Misbah-ul-Haq played a captain’s innings with an unbeaten 57 as he steered Pakistan to a six-wicket victory over South Africa in the rain-affected second one-day international at Centurion on Friday.
Pakistan speedster Mohammad Irfan tore through the top order and South Africa were restricted to a modest 191 which the tourists passed with more than four overs to spare in a game that had been reduced to 44 per side by a rain delay.
Misbah shared a match-winning unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 77 with Shoaib Malik (35 not out) as the pair showed patience initially and then blasted their way to victory.
Younis Khan (32) and Mohammed Hafeez (31) also made valuable contributions in a low-scoring game, but the win was set up by an attacking display with the ball.
score board
SOUTH AFRICA
Amla c Akmal b Irfan 17
Smith c Akmal b Junaid 10
Ingram c Akmal b Irfan 0
De Villiers c Younis b Irfan 4
Du Plessis c&b Irfan 17
Behardien c Malik b Hafeez 58
McLaren lbw Hafeez 17
Peterson c Jamshed b Ajmal 44
Abbott c Afridi b Ajmal 5
Steyn b Junaid 0
Tsotsobe (not out) 0
Extras (LB-10, W-9) 19
Total (all out, 43.2 overs) 191
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-26, 3-35, 4-43, 5-62, 6-106, 7-173, 8-179, 9-191.
Bowling: Irfan 7-0-33-4, Junaid 6-0-29-2, Ajmal 8.2-0-23-2, Gul 5-0-37-0, Afridi 8-0-24-0, Hafeez 9-0-35-2.
PAKISTAN
Jamshed c Smith b McLaren 10
Hafeez c Abbott b Steyn 31
Akmal b Peterson 18
Younis c Amla b Peterson 32
Misbah (not out) 57
Malik (not out) 35
Extras (LB-3, W-6) 9
Total (for 4 wkts, 39.2 overs) 192
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-63, 3-69, 4-115.
Bowling: Steyn 9-1-29-1, Tsotsobe 6-1-37-0, Abbott 8.2-0-31-0, McLaren 8-0-40-1, Peterson 8-0-52-2.
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