South Africa beat Pakistan by six wickets to win ODI series 3-2

Skipper AB de Villiers hit an unbeaten 95 as South Africa beat Pakistan by six wickets to win the one-day international series 3-2.

Kamran Akmal top scored with 48 as the tourists were all out for 205 in 49.1 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat in Benoni.

This total was below par and Akmal was the only batsman to pass 30 in the innings, which saw Ryan McLaren claim three middle-order wickets.

After a slow start that saw only three runs yielded from the first three overs in response, Hashim Amla kickstarted the South African innings with a cut through the covers for four.

Opening partner Quinton de Kock was lucky to survive a run out chance but perished after 12 balls when he was bowled by Junaid Khan for three.

South Africa continued to struggle to find the boundary and with their score on 34 in the 11th over they were two down, with Colin Ingram cutting the ball into his stumps off Mohammad Hafeez for 15.
Dropped

Two wickets could have been three four balls later when dangerman and captain De Villiers edged to Younus Khan at slip, off Junaid Khan, when on nought.

However the experienced batsman could not hold on and De Villiers, with two half-centuries and a ton already to his name in the series, took full advantage to again prove South Africa's match-winner.

Along with Amla, the pair looked to rebuild the innings before Amla departed in the 23rd over, mistiming a hook shot off Mohammad Irfan which looped to Shoaib Malik for 22 to leave South Africa 89-3.

De Villiers then launched Shahid Afridi for six in the next over before he went past 50 two overs later.

Farhaan Behardien proved to be a handy partner but went after making 35 from 36 when he was caught at fine-leg by Saeed Ajmal.

With just 36 from 74 balls needed, De Villiers and new batsman Paul Miller, who finished 20 not out, upped the rate and took the South Africa to their target with six overs and six wickets to spare to seal the series win.