Express bowler Shoaib Akhtar claimed four wickets for 49 runs Friday to help Pakistan clinch a thrilling eight-run win over South Africa in the first one-day international at Gaddafi Stadium.
Akhtar's brilliance overshadowed Boeta Dippenaar's maiden unbeaten one-day international hundred (110 not out) as South Africa was restricted to 269 for six off 50 overs in reply to Pakistan's 277 for six.
Dippenaar gave South Africa a glimmer of hope with his team needing 27 off the last two overs. He took away 14 runs in Akhtar's 10th over and brought up his century with a straight four. However, his 131-ball effort was not enough to see his side through as Mohammad Sami conceded just four off the last over of the innings. Dippenaar's innings included seven fours and two sixes.
PHOTO: EPA
Smith and Dippenaar had laid a solid foundation in the run-chase with a 138-run opening wicket stand in 166 balls. Smith developed cramps in his left leg during his innings off 71 off 99 balls and batted with a runner.
Akhtar returned for his second spell and removed Smith and Jacques Kallis in quick succession. Smith was cramped for space and was caught low by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq while Kallis played on Akhtar's fast delivery.
McKenzie and Dippenaar then put on 101 runs off 108 balls for the third wicket but were seemingly supported by the Pakistani fielders. Off-spinner Shoaib Malik should have got rid off McKenzie -- on 13 and 25. However, Abdul Razzaq first dropped him at mid-off and then Inzamam misjudged a skier.
Akhtar returned for his last three-over burst and claimed two wickets in his eighth over. He deceived McKenzie (62 off 62 balls) off a slower delivery and then uprooted Mark Boucher's leg stumps off a vicious yorker.
Veteran 33-year-old Mushtaq Ahmad, had a nightmare in his comeback match and conceded 65 runs off his 10 overs. The leg-spinner last played in a one-day international three years ago against England in Pakistan. He was included in the side after capturing 105 wickets in this season's English county championship which helped Sussex lift its first tile.
Earlier, all-rounder Shoaib Malik entertained a peaceful crowd of around 22,000 with an explosive half century as Pakistan posted 277 for six off its 50 overs.
Malik, 21, hit a whirlwind unbeaten 82 off 41 balls and accelerated Pakistan's total in the last 10 overs as the home team scored 105 runs. Medium fast Shaun Pollock, who gave away just 25 in his first nine overs, conceded 21 in the 49th over as Malik hit him for two sixes and two boundaries.
Kallis got the same treatment in the last over of the innings as Malik lofted him for three successive sixes, giving Pakistan a strong total to defend.
Malik stepped up the pace with captain Inzamam (37), combining in a 64-run fifth wicket partnership off 52 balls before Inzamam was bowled by Kallis in the 48th over.
After Inzamam won the toss and elected to bat first, Yousuf Youhana (68 off 87 balls) and Yasir Hameed (56 off 85 balls) were involved in an 82-run second wicket stand after Pollock dismissed opener Mohammad Hafeez in the fifth over.
Pollock bowled to a steady line and length and didn't give anything away in his first spell of 6-3-7-1 before Malik ruined his figures at the end of the innings.
South Africa initially canceled the test series after a bombing in Karachi last month, but agreed to the tour when Pakistani authorities promised extra security.
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