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Smith half century in vain as Proteas fall short in Lahore

Pakistan overcame a scrappy effort in the field yesterday to beat South Africa by 25 runs in the second limited-overs international to level their five-match series 1-1.

Captain Graeme Smith top-scored with a dogged 65 off 96 balls as South Africa were bowled out for 240 in 49.3 overs after Pakistan made a respectable 265-9 off their 50 overs.

Smith was bowled off a no-ball before he had scored and was dropped three times before he had completed his half century.

Pakistan survived a late onslaught by Albie Morkel (31), who was also dropped on 20, and Shaun Pollock (37) as medium fast bowler Rao Iftikhar ended up with a career-best 3-43.

South Africa lost Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis for noughts before Smith revived the team's hopes when he added 76 runs with AB de Villiers (35) -- who also had a lucky escape when Abdul Rehman dropped a hard one-handed catch at mid-wicket.

Smith was the sixth man to go in the 35th over when Kamran Akmal held onto a faint edge off left-arm spinner Rehman.

Earlier, Mohammad Yousuf (117) hit nine fours in registering his 13th century in one-day internationals off 143 balls but South Africa did well in the late overs to restrict their opponents.

Yousuf was dismissed in the 48th over when Morkel knocked back his leg stump as he attempted to pull the medium fast bowler.

Yousuf had completed his century in the 45th over with a square driven boundary off Jacques Kallis.

Pakistan were pegged back after captain Shoaib Malik (56) and Yousuf had added 107 runs for the fourth wicket off 115 deliveries.

Malik dominated the century-partnership and hit off-spinner Johan Botha for three sixes and then lofted one more straight over Kallis' head.

Charl Langeveldt broke the threatening stand in the 38th over when Malik holed out in the deep in an attempt to clear Justin Kemp at long on.

Langeveldt also took a brilliant running catch to dismiss dangerman Shahid Afridi (6), slowing Pakistan's acceleration in the last five overs.

Yousuf twice had to rebuild the innings after Malik won the toss and elected to bat.

Pakistan had a disastrous start when both openers fell cheaply inside the first six overs.

Akmal, who opened the innings in place of the dropped Mohammad Hafeez, dragged Pollock's fifth delivery of the match back onto his stumps while Imran Nazir mistimed a pull off Makhaya Ntini to offer an easy catch at square leg.

Yousuf and Younus Khan (32) added 60 off 77 balls but then Yousuf ran out his partner when he declined a quick single.
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