adminThe Proteas took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with the two batsmen combining for a 238-run stand off 194 deliveries, including 18 fours and four sixes, after Pakistan won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat.
Set a target of 344, Pakistan were bowled out for 309 with 11 balls to spare.
Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who took three for 74, struck in the fourth over to dismiss Nasir Jamshed, for 10 runs, when he was trying to clear mid-off but found Amla instead.
Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal established a useful 82-run stand and looked to be taking the game away from South Africa when Ryan McLaren came on to bowl. Kamran was on 30 when he tried to cut his slower-ball bouncer and got an edge to the keeper.
Robin Peterson got the big wicket of Mohammad Hafeez, who made 57 before he holed out to Dale Steyn at long-off.
Peterson also forced Younus Khan (19) to chop onto his stumps and, after Shoaib Malik’s brief appearance, Misbah-ul-Huq was joined by Shahid Afridi and the fireworks began.
Known for his massive blows, it was the old “Boom Boom” Afridi on display as he smashed anything loose out of the ground.
To add to the excitement, after hitting McLaren for a four and a huge six, Afridi took a swipe and missed the next delivery, to have his stumps knocked out the ground when he was on 73. However, before reaching the boundary rope, he was recalled to the crease when it was found McLaren’s delivery was a no-ball.
Afridi returned to add another 15 runs and was eventually caught off a Tsotsobe full toss for 88 off 48 deliveries.
Although Pakistan were well ahead on the run-rate, they had lost too many wickets and the tail-enders were unable to keep up the momentum.
McLaren bagged three for 56, taking his wickets at crucial times.
De Villiers brought back Steyn early to finish off the game and it proved to be a successful move when Junaid was caught and bowled after a career-best nine runs.
Kleinveldt wrapped up the match with the last wicket after Wahab Riaz had contributed 45 runs
Teams
SOUTH AFRICA: GC Smith, HM Amla, CA Ingram, AB de Villiers (capt & wk), F du Plessis, F Behardien, R McLaren, RJ Peterson, RK Kleinveldt, DW Steyn, LL Tsotsobe
PAKISTAN: Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan — SuperSport.
Online Reporter