Pakistan lose final ODI but win series against S Africa

CENTURION: Pakistan were defeated by four wickets in the third and final One-day International but they won the three-match series 2-1 against South Africa.

Chasing an easy target of 180, South Africa completed the victory with 68 balls remaining after Pakistan fought hard to dismiss their six batsmen.

The main scorers were captain AB de Villiers with an unbeaten 48 and opener Hashim Amla with 41.

For the tourists, off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets for 34.

Earlier Pakistan sent into bat by the hosts batted poorly and at one stage they were reeling on 97 for seven in the 29th over.

However, it was their captain Misbah-ul-Haq who was determined to stay at the wicket. He came to the crease at the score of 48-3 at the board and remained not out on 79 after the whole team were bowled out for 179 in 46.5 overs..

Only three other batsmen could enter into the double figures. They were opener Umar Amin (25), middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood (25) and late-order batsman Abdur Rehman (22).

Fast bowler Vernon Philander was the most successful bowler for South Africa, capturing three wickets for 26 runs, followed by Ryan McLaren (2-28), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2-38) and leg-spinner Imran Tahir (2-56).

Pakistan won the first two One-day Internationals of the series – first by 23 runs at Cape Town on Sunday and one run at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday – to record their first ODI series win against South Africa.