Mohammad Yousuf Guides Pakistan To Victory Again
Mohammad Yousuf, who hit a half-century as Pakistan took a 2-1 series lead in Faisalabad.
©REUTERS/Mohsin Raza (PAKISTAN) Picture Supplied by Action Images
Shahid Afridi, who took three wickets, is congratulated by team mates in Faisalabad.
©REUTERS/Mohsin Raza (PAKISTAN) Picture Supplied by Action Images
197 all out in 49.2 overs (Smith 48, Iftikhar 3-33, Afridi 3-37)
Pakistan 202 for 4 in 48.1 overs (Yousuf 58no) in Faisalabad
Pakistan won by six wickets and lead the five-match series 2-1
A patient half-century from in-form Mohammad Yousuf helped Pakistan ease to a six-wicket victory in the third one-day international against South Africa in Faisalabad.
Chasing 198 to win, Shahid Afridi smashed 32 from 18 balls to get the run chase off to an explosive start before they were pegged back by two more wickets. At 68 for three, South Africa sensed a chance before Yousuf and Shoaib Malik batted sensibly, adding 79 before Shoaib was dismissed for 42, to take their side into a strong position, with Yousuf remaining unbeaten on 58 from 112 balls while Misbah-ul-Haq, who hit a six to win the match, was not out on 29.
Earlier, South Africa were unable to break 200 thanks to an excellent bowling performance, in which the star performers were Rao Iftikhar and Shahid Afridi, who took three wickets apiece.
Graeme Smith hit a patient 48 from 68 balls before he was run out after Herschelle Gibbs (19), Jacques Kallis (13) and AB De Villiers (17) were dismissed cheaply.
Justin Kemp attempted to push on at the forty over stage, hitting two sixes before he was dismissed, bowled by man of the match Afridi, who added the scalp of Shaun Pollock (one) to his earlier wicket of Kallis before Iftikhar removed Albie Morkel for 12 and Charl Langeveldt for 4, leaving Umar Gul to end the innings by bowling out Makhaya Ntini for a duck to pick up his second wicket.
Abdur Rehman was the other man in the wickets, removing Mark Boucher for 17 as Pakistan showed no sign of missing Mohammad Asif or Shoaib Akhtar.
© Cricket World 2007
Cricket World.com – For all the latest international cricket news, reports, live international and county cricket scores; broadband radio and TV; free audio commentary; exclusive interviews, women’s cricket, club cricket, youth cricket and disabled cricket news.
