/ 9 November 2010

Evergreen Kallis leads Proteas to series win

Jacques Kallis turned in a fine all-round performance to lead South Africa to a 57-run win over Pakistan on Monday and a 3-2 victory in the one-day international series.

Kallis top scored for his side with 83 to help the Proteas to 317-5, and the 35-year-old then took 3-30 off five overs as Pakistan were bowled out for 260.

Kallis also became only the sixth player to score 11 000 one-day international runs.

South Africa made full use of a pitch that held few dangers for batsmen as opener Hashim Amla blazed 62 off just 47 balls.

Kallis and AB de Villiers (61) shared a third-wicket partnership of 121 before the Proteas suffered a middle-order collapse in which they lost three wickets for nine runs.

But JP Duminy ensured that his team would have a sizeable target to defend with 59 not out off 41 balls.

Mauling
Pakistan’s cause was not helped by the mauling handed out to veteran fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who conceded 77 runs off his seven overs.

The start of the match had been overshadowed by the absence of Pakistan’s Zulqarnain Haider.

The wicketkeeper left the team hotel without permission on the morning of the game and arrived in England later in the day.

The hosts seemed to shrug off the distraction at the start of their run chase as openers Mohammad Hafeez (59) and Shahzaib Hasan (39) produced a sparkling opening stand of 82 off 12.2 overs.

But Kallis, favouring short-of-a-length deliveries, ended the partnership when he had Hasan caught at mid-on before the burly all-rounder accounted for Younis Khan and the recalled Mohammad Yousuf cheaply in quick succession.

Umar Akmal, Haider’s replacement behind the stumps, kept his team in the contest with 60 off 71 balls, but when he was caught at extra cover off fast bowler Dale Steyn in the 41st over, Pakistan’s challenge faded away.

The teams now turn their attention to the two-match test series with the first game set to start at the same venue on Friday. — Reuters