BENONI (South Africa), Feb 6: Shahid Afridi’s run-a-ball 46 could not prevent Pakistan crashing to a 26-run defeat by South African province Easterns in their final World Cup warm-up match on Thursday.
The 1999 World Cup runners-up restricted Easterns to 215 for nine in their 50 overs and seemed well set for victory after Afridi, who was twice dropped at 2 and 27, and Abdul Razzaq (44) added 79 for the second wicket in only 11 overs.
But the departure of Afridi, who smashed five fours and three sixes, sparked a collapse, Pakistan losing their last nine wickets for just 100 runs.
Younis Khan made 41 not out as Pierre de Bruyn, who had scored an unbeaten 41 in the Easterns innings, finished with figures of four for 40 in 10 overs.
De Bruyn’s brother Zander also made 41, while Pakistan captain Waqar Younis completed figures of three for 33.
To add insult to injury, Pakistan were docked four overs for slow over rate.
Scoreboard
EASTERNS:
A.J. Seymore c Inzamam b Wasim 1
A.M. van den Berg c Rashid b Waqar 2
J.A. Morkel lbw b Waqar 2
Z. de Bruyn c Shoaib b Shahid 41
D.N. Crookes lbw b Shaoib 34
G. Toyana c Rashid b Waqar 17
P. de Bruyn not out 41
R. Bailey c Rashid b Shahid 1
D. Jennings b Younis 8
G.E. Flusk b Younis 0
A. Nel not out 28
EXTRAS (B-6, LB-10, W-14, NB-10) 40
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 215
FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-16, 3-22, 4-92, 5-122, 6-134, 7-136, 8-166, 9-166.