The South Africans brushed aside their security worries on Wednesday to beat City XI by eight wickets in their warm-up, one-day game at the Gaddafi stadium.
Captain Graeme Smith and stylish batsman Jacques Kallis hit half-centuries as the tourists notched up 253-3 in 46 overs in reply to City XI’s 250-4 in their allotted 50 overs.
Both teams agreed to include 12 players in their sides to give the tourists the fullest practice ahead of their first one-day international at the same venue on Friday.
About 2 000 police, outnumbering a handful of spectators, were deployed in and outside the ground as part of tough security measures in place for the visitors.
The South Africans had initially cancelled the tour citing security fears.
However, the Proteas arrived on Tuesday on a rescheduled tour after the volatile cities of Karachi and Peshawar were eliminated as venues.
About 20 commandos surrounded the players’ dressing rooms before City XI captain Misbahul Haq won the toss and elected to bat.
Opener Imran Farhat, who played his last Test for Pakistan against Australia in Sharjah last year, top-scored for the home side with 64 with seven boundaries and three sixes.
Test discards Naved Latif, with 45 not out, and Faisal Iqbal, with 30, added 61 for the unfinished fourth wicket.
The 22-year-old Smith, who hit back-to-back double hundreds and finished with 718 runs in the Test series against England last month, put 72 for the first wicket with Herschelle Gibbs who made 34.
Smith then added 98 for the second wicket with Kallis before handing Farhat his wicket.
Neil McKenzie (33) and Mark Boucher (36) carried the Proteas to the winning target in 46 overs. — Sapa-AFP
Brief scores:
City XI 250-4 in 50 overs (Imran Farhat 64, Asim Kamal 44; A. Hall 2-41)
South Africa 253-3 (G. Smith 72, J. Kallis 55; Imran Farhat 2-48)