OWN CORRESPONDENT, Sharjah | Tuesday 7.45pm.
PAKISTAN ripped South Africa apart by 67 runs in the sixth Sharjah Cup match with the Pakistani seamers blowing away eight South African batsmen for 27 runs.
The South Africans were set a target of 169 runs after bowling out Pakistan for 168.
Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs (59 not-out) started off well, but Kirsten retired hurt after suffering what was presumably a spasm of the lower back. Kirsten stumbled and fell with his score on eight, and was helped off the field of play.
Neil McKenzie’s poor run of form continued as he was dismissed for one run after being trapped leg-before to Waqar Younis and taking South Africa to 27/1.
The wicket gave Waqar his 300th one-day wicket, only the second player to reach the mark. Wasim Akram, Waqar’s teammate is the other bowler, and has claimed 416 wickets.
Things were still looking reasonably safe for the South Africans when Mark Boucher joined Gibbs and rattled up 14 runs before the Rawalpindi Express blew the Proteas apart.
In the next three overs South Africa lost five wickets for six runs as Boucher, Dale Benkenstein, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock and Pieter Strydom were sent trudging back to the hut in the aftermarth of an incredible spell of fast, accurate bowling.
Boucher was caught behind by Moin Khan for 14 and Dale Benkenstein and Lance Klusener were both bowled without scoring in a three-wicket maiden over by Shaoib Akhtar, taking South Africa to 74/4.
Akhtar pulled up after another over, but ended with figures of three for nine in 4.5 overs.
At 80/6 the South Africans looked back at the carnage and their scoreboard showed that Shaun Pollock was caught at slip for a duck off Wasim Akram, while Pieter Strydom (0) was trapped leg-before wicket by Abdul Razzaq in his first over.
At 89/7 Derek Crookes was taking a shower after being run-out for five by Younis Kahn, but still the wickets kept falling. Nantie Hayward was bowled for one run by Waqar Younis and the end came none too soon when Charl Willoughby had his stumps uprooted by a Razzaq snorter.
When the dust had settled South Africa were 101/9 — with Kirsten unable to bat — and Herschelle Gibbs the solitary run-maker on fifty-nine not-out.
Truly a remarkable innings by Pakistan and a fine comeback after 14 losses on the trot to South Africa.
The teams meet each other in the final of the Sharjah Cup on Friday.