Pakistan choke in sight of victory
South Africa's fast bowlers engineered a dramatic comeback to help clinch the fifth ODI in Lahore by 14 runs, and with it, the five-match one-day series
South Africa's fast bowlers engineered a dramatic comeback to help clinch the fifth ODI in Lahore by 14 runs, and with it, the five-match one-day series
So South Africa have won both the Test and ODI series. Pakistan were all set to clinch their first-ever ODI series against South Africa. They needed just 36 runs off the last ten overs but the South African fast bowlers - Morkel, Ntini and Nel - were outstanding.
Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 20 runs. They were cruising when Yousuf and Younis were scoring runs at will. The choke started once Malik played one on to his middle stump and from there on it was all South Africa.
Shoaib Malik said the bowlers bowled really well to restrict the South Africans to 233 and it was chaseable. He also gave credit to Younis and Yousuf for their half-centuries but acknowledged that the team needed to learn how to finish the match.
Makhaya Ntini is the Man of the Match for his four-wicket haul. The Man-of-the-Series award goes to Mohammad Yousuf for scoring three fifties and a century in five innings in this series.
The overall Man of the Series, for both the Test and ODI series, is Jacques Kallis for his three centuries in the Test series and his 86 today. It was a tough innings, one that had several moments of luck, but he steered South Africa to a match-winning total.
Graeme Smith credits the win to keeping cool under pressure. He applauds the fielders for taking some stunning catches at the death. Smith said at the start that 220 was defendable and he's lived up to that prediction.
That's it from us at Cricinfo today. Thank you for following the series with us. Congratulations to South Africa who have won it 3-2. This is George Binoy signing off. Cheers.
Shoaib Akhtar c Nel b Morkel 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Shoaib Akhtar is the last man. He took four wickets earlier in the day, can he complete the victory for South Africa?
Iftikhar Anjum c †Boucher b Morkel 0 (4m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
What a needless shot that was from Afridi from Pakistan's point of view, Lawson doesn't look amused. Rao Iftikhar is the next man in. Pakistan need 15 runs, South Africa need two wickets.
Shahid Afridi c de Villiers b Ntini 9 (30m 11b 0x4 1x6) SR: 81.81
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