OWN CORRESPONDENT, Sharjah | Wednesday 11.00am.
SHOAIB Akhtar produced a blistering spell as Pakistan halted their 14-match losing streak against South Africa with a 67-run win in the Sharjah Cup triangular series on Tuesday.
Akhtar, bowling with awesome speed, snapped up three wickets in one over to rip through an under-strength South Africa in a match reduced to a dress rehearsal for Friday’s final.
India, the third team in the tournament, had already been eliminated.
South Africa, chasing a modest Pakistan total of 168, were cruising at 74 for one by the 17th over when Akhtar began the demolition job.
The fast bowler brought the match alive in his fourth over, removing Mark Boucher with the first ball, then bowling Dale Benkenstein and Lance Klusener off his fourth and sixth deliveries to reduce South Africa to 74 for four.
Akhtar aggravated a groin injury in his next over which was completed by Abdur Razzaq, who immediately trapped Pieter Strydom leg before for a duck.
South Africa, with opener Gary Kirsten earlier forced to retire with a back spasm, were unable to stage a recovery despite an unbeaten 59 from opener Herschelle Gibbs.
Their last eight wickets fell for the addition of just 27 runs.
Akhtar finished with three wickets for nine runs in 4.5 overs while Waqar Younis, who took two for 39, took his tally of wickets in one-day internationals to 301 in 168 matches.
Earlier, South Africa, who were without five of their regular players including skipper Hansie Cronje, had Pakistan in trouble right from the start after they had won the toss and decided to bat.
Fast bowler Shaun Pollock, leading the side for the first time, set the tone by bowling opener Imran Nazir in the first over of the match.
With the South African bowlers striking at regular interval, Pakistan were reduced to 61 for five before Yousuf Youhana lent some respectability to the score with a solid 65 off 88 balls which included six fours.
Left-arm seamer Charl Willoughby, who was making his international debut, took two for 39 while Lance Klusener, who destroyed Pakistan with five for 47 in their earlier match in the tournament, ended up with two for 27.
”We played three good games in the league, but faltered in the end. I hope the defeat will be a wake-up call before the final,” Pollock said. — Reuters