Shaun Pollock and Graeme Smith hit half centuries and powered South Africa to a series-leveling seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the fourth limited-overs international on Friday.
Pollock -- promoted to No. 3 in the batting line-up -- made 90 off 84 balls while Smith scored 81 off 103 balls as they shared a match-winning 159-run stand to wipe off the victory target of 231 in 37.4 overs.
Pakistan were restricted to 230-9 off their 50 overs with Younis Khan (82) grafting a fighting half century.
PHOTO: AFP
Rao Iftikhar removed both Pollock and Smith, but that came a bit too late to stop South Africa from registering a massive victory.
Pollock hit nine fours and a six before holing out at mid-off while Smith, who hammered seven boundaries, was also caught in the deep when South Africa needed just three for victory.
Pollock and Smith's partnership was the best second wicket stand for South Africa against Pakistan in 51 matches -- beating A. B. de Villiers and Jacques Kallis' 155-run stand at Johannesburg in February.
The fifth and final game of the five-match series will be played in Lahore tomorrow after it was shifted from the troubled port city of Karachi due to security fears.
South Africa lost Herschelle Gibbs (39) but not before the opener gave a solid platform of better than a run-a-ball 65 runs with Smith.
Gibbs hit seven boundaries before Shahid Afridi got the breakthrough off his first ball by trapping him lbw.
Smith had a lucky escape on 74 when paceman Gul dropped a return catch in an otherwise lakluster performance by the Pakistan paceman as he conceded 52 runs off his five overs.
Quick bowler Mohammad Asif, back in the side after missing three matches with an elbow injury, was also expensive, going for 64 off his eight overs.
Earlier, Khan made a fine half century before fast bowler Andre Nel (2-44), playing in his first game of the series, pinned down Pakistan when he took two wickets in one over.
However, Abdul Rehman (31) and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (28) plundered 60 runs off 65 balls that included 18 off Nel's ninth over to lift the total.
Khan shared a 91-run stand off 114 balls with captain Shoaib Malik (45) before Nel struck twice.
Khan faced 110 balls and hit six fours and two sixes but mistimed a pull shot and skied an easy catch to midwicket. Four balls later Nel found the outside edge of Misbah-ul-Haq's (7) bat.
Pakistan slipped to 38-3 within the first 13 overs after Malik had won the toss and elected to bat first.
Khan and Malik revived the innings but the Pakistan captain fell when Jacques Kallis came on to bowl in the 32nd over and Malik drove one straight to Smith.
Off-spinner Johan Botha took two wickets in the last over -- his first wickets in four games -- when he removed Akmal (28) and Umar Gul (1), but still Pakistan managed to score 50 off the last five overs.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely