Pretoria - South Africa put their chasing woes behind them as captain AB de Villiers led the Proteas to a four wicket victory over Pakistan in their One Day International match in Centurion on Saturday.
Chasing 180 for victory, De Villiers played a circumspect innings as he reached 48 (63b, 3x4) runs not out and pulled his side over the line in 38.4 overs.
The Proteas were facing the prospect of a series whitewash, but with the win the team restored pride to go down 2-1 to Pakistan in the series.
Quinton de Kock started off in typical aggressive fashion racing to 15 off 18 deliveries with three fours. De Kock attempted a pull shot off Bilawal Bhatti but miscued the stroke and was caught at short third man with the score on 39 for 1 in the sixth over.
The wicket brought debutant Henry Davids to the wicket, but after navigating his way to a score of seven he was outdone by Saeed Ajmal.
Davids played forward to a stock Ajmal delivery, but dragged his back foot out of the crease and was stumped to cut short his maiden ODI innings.
A mix-up in the middle brought the prize wicket of Hashim Amla (41). Amla played the ball behind square and set off for the run. JP Duminy at the other end sent him back but it was too late, as Umar Amin got the throw in to Umar Akmal who whipped off the bails to leave South Africa on 75 for 3 after 16 overs.
Duminy departed for 16 with the score on 84 as South Africa lost their fourth wicket. An Abdur Rehman delivery found the inside edge of Duminy's bat before looping to Umar Akmal who took the catch.
David Miller (24) joined AB de Villiers at the crease, and they shared in a 40 run partnership. Miller scored briskly, but looked out of sorts as he played aggressive strokes without much success. Miller was out attempting a booming stroke through the covers, but instead edging Sohail Tanvir to the keeper.
Another 40 run partnership followed, this time between Ryan McLaren (17) and the captain to whittle down the target to under 20.
Earlier, the South African bowling attack were in top form as they dismissed Pakistan for 179 in 46.5 overs.
Only a lone effort of 79 not out from captain Misbah-ul-Haq, off 107 balls, stood between South Africa and the visitors being rolled over.
Vernon Philander was chief destroyer, returning figures of 3/26
off his ten overs. He was imperious in his line and length, and was rewarded with the scalp of Ahmed Shehzad (0) in the opening over of the match.
Philander, with a full swinging delivery outside off, induced the edge from the century-maker in the previous match and Amla took a good catch at slip.
Asad Shafiq (1) was next to fall, off the bowling of Lonwabo Tsotsobe to leave the visitors on 7/2 in the fourth over. The left arm seamer found extra bounce and Shafiq could only succeed in edging the ball behind to De Kock.
A short period of restoration followed with Umar Amin and Sohaib Maqsood sharing in a 41 run stand until Ryan McLaren made the breakthrough in the 11th over.
He banged the ball in short and Amin had a wild slash which Amla managed to hold after a spectacular, full-length dive to dismiss the opener.
Next to depart was Maqsood when McLaren did the trick with another short ball. The batsman mistimed his pull shot as McLaren changed direction in a flash to take a classy caught and bowled.
Philander picked up two more scalps Ä Umar Akmal and Anwar Ali Ä as the steady fall of wickets continued.
An eighth wicket partnership of 51 between Misbah-ul-Haq and Abdur Rehman (22) restored some respectability. The captain played majestically before he ran out of partners, giving one chance when he was dropped on 43 by JP Duminy at point.
Sapa