen on a slow pitch, taking four for 43.Paceman Rao Iftikhar supported him well, taking 3/45, for his third three-wicket haul in the series.South Africa elected to bat first and were soon in trouble when captain Graeme Smith was bowled for a duck.Herschelle Gibbs, who scored 10 fours in his 54 and Jacques Kallis, who scored 86 rebuilt the innings with an 80-run partnership.AB de Villiers contributed 17 and JP Duminy 44, but the last five wickets went for only 40 runs as South Africa reached 233/9 off their 50 overs.Nampa-Reuters