OWN CORRESPONDENT, Sharjah | Friday 4.50pm.
PAKISTAN have set South Africa a formiddable total of 264 for victory in the Sharjah Cup final afer scoring 263/6 in their alotted 50 overs, an innings sparked by a fabulous 123 run opening stand between Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi.
Pakistan skipper Moin Khan won the toss and elected to bat on a good track with Nazir and Afridi taking the fight to the South Africans from the word go.
After scoring 15 boundaries between them, the partnership came to an end when Afridi was fantastically caught by Jacques Kallis off the bowling of Lance Klusener for 52 runs. Afdridi blasted five fours and a six.
Nazir followed his opening partner into the hut for 69 runs after being stumped by Mark Boucher off the bowling of Derek Crookes, but the damage was done with Nazir plundering seven fours and two sixes.
South Africa pressed on and claimed another wicket in the over after Nazir’s dismissal when Younis Khan was trapped leg-before by Lance Klusener for four in the 26th over.
Two more quick wickets went the way of the South Africans when they took Pakistan to 209/5 after Yousuf Youhana and Moin Khan were dismissed by Kallis.
Youhana was caught at midwicket by Hansie Cronje for 26 runs, and Khan was trapped leg-before wicket for two runs. Youhana’s dismissal brought an end to a partnership of 65 runs with Inzimam ul Haq.
Inzimam lost his wicket in the final over after a power-hitting innings of 53 runs when he was bowled by Shaun Pollock, bringing to an end a 45-run partnership with Abdur Razzaq (28 not-out).
Wasim Akram was the not-out batsman on five.
Klusener was the pick of the South African bowlers, claiming two for 27 in ten. Kallis was more expensive, bagging two wickets for 57 runs in his ten overs.
South Africa need to score at 5.28 runs per over if they are to meet the target.