LAHORE, Oct 20: Mohammad Yousuf’s well-timed ton backed by Shoaib Malik’s belligerent half-century led Pakistan to a 25-run win against South Africa in the second One-day International here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, levelling the five-match series 1-1.

Yousuf struck a patient 143-ball 117 and Shoaib smashed 56 (off 52) as Pakistan, batting first, posted 265-9 in 50 overs. In reply, South Africans could reach 240 before being dismissed with three balls to spare.

The much-needed victory was made possible mainly by the hearty efforts of Pakistan bowlers as the fielders missed several catches, one being caught and bowled opportunity, throughout the South African innings.

South Africa, in pursuit of a tricky 266 for victory, faltered in the beginning, losing two key wickets. First Herschelle Gibbs was adjudged lbw off Umar Gul and then the dangerman Jacques Kallis who was caught by Younis Khan in the second slip off Sohail Tanvir. Both the batsmen didn’t disturb the scorers.

Helped by three dropped catches, two of Graeme Smith and one of A.B. de Villiers, South Africa managed to reach 80. De Villiers, who had been dropped by Abdul Rehman off Sohail, was clean bowled by Rao Iftikhar for 51-ball 35, that included four boundaries. De Villiers was soon followed by out-of-form Justin Kemp (8), lbw to Rao, making it 94-4.

The visitors then further descended when they lost Mark Boucher (14) and Smith (65) as the total reached 140. Boucher was caught and bowled by Afridi while Smith, who had earlier survived two chances off Umar and Misbah-ul-Haq on 20 and 37 respectively, was eventually sent back for 65, caught by Kamran Akmal off left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman. The South African skipper faced 96 balls and hit five boundaries.

Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel added 55 off 47 balls for the seventh wicket. But the left-handed Morkel, who had been spilled by Misbah off Rehman at mid-wicket boundary, was run out courtesy a brilliant throw from Umar to the wicket-keeper, leaving the tourists at a precarious 195-7.

Pollock, with Johan Botha, crossed the 200-runmark. But three remaining batsmen could only add 40 more to the total.

Umar and Rao took three wickets apiece.

Earlier, after electing to bat first, Imran Nazir (2) and Kamran Akmal (0) provided a traditionally shaky start to Pakistan, with both back in the hut for 13.

Pollock clean bowled Kamran on the innings’ fifth ball, which kept low, for a three-ball duck. Imran then needlessly tried to pull Makhaya Ntini but was caught by Botha at square-leg.

Yousuf and Younis Khan then salvaged the hosts to some extent. They added 60 (off 77 balls) for the third wicket, before Younis was run out for a 48-ball 32, studded with three fours, as Pakistan slipped to 73-3. Younis was trying to steal a risky run, when a fine return from Kemp from mid-wicket helped Morkel run the set batsman out.

Yousuf added 107 for the fourth wicket with Shoaib Malik coming in next.

Yousuf, Pakistan’s run-making machine, also reached yet another milestone on Saturday. When the master batsman took his score to 32, he completed 8,000 ODI runs for Pakistan in his 237th game for the country.

Malik’s arrival accelerated the run-rate as Pakistan crossed the 150-mark in the 32nd over Yousuf completed his half-century off 70 balls. Playing aggressively, Malik also recorded his 23rd half-century off 40 balls with four massive sixes, three to Botha and one to Kallis.

As the two were eyeing a big total, Smith continued to make changes in the bowling. His efforts paid off as Langeveldt dismissed Malik, caught by Kemp at long-on at the total of 180.

At 221-4, Pakistan lost Misbah-ul-Haq (21 off 21) caught by Smith of the bowling of Ntini.

This dismissal triggered a batting collapse as Pakistan could collect only 44 runs while losing four wickets.

Shahid Afridi, trying to play a slogging knock, thumped Kallis for a six over long-on. However, on the next ball the lusty hitter was caught superbly by Langavelt at deep mid-wicket to make it 228-6.

Soon, a calm-cum-calculated Yousuf registered his 13th ODI hundred with a cracking boundary off Kallis. But after adding 17 runs more Yousuf, who collected nine fours in all, was clean bowled by Morkel for 117, at 253-7.

Pakistan then finished the innings with unbeaten Umar (8) and Sohail (4), after losing Rao (0) and Rehman (2).

Pollock was the most economical among the hosts’ bowlers with 29-1 off his 10-over quota. Ntini (2-44), Morkel (2-43), Langeveldt (2-47) and Kallis (1-37) were the other wicket takers.

Scoreboard

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