TANGIERS (Morocco), Aug 18: Pakistan bowed out of the Morocco Cup with a horrendous batting performance against South Africa Sunday.

Chasing a modest 197 for victory, Pakistan seemed to have the match in their pockets after Shahid Afridi had plundered a hurricane 62 off 40 deliveries to steer the pre-tournament favourites to 92 for two in 18 overs on a good batting strip.

But Afridi’s dismissal not only put the brakes on the scoring rate but also saw wickets tumbling at regular intervals with the last seven batsmen falling for the addition of 96 runs. Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 188 to suffer their third defeat in four matches.

South Africa’s victory guaranteed them a place in Wednesday’s final against Sri Lanka and also make Monday’s clash against the 1996 world champions as dress rehearsal for the big match.

Pakistan, who had to win inside 40 overs to ensure the bonus point, were undone by veteran South African fast bowler Allan Donald who ended with four for 43 and the Man-of-the-Match award.

Afridi, who slammed six fours and four towering sixes, began with six boundaries — three sixes and as many fours — off Jacques Kallis who went for 33 runs in his opening three overs.

It was a pity that Afridi ended up on the losing side because the remaining batsmen failed to capitalise on.

The chief culprits were the experienced duo of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana. And when Youhana miscued an on-drive to be caught at square-leg, it opened all floodgates as Lance Klusener followed up by trapping Younis Khan LBW on the next delivery and then Nicky Boje picked up Abdul Razzaq to leave Pakistan reeling at 119 for six in the 29th over.

Rashid Latif joined Inzamam and did exactly what specialist batsmen were supposed to do — nudge and push the ball in the gaps to keep the scoreboard ticking. Rashid added 36 invaluable runs for the seventh wicket and also dominated the partnership by scoring 22 off 33 balls with three fours.

Pakistan suffered the killer blow when Inzamam lost his balance and dislodged the bail with his toe after lifting off-spinner Justin Ontong for a six over deep mid wicket. Inzamam scored a snail-paced 41 from 74 balls with two fours.

Wasim Akram and Azhar Mahmood tried to carry the fight. But when Wasim was bowled by Donald with 11 runs needed, the match was all but over. Donald cleaned up Waqar to settle the issue.

The toss was expected to be crucial but Waqar, for the fourth successive time, failed to call correctly. But it turned out to be a good toss to lose when Wasim clean bowled Herschelle Gibbs with the very first ball of the match.

Pakistan seized the advantage when Waqar snapped up Kallis and added Ontong after Wasim had trapped Graeme Smith in front of the stumps to leave South Africa in tatters at 29 for four which soon became 49 for five when the dangerous Jonty Rhodes was sent back to the dressing room by Azhar.

But it was at that stage when Pakistan badly missed Shoaib Akhtar as the support bowlers lacked penetration and bite and allowed Boeta Dippenaar and Mark Boucher to put on 78 off 120 balls for the sixth wicket.

Dippenaar was fortunate when Abdul Razzaq failed to hold a regulation catch on his follow through when he was 18 and South Africa 64 for five.

Pakistan’s decision of including Shoaib Malik, ahead of Saqlain Mushtaq and in place of Mohammad Sami, badly backfired when he went for 15 runs from his only over and then occupied the crease for 42 balls for his 12.

Wasim and Waqar proved that they are still jewels in the crown of Pakistan bowling when they shared five wickets between them and most importantly conceded only 27 runs in the last five overs of South African innings.

Wasim finished with three for 31 to take his tally of wickets in the tournament to seven while Waqar ended up with two for 48 for tournament haul of 11 wickets.